It looks like there are growing calls for Powell's resignation. . .

[wndycty]

From Clarence Page in today's Chicago Tribune:

-snip-
Which raises a big question in my mind: Why didn't Powell quit while he was behind?

Powell was doing fine until he joined the Bush administration. With his charismatic presence, his formidable biography and squeaky-clean reputation (despite spending a lot of time in Washington), Powell was among America's most admired men.

But his tenure as secretary of state has faced one setback after another, mostly at the hands of Cheney, Rumsfeld and other neo-conservatives.
-snip-

So I can't help but wonder, what if he had quit? Just think of how much impact that would have had. Widespread shock! Headlines! Media frenzy! Sober regrets from stony-faced Cabinet members trying to explain it all.

Maybe, just maybe, Powell could have slowed the train long enough for Americans to have gone into the war, if it came to that, with more information upon which to base their views. By now, he might be seen as some sort of principled hero.
-snip-

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-0404210129apr21,1,4520757.column?coll=chi-homepagenews2-utl


From yesterday's New York Times:

-snip-
No one expected Mr. Powell to incessantly air policy differences in public. Proper discretion has been as much a part of his persona as strength of character. But even when he was embarrassingly sidelined, it was calming to think that in private, he was taking the strong, even indignant stand.

The publication of Bob Woodward's latest Washington pot-stirrer has left us wondering, once again, just where Mr. Powell stood on Iraq, and how hard he fought for his own positions when they differed from those of the president and Mr. Cheney. According to the Woodward book, Mr. Bush made his decision to go to war in Iraq in January 2003; talked it over with Mr. Cheney and Mr. Rumsfeld; informed the national security adviser, Condoleezza Rice; and even mentioned it to the Saudi ambassador before he got around to Mr. Powell.

When the secretary of state finally got the word, Mr. Woodward reported, he just asked, "Are you aware of the consequences?" Mr. Woodward added that Mr. Powell had said this in a "chilly way." But that is hardly the "cut it off and kill it" kind of response the general was supposed to be capable of making.

Mr. Woodward describes Mr. Powell as deeply concerned about the prospect of an Iraq invasion, yet doing virtually nothing to try to turn Mr. Bush back from what he considered a dangerously wrong policy. Later, Mr. Powell cashed in more of his credibility by going to the United Nations and presenting intelligence about Iraq's weapons that many thought was exaggerated and that turned out to be flat wrong.
-snip-

Knowing that Mr. Powell thought the invasion was a bad idea doesn't make him look better — it makes his inaction puzzling and disappointing. It's an article of faith in Washington that Mr. Powell would not serve in a second Bush administration. The lasting impression may be this sense of disappointment in the secretary he could have been.
-snip-

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/04/20/opinion/20TUE1.html

[Atman]

1. Bush can't fire anyone now

Rove won't let him. Not before the election. A firing would admit he was wrong to hire him, or wrong to listen to him, or wrong to have trusted him, or wrong not to have picked up on the fact that Powell wasn't being up front with him...it means lots of things for Bush, all of them pointing to him being wrong.

And Bush does not admit he is wrong. He lacks the character to do so.

[wndycty]

2. The calls for Powell's resignation are coming from the left not the right

They are basically saying that Powell was the one member of Bush's team that we thought might offer balance and he is not doing that.

[Skittles]

3. LOL, they are too afraid to let go of Colin

imagine if their token whore spilled his guts.

[Sparkly]

5. That's my fondest *dream*

I keep thinking how great it'd be if Powell did a David Brock and told ALL.

[spanone]

8. Don't count on it he's a "good soldier" and w* is his commander.

[Sparkly]

9. Yeah ...

I know... But I can dream, can't I?

[nodictators]

11. And Michael is his son

Michael, our FCC, no-bare-tits-allowed moralist/leader.

Colin won't spill the beans, ever!

[NWHarkness]

4. This is Powell's last chance

He can resign now, and history will treat him favorably, or he can stay with Bush and be regarded as a spineless toadie who put his careerist ambitions ahead of his principles.

[seabeyond]

6. so the only man that has any military experience

or participated in battle. the war will be run all by a bunch of chickens that head from fighting all their lives and only know how to be a bully and beat up someone weaker than themselves,...........

ya, this gives me confidence

(sad that i have to say out loud to all, but feeling the need, obviously sarcas, on my part)

[napi21]

7. If Powell resigns now, he could be Bushe's John Dean.

That's what we all need now, someone within the inner circle to get pi**ed off enough to tell it all.

I'm not sure it will happen 'cause Powell is a military man who has been indoctrinated his whole life to obey his superiors!

[young_at_heart]

10. Powell was "trotted" out immediately after the election

The country was in major confusion about Florida and I remember Bush standing by a rustic fence at his ranch saying, "The first thing I will do is pick Colin Powell to be my Sec. of State." He was telling America, I believe, that Powell would be THE most important person in his cabinet. (Powell's popularity would help him win Florida).

[WI_DEM]

12. Powell ruined his own reputation by aligning himself with

Bush, Cheney, and Rove.

[wndycty]

13. I gave him the benefit of the doubt for the longest. . .

. . .his has worn out his good faith with me.