Powell's Obama-nod: 'Dirty pool?'

We have seen dirty pool in the election process - but Powell was not one of them. The justification for these negative tactics is astounding - these people will have to live with themselves when this is over. ..............

http://thefiresidepost.com/2008/10/20/justifying-political-tactics/

You've got to be kidding?? And this guy was Secretary of State?!! Whew! we're lucky we surviced his tenure...

It appears to be his contention that our potential adversaries would be "afraid" of McCain, and therefore would not "test" us. What a load of crap!!

Can Mr. Silva tell us WHY Mr. Eagleburger considers this endorsement to be "dirty pool"? That would have been nice. I don't understand. Joe Lieberman, turning his back on the many people who got him elected to support Mr. McCain might be said to be playing dirty pool. But Mr. Powell is not in elected office and never was. He served President Bush and left. Like any of us, he can endorse who he pleases. The Tribune endorsed Obama, the first Democratic presidential candidate it ever endorsed. Why can't a retired (African American) head of the Joint Chiefs who has seen firsthand the stupidity of the policies of one party endorse a candidate who would take the country a different direction? Disappointing to the Republicans? No question. Dirty pool? I don't see it.

Biden just said Obama will be tested too>
"I can give you at least four or five scenarios from where it might originate," Biden said, including the Middle East and Russia as possibilities, "and he's gonna need help. And the kind of help he's gonna need is, he's gonna need you - not financially to help him - we're gonna need you to use your influence, your influence within the community, to stand with him. Because it's not gonna be apparent initially, it's not gonna be apparent that we're right."..........Because I promise you, you all are gonna be sitting here a year from now going, 'Oh my God, why are they there in the polls? Why is the polling so down? Why is this thing so tough?' We're gonna have to make some incredibly tough decisions in the first two years. So I'm asking you now, I'm asking you now, be prepared to stick with us. Remember the faith you had at this point because you're going to have to reinforce us."

http://blogs.abcnews.com/politicalpunch/2008/10/mccain-to-hit-o.html

I think that it is Eagleburger who is ethically blind. The tenor of the McCain campaign has been unpleasant for many weeks. Voters have told us that in polls in the last several weeks. McCain's choice of Palin can hardly be pleasing to Eagleburger but he chooses to overlook it and Powell does not.

Dave, you should check your history on Lieberman before talking about the "nice" people who elected him. The same left faction of the Democratic party that supported Obama also supported Lieberman's opponent in the primary - Ned Lamont. In addition, Senator Obama himself supported Lamont against Lieberman. Lieberman lost the primary, then ran as an independent in the general and beat the left wing Democratic Lamont. Big difference there from Powell, who moved ahead courtesy of the Republicans. Lieberman who was abandoned by his own party - and by Obama himself. I don't know if it's dirty pool for Powell to have endorsed Obama, but Obama does wisely (or cynically) strategically time his endorsements - as we will recall with Richardson, and now Powell. Powell is eloquent as is Obama, but they're both keen political players at the end of the day. Powell sold his soul to Bush to sell a lie to the American people and to the world. I am puzzled why Obama, who opposed that war, would value this man or his endorsement.

Dirty pool? I think this guy is trying to snooker us.

The Bush-McCain Republicans got a slap in the face, just as they did when William F. Buckley' son, James, came out and endorsed Senator Obama !! They can't handle the truth !! America is finally realizing what a gang of incompetents and other malcontents, theses types of Republicans, are !! General Powell may have made some mistakes in the past, concerning the Iraq war and occupation, but he is still entitled to his opinions and endorsements. I, for one, am very pleased with his endorsement of Senator Obama and Senator Biden. General Powell is a great American, with an impeccable war record, which means, unfortunately, that he will be the target of the " fear and smear " campaign of the Bush-McCain Republicans !!! Just ask former Senator Cleland about the Bush-McCain Republicans' character assassination of a real war hero, with his loss of three limbs, while serving in Vietnam. These Republican bums, led by Saxby Chambliss, questioned and besmirched his patriotism !! All this done, so they could win a stinking election !! Can you believe that !! So, I am sorry to say, General Powell better get ready for his character assassination, because the Bush-McCain Republicans do not take kindly to independent thinkers and that is what General Powell showed himself to be !!
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS, BRING THEM HOME, ALIVE AND WHOLE. NOW.

If being smart is cynical vs being a bumbler, I'll take the cynic. We've had enough of the other for eight years.

Funny how Powell says that he didn't endorse Obama because he is black, yet months ago he was talking to some black children and told then that an Obama presidency would be "electrifying" because he is black. I also doubt that a general will endorse a candidate that has no foreign policy experience except for his 1 week "world tour".

I just found this ad in the local paper.

Wanted: Large bus, big enough to fit all republicans fleeing the McBush candidate, under.

The man is correct-
All Comrade Obama know is socailism, if its not socialismm is sure not American-

Thank you, Mr. Silva. I gave you 5 stars -well deserved. The reason: Lawrence Eagleburger career was always as "Assistant Secretary of State," except a
short term as interim. But unless he is fibbing, his historical knowledge is worthless! Nikita Krustchev didn't test Jack Kennedy when
he tried to deploy nuclear weapons in Cuba. He wanted to force the U.S. to remove its
nuclear weapons targeted at the USSR from Turkey. And he achieved that, but the U.S. did not announced it to claim
victory in the Cuban Missile Crisis - but it was actually a swap.

But Eagleburger is correct that
Powell's endorsement of Obama is retaliatory for his
humiliating career as a meek and weak Secretary of State that was reduced to an errand boy by Cheney, Rove and Wolfowitz. But it was his own fault. Powell should have resigned immediately when he
realized that his access to the president was cut off, and he could reach Bush only through
Condoleza Rice. But he thought that if he went along, lied to the U.S. public, and to the world at the United Nations Security Council about Saddam's weapons of mass destruction, and thus help Bush launch his war on Iraq, he might recover his marginalized status as Secretary of State. Instead he was shown the door.

