"The country is ready for a black president, only it's Colin Powell"

[Proud2BAmurkin]

P. J. O'rourke said it on Real Time Bill Maher and it rings true. Powell could have won this year in a walk because he is experienced and would also be able to inspire as the first black president.

Along that same line the country is ready for a female president but only if it's someone like Powell, experienced and trustworthy to deal with economic and national security crisis (Clinton).

The country isn't ready for a merely "inspiring" minority candidate black or female. An "inspiring" white male could probably get elected even if he didn't have experience. Bush proved the bar isn't that high for a white male candidate.

Obama would fail against McCain and it will be written down to racism but the it will really be more complicated than that and will be mostly because of his lack of experience. Old people won't "get" him and most voters in general won't trust him with an economy in crisis and national security and terrorism still at the top of issues (where they will be once the GOP machine kicks in)