Of course, no one will listen, but then again I am only one man in vast a cacophonous Blogosphere…
Still, enough already with stories that Powell might endorse Obama. It is rank silliness.
I have seen numerous stories like it crop up over the last week, with two coming onto my radar this morning: the NY Daily News: Signs that Republican Colin Powell will support Barack Obama for president and from Politico: Colin Powell might endorse Obama
Of course, the most ridiculous such story was via FOXNews.com: Hip-Hop-Dancing Colin Powell Fuels Speculation He’ll Endorse Obama.
Do I think that it is possible (if not likely) that Powell will endorse Obama? Yes, I do.
Would it be mildly interesting if he did? I suppose.
Will it amount to a hill of beans in this crazy, mixed-up world? No. No, it won’t.
Now, if Powell were to become a plumber and endorse McCain, that would be noteworthy.
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October 18th, 2008 at 2:14 pm
All hail Joe the Plumber!
We are clearly in the silly season of this campaign.
October 18th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
OK, not so fast. So you want the moratorium now that you’ve expressed yourviews?
While we still remain a Democratic Republic, I have to offer a counter view.
I take a logical look at the evidence:
- Powell has been silent on his political views and has tried to stay out of the limelight.
- He’s a General, first and foremost. But he’s also a Moderate Republican, and he’s Black.
- His first major sudden public move was to come out recently and publicly endorse/support heavy hitting Republican Ted Stevens. A Republican antithetical to everything the Democrats stand for and obviously guilty of at least some unethical conduct.
- It’s then end of the race, and the candidates are within 5-7 points of each other. McCain is sinking. Powell, once shy makes a last minute call to Meet the P.
-Powell also pays his public respects to the Black Community.
Facts:
-McCain is short of $$.
-Powell’s endorsement of McCain will make a bigger impact -overall and publicly- and will boost the McCain campaign far more than a public endorsement of the Obama campaign.
For the sake of Powell’s own legacy and future credibility, he must and will endorse John McCain.
October 18th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I generally agree that Powell’s endorsement won’t matter.
Given the fact that he was an enthusiastic architect of the Iraq war, an Obama endorsement might be noteworthy, but at this point Powell has very little credibility.
If Powell endorsed Barack and actively campaigned on a theme of contrition for his poor performance as Secretary of State, linking McCain to Chalabi it would be significant.
But this is unlikely going to happen. Powell proved himself as ineffective and cowardly during his latest attempt at public service–I don’t see that changing any time soon.
October 18th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Hazmaq:
You do realize that I the post was light-hearted and mostly was making fun of speculation that about what Powell “might” do, yes?
October 18th, 2008 at 4:58 pm
Of course I know this is a light hearted poke-I enjoy your blog and subscribe to it. But maybe my efforts at poking back were too serious, so I apologize if I’ve offended you. But you are called PoliBlog remember? And we’re all helpless wonks, yes??
I’m also a CYA kind of person, so I view the Powell decision is a substantive one, and more deserving of attention and speculation - at this point - than almost any other external matter solely because of the impact it could have.
Last minute election tactics by the Right should be prepared for.
While Gov. Rendell looks to another last minute Osama video - Powells decision may be equally as powerful. Powells position and endorsement turns this into something of an inside ‘victory’ for McCain - a black v. white and military v. civilian battle.
The Obama campaign has begun warning supporters of complacency, in preparation of a possible last minute ‘event’ that may occur.
I can easily believe the Right, having known months earlier of his decision, deliberately held Powell back as a last minute ace in the hole.
Here’s a new topic for the next 16 hours:
Doesn’t McCain seem a little too happy and smiley faced, in a maniacal sort of way, over these lower poll numbers?
October 18th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Hazmaq:
No worries.
In re: McCain–I am just guessing he doesn’t have much choice but to grin and bear it. At some point he has to decide how he wants to be remembered if he loses.
And honestly, I don’t think that a Powell endorsement will make much difference for either candidate, and would actually be bigger news if he endorsed Obama because of the party-crossing that it would entail (as well as the race angle, to be honest).
October 19th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Soooooo, how is Colin Powell now endorsing Obama thought of as “silliness” now? Powell was a nearly 30 yr friend of McCain so that should tell you something!
Obama/Biden
October 19th, 2008 at 8:43 am
Colin Powell is not a fraud and Joe the Plumber was!
John McCain’s use of “Joe” as his debate mascot backfired on him…..AGAIN. When will he learn to “vette” people?
October 19th, 2008 at 9:51 am
[...] am guessing that my declaration that no more speculation about Powell’s endorsement would be allowed, led to him be forced [...]