If it's not a female pick, COLIN POWELL is the best choice of anyone for SOS

[graham4anything]

I have to say I didn't think of this myself, but read this idea, and I gotta say its a great one,wish I thought of it myself.

He would probably pass 90 to 10 except for maybe a few "fruitcakes" on each side.

Powell, Bob Graham, Madeleine Albright, and, want to have some fun? What about George Clooney or Sean Penn?

And then there is Mike Bloomberg. A born democrat, who won as a republican is now an independent, and has supported Barack Obama both times. If the country comes calling,
Mayor Mike would probably answer yes he would do it.

And Colin Powell and Mike Bloomberg have the gravitas to negotiate with all sides in the Mid-East,which for the most part is where the current tensions are.

[spanone]

1. he lied to the world about wmd. he's not the man to represent Obama...imho

[Cleita]

3. Seconded. No liars or

ass lickers please.

[leveymg]

29. If we disqualify all of those who mislead for a living in DC, are there any "serious people" left?

That doesn't even begin to count the ass lickers. In that case, we have to start looking somewhere else for leadership.

My, that is a subversive thought, isn't it? Any suggestions where to start?

[Cleita]

46. There are still honest brokers in D. C., Bernie Sanders comes to mind, not for

SOS, but as an honest broker. Surely, there has to be a better candidate than Colin Powell.

[graham4anything]

54. As with Kerry, I am not for a sitting senator at this time to leave their seat.

Repulicans want Kerry to leave his so Scotty Brown can win a seat back

and so they can be one seat closer to ousting President Obama in 2015 after they attempt to win the senate back then and the house attempts what the house did to Bill Clinton

for no reason at all in either case but they have that power

[karynnj]

72. Gee, didn't Bob Graham leave his seat in the 2004 election and Mel Martinez (R,FL) get it?

Now, he was out of the Presidential race in 2003, so he could have run.

[graham4anything]

80. That's why one learns from history and goes forward

and doesn't learn from the past

Plus, Liz Warren just barely won her race vs. Scott Brown(and only did so with the 100% backing of President Obama who gave her the opportunity in the first place) with his coattails in what was a nail biter the entire race til President Obama broke big nation wide.

With Scott Brown going for the job again, and with the senate so close and the thought that based on who is up for reelectoin in 2014 and repubs are going to throw everything into it all
I don't see anyone strong enough to defeat him as they have the money

It has now been proven that money can't buy a presidential, however, a house or senate seat is another story

And Mass. has a history (aside from the fable that it is the most liberal state in the nation, two republicans have been governor recently, and Brown was senate in another special election and Martha Coaxley wants to try again herself (GOD NO NO NO NO NO)

why give them the opportunity?

Learn from history.

As you know everything about John Kerry- is John Kerry directly responsible or in charge for forwarding a nominee through committee when the time comes?
(I can google it I guess.)

[karynnj]

111. She beat him by EIGHT % - and though an incredible person, she was a first time candidate

and had lows along with the highs in her campaign. Not to mention, Brown will be weaker - he is not an incumbent, so seniority would be equal. He avoided running on his record in 2012 - likely because he knew he couldn't. He ran a very nasty campaign attacking Warren stupidly for far to long on a non issue - whether she was part native American. Consider where that leaves him if he had to run.

His votes are still the votes that hurt him in 2012. Not to mention, just this week he voted against 2 alternative fuel bills and against the Feinstein bill that says you can't have indefinate detention for Americans. He also spoke a few weeks ago as being against any bill that raises taxes on the wealthy. Does this look like someone really positioning himself to run shortly? Not to mention, I have seen NOTHING about him doing anything in Massachusetts since the election. You would think he would find a feel good/thank you to those who voted for him open event.


Kerry chairs the SFRC and will hold the hearings and work as hard as he can to get the votes - just as he did - very pleasantly - when Clinton was given the job over him in 2009.

PS I do not know everything about Kerry - I doubt anyone does.

[choie]

140. He lied us into a war

That disqualifies him. Period.

[tblue]

81. Thirded. He lied about My Lai too.

He is desperately trying to remake himself and too many people are fooled. He helped Obama get elected. Okay, fine. But Powell still has plenty blood on his hands.

[Cleita]

89. That's right!

No one should ever have forgotten that and I did until you reminded me, the media has been so good at pushing these atrocities under the rug things they should mention every time his name comes up.

[struggle4progress]

52. +

[hrmjustin]

78. Agreed! He is a nice guy, but he did not do a nice thing.

[Cleita]

90. Remember My Lai. Not a nice guy!

[Agschmid]

91. I did not know this happened. Looked it up and it's horrible.

I was born in 1985.

[Cleita]

93. It needs to get out there for those who don't remember or don't know. n/t

[Victor_c3]

139. I consdier myself well versed on My Lai, but I never knew Powell's connection

When I went through the various military training courses assigned to me when I was in the military, they constantly bashed into us what happened at My Lai. The Army, at least now days, took what happened there very seriously and use it as an example for a variety of ethics discussions that I was presented with.

[Cleita]

158. I don't know if Powell still had a command when you

were in the military, but that could explain why they didn't connect him.

[Victor_c3]

164. I was in the Army in one form or another from 1997-2007

From what I understand after my reading, Powell's connection to My Lai was that he made the report that white-washed the incident. I've written a few incident reports and conducted a few investigations while I was in the Army and it could be too easy to find yourself under serious pressure from the top to arrive to a certain conclusion. Not that it was alright, but I could understand.

