General Colin Powell endorses…
Senator Ted Stevens, the disgraced head honcho of the Republican machine that Sarah Palin fought against. General Powell served as a character witness at the senator’s trial in Alaska earlier this month.
In other news, General Powell endorsed Barack Obama for President of the U.S. on Meet the Press this morning. General Powell intimates that an Obama presidency will mean no more conservative jurists nominated to the U. S. Supreme Court.
Another blogger states that Powell is still trying to live down his shameful UN appearance during which he flat-out lied to US citizens about “WMD’s” in Iraq.
No serious person believes that General Powell “lied.” It turns out he was mistaken. But that mistake was shared by everyone across the political spectrum, all of whom held their views in good faith.
If one really lovex one’s country, one must call things by their real names. By exaggerating mistakes for political purposes, one diminishes the significance of real lies.
I will confess that it is sometimes difficult to do and say the right thing when there is a perceived benefit in hyperbole.
When did Sarah Palin ever fight against Ted Stevens. He was one of her key endorsers for her gubernatorial campaign. She directed a 527 group for him. Frank Murkowski does not = Ted Stevens
I have no problem with General Powell supporting Barack Obama (he is entitled to support whomever he wishes), but claiming Republicans are suggesting Barack Obama is Muslim is flatly, completely, and unequivically incorrect and a lie from General Powell.
The GOP is NOT doing that. The McCain campaign is NOT doing that. A few fringe individuals and pundits may be doing that, but I have NOT heard that from Hannity, Rush, National Review, The Weekly Standard, or other major conservative figures.
And bringing up Barack Obama association with Bill Ayers is 100% legitimate, especially since that association was with a plan to radicalize Chicago Public Schools. But maybe that is something General Powell supports.
Ok, Joe, so why exactly does Rush insist on using Sen Obama’s middle name when he refers to him. Rush certainly wouldn’t be doing it to imply falsely that Sen Obama has a Muslim connection, would he? Nah…Rush would never do that.
TomO, I didn’t say that Palin fought against Stevens. I said she fought against “the Republican machine” of which Stevens was the head honcho.
Remember, when you read me, every word is carefully chosen.
Francis:
Carefully chosen to convey the wrong impression? That should count in your and Gov. Palin’s favor why?
I mean your point is that Sarah Palin is willing to attack some corrupt Republicans, but also willing to support and accept support from other corrupt Republicans — including according to you the head honcho of them – this is notably good why?
You fight the mafia and remain in the good graces of Vito Corleone as long as it is necessary, and as long as Vito does not require that you compromise your integrity. After all, even Jesus ate with the publicans, sinners, and tax collectors, the latter of which never had the nerve to promise a tax reduction to 95% of their public even though 40% were paying no taxes.
I have listened to Rush for most of the election season (admittedly less often in the last few weeks) and do not remember him saying “Barack Hussein Obama” much, if ever. I think he has probably made fun of the taboo against mentioning it on occassion, but it’s hardly a regular trope.
Mark–I missed Rush using Barrack’s middle name (which means small smiling child in Arabic, Barack in Arabic means “blessed.”). Although Barack referred to his Hussein middle name at the Al Smith dinner, saying it was obviously given to him by someone who did not expect him to run for President.
But to suggest Rush using Barack H. Obama’s middle name is the GOP and McCain calling him a Muslim is a falsehood.
But I would encourage you Mark to listen to McCain’s opening at that event. My advice to Mac is keep fighting and more jokes. The Al Smith dinner speech by McCain was just amazing. Funny and scathing to Barack Obama, it had even MSM types clapping (till they realized the cameras were on them).
Has Governor Palin stated whether she will vote for or against the re-election of Senator Stevens in the general election campaign?
Yeah see there are these payroll taxes out there – not just an income tax. And its not like the Obama campaign has ever been unclear that they were giving tax credits to people who don’t pay the income tax.
Sorry, but you don’t get to trumpet your anti-crime credentials if you are staying in the Corleone’s good graces, nor is being less corrupt than appoint his own daughter Senator, Murkoski a particularly strong sign of anti-corruption cred. All hat, no cattle on her “proven reformer” line.