Is Powell's endorsement of Obama based on his soul or on his thirst for revenge against republicans? Well, it is the latter, and Obama actually doesn't needs it. Powell has been so discredited now that his endorsement was nothing more than flying a kite with Obama's name on Sunday's talk shows. In terms of votes, it is actually worthless
and it serves no purpose other than Powell's wish to stick it to the republicans and, by doing it, trying to rehabilitate his prior good name and status
for allowing himself to be used as a war approval fetcher by Bush's inferior insiders.

As for Eagleburger's "dirty pool" antics, that is actually John McCain's pool and includes: a) Bill Eyers b) John the Plumber , and c)
the specter of the "Sickle and Hammer" of Vladimir Lenin's logo to portray Obama as a
crusader of "Socialism" for
America. Unfortunately for McCain, this dirty pool has been leaking in the polls, and
Joe the unlicensed Plumber cannot fix it! Nikos Retsos, retired Pol.Sci. and History professor

I disagree with Eagleburger, If Secretary Powell wants to endorse BO, that's fine. But the weight that his endorsement carries has been diminished by the fact that he says that Sen. Stevens from Alaska (the one that is currently standing trial for corruption) has a "sterling" reputation. Sort of cast a little doubt on his judgement of character.

How on earth is it "dirty pool" for Powell to endorse someone, anyone? I'll bet if he'd endorsed McCain, Eagleburger would be saying something entirely different.

Larry sounds insane.

Sort of cast a little doubt on his judgement of character.

Posted by: Terry | October 21, 2008 11:14 AM

Are you throwing Stevens under the bus to discredit Powells' endorsement? It seems Stevens had the entire Bush administration hoodwinked.

Terry...maybe this would cast a little doubt also......

Palin's name is listed on 2003 incorporation papers of the "Ted Stevens Excellence in Public Service, Inc.," a 527 group that could raise unlimited funds from corporate donors. The group was designed to serve as a political boot camp for Republican women in the state. She served as one of three directors until June 2005, when her name was replaced on state filings.

Somehow Eagleburger believes that his opinion carries some weight. He's wrong. Not only do most people not know who he is, but most who do know him don't care what he thinks anymore.

Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden also said Obama will be tested like Kennedy. Biden said that Obama's youth and inexperience will be fodder for those seeking to cause mayhem. Course, the Corrupt Chicago Tribune won't cover that or tell you that.

Dirty pool? The Bush Administration used a man with great integrity to appear before the UN to spread false information to further their goal of using preemptive military action against Iraq. Powell was deliberately led to believe the information in the speech had been verified. I believe he made a mistake when he did not speak out, or very publicly resign, when it became painfully obvious that he had been used to mislead the entire world but he followed his instincts as a military man and soldiered on. Too bad. I would hope that an Obama Administration would use his good services. McCain would have never turned to Powell, who is known for his cautious thoughtful approach, in any event.

Democratic Vice Presidential Nominee Joe Biden also said Obama will be tested like Kennedy. Biden said that Obama's youth and inexperience will be fodder for those seeking to cause mayhem. Course, the Corrupt Chicago Tribune won't cover that or tell you that.

Posted by: John D | October 21, 2008 12:25 PM

But Johnny, I just read about this in the Trib today. Oh, I get it, you're a Republican and lying is truthing in Rep. bizzaro world. Try to remember for future posts, we Liberals are fact checkers. You Reds are fact haters.

Billy,

I'm throwing Stevens over a cliff - where he belongs. I don't tolerate corrupt politicians - no matter which party.

If Powell says Obama has great character and he says that Stevens has "sterling" character, then it should make you think (something new for you) on what Powell's criteria of good character is?

Palin's association with a corrupt politician as compared to Obama's associtaion with a domestic terrorist? You make the call?

Posted by: Terry | October 21, 2008 12:57 PM

So then you agree that Sarah Palin's close political relationship with Stevens in the past makes her unfit for office, right?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9nTX-oJUCaU

"I have great respect for the senator," she said. "He needs to be heard across America. His voice, his experience, his passion needs to be heard across America so Alaska can contribute more."

http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/070308/sta_299389407.shtml

Oh and let's npot forget Sarah Palin's official encouragment of a radical anti-american separatist group in her role as Governor.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwvPNXYrIyI

Compare associating on unrelated issues with a former domestic terrorist and encouraging traitors this year? You make the call.

Why won't you post my comment? Not pro-obama enough? My comment was calling for the obama camp to reject the Gen.Powell endorsement because he was part of the Bush Admin. You know how the obama camp constantly crucifies McCain for being "mcBush" and more of the same? Well, Powell helped lead us into the war that the senator claims to be against!

Mr. Eagleburger should be ashamed of himself. He's gone from a diplomat to a spin doctor. I think Mr. O'Donnell's questions made that very clear.

Mel,

If this get posted - I'll be surprise because the SWAMP seems unable to post comments, but I'll try this one for the 4th time.

Your first link - Senator Stevens endorses governor canidate Palin - if you are call her on that relationship, than let's call BO on the endorsements from his homestate corrupt politicians of Blago, Stroger, Daley, etc...

2nd link - Palin complimenting Stevens as they work together on energy project. The article was in early July, Stevens was indicted in late July. I guess this would be like BO's endorsement of Blago as governor, Stroger as Cook County president.

Third link - Show Governor Palin welcoming a COMPETING political party's convention to town. Would be like a democratic mayor welcoming a GOP convention to their city.