Prometheus 6

I am sick of the Billary trying to force their way onto the ticket. The sense of entitlement is the bane of the Clintons and the Clinton are becoming a stain on the Democrat party. Them and their supporters really need to stop and accept that they have lost. (I don’t think they will.)

An alternative VP candidate who appeals to lower class whites and who has experience as a Governor and in the military is Jesse "the body: Ventura.

You know what, Ishmael? You've finally forced me to just come out and say you're being ridiculous.

Out of all the VP candidates I like Biden the most. But in my perfect world I'd seriously like to see Colin Powell as the VP. But, I don't think the Dem's base od America would go for it.

"But in my perfect world I'd seriously like to see Colin Powell as the VP."

You must mean on the Republican ticket because Powell is not a Democrat. I'm not part of the Democratic base but I would be hard pressed to vote for a Democratic ticket that included Powell. He carried far too much dirty war for the the Bush Administration and I found his U.N. speech on the run-up to the invasion and occupation of Iraq deceitful and dishonorable.

But in my perfect world I'd seriously like to see Colin Powell as the VP.

Well, it would mean racists would see no point in assasinating Obama...they'd just get another naygur. But it would also be like McCain picking Lieberman. Or Gore picking Lieberman, for that matter.

I just like the guy and think he'd be a good fit at VP, or at least at Defense Secretary. I can’t think of anyone else better qualified then Powell at DOD.

"I can’t think of anyone else better qualified then Powell at DOD."

Are you referring to his demonstrated willingness to wage war even against nations that pose no credible threat to the United States?

Now, I may be castigated for this but I really don’t put Powell in the same class as Bush and company. Call me stupid but I consider him to be a lot more honorable and trustworthy than Bush and pals. True, he did carry the war water all the way to the UN, and it was quite deceitful and dishonorable.

But, in my mind, the deceit and dishonor was not his, it belongs to those who took advantage of his soldier mentality, and being an ex- soldier myself I can certainly identify with that. He often fought with those closest to Bush (Chaney, Rice, Rumsfeld, et al). He had to battle Bush he advice repeatedly ignored, Administration official going behind his back, going over his head and publically contradicting him in diplomatic situations in which he had clear jurisdiction, and being often kept “out of the loop” on things he needed to be in the loop on to effectively do his job. And, worse of all, he had to deal with made-up evidence for the war that Chaney, Tenet, Rumsfeld, and Bush all insisted he present at the UN and assured him that it was credible. It was publically humiliating to go before the world and unwittingly push lies for a war the he himself had strong reservations for in the first place. (It was Powell’s advice that discouraged Bush I from going into Iraq in the first time. He gave that same advice to Bush II.)

Powell was put in an impossible position to negotiate. And I think he handled it with class – I thought he should have gone public early on with his disagreements (about the war, its tactic, and the scant evidence) so he would take unwarranted blame, like some I think you are placing on him.

In terms of him being a Democrat – I don’t care. I’m a registered Independent. I don’t get caught up in D’s and R’s. I just like and respect him and think he would make a better VP or DOD Sec. than anyone else. Like I said, in MY perfect world. That is, my opinion.

But, in my mind, the deceit and dishonor was not his, it belongs to those who took advantage of his soldier mentality, and being an ex-soldier myself I can certainly identify with that.

Just following orders.

Hey, I always knew the General would survive.

In terms of him being a Democrat – I don’t care. I’m a registered Independent. I don’t get caught up in D’s and R’s. 

HE does, though. Your being an Independant doesn't make a single politician in the country an Independant.

"it belongs to those who took advantage of his soldier mentality, and being an ex- soldier myself I can certainly identify with that."

I might excuse Powell's behavior if he had been a member of the military and had been ordered to carry water. He was, however, a civilian when he appeared before the U.N. The good soldier excuse doesn't wash with me. Our presidents are only commanders-in-chief of military personnel. Those of us who are not in the military, no matter our previous service, are civilians. We are not obligated or expected to take orders from the president. Powell is responsible for what Powell did, not Bush, Cheney or Rumsfield. Only Powell.

"Your being an Independant doesn't make a single politician in the country an Independant." I never said or implied it did. I just don't see him as a typical Black Republican.

pt, is it possible to spend the decades in uniform that he spent without it affecting how you think as a civilian?

My point is not to excuse anything you or others may accuse him of. I know your mind(s) is made up about it. I just respect him and believe him to be an honorable human being. I respect the long service he gave to America. And, I respect the fact that he, unlike most war-hungry, poor hating, greedy republicans, do not want or wish for war as a first choice or use the lives of American soldiers and the American flag as props and political tools. So, in that vein, I believe his character to be above board and put any political suspiciousness or nefarious motivations past Powell (the same as I do Obama). That’s why I’d support him being on the ticket or in the cabinet even though I know it’ll never happen.

"pt, is it possible to spend the decades in uniform that he spent without it affecting how you think as a civilian?"

Powell was Secretary of State, which is a constitutionally prescribed position and fourth in line to succeed to the presidency. The oath of office says nothing at all about being legally required to take orders from the president. I am not in a position to determine how his thinking was affected by his military service or what he sees as his sense of honor or duty. I am, as a citizen of a slowing evaporating republic that Powell has played a role in eviscerating, qualified to express my opinion about his suitability for serving as vice president. My view is no. Hell, no.

Osiris_E -

BTW, if Powell didn't like what he was being asked to do, he could have resigned.

I just don't see him as a typical Black Republican.

Actually, he is. But he's not a typical Black Republican politico. I caught a piece of that National Black Republican crap they had in NYC. It's disgusting, the disregard they have for reality.

Powell identifies with what Republicans claim to be rather than what they are. That makes him a nice man but too foolish for public office.

Oh, then there is a difference in our staring points on this matter that would probably prevent us from ever coming to some sort of a mutual understanding. As citizens we have the right to disagree.

Certainly...but watch for the next post.

That’s a fare critique. As I said earlier “…I thought he should have gone public early on with his disagreements…”, which, if it were me, I would have resigned but I understood why he didn’t. Then again I wasn’t in his position – an impossible one I might add.