I only had one very serious event handed to me - a detainee mistreatment incident when I was in Iraq. I did a little bit of preliminary questioning and I quickly found that I was in over my head. I let my commander know and we passed it off to JAG to take care of.

Most of the incident reports and investigations I had to conduct was regarding lost property. I liked to pass the blame up the chain of command to indict someone who outranked me then it became someone else's problem (you aren't allowed to investigate someone if they outrank you in the Army). I always argued that they allowed a command climate to occur in which the person in question was allowed to fail or their actions went un-checked. Everyone at the top always tries to blame the lowest ranking guy possible for whatever mishap occurred. I always argued that if the Sergeants of the Officers appointed over PVT Joe Snuffy provided proper oversight that the incident in question would have never happened. Who in their right mind would assign complete responsibility of a $2,000,000 piece of equipment to a 18 year old kid fresh out of basic training without any real supervision and then be amazed when the kid loses it or breaks it?

[Cleita]

168. Well, I commend you for how you handled those incidents.

Whether Powell was pressured or not, there is a difference about covering up the brutal massacre of a whole village and your dilemma of a mistreated detainee. If Powell had a good character, he would have sacrificed his career before doing what he did, IMHO. Sure they would have found someone else, but if everyone refused then it would have been a different story. It's what the good soldiers did in Nazi Germany. They followed orders. In their case they almost had a better reason because they knew they would be tortured and killed if they didn't follow orders.

I know it's hard to stand in someone else's shoes, but sometimes having a choice of some awful thing on your conscience for the rest of your life vs. a loss in the immediate future would, I believe, make a difference in a man who wanted to be President. I guess maybe the problem is that he doesn't have a conscience. What he did about My Lai, Iran Contra and later the weapons of mass destruction lie that led us into the second Iraq war, shows me a man that shouldn't be in charge of a kindergarten. He can't be trusted to do the right thing above what he considers duty.

[hrmjustin]

97. I never knew he was apart of that.

[kenny blankenship]

131. Powell also helped cover up Iran-Contra

Lying under oath to protect Caspar Weinberger and obstruct a federal investigation:

http://www.salon.com/2000/03/20/powell_3/

[WCGreen]

79. Yes indeed...

He has the blood of hundreds of thousand deaths and maimed on his hands.

He's right up their with all the other mass murderers who went along with what his masters wanted.

[akbacchus_BC]

115. If Obama take this liar into his administration, then he is not

whom I thought he was. Am already sick that Obama sided with Israel and loser Canada (as if we have any importance anymore) at the UN vote. He had a chance to make history but once again, he let it go!

[undeterred]

152. + a brazillion

[alcibiades_mystery]

2. Performance Art, people

Enjoy the crazy dance.

[GoCubsGo]

25. Heh!

I was hoping he'd share what he has been smoking.

[graham4anything]

61. Hey, Ernie Banks is doing a card show in NJ this weekend I think. The Cubs & Mets...

remember Jimmy Qualls messing up Tom Seaver's perfect game back in 1969?

[ProSense]

38. .

[DemocratsForProgress]

4. Powell should be in prison

not in the cabinet of a Democratic president.

[marybourg]

6. +1

[HereSince1628]

40. Twice, once for his complicity in Mai lai cover up and again for lying to the UN

Both of which were lies to the American people.

[DemocratsForProgress]

60. Damn right n/t

[forestpath]

99. +1

[akbacchus_BC]

118. Powell and Condi both, those two caused the worst in the middle east with their lies.

However, I keep asking myself this question .... why did the UN bought their lies. They are all so complicit in crimes against humanity!

Just an opinion, do you think anyone could have invaded the US and hang a President. What the US and its kangaroo court did to Sadaam is not democratic.

US democracy, I have my disbelief!

[demmiblue]

5. Go away. n/t

[Hutzpa]

9. .

[demmiblue]

13. More tenacious than a fruit fly. n/t

[UnrepentantLiberal]

124. And every bit as annoying.

[Squinch]

31. LOL

[ProSense]

41. That's not nice.

[Union Scribe]

135. Amen

That poster is playing a massive, stupid game with this board. One day concern trolling, the next propping up Republicans, the next condemning people who do those very same things. Completely ridiculous.

[NRaleighLiberal]

7. We shouldn't reward liars. n/t

[malaise]

8. He's too old - he'll be 76in April n/t

[akbacchus_BC]

119. Malaise, he should pay for lying and

all the lost of lives. Too old is not an excuse, sorry!

[malaise]

134. Yes he's also a LIAR and a war criminal n/t

[peacebird]

10. Lied to the UN prior to war, and you think the world would trust & respect him? Why?

[cherokeeprogressive]

11. Wow. Are you old enough to remember his WMD presentation to the UN?

You're fucking kidding, right? Should your new screen name be fall4anything?

[Walk away]

12. Watch him lie us into a war where hundreds of thousands of people suffered or died for no reason.

[leveymg]

39. OMG - AN ANTHRAX TRAILER! THEY FOUND IT!

Guess who officially first confirmed the story that his troops had found "biowarfare trailers" in Iraq, but neglected to inform the country that within ten days the gov't had officially found they were weather balloon trucks? For 18 months, this officer and kept that knowledge under his hat and the lie kept growing, with Cheney and Runsfeld were still claiming WMD had been found.

General Integrity, himself. Petraeus.