Ted Stevens disgraced? Why? He hasn’t been convicted of anything yet. You’re awfully quick to toss him under the bus in an attempt to cast doubt on Colin Powell’s judgement and paint Palin as a noble reformer.
It’s payback on Powell’s part for being made to appear a fool regarding the WMDs. Human. But small.
In addition, I suppose it would be characterized as racist to suggest that Powell might feel loyalty toward a black candidate.
I wonder who General Petraeus will be voting for?
Considering how Obama feels about Iraq, and that Powell is just about as responsible for Iraq as Bush, I’m surprised Obama was so welcoming of his endorsement.
Wait, no I’m not. I know how it works. Powell’s endorsing Obama cleanses him from any guilt he might have over Iraq.
As Red Cardigan pointed out, pro-abortion Powell supports pro-abortion Obama…and this is breaking news because?
FB -
Waitamminit. You said “You fight the mafia and remain in the good graces of Vito Corleone as long as it is necessary, and as long as Vito does not require that you compromise your integrity. After all, even Jesus ate with the publicans, sinners, and tax collectors, the latter of which never had the nerve to promise a tax reduction to 95% of their public even though 40% were paying no taxes.
”
So that means that so long as the leaders of North Korea, Iran, etc. don’t require President Obama to compromise his integrity, he should eat with them, right? Yes, I remember “conservatives” screaming and hollering that Obama shouldn’t talk to the enemy. But its ok for Palin, right? Just checking.
In addition, as to Colin Powell and everyone else having been “mistaken” “[b]ut that mistake was shared by everyone across the political spectrum, all of whom held their views in good faith,” I’m curious to know what your source is for the claim, first, that it was a mistaken belief, second that it was shared by “everyone,” and third that it was held “in good faith.” I’m not supporting the position that everyone lied, and before I believe that I’ll demand proof as well. But such blanket statements about a “mistaken belief” appear to be a clear apologist position without rational support. Even at the time, there were people who denounced the assertion that there were weapons there. And Colin Powell, if nothing else, is a smart, smart guy.
A couple of words in defense of and against Mr. Beckwith.
First, Palin absolutely did take stands agaisnt and seek to vilify Senator Stevens. After she was elected she publicly went after on many occasions and used the bridge as a hammer to demonstrate his representation of old school Alaska politics. She also insinuated his connections to the ongoing state corruption trials.
She has not sought to deseat him, as she has with Don Young, She is a politician after all and he is still popular and powerful in the state.
But the comparison with Powell’s endorsement of Obama is inapt. Stevens had a number of character witnesses testify as to his forthrightness, including Hawaii Democratic Senator Inouye and Utah Senator Orin Hatch. Hatch is a big Mccain backer and if you think Powell’s endorsement of Senator Ted’s honesty is flawed then you must similarly disagree with Hatch’s endorsement of McCain. Moreover Senator Stevens himself has endorsed Mccain.
So in the end I think Francis’s post was just a little silly seeking to draw comparison’s where none existed.
“Powell’s endorsing Obama cleanses him from any guilt he might have over Iraq.”
I don’t know about that, but he has regained some credibility with the left after expressing regret for his role in pushing for war in Iraq. He’s always enjoyed a fair measure of respect from liberals, and I think the attitude was that he let himself get snookered by Bush and Cheney.
Okay, so Obama now has on his side a domestic terrorist (Ayers), a “cousin” implicated in mass murder (Odinga), and a general convicted of war crimes by the International War Crimes Tribunal (Powell).
Ah, the company he keeps.
Stevens is an ego-maniac who probably thought he’d never get caught. This time of famous people getting preferential legal treatment must end. Stevens is no better than that gold-digging Anna Nicole Smith who thought she was entitled to shop her frivolous estate claim around to every judge she could find until she got a ruling she liked. I hope this serves as a sobering reminder to Stevens and a warning to the rest of the fat cats on The Hill that all men will be held accountable for their actions and that no individual is above the law.
Stevens is an egomaniac. And as for his politics, well, they don’t call him “Red” Ted for nothing. Good riddance to bad rubbish.