Obama: Powell will have roll in administration

[Benzgirl]

With or without a formal title, Colin Powell will have Barack Obama's ear if the Democratic presidential candidate wins the White House in the Nov. 4 election, the candidate said Monday.
http://www.cleveland.com/nation/

[CrackerBarrel]

Bringing back a Bush administration Cabinet member that most think has been out-performed by Condoleeza Rice is what counts as "change we can believe in"?

Of course he was also the National Security Advisor to Bush's daddy. That's not a Washington insider, is it? And if Biden is such a damn expert on foreign policy, why bring in someone whose only expertise is foreign policy who has disagreed with Biden on most everything?

Absolutely not in any way politics as usual, right?

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by CrackerBarrel

Bringing back a Bush administration Cabinet member that most think has been out-performed by Condoleeza Rice is what counts as "change we can believe in"?

Of course he was also the National Security Advisor to Bush's daddy. That's not a Washington insider, is it? And if Biden is such a damn expert on foreign policy, why bring in someone whose only expertise is foreign policy who has disagreed with Biden on most everything?

Absolutely not in any way politics as usual, right?

I like Powell, he is a great asset to Obama and I hope that he will be utilized as such.

[CrackerBarrel]

Originally Posted by PhiGam

I like Powell, he is a great asset to Obama and I hope that he will be utilized as such.

Oh I like Powell as well, I just don't think saying this fits in with the "themes" of the Obama campaign very well.

[AGDee]

I think it does, exactly because of what Kevin said. Powell didn't drink the kool-aid. He's not one of "them"

[PhiGam]

Originally Posted by AGDee

I think it does, exactly because of what Kevin said. Powell didn't drink the kool-aid. He's not one of "them"

I dont know bout THAT

[agzg]

Originally Posted by CrackerBarrel

Of course he was also the National Security Advisor to Bush's daddy. That's not a Washington insider, is it?

Actually Colin Powell was Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. He was National Security Advisor to Ronald Reagan.

PS I like both Colin Powell and Condi.

ETA: I find it interesting that John Negroponte was Colin Powell's deputy when he was NSA to Ronald Reagan. Actually, not interesting. Lets just say advisors tend to be recycled... a lot.

[Benzgirl]

Obama knows his weaknesses. He is very smart to utilize Powell as an advisor. At least he isn't making us slap our foreheads and say, "what was he thinking?".

[Kevin]

I think Powell was ineffective because he was an administration outsider -- unwilling to drink the kool aid. The split between himself and the Bush administration was less than amicable, I think.

[nikki1920]

Powell was smart enough to call shenanigans when he saw them and Bush and Co. did not like that. Powell didn't care. I have more respect for someone who can stand on his own two feet and can stand for the right when called for. I respect Obama for choosing someone who has his own mind and is not afraid to challenge his "boss".

Good move, Sen. Obama!

[LightBulb]

Originally Posted by nikki1920

I respect Obama for choosing someone who has his own mind and is not afraid to challenge his "boss".

I hope so. That was part of the reason why Lincoln was such an effective president despite his inexperience: he surrounded himself with the best in each field, even though they hated each other (and some even wanted his job).

[CrackerBarrel]

Originally Posted by nikki1920

I respect Obama for choosing someone who has his own mind and is not afraid to challenge his "boss".

Like I said, I respect Powell a lot, but that's just not an accurate portrayal of what happened. You can respect him for what kind of a man he is and his obvious understanding of foreign affairs, but he doesn't win any liberal points for standing up to the Bush administration. He was the man who showed the "theoretical anthrax" and said there was no doubt in his mind that Saddam had biological weapons in front of the UN and was the man tapped to try to put a coalition together in the Security Council. His only disagreement on Iraq was with Rumsfeld when he (Powell) said that we needed more troops.

Originally Posted by Washington Post

Many assumed that he had privately argued against such a clearly misguided adventure and been overruled.In fact, Powell had never advised against the Iraq invasion, although he had warned Bush of the difficulties and counseled patience. He had no reason to resign over Iraq, he told questioners.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...2700106_2.html

Originally Posted by Wikipedia

As was the case in the days leading up to the Persian Gulf War, Powell was initially opposed to a forcible overthrow of Hussein, preferring to continue a policy of containment. However, Powell eventually agreed to go along with the Bush administration's determination to remove Hussein.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colin_P...etary_of_State

He left the Cabinet when Bush requested his resignation so he could shuffle the Cabinet positions after reelection, not because there was some huge disagreement that he had with the rest of the White House.

[Elephant Walk]

Will he have mashed potatoes and chicken fingers too?

[agzg]

Originally Posted by Elephant Walk

Will he have mashed potatoes and chicken fingers too?

I think this is the type of roll she means.

[AGDee]

Originally Posted by alphagamzetagam

I think this is the type of roll she means.

I love my sister! But she meant THIS roll: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65I0HNvTDH4