[Walk away]

94. Another Generalissimo Asshole! nt

[Gold Metal Flake]

14. ...

[SummerSnow]

18. vials if lies..and he got a pass

He should have been exiled after that along with his boss

[LeftyMom]

15. I think you may be forgetting a little thing called the Iraq War. Here, let me remind you:

[joeybee12]

16. Yup, I always think liars and incompetent fools should be rewarded...

Jesus Christ what does the D in DU stand for?

[TheCowsCameHome]

17. Right, only in Powell's case, SOS would mean Singling Out Sadaam.

No way, Jose.

[whistler162]

19. Henry Kissinger is still alive!

[byeya]

22. Chrahst! You nudged me out on the Kissinger thing, you devil!!!

[malaise]

35. Yep any old war criminal will do

[Capt. Obvious]

45. *snort*

[karynnj]

75. I await the OP's post - suggesting that Kissinger is also only a little older than JK

and much younger looking and acting!

[LeftInTX]

85. Power. It's all about power

[byeya]

20. Colin Powell and Henry Kissinger should be the only two people automatically

excluded from the list. Any of the 300 million other Americans would be better choices than the above.

Now to find the best choice...

[marmar]

21. Hell, let's bring Rumsfeld back as Defense Secretary while we're at it.

nt

[LeftInTX]

88. Isn't Dick Cheney a former SOD? Let's bring him back too.

[Laura PourMeADrink]

23. Really....That douche bag liar?

[NICO9000]

24. Uh, hell to the no!

Way too much blood on his hands, my friend.

[graham4anything]

26. Didn't John Kerry vote for Iraq too? If one is being consistent here. Yet so many here want him

As President Obama would not give phony info to Mr. Powell to base his opinion on,
there would be no worry about WMDs in Iran(being that Iran is being left anyhow, it is not on the table at this point).

Purity is not a possiblity in politics.

Absolutes remind me of the tea party.

Seems to me, the #1 concern is not taking a sitting democrat out of office to fill this job.
IMHO of course.

But don't forget- John Kerry and Ron Paul all voted for the war. I know then they didn't.
But the votes are there about that pesky thing called FUNDING.

YES means YES

aboslute NO means NO.

(and people like Dennis Kucinich would never get through the nominating process with today's republicans).

The key also is not to waste too much time and energy and capital once the new term starts in 2013.

edit to change spelling in title from Iran to Iraq

[babylonsister]

28. Kerry voted for Iran? When? And under what circumstances?

How did anyone 'vote for Iran'?

[graham4anything]

34. OOPS typo...or as Alan Jackson sang in "where were you when the world stopped turning"

which was the singular best song about 9-11 and was a very brave position for a popular country singer to take(especially after Dixie Chicks)

"I'm not sure if I can tell you the difference between Iraq and Iran&quot c) Alan Jackson

btw-did you reach for you gun, or watch I love Lucy reruns?
I vote for Lucy reruns.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

48. Alan Jackson had the "singular best song" about 9-11? I think not.

What Would You Do?, by Paris

What would you do if you
Knew all of the things we knew
Would you stand up for truth
Or would you turn away too
And then what if you saw
All of the things that's wrong
Would you stand tall and strong
Or would you turn and walk away

I see a message from the government, like every day
I watch it, and listen, and call 'em all suckas'
They warnin' me about Osama or whatever
Picture me buyin' this scam I said "never"
You in tune to a Hard Truth soldier spittin'
I stay committed gives a fuck to die or lose commission
It's all a part of fightin' devil state mind control
And all about the battle for your body, mind and soul
And now I'm hopin' you don't close ya mind - so they shape ya
Don't forget they made us slaves, gave us AIDS and raped us
Another Bush season mean another war for profit
All in secret so the public never think to stop it
The Illuminati triple six all connected
Stolen votes they control the race and take elections
It's the Skull and Bones Freemason kill committee
See the Dragon gettin' shittier in every city

[CHORUS]

Now ask yourself who's the people with the most to gain (Bush)
'fore 911 motherfuckas couldn't stand his name (Bush)
Now even niggas wavin' flags like they lost they mind
Everybody got opinions but don't know the time
'Cause Amerikkka's been took - it's plain to see
The oldest trick in the book is make an enemy
A phony evil so the government can do its dirt
And take away ya freedom lock and load, beat and search
Ain't nothin' changed but more colored people locked in prison
These pigs still beat us, but it seem we forgettin'
But I remember 'fore September how these devils do it
Fuck Giuliani ask Diallo how he doin'
We in the streets holla 'jail to the thief' follow
Fuck wavin' flags bring these dragons to they knees
Oil blood money makes these killers ride cold
Suspicious suicides people dyin' never told
It's all a part of playin' God so ya think we need 'em
While 'Bin Ashcroft' take away ya rights to freedom
Bear witness to the sickness of these dictators
Hope you understand the time brother cause it's major

[CHORUS]

