NYTimes: Airing of Powell's Misgivings Tests Ties in the Cabinet

[Goldmund]

Drudge's headline: "POWELL IN DOG HOUSE AFTER WOODWARD"

<snip>
Critics of Mr. Powell in the hawkish wing of the administration said they were startled by what they saw as his self-serving decision to help fill out a portrait that enhances his reputation as a farsighted analyst, perhaps at the expense of Mr. Bush. Several said the book guaranteed what they expected anyway, that Mr. Powell will not stay as secretary if Mr. Bush is re-elected.
</snip>
<snip>
And Steve Murphy, who managed the presidential campaign of Representative Richard A. Gephardt, said: "The strongest criticism of Bush is that he did not have a plan for the aftermath of the war. And that was exactly what Powell was pointing out to him. He is a credible source. This intensifies the backdrop between Bush and Kerry."
</snip>
<snip>
Mr. Bush told Mr. Woodward that he did not ask the secretary's opinion on whether to go to war because he thought he knew what that opinion would be: "no."
</snip>


http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/19/politics/19POWE.html?ei=5006&en=35a570a7b07846eb&ex=1083038400&partner=ALTAVISTA1&pagewanted=print&position=

[molly]

1. Powell is also mentioned in Clarke's book

and I think he will resign before the election.

[wryter2000]

2. Lord, I wish he'd talk

Save your good name, Powell. At the very least, get back at * for calling you Balloon Foot.

[lectrobyte]

5. balloon foot? What is that about? <nt>

[wryter2000]

15. According to Paul O'Neill

Balloon Foot was *'s nickname for Powell. I have no idea what it means.

[mazzarro]

7. What "good" name?

Colin Powell is now synonymous with "big-time fabricator" of non-facts and long tales. That will never change! There is no more redemption for his name! All he has done was to confirm Harry Belafonte's apt description of him, IMO.

[apnu]

11. indeed...

... of *'s cabinet, when he put it together, Powell was the only one I had a shred of respect for. But after the UN dog and pony show, Powell clearly sold-out or was pressured to sell out.

I'm not sure how it happened, and we'll never know what really caused him to change his mind, but just 8 or 9 days before the UN circus wasn't Powell publicly denouncing this plan?

As I said, I thought of him at least an honorable man, and a non-partisan man; now, IMO and excuse my language please, he's a bitch for the Bushes.

[molly]

14. We can only hope - remember Clarke left the WH

on supposedly "good" terms.

[wtmusic]

3. His sense of duty is too strong

to resign. It is also too strong for his conscience.

[livetohike]

4. I agree

but I don't know why he didn't do it sooner. Now after hearing Woodward's interview on 60 minutes, I'm wondering why he didn't resign when he realized all this Iraq war planning was done without him.

Spin this Karen Hughes.

[greenman3610]

6. powell's place in history

is that here was the only single man who could have
stopped this thing, and he didn't.
He let down his country, his comrades, and
his integrity. He had his moment of truth, and
decided to lie.

[Goldmund]

8. I'm not sure he could have stopped it,

but at the VERY LEAST he could have given a voice to the millions of people who were against it. I agree with you, no forgiveness for Powell.

[daa]

9. Two things

One, Powell is a loyal soldier.

Two, he stayed and fought to try and change the outcome from the inside.

Secretary Powell is still the author of the Powell doctrine and was the one who erased the Viet Nam syndrome. Rusmsfuck and his cheap ass underwhelming force has brought it back.

The difference is as a soldier, Powell knows the horror of war. The chickenhawk brigade has this quixotic vision of war, and as shrub displays every time he opens his mouth, they have no clue.

[Goldmund]

12. "Two, he stayed and fought to try and change the outcome from the inside."

How exactly did he do this?

In addition to giving that ridiculous show at the UN, that is?

[seabeyond]

10. sold out

who was the general that got fired and laughed out because he wanted more troops.

that is integrity adn not putting his guys ass on the line

[Sparkly]

13. I hope he does a David Brock

What's he got to lose by turning on them? What's left when they criticize you for having the audacity to be right?

[wryter2000]

16. Exactly

If Powell decided to tell all, even Bush, Sr. wouldn't vote for *.

[Mz Pip]

17. Powell has had so many chances

to redeem himself. He's run out of chances as far as I'm concerned.

Powell should be furious with Bush for not asking his opinion on the war. He's the frigging Secretary of State for crissake. So what if Powell would have said "No". HIs opinion should have been sought.

MzPip
:dem:

[Snellius]

18. They got to Powell. He's on Hannity denying Woodward

Good and long friends with Cheney. No animosity. Supports war. Supports president. Doesn't change armies in the middle of a battle. Blah, blah. Yes, Massa George.

[Blasphemer]

19. SCUM...

that's what he is. So he spills his guts to Woodward and then tries to make him look like a fool by denying everything - for what? Loyalty to the BFEE, not the American people. Powell is beyond redemption.