It's Bill Kristol and Fox News so take it with some sodium chloride, but I'll start a thread for this endorsement because if I put it in the catch all thread someone would just start a thread on it anyway.

Sources say former Secretary of State Colin Powell will endorse Barack Obama at the Democratic National Convention, Weekly Standard Editor Bill Kristol told FOX News exclusively on Thursday.

 

“He may well give a speech at the Democratic convention explaining his endorsement of Obama,” Kristol said, citing inside sources.

 

“This is not an absolute done deal, but these people are very confident that Powell will endorse Obama,” Kristol said, adding that he thinks Powell still has “a high respect” for John McCain, Obama’s Republican rival.

 

Powell spokeswoman Peggy Cifrino strongly denied the report.

 

“There’s absolutely no truth to it whatsoever,” Cifrino told FOXNews.com. “Colin Powell will not be at either convention. There’s absolutely no truth to this.”

It's Bill Kristol and Fox News so take it with some sodium chloride, but I'll start a thread for this endorsement because if I put it in the catch all thread someone would just start a thread on it anyway.

 

FOX news is as reliable news source as any other, even though you might not like the news they emphasize or their commentator shows.

I could definitely see Powell endorsing Obama, and he doesn't seem to be denying that part of the story. That being said I have a hard time believing Bill Kristol would have any connections with the kind of people that Barack Obama and Colin Powell trust in matters of confidence.

Edited August 13, 200817 yr by KipWellsFan

I could definitely see Powell endorsing Obama, and he doesn't seem to be denying that part of the story. That being said I have a hard time believing Bill Kristol would have any connections with the kind of people that Barack Obama and Colin Powell trust in matters of confidence.

He might with Powell, who travels in some pretty conservative circles.

 

This is actually one of the few endorsements that might make a difference to a few people. Not a game changer or anything, but, somewhat significant. If true.

 

Brzezinksi: I Expect Powell To Endorse Obama

 

Former national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski tells the Huffington Post that he "expects" Gen. Colin Powell to endorse Barack Obama for president.

 

Late Wednesday afternoon, the political world skipped a heartbeat when Fox pundit and eminent neoconservative Bill Kristol predicted that former Gen. Colin Powell would endorse Barack Obama, and even potentially speak at the Democratic National Convention.

 

In response to an emailed question, Brzezinski agreed with Kristol about the endorsement, writing simply: "I sort of expect he [Powell] will."

File this in the "I'll believe it when I see it" category for me.

File this in the "I'll believe it when I see it" category for me.

we agree on one thing...

we agree on one thing...

Every now and again. I'm more conservative on a lot of things than you probably think.

Every now and again. I'm more conservative on a lot of things than you probably think.

Conservative = refusing to buy something reported by Fox/Kristol?

Conservative = refusing to buy something reported by Fox/Kristol?

I was talking more about the difference between mine and BearSox's general political views. He thinks I'm a raving liberal.

I was talking more about the difference between mine and BearSox's general political views. He thinks I'm a raving liberal.

Compared to BearSox, you are a raving liberal.

 

Compared to BearSox, you are a raving liberal.

Summary executions ftw.

To anyone who has been paying attention for the last year, this isn't a surprise at all. He has been making rumblings like this for a long time.

Homerun VP pick as well. That would get my attention. Actually that would put me back into the undecided.

 

If it happens, here are the political strategies for both candidates (not necessarily the truth):

 

Obama, Press release and ads that the decision is based on Obama's plan to end the Iraq war, etc.

McCain, Rumors, blogs, commentators, (but never from the campaign), dismiss the endorsement as based purely along racial lines and Powell being thrown out by the Bush administration.

Homerun VP pick as well. That would get my attention. Actually that would put me back into the undecided.

That would be a blockbuster pick, he'd probably surprise a lot of people. Powell would fill in a lot of the gaps of Obama's weaknesses, assuming he'd accept. Powell is one of the few associated with the Bush administration (along with maybe Condi, and Gates) that a majority of people think positively of.

 

And it would be unfortunate if people tried to imply it's purely along racial lines. Powell's race would be way, way down on the list of things Obama'd benefit from if he selected him. Plus, Powell got drafted by the white people in the racial draft anyway

Edited August 14, 200817 yr by lostfan

That would be a blockbuster pick, he'd probably surprise a lot of people. Powell would fill in a lot of the gaps of Obama's weaknesses, assuming he'd accept. Powell is one of the few associated with the Bush administration (along with maybe Condi, and Gates) that a majority of people think positively of.

 

It would also be one of the few real life examples of Obama reaching out across the aisle.

It would also be one of the few real life examples of Obama reaching out across the aisle.

That would be one of the gaps I was talking about.

 

In fact, I've just convinced myself this would be the best possible VP pick for Obama, if he could do it.

It would also be one of the few real life examples of Obama reaching out across the aisle.

 

I could see a Reaganesque landslide with that ticket. Powell actually seems to transcend political boundaries like few others in America.

And it would be unfortunate if people tried to imply it's purely along racial lines. Powell's race would be way, way down on the list of things Obama'd benefit from if he selected him.

 

Which is why the McCain startegy would be to dismiss all the reasons that would benefit Obama and leave the one that would not.

Which is why the McCain startegy would be to dismiss all the reasons that would benefit Obama and leave the one that would not.

He could try, but that probably wouldn't get past most politically literate people in this country though IMO. The benefits of an Obama-Powell ticket as opposed to Obama-Bayh, Obama-Clinton, Obama-Rendell etc. are completely obvious to me, and I'm sure to most others as well especially if you subscribe to the "VP should not be a yes-man" theory. The fact that Powell is black almost doesn't even register to me.

Which is why the McCain startegy would be to dismiss all the reasons that would benefit Obama and leave the one that would not.

It wouldn't matter. An Obama-Powell ticket would be unbeatable, unless something HUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE about Obama comes out. Like, he swore an oath to protect the interests of Al Qaeda type huge. Barring that, you can put the election to bed.

 

But this isn't going to happen, so, probably a pointless discussion. Heck, he may not even endorse Obama.

 

I was speaking about the endorsement, NOT about Powell as a VP candidate. Obviously the startegy would be much different if Powell was on the ticket.

I was speaking about the endorsement, NOT about Powell as a VP candidate. Obviously the startegy would be much different if Powell was on the ticket.

Oh yeah, definitely. He wouldn't even hardly have to try. It'd be like playing a video game and using a cheat code.

You know, at this point, it wouldn't surprise me, but then - he said "never" because IIRC his family thinks he'd be dead... (which is pathetic about our country).

You know, at this point, it wouldn't surprise me, but then - he said "never" because IIRC his family thinks he'd be dead... (which is pathetic about our country).

 

I hate to say it, but Obama would be a bigger target to the same people that would make an attempt on Powell. That may factor in.