So now you askin why my records always come the same
Keep it real, ain't no fillers, motherfucka blingin'
Mine eyes seen the gory of the coming of the beast
So every story every word I'm sayin' 'Fuck Peace'
See you could witness the Illuminati body count
Don't be surprised these is devils that I'm talkin' bout
You think a couple thousand lives mean shit to killers?
Nigga I swear to God we the ones - ain't no villans [sic]
Or any other word they think to demonize a country
Ain't no terror threat unless approval ratings slumpin'
So I'ma say it for the record we the ones that planned it
Ain't no other country took a part or had they hand in
It's all a way to keep ya scared so you think you need'em
Praisin' Bush while that killer take away ya freedom
How many of us got discovered but ignore the symptoms?
Niggaz talkin' loud but ain't nobody sayin' shit'
And with the 4th Amendment gone eyes are on the 1st
That's why I'm spittin' cyanide each and every verse
I see the Carlyle group and Harris Bank Accounts
I see 'em plead the 5th each and every session now
And while Reichstag burns I see the public buy it
I see the profilin see the media's compliance
War is good for business see the vicious make a savior
Hope you understand the time brother cause its major

Read more: http://artists.letssingit.com/paris-lyrics-what-would-you-do-jbhxknn#ixzz2Dkvhi7x2
LetsSingIt - Your favorite Music Community

[graham4anything]

55. yes, I remember that from back then, but I am sure Paris (or Chuck D) do not want Jeb Bush in 2016

do they?

[Walk away]

33. So going to the UN and telling endless lies about WMDs is the same as voting yes.

Powell, Cheney and Bush lied to Congress and that is why Congress went along. If Kerry had known the truth I doubt his vote would have been yes.

[Rowdyboy]

27. Did you not notice? We WON the last presidential election. Colin Powell's cowardice cost over 5000

American troops their lives (as well as hundreds of thousands of Iraqis). Fuck him and his master George Bush. And Condi Rice too.

[JackRiddler]

30. I'm for McCain.

We can put in Romney as Chief of Staff, Rumsfeld at Defense, give the CIA to GWB.

(What's the "smiley" for DEAD BECAUSE YOU KILLED ME?!)

[Squinch]

36. Glenn Beck is so measured and sensible. Don't forget to find a place for him on the staff!

[pinboy3niner]

132. Bolton for U.N. Ambassador

And Bachmann to head a new Department of Un-American Activities.

[unhappycamper]

137. And Ghomert for Secretary of Stupid.

[pinboy3niner]

138. ...

"It's like we were dancing, Marty!"

[dionysus]

32. mr anthrax vial? no thanks.

[rock]

37. No

No Shitpublicans.

[Whisp]

42. he's a liar that took part in a mass murder of the Iraqi people.

fuck him. forever.

there is no forgiveness.

[muriel_volestrangler]

43. When you say you are "for anything", you really mean it, don't you?

What with this, and James Carter IV as your suggestions, you appear to be throwing out random names you've read in the news in the past few weeks.

[graham4anything]

47. the name graham for anything is about Sen./Gov. Bob Graham who should have been VP in 2000 and 2004

and on cgcs, my name was Bob graham for VP, but I was forced to change it after
the Chuckie lookalike, the $400 haircut guy became the single worst vp choice ever up to that point(later matched by Sarah Palin).

So it was changed to reflect my desire to have Sen/Gov Bob Graham (BOB not LIndsay) be put into whatever cabinet post would have been available if not VP
(and Kerry himself had said a job was forthcoming had he actually won).
At that time, it just might have been SOS or SOD or AG or something worthy

the now double entendre never dawned on me back then.

And those throwing Kerry out there, are also throwing random names

The obvious and only choice would be Rice, unless one has what Bing Crosby's character in White Christmas said about everyone having an angle,
and/or against Hillary Clinton.

Huntsman would also be a cunning choice.

Wes Clark is 100% qualified, but as Kerry rebuffed him, Clark would probably be seen too much as a slap in the face.

(that reminds me of something...does John Kerry play a direct role in getting whomever President Obama nominates through committee to a general vote?

[karynnj]

83. I think that CGCS started after the 2004 election - so how could you have changed

your name when Edwards was picked. I posted there for a month or two, but found DU - especially DU JK far better - even though the majority of DU at that point was not especially Kerry friendly. ( I also was on the democracy cell project that also had its roots in the Kerry blog - and was a far better space.)

[graham4anything]

92. oops, the OFFICIAL John Kerry board in 2003.

I always considered CGCS the same as the official Kerry board which I joined in 2003, and which became Kerry/Edwards official board in 2004.
(where I had the #2 or 3 most posts of any non-mod after MEM and one other poster who's name I don't recall)
After the election, it almost at once became the spin-off CGCS, same owners/some of same mods.

The admin. on Kerry/Edwards asked me to change my name as it was no longer relevant once JE was picked and as I didn't want to be job specific, I said anything implying any job, not the double entendre one could think it said, which I never thought of til after.)

I was for Bob Graham for Veep(the only one I think on that board who was), many others were for Wes Clark, and all the Clark people were kicked off during that time after being driven across the civility line by the Edwards people in what was with the help of an intercepted email, proven)
Made it look like 90% of the board was pro-Edwards. Some later returned, most didn't.

then CGCS(where I had 80,000 posts)but it up and disappeared overnight last Feb. I think it was and there were only a few Pro-Obama people left on that board. Most were Ron Paul fans or libertarians by that time or who knows what and a couple of people died during the time of that board.It was amazing how overnight it just vanished, and one can't find many traces that it even existed.
(Something to remember if one makes friends or puts info to be remembered in pms only to have it all vanish. Lessons learned.)

Have only run into a few people here from there that i know of.

