This really is a curious endorsement. You are right; Obama has done nothing. Yet, Powell he went ahead and threw his hat in with a guy that will disgarce the military that he served in. He says it's not about race, but rather a new direction for our country; not quite sure I'm buying it.

This is his big "get even" moment.

Dozens of Senators in both parties talked about Barack Obama's leadership in the Senate before he started running for President then clammed up when he decided to go ahead, but it is worth noting that Chuck Hagel who is voting for John McCain has said he is more than ready to pursue the job and Tom Daschle has talked about Obama asking him if he should run and arguing that the country needed him now and for that reason he shouldn't wait. Virtually everyone who has served with him has at one time or another had good things to say about Barack Obama. In fact that is probably a part of the reason why so many conservatives, not just General Powell, but leaders in your movement like Chris Buckley, Doug Kmiec and so many others are more comfortable with an Obama Presidency than they are with the uncertainty of John McCain and Sarah Palin.

Tom,

General Powell? Interesting thing the "General" said today. He "would have difficulty with two more Republican appointments."

Does this sound like a Republican to you? Powell has allied himself with the Republican party out of political expedience and because of his military career. He never acted like a Republican during his time as SOS and to make that comment tells you exactly where he stands politically. He just threw his hat in with a guy that will completely gut everything the GOP stands for. He's a hypocrite, a cry baby and a fraud.

It's not really my place to defend General Powell since I am a Democrat, but I think you are reading him wrong. He has always had (like most people) some issues where he generally agreed with Democrats (abortion, affirmative action, free speech issues) but overall he has always been very conservative.

His son Michael (who is supporting McCain) made a big push as head of the FCC to clean up the airwaves and General Powell supported his efforts and in several interviews he has talked about the necessity of shrinking the size of government and letting private industry flourish. I think he is still a Republican (like the other people I mentioned above).

But I also think he has other issues that this year are more significant. Race may be a contributing factor, but there are a lot of other things involved in this race. For example several books on the Iraq war claim General Powell argued against our involvement and thought it was a mistake and he has also disagreed with the Neocons on the whole issue of the use of American power. He also has complained about the United States not doing more to safeguard existing nuclear weapons arguing that we are being "penny wise and pound foolish". \

Those beliefs by themselves could move a lot of conservatives to Obama's corner, but I suspect the bigger question is whether he really thinks John McCain has the ability to change things in line with where a moderate like General Powell thinks they should go and I suspect having watched this campaign and seeing how the right wing has essentially controlled the McCain campaign, he decided to go in a different direction. But that's just my take on it.

As a democrat voting McCain/Palin this November, I laughed when I heard the news that the convicted war criminal is supporting Obama.

War criminal? Yes..if you hold stock in any project of Wesley Clark's.

Colin Powell does not speak for the conservative base of the GOP, for many years we have understood where he stands politically. This was hardly unexpected and I wondered why he took so long to come out of the closet on this.

Conservatives and thinking Democrats will not be swayed by his statement, we had his number a long time ago.

Quite frankly, with Colin Powell speaking out for Obama is more evidence of Obama's inability to close the deal. But then again, as with most issues, it is above Obama's pay grade to deal with it.

Powell has always been center-left. He has been identified as a Republican but has never really acted like one. He is going to support a candidate that is the polar opposite of everything Republicans stand for. There is a personal aspect to this endorsement.

Has anyone else noticed that though this article appears to be written by one of our local folks, it is actually pumped out by the central propaganda authority at Red County.com and matches the articles at all their local sites? This "small town" posing is hysterical. Sarah Palin, Joe the Plumber, all constructed to make us think their really is a grass roots effort. Instead, when the Red County cannot come up with substance, they turn on their own. Gen. Colin Powell was brilliant and and a true American hero... now he is a traitor and even called a war criminal. Wow! A super patriot is now a traitor. Makes you think about the loyalty of the Red County.

NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR:
To make my work on RedCounty emphatically clear, I am a contributing writer to Redcounty, I am not consulted about the content of my work nor "coached" in any manner leading up to my postings. Nor does any person read my work prior to posting.

To suggest anythiing else is simply rubbish.

I will validate the suggestion, however, and say indeed some outlets choose to operate in that fashion with their contributing writers.

I however would not contribute my thoughts to a publication that operated that way.

My process is stream of conciousness put to paper. Period.

I am grateful, however, for the conversation this article has generated.

My very best to you,

Angela F. F. Davis

B. Cook says, "...it is actually pumped out by the central propaganda authority at Red County.com."

That is hilarious!