Why is there even an assumption that Colin Powell is going to endorse anyone on MTP?

[jezebel]

If he was going to endorse, wouldn't he do it with that candidate? Or at least a press release put out by that candidate?
Couldn't he just be going on MTP because he goes on MTP? Am I missing something? Has Powell ever even said he would endorse anyone?
This reminds me of months ago when John Edwards was going on the tonight show and there was all this buzz he would endorse.

[mucifer]

1. There was a column in Huffington Post where the writer said Powell

is gonna endorse Obama:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lawrence-odonnell/colin-powell-is-ready-to_b_134777.html



When Colin Powell turns off his TV after the final presidential debate, he will have learned everything he is going to learn about the candidates vying to succeed his former boss, George W. Bush. Powell has made it clear that he has been thinking about an endorsement for a long time but wanted to hear more from the candidates before making his choice. It now seems beyond doubt that Colin Powell will endorse Barack Obama and thereby hammer the final nail in the coffin of the Republican campaign to hold onto the White House.

The recent ugliness of the McCain-Palin rally audiences cannot be lost on Colin Powell. And Powell is not one to ignore a 14 point lead in a New York Times poll. But most important for Powell and the press will be his explicit rejection of the Bush-McCain approach to Iraq, Iran and the rest of the world.

Powell's endorsement will be perfectly timed to dominate a news cycle or two. It will give Obama the one thing he still needs more of--credibility as Commander-In-Chief. And Sarah Palin's speechwriters will be hard pressed to come up with a condescending quip about it.

[jezebel]

4. interesting. Is this just the writers speculation or inside info? I just don't want the press to

hype this up and then no endorsement follow.

[gateley]

6. I personally just think it's this writer's speculation. nt

[mucifer]

8. O'donnell used to work in the congress (not a congressman) but he does

have connections. I really hope Powell doesn't endorse mccain. That could be harmful. It would be very nice if he endorsed Obama.

[Virginia Dare]

10. The speculation is that he wouldn't have waited this long to endorse McCain..

but we'll see.

[gateley]

13. I agree that I hope he doesn't endorse McCain -- especially since he still

polls higher regarding 'natural security'.

[still_one]

2. I am skeptical also, but why would he even go on MTP? /nt

[jezebel]

5. Hasn't he just been a guest in the past? Or is it unusual for him to go on? I'm thinking about this

too hard aren't I?

[rfranklin]

3. He lost any credibility back at the UN with that bogus speech...

He should have walked out on the Bush junta at that point. He knew that "intelligence" was bullshit and he read it aloud anyway.

[Essene]

21. here are some facts to chew on (and why you should stop hating powell)

1. He tried to avoid the war, and had bush's personal assurance that the threat of violence was only a threat... and that we'd take seriously Saddam's efforts to find a diplomatic solution

2. He fought hard to remove all unsubstantiated claims being pushed by the white house. Reports are that it got really nasty the night before the UN presentation, with Powell utterly disgusted and refusing to add the nuclear claims. What finally went into the presentation was stuff that GEORGE TENET told Powell was 100% backed by the evidence, and from the NIE. Even then, Powell expressed reservations and Tenet basically said something like "I'll be right there behind you."

3. Powell later learned that there were "burn notices" on many if not all of the claims in the NIE which went into the presentation. These are official CIA reports that trashed the claims, providing counter-evidence or simply questioned the validity. These "burn notices" were BURIED by people in the CIA and the White House. They never got to Powell or even Tenet's desks.

Get it? The two sensible moderates were hung out to dry... with Condi, Feith & Cheney being villains.

4. Powell went public about this on MTP, saying he's infuriated and wants to see a serious Congressional investigation into this. What has Congress done? NOTHING. Show me where Pelosi has started this much needed investigation.

5. Powell also said the Iraqi invasion was wrong and would have been impossible if the truth about the intel came out. He clearly indicates that CONGRESS was lied too as well, which he knows has federal crime implications.

6. Powell said the "surge" rhetoric was wrong, and that most generals were completely arguing for a different strategy but that Bush was ignoring his own commanders.

7. Powell said Obama was right on diplomacy and talking to "the enemy." He pointed out how he himself talked with Syria... and how we've actually had Iranian diplomacy going on all along.

8. Powell basically said Obama's experience issue wasn't a big deal, given his judgment, ability to bring in smart people and capacity to tackle problems.

[rfranklin]

22. Sorry, but Powell should not have supported the Bush junta...

and I can never forget that he did. No explanations of his good intentions will ameliorate that egregious error.

[polichick]

7. That's what I wondered - those talking heads sure do take some leaps.

[Virginia Dare]

9. Wes Clark seemed skeptical this a.m. too...n/t

[Condem]

11. Why else would he be on?

[Condem]

12. Why else would he be on?

[saltpoint]

14. If quite a few of us are not into Colin Powell, it doesn't mean that

a lot of the rest of our countrypersons aren't. With those voters, he remains a military hero. They aren't weighing the U.N. speech as a disgrace as many of us do.

The DC media are very aware of Powell's stature.

So an election-eve public media appearance by someone who is held high by those voters naturally draws speculation about an endorsement.

[sufrommich]

16. I agree. Most Americans have a lot of respect for Powell.

Hopefully, the over the top racism being exhibited by various republicans was the final nail in the coffin for him and he endorses Obama.

[Essene]

19. the DU folks crying about powell are a tiny, tiny, tiny fringe of america on this

even the criticisms of his UN presentation are greatly missing the point, from the DU crowd.

[saltpoint]

20. Yes. We have the burden (but also the benefit) of following events

closely and more critically.

Powell might be useful for us among voters who don't get past the FOX News headlines.

[DU9598]

15. Tom Brokaw's show?

It makes me quite nervous that this "big event" is happening on MTP with Brokaw who is a cheerleader for McCain.

[Thrill]

17. Personally in my opinion if he wasn't going to endorse Obama. He wouldn't endorse anyone

He would just stay out the news.

[Essene]

18. 1. powell has increasingly supported obama 2. the hype around the endorsement isnt accidental

i think he endorsed mccain in the primary, but has since gone "nuetral."

powell challenged the "surge" rhetoric.

he has supported obama's diplomatic philosophy and also supported him on the russia/georgia incident.

he's openly said he thinks obama's "experience" isnt a big deal.



given mccain's behavior lately, i HIGHLY doubt he's going to support him.