Before the Kerry board was on the two different Al Gore boards, as I wanted a 2004 rematch, then Howard Dean, then Kerry

Prior to that no online groups but in person campaigning/ protesting, etc. for decades earlier

[graham4anything]

49. I was a major Jimmy Carter fan since day one but I never heard of Lana Del Rey either til 2012

and Dems along with repubs tossed Jimmy Carter shamelessly into the river

Anything to further his resurrection, while he is still alive, is a great thing to me.

Now, of course I never heard much of his grandson before recently. Who would have?

what is your point except to make an insult to me.

Jimmy Carter himself would make a fine choice, however, as John Kerry group fans and others have said Bob Graham is too old, I would hesitate to nominate Jimmy Carter, who though he acts younger than say John Kerry, is a few years older.

(BTW-since when does age play any part in anything? With age comes wisdom.

(or as George Bernard Shaw wrote "Youth is wasted on the young" (and GBS also wrote
the famous line Bobby Kennedy used.)

Before President Obama named Susan Rice, I can't say I ever heard of her either.

Before 2001, I have to say I never heard of President Obama either. Got into him around late 2001 or early 2002
(and I still wore my Obama for President 2004 button this year(YES 2004, not a typo)

sheesh, slap me silly, before 2012, I guess I gotta admit, I never heard of Lana Del Rey either.
Stupid me.
Though I had heard of Lizzie Grant a few years prior.

and I never heard of Carly Rae Jepsen or is it Carly Rae Maybe until this year either.
Though I do remember Raymond J Johnson from the 1960s, but I don't think I would want him for SOS

[karynnj]

69. Jimmy Carter is great, but he not just a few years older than JK, he is 81!

As to acting younger, well, I would say turning in an excellent time - beating Senator Brown's easily - in a 111 mile bike race in the hills of Massachusetts in the Pan Mass bike ride is demonstrating unusual fitness and endurance.

In addition, Carter's middle east polices which would be cheered here are well known and far from Obama's.

I am surprised that you hadn't seen o heard of Rice before, she was prominent on TV for both the 2004 and 2008 campaigns and she was very much in the news as UN ambassador.

Is there anyone other than John Kerry you would rule out?

[graham4anything]

44. the lessons of the past are always lost on democratic purists

witness 1968
witness 1980
witness 2000

bloviate, go backward, blame something that anyone would have done or been forced to do
then go backward and do it all over again

The SOS works for the president. The President does not work for the SOS

And YES, President Obama won- which is why the one and only choice should be Susan Rice and tell them all to f-off.


Thanks to all for making my point.


And sitting senators should be out in public or private campaigning to give their seat to a republican.

[graham4anything]

66. That was the year President Nixon became President Nixon

because "purists" threw the single #1 most liberal social issue president into the river because of Eisenhower's aggression that any and all would have done the same.

That move, to oust LBJ also caused the death of RFK, who would not have run against LBJ
and could have been alive and ran in 1972 and 1976 and had Teddy follow.

Were we better off with Richard Nixon? And later Reagan/Ford/Bush41 bush43 and now Jeb is making noise for Being the third Bush?

All because of jettising LBJ who would have beaten Nixon in a brusing titan vs. titan election IMHO

Winning is all that matters.

and going back and refighting old things is a waste of time.

Forward is the answer. Get someone passed through and get to the important domestic issue that need to be taken care of in 2013-2016.

and also 100% amnesty and quick citizenship.

[graham4anything]

71. 1968 WAS THE YEAR NIXON WON.

it's like in school
when asked to write 100 or more word essay and I wrote a 100,000 words, but all the teacher cared about was that I forgot to dot one I and forgot about crossing a T.

[graham4anything]

82. it's a typo. I never much edit. I Go forward. Edit is backward

if you want, you can hire me one of them million dollar suits to compose writing, like the NRA
has when they deal out professional suit written sound bytes.

[graham4anything]

100. Powell can pass it easily. That is what is important if it is not Rice.

And a new pick needs to be picked and confirmed if Rice is not the choice(though I hope she is). There is no reason it shouldn't be Rice.

but as Bing Crosby said in White Christmas, everybody has an angle, you do, and so do I. Nobody here doesn't.

I am not going to debate Vietnam. That is yesterday.

One can never go back in time, only learn and go forward

Powell is beloved by perhaps 80 or more percent of the public.
and for all intent and puroses, he is retired, so he probably wouldn't answer the call anyhow.

FORWARD.

[WinkyDink]

166. OFGS. Yeah, act like you don't understand common parlance.

[MrSlayer]

50. There is so much fail in this post I'm surprised it doesn't implode.

Powell is a liar and should be in prison for war crimes.

Clooney or Penn would be absurd picks. The President would look like a fool.

Bloomberg has no international diplomatic experience.

This whole post is a fail.

[MrScorpio]

51. You're kidding, right? nt

[lastlib]

56. Not only "no",...

HELL HELL HELL, NO NO NO!!!!!

FUCK that muthah-fuckin' lyin' muthafucker!!! I didn't want that lyin' muthafucker shining Obama's shoes, LET ALONE endorsing him for president! NO WAY IN FUCKIN' HELL do I want him in an important official position ever again. Only place for him is in prison in The Hague for WAR CRIMES!

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . .


(DO I make myself clear???!?)

[truebluegreen]

57. Sick joke.

I mean, Powell did So Well last time around, didn't he? And are you seriously implying that the Democrats don't have the expertise?

[graham4anything]

58. Don't want any sitting senator or governor or in office person to leave their current position

as every senate vote is needed
(i.e. NO to Kerry)

And I don't like Bob Kerrey, so I would never mention him.

