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View Poll Results: What is the best role for Colin Powell?
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Military commander
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5 |
17.24% |
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Diplomat
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9 |
31.03% |
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Politician (VP or President)
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7 |
24.14% |
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None of the above (please explain)
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8 |
27.59% |
06-13-2004, 18:12
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#1
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Consigliere
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Free Pineland (at last)
Posts: 8,767
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The Colin Powell Poll
Would he be best as a military commander, diplomat or politician (VP or President)? Why?
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Roguish Lawyer is offline
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06-13-2004, 18:35
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#2
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BANNED USER
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Las Vegas
Posts: 368
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Powell has fours years to decide.
IMO, Rice and Powell is the ticket in 2008.
Rice vs. Clinton. Hmm, it has a certain ring.
But lets make Bush/Cheney II happen first.
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Sigi is offline
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06-13-2004, 18:45
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#3
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
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IMHO, GEN Powell was not a particularly gifted general officer. He was promoted to GEN over many other general officers after serving in politically connected positions. He was, however, a "team builder" who worked to resolve the political aspects of military decisions. Unfortunately, he was one of the (if not the primary) advisors who sold Bush 41 on ending Desert Storm with Sadaam still in power. Bad call. We should have overtly supported the Shias and Kurds in their revolts.
His tenure as Secretary of State has been marked by controversy as a member of an administration he has significant disagreements with. While he appears to be a team player, leaks have emerged, to include inappropriate comments in front of the media. He has consistently failed to unite our allies and gain their support for our policies. He would have fit much better in a Democratic administration than in a Republican one, but is not a bad Sec State, nevertheless.
As a potential President or VP, Powell appears to me to be a Democrat essentially everywhere except for the line where he states his political party. While he could be a powerful VP candidate, what would happen in four years when he would be a likely Presidential candidate? I do not think that Powell's positions on a number of key issues would resonate with the conservative Republican base, and the fact that he is an avowed Republican could keep many blacks from voting for him. His candidacy would be a short term fix but a long term nightmare. He would still be better on the ticket than Cheney, who should be the White House Chief of Staff.
Now Rice, I could support!
Just a few thoughts.
TR
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The Reaper is offline
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06-13-2004, 19:02
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#4
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Area Commander
Join Date: Feb 2004
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TR : Those are some interesting thoughts. In a way, it sounds like you described IKE.
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Sdiver is offline
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06-13-2004, 19:06
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#5
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Quiet Professional
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Quote:
Originally posted by Sdiver
TR : Those are some interesting thoughts. In a way, it sounds like you described IKE.
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I always thought Ike was pretty conservative, domestically and in his foreign policy.
TR
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"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat." - President Theodore Roosevelt, 1910
De Oppresso Liber 01/20/2025
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The Reaper is offline
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06-13-2004, 19:20
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#6
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Area Commander
Join Date: Feb 2004
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Quote:
Originally posted by The Reaper
I always thought Ike was pretty conservative, domestically and in his foreign policy.
TR
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More so than Powell ?
Granted times are MUCH different now, than when IKE was in office.
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Sdiver is offline
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06-13-2004, 19:55
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#7
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Quiet Professional
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Never had much respect for Powell. He was too political to be a good leader but just political enough to be a General Officer. Of course I have never had much use for most generals and can think of only a handful that I thought were worth a damn.
Don't have a lot of use for the DOS either based on my dealings with them over the course of my career, but I really have no way to evaluate the effectiveness of Powell as the head of what I consider to be a whole lot like that feckless peace corps.
As far as president, the lad is a closet democrat.
Jack Moroney
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Jack Moroney (RIP) is offline
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06-13-2004, 20:20
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#8
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BANNED USER
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Quote:
Originally posted by Jack Moroney
As far as president, the lad is a closet democrat.
Jack Moroney
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From what I hear from conservatives, the Bush administration is closer to Democrats than most past conservative Administrations.
Most Democrats say the current Administration is taking the country further Right than it has ever been.
Not to ignore JM's reference to Powell, I simply wanted to point out the discrepency between both camps.
Republicans do not think he is right enough, and Democrats think he is right of Ganghis Kahn. LOL.
Sorry for the hijack. Is this what we are experiencing politically today?
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Sigi is offline
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06-13-2004, 23:30
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#9
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Asset
Join Date: May 2004
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I love Powell, although he's more liberal than I am, he is my inspiration. I've read his autobiography twice. His career has been stellar, he's brilliant, polished, and most of all he loves this country to no end. He's measured in his decisions, he's a very effective uniter, and I believe he has a record just as good or better than any former president. I love W, but let's face it, his prior record can't hold a candle to Powell's. A Rice/Powell ticket would never work, America's not ready for that yet. But, I think he'd make a great president or vp.
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tache18x is offline
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06-14-2004, 00:35
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#10
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Guest
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I met Colin Powell a long-time ago, when I was just a 2d Lieutenant. From that brief meeting and conversation, I will say this:
Colin Powell is an extremely smart man, and he is a leader.
I feel is a better diplomat than military man, and I also feel he is a better diplomat than most diplomats... and that may very well be directly linked to his military experience. He knows when to cut the BS and just say how it is.
Although I don't agree with him politically in many areas, I do think he is a man of character, and I respect him. Yes, he has made mistakes. So have we all.
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06-14-2004, 09:32
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#11
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Quiet Professional
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Texas
Posts: 514
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I voted none of the above.
His orientation towards multilateralism and consensus at all costs disinclines me to believe he would be desirable in any of the above roles.
I agree with The Reaper's assessment of him on all counts.
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D9 (RIP) is offline
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01-14-2005, 14:47
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#12
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Gun Pilot
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Iowa and New Mexico
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Just found this thread.
I had a good friend Dennis P H., Dennis served in SF in Oki before he graduated flight school with me in 65. He worked for Powell, I think in Berlin when Powell was a 2Lt, he wasn't too impressed with him at that stage of his military career.
One instance he related; Dennis was a squad leader acting PSG, and he had a real douchebag in his platoon, the kid was always messing up thus getting everyone else in trouble. He was tired of his platoon being restricted to barracks on the weekends because of this kid, he tried everything possible to square the kid away, to no avail. So he conducted a "blanket party", this was many years ago and that probably wouldn't work today...Well it really incensed 2Lt Powell, he wanted Dennis's stripes, he didn't get them but he never forgave Dennis, either.
Terry
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CPTAUSRET is offline
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01-14-2005, 19:10
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#13
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Kia ora, bro
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Location: New Zealand
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But on the flip side, he was a brand new LT, I'm sure there must have been many 2LT's who haven't learned at first but got their act together later on?
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Huey14 is offline
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01-15-2005, 00:24
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#14
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Gun Pilot
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Location: Iowa and New Mexico
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Sure, just giving a little insight.
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CPTAUSRET is offline
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01-15-2005, 01:22
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#15
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Quiet Professional
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Quote:
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Don't have a lot of use for the DOS either
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Can I be your medic?
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Somewhere a True Believer is training to kill you. He is training with minimal food or water, in austere conditions, training day and night. The only thing clean on him is his weapon and he made his web gear. He doesn't worry about what workout to do - his ruck weighs what it weighs, his runs end when the enemy stops chasing him. This True Believer is not concerned about 'how hard it is;' he knows either he wins or dies. He doesn't go home at 17:00, he is home.
He knows only The Cause.
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NousDefionsDoc is offline
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