Dick Durbin or Tom Daschle would be two fine upstanding people too.
and both are not currently in office.
Ted Strickland too.

I would give it to Gov. Siegelman if his sentence is commuted, but alas, I would think the repubs would throw a sheetfit, don't you?

How about Bill Ayers? or Mark Rudd?

Or Hero Pilot Sully?

[JI7]

67. Durbin IS currently Senator

[graham4anything]

73. oops, meant Gephardt. Always confuse the two

Gephardt was another who was a much better choice than the $400 haircut guy in 2004 vp

[hrmjustin]

84. I agree that Gephardt would have been a better VP choice.

[graham4anything]

101. Remember the NY Post headline that day? Kerry's choice. Dem picks Gephardt as VP candidate

{img][/img]

big oops on their part,but we were the ones crying it wasn't

[hrmjustin]

105. Yes! They had egg all over their faces that day.

[ibegurpard]

59. no

[smokey nj]

62. How about zombie John Foster Dulles? I think he'd be a great pick.

[graham4anything]

74. I would have no regrets picking Edith Piaf

[JVS]

64. A guy who lies constantly? No thanks

[doc03]

65. Absolutely not he was the point man for the Bush Administration

pimping the war in Iraq.

[lumberjack_jeff]

70. Holy non-sequitur, Batman!

Truly? There aren't any male democrats that are worthy of consideration before Colin "I'm quite confident they will find evidence of the presence of chemical and biological weapons and some elements of a nuclear infrastructure. And I think that that's -- there's no question about that in my mind." Powell?

[NYC Liberal]

76. Michael Bloomberg? Colin Powell? Good lord, no.

Bloomberg would do it, yes, but only because his ego and arrogance are too big to let him say no.

[hrmjustin]

86. I am still waiting for him to change the law again to run for a fourth term. I would love to see him

go down to defeat.

[NYC Liberal]

95. I usually agree with him on many issues, but goddamn the guy is an asshole.

He's totally unlikable even when you agree with him. Don't you hate that?

Bloomberg cares only about Bloomberg. He'll do whatever is best for him and support whoever he thinks will help him politically. So I would love to seem him actually lose an election.

Quinn is the favorite next year...according to the polls.

[hrmjustin]

96. I think he will go down as a good mayor, but as one of the most unlikable in history.

I am not thrilled with Quinn, but she will likely win.

[NYC Liberal]

98. I agree.

He is better than Giuliani in the unlikeable department, though. Giuliani was downright nasty and mean; Bloomberg is just arrogant and very much the stereotype of a stuffy billionaire.

I still laugh at the "America's Mayor" stuff about Giuliani; I remember the "FUCK GIULIANI" graffiti everywhere here before 9/11.

[hrmjustin]

102. When they declared Rudy a saint in the media it turned my stomach.

People don't remember how hated he was the day before the attacks. He is still a sleazy guy. Bloomberg is just an ass at times, but he will be considered a good mayor in the end.

[forestpath]

103. This HAS to be a joke.

[smokey nj]

104. No, s/he's serious, sadly.

[Warpy]

106. He most certainly is NOT.

He's not respected around the world, which remembers his lies in front of Congress and at the UN that led to the butchery of Iraq.

Just forget this idea right now. Powell is a military automaton, a fixer who they used to make messes go away. He is not a diplomat and he is not an international negotiator.

Neither one of those bozos you mention has gravitas or anything else. They're just REPUBLICANS.

You want a man who is capable of being SOS, look at Bill Richardson. He's actually done the work that you'd like to pretend that Republicans are capable of and done it well enough to be respected around the planet.

[BillyJack]

107. Ewww.....what a repugnant suggestion.

That man is a disgrace! He's a big time liar....lying has been the highlight of his career on multiple occasions:

He covered up for My Lai and lied about WMD (people were LAUGHING behind him as he made his presentation).

The man is a JOKE!

Not just NO, but "HELL NO"!

[TransitJohn]

108. Is this post fucking serious? You don't remember how willing that Republican fucker is to lie?

Get this lame idea out of here.

[TheKentuckian]

109. Good Lord, Sir!

Have you not a scruple? Not even one?

Is politics nothing but an endless loop of amoral shenanigans to win for no other purpose than grabbing that next ring?

If so, what in the world makes you think all your horse shit moves are winning ones?
Sound like another grand way to step on your own dick to me.

[Overseas]

110. The best alternative pick I've heard so far is AL GORE.

He knows what is most important right now-- worldwide action to reduce carbon emissions very dramatically.

[JackRiddler]

112. Sure, but why do people keep lining up for this punishment.

Didn't we learn from the first term?

Expect Bowles to replace Geithner, Rice for Clinton, Hagel at the Pentagon and some spooky mofo at CIA (or Harman, same thing).

You vote for the least harm and then use the impulse to organize in the neighborhoods and across milieux. Only movements get change. Ten million people marching for a new green economy (or actually building it) is possible. That's in our hands, each of us as one 1 in 10 million. Our happy dream picks for cabinet posts are not in our hands.

[Overseas]

130. Well said.

[graham4anything]

161. I doubt you wanna hear it, but the #1 person who has given billions to enviornment causes is

(oops, I almost don't want to say it, the way the mob here is vilifying everyone)

My meek mayor mike
the bostonian liberal.

but hush now, won't want the #1 environmentalist to get in the way of others good rants

http://www.mikebloomberg.com/index.cfm?objectid=B96D19BD-C29C-7CA2-F72C5EDC3BEDFA6A

Philanthropist

Mike Bloomberg has always believed in the power of philanthropy to change people's lives for the better. Mike's parents instilled the principles of public service and giving back in him from a young age, and those same principles have guided him throughout his life. That's why he has committed so much of his time, energy and resources to the causes he believes in through Bloomberg Philanthropies. To date, he has donated more than $2.4 billion to a wide variety of causes and organizations. In 2011, $330 million was distributed by Bloomberg Philanthropies, placing Mike in the top five of The Chronicle of Philanthropy's list of America's top 50 philanthropists.

Bloomberg Philanthropies refers to all of Mike's charitable activities, including his personal giving and the Bloomberg Family Foundation. Bloomberg Philanthropies works primarily to advance five areas globally: the Arts, Education, the Environment, Government Innovation and Public Health.

-snip---

Environment: Serving as Chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, Mike Bloomberg is working with the world’s largest cities to implement climate mitigation programs that will help reduce their green house gas emissions (GHGs); and an investment in the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign to help eliminate one-third of the nation’s top polluting coal plants by 2020.

snip
snip
snip

[akbacchus_BC]

113. You serious! I hope you jest?

So that effing Colin Powell will go to the UN to make a case to invade Iran? Aren't you tired of shit going on in the middle east? Gawd, colin effing powell, the dog who got Iraq the way it is!

You are not serious.

[Canuckistanian]

114. Nope. The man either has no principles or he's easily duped. Maybe both.

His performance in front of the UN was shameful, spewing propaganda that any sentient being knew was false.

Sure, he sounds reasonable enough in interviews and on a stage. But he's just another paid talking mouthpiece for whoever has power.

[wildbilln864]

116. no! nt

[Fire Walk With Me]

117. He was on record in an interview that Iraq had no significant ability to defend itself

long before that WMD crap came about. That, and he's now taken a cushy job at Time/Warner/AOL, which is majority-owned by the Arabians.

[rDigital]

120. +1 Colin Powell is respected on both sides of the aisle and has a ton of experience. nt

[akbacchus_BC]

121. You here to play but we are not playing!

What experience Colin Powell has except to lie and lie and a country got fucked!

[rDigital]

122. I not here to play. These next 2 years are going to be a PITA for the Democrats in trying

to get anything done with a Republican controlled house. I can't imagine the republicans disparaging Colin Powell. Colin Powell is experienced in international politics. Every little bit helps until we win some midterm elections.
He's also an Obama supporter.

[akbacchus_BC]

123. If you think so, then there is no reason to argue with you!

Troll!

[rDigital]

125. I'm sorry. I'm sure there are better picks, but he's not that bad. Insults are not needed. nt

[akbacchus_BC]

126. I am not insulting you but you have the audacity

to come on here and suggest Colin Power to be a good fit in the Obama administration shows how naive you are.

Colin Power has no place in President Obama's admin, colin power is a liar!

[rDigital]

127. That's fine we both have an opinion on it. I think most every politician is a liar, but the

American public knows him and he's pretty popular regardless of his past indiscretions. Politics make for strange bedfellows. As I stated previously, there are likely better picks out there, but he's an easy one because of his experience and perceived popularity with the public at large.

There's no reason for name calling though.

[akbacchus_BC]

128. I did not call you any name! Howevr, Coliin Powell is a liar!

He caused many atrocities in Iraq to happen all because he went to the UN and lied. If he is your hero, run with it!

[kenny blankenship]

142. Another lying war criminal backing Obama, you say?

Well that makes perfect sense. But maybe Obama should skip over Powell and go right to Henry Kissinger?

[rDigital]

163. You have a valid point. I just don't want Kerry leaving his senate seat. nt

[graham4anything]

144. +2. Finally, somebody without an angle.

and I am mortified on a few other posts(not from the poster I am answering here)
that claim to hate my opinion plus want to shut it up and not debate it
and yet they are spewing the constitution.

while taking an opinion I disagree with.
You don't see me attempting to stiffle their voice.

Makes me think that they don't want a discussion at all, do they?

IMHO

the goal is to get someone seated who is not a sitting senator who's seat, 90% chance would be lost.(and Mass. had two recent gov's who were republicans, and one recent senator.)

Democrats do not do well in special elections the last 3 cycles in big money and name races.

So if Rice ends up being character asssassinated, then Powell would instantly get passed.

I think John kerry needs to instantly make a Sherman for the good of this country.
He is playing with fire (assuming he is behind the whole Kerry for SOS)

and you know, I am not a fan of Bob Kerrey but at this point I would even be okay with him if anyone asked me.
He is friendly with most of everybody, and plays the game well, so he would be passed.
He also was on the 9-11 commission and asked some good questions.

[WinkyDink]

147. So--the TRUTH about Powell is "an angle"??

[graham4anything]

154. Don't like Bush, don't vote for Jeb in 2016. It takes a Clinton to beat a Bush.

You know, its very similiar what Repubs are doing to Rice, with what Dems did to Powell.

He was given info and passed that info on based on what was in that info
Later he did apologize, but it was NOT his info. It was info CHENEY wrote to be given down.
A general follows orders. A general does not disobey orders, or they are fired.

Rice was told the same thing and she gave an answer based on what she was told

What was she suppose to make it up?
Was he suppose to make it up

If you don't like the bush's who fed the info in, then don't vote for Bush

And those who want Kerry do indeed have an Angle.They want kerry.From what various posters here have said, they said he is bored with his job. (WHY???It was only a few years ago he became senior senator, and sheesh, he is bored??? I can't believe Kerry himself said this, but various posters here said something to that effect, that he wants this job
(I picture a little kid stomping up and down and up and down when I heard that gimme the job, gimme the job).LOL

John McCain wants Kerry.John McCain has an angle.
Why? So Scotty Brown can reclaim a seat, and the repubs in 2015 will attempt to impeach but then also oust Obama.

Can it be any clearer what they are trying to do?

Dems and Repubs love Powell. He is highly respected.

Long as our current President don't pass on bad info, like Bush/Cheney did to Powell, then I see no problem.

Odds are great he wouldn't want to get back into a 20 hr. a day job anyhow.
He is retired.

But at least he isn't playing with fire being a sitting senator.

It reminds me of the old canard about a drowning man.
The man is thrown a life jacket and let's it swim away
says, no, God will save me
then a big piece of wood is tossed into the water
and he lets it float away
says, no, God will save me
then a helicopter comes to lift him out of the water
and he says, no, God will save me

then he drowns.

Gets to heaven and says to God, why did you let me drown?
And God says who do you think sent the life jacket, piece of wood and helicopter to you.

Everybody has their version of the truth.
Someone on this thread actually said they liked Eisenhower for some reason.
Yet, google Ike and what happened to German prisoners after the war, and wooo, not very nice. Sounds like war crimes to me.

Opinions vary.

As Powell apologized, that means he apologized.
I grew up learning when one apologizes, that ends it.

I never heard Bush or Cheney apologize.

And again, not going to argue the war in Vietnam. Eisenhower started the action, Kennedy got it bigger. Had he lived, who knows what would have happened, most likely same thing that did.

And why would a Democrat like Ike? For ONE statement he tossed out that had nothing to do with his entire life's work. He was a general. He dealt with general stuff.

but as Obama is NOT Bush (unless you believe Nader for some reason or Ron Paul), why worry about something Obama would not do that Bush did?
Bush is out of office.

The revolution of 2008 that Landslide victory of Obama took Bush out of office, but Jeb is lurking.

Don't like what Bush41 and Bush43 did?

Then make sure to vote for Hillary45 like the majority of Americans will in 2016.
It takes a Clinton or an Obama to beat a Bush.

Hillary was one of the best SOS, as was Madeline Albright.
Neither of whom spent time during Katrina buying boots.

[rDigital]

162. +1 Senate control is 1000 times more important than SOS or any other appointment.

We need the big names to draw more votes in the midterm elections too. Kerry is a lock for MA.

[aquart]

129. That lying POS? NO WAY IN HELL.

[Initech]

133. Well you know what they say - keep your friends close and your enemies closer.

[ToxMarz]

157. Don't remember the part where it said make them Secretary of State.

[FSogol]

136. Powell has no credibility. Did you forget the "weapons of mass destruction" speech that

got the UN to laugh at him?

[Tippy]

141. Powell is a Republican sign sealed and delivered

Why do you think he would be acceptable...How man soldiers, died in Iraq? Enough said...

[Comrade Grumpy]

143. You better go back to the drawing board.

[WinkyDink]

145. Yes, LET'S make a REPUBLICAN WAR CRIMINAL/PERJURER/MY LAI APOLOGIST SoS. NOT.

[Iggo]

146. Colin Powell's a fucking war criminal.

[Lizzie Poppet]

148. "If it's not a female pick..."

Why should that matter in the least? Pick the best person available (and it ain't Colin, but that's not the point of my reply). Their gender is irrelevant. We've had four years of a terrific SoS...but it had nothing to do with her plumbing.

[Ikonoklast]

149. You might want to re-think your position.

Powell is a Neocon enabler, a go-along to get along guy his entire career, a person that would do or say anything he was told to if it garnered the approval af those he was trying to impress, a fraud, a liar, and quite possibly a war criminal.

[pinboy3niner]

150. Absolute WORST pick for SoS

NO President--least of all a Democratic President--should put in that job someone who was so instrumental in justifying the Iraq War, not to mention his whitewash of My Lai.

WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU THINKING?

[robinlynne]

151. besides all the toher reasons, NO REPUBLICANS PLEASE!

Yes I am partisan. for a reason.

[noamnety]

153. He's built his entire career on covering up war crimes.

Right now on DU we have a fair number of people outraged that a rapist is allowed to confess to their crimes and stay a member of this forum.

And then we have this guy who has been directly complicit in lying to protect rapists and murderers on a global scale, and we want to promote him.

It makes my head explode.

[tabasco]

155. DUZY!!

Coward Powell is a scumbag of the lowest order.

[Aristus]

156. Never. That "one little vial" of deadly poison

killed his career. Subsequent attempts at atonement by way of support for President Obama notwithstanding, he's a spent force in American power politics. And deservedly so.

Say 'good night', Colin.

And don't let it hit you...

[stlsaxman]

165. Three Words- the last two are Colin Powell... the first word is FUCK!

he's a liar, enabler and a war criminal.

(maybe THOSE should be the three- okay, four words...?)

[La Lioness Priyanka]

169. no, he is not.

just because he endorsed obama doesnt forgive his years of neo-con politics and support of such.