Colin Powell endorsement of Obama !

Many people say that endorsements don't matter, but I think this one is a biggie. Powell is such a well respected republican.  He said McCain's negative attacks are very troubling.  He feels Obama shows the intellectual,calm, patient leadership this country needs.    
So what do you think ??????

[avisg]

There is someone I would vote for!!!!!!!!!  Powell for president!!!!!!!!

[avisg]

can we write him in on the ballot  LOL

[allaboutmary]

If he would run it would be a landslide.  It really would bring the country together, republicans and democrats would vote for him.

[newgirl2708]

He's the one i wanted...

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

I think that Colin Powell put the final nail in McCaines coffin this morning. He is too well respected and intelligent to be suckered into something that isnt genuine to him........

[HelpinUtah]

I have wanted Powell to run for President as well!!! He'd be wonderful!!! I admire him more than most people in politics.  He has character and ethics!  Gosh, I wish he would have run!!!!

[lovepat906]

eagle- Agreed.
His endorsement puts the lie to all the "be very afraid" tactics that have been the McCain campaign's primary tactic. Colin Powell is a steadying influnce and I hope this endorsement helps calm people who have been made fearful of an Obama presidency- should it come to pass...

[minlb]

it dosent matter to me, i decided i will vote for Obama in may and that is it for me
Collin Powel was part of the 1st bush admin. and he lost his credibility imo

[hopsing94]

I have lost my respect for Powell. I cannot believe people are going to vote for someone who will not pledge his allegience to the flag of The United States of America. Someone who wants to take guns away from the American people. Someone who wants to turn this country into a socialist country. I'm sorry but if I earn my money it is my money to spend it the way I want to not the way the goverment wants to. The economy crisis has been caused by the Democrats since they took office two years ago. Correct me if I'm wrong ( which i'm not ) but the first 6 years of the Bush administration was very good economy wise. The housing bust is the result of the Dems forcing banks to give loans to unqualified buyers. Obama will destroy this country, he is the enemy here. I really wish people would wake up and see him for what he really is. He has lied over and over and over but people just don't seem to care. Why won't he provide a birth certificate to prove his citizenship. He wants the American people to hire him as president and he will not answer tough questions and prove to us where he was born. Wake up people!!!!!

[cathy5841]

you said it hops...it is the dems fault...why cant ppl see it?

[HelpinUtah]

Hops:
The Bush administration has been warning about this crisis since 2001.  It was a Republican congress then and they ignored him too.  I believe both parties are to blame.  Bush tried to warn and warn and warn and he was ignored.  It all started back in 1992 when Clinton and the dems started pushing the banks to lend to everyone regardless of credit history, amount of money earned, etc.  He believed everyone deserved to own a home.  There is plenty of blame to go around.  Both parties should be ashamed of themselves.  But, having said that, we are in for some worse times ahead when Obama becomes President!  We won't have more of the same - but much worse!

[nuredshuz]

I agree with you hops.....you sure said it well.......we are in deep trouble if he becomes the president.....his views and his policies are totally anti life....anti freedom....anti America.....we need to get on our knees before God and BEG Him to not allow Obama to become our next President

[sterling_silver]

It is well known that Obama has had secret meetings with you know who.In his first month in office, he intends to sell Texas to Mexico to pay down our debt. I wouldn't move yet, cuz he probably wont win.

[allaboutmary]

It's all the democrat's fault.......your joking ..right.    Ya think even if the democrat's (Clinton) started the everyone should own a house thing, maybe after Bush's 8 years and congress's 6 years they might have done something. No they didn't because too many of their bud's were filling their pockets full of money. Republicans had a chance, with a repub. president and repub congress, but they did nothing. The republicans are the ones that don't want regulations.  We know now that regulations are a MUST, or people get greedy.

[kingdale3]

you are the only one who has actually hit the nail on the head. the issues are way to long to list as to why "that one" shouldnt be president. if mc cain had done half of what barak hussein obama has done, the media would be all over it. unfortunatly all they can do is TRY and find dirt on sarah palin(which they havent found). i am sorry i cannot vote for a "man" that does not salute the flag during the national anthem, and has a terrorist for a friend(among other dispicable friends). ALL of the obama supporters are nothing but sheep that are following thier false prophet of the edge of the cliff.

[kingdale3]

oops i forgot to answer the question. yes mccains ads are negative. they need to be. he has hasnt said anything that is not true. if they could the other side would be posting negative ads on john mc cain but there isnt anything. the best they can come up with is that he wants the same as george bush, which is not true. john mc cain is his own person. barak obama wants to be the president to feed his own ego. john mc cain wants to be president to serve his country. "allaboutmary" is wrong. democrats and republicans alike will not vote for powell now. he only endorsed obama because of the prospect of a job.

[allaboutmary]

Where do you people get your information ?   Obama doesn't salute the flag.  This is bull **** and if you would bother to check into anything instead of just believing what you hear.  Talk about taking lambs to their slaughter.  You probably believed all of the Bush/Cheney fear mongering.  Wake Up ! Smarten Up and check your facts !

[allaboutmary]

An it wasn't Obama involved in the fist dirty dealings with the banks. It was McCain in the Keating Five. That is a fact.  You want to compare that to Obama serving on the same Colllege board with Ayers.    

[kingdale3]

i have seen it with my own eyes. would you like the website that has it?

[kingdale3]

mc cain has been exonerated for that. in case you dont know the definition "Exoneration occurs when a person who has been convicted of a crime is later proved to have been innocent of that crime."

how about reverend wright? how about rezco? how about the fact that he promotes solcialism which is in line with his radical friends? reverend wright, who obama said was his spiritial mentor, believes in the taechings of "Cone" black liberation theology. look it up.

[lovepat906]

Kingdale-
I would be more than happy to post links that refute your every statement. But it would be a waste of  time.You are determined to believe the tabloid, unsubstantiated, unfounded tabloid garbage that radical McCain/ Palin supporters are spewing-  and that is your right.But don't think for a minute that you will convince thinking voters with it. It is a major turn off. I can only hope this election will finally bury slimey Rovian politics for good and restore civility and honor to the electoral process. I'll get down on my knees and pray for that!
For anyone who wants verifiable facts- not inflammatory opinion- I suggest you fact check. Snopes.com and factcheck.org are both non-partisan sites that provide validation for or debunk claims from both sides. There are other reputable organizations as well.
A warning for the wise: if you go to a site and the writers, owners, organizers are anonymous- it's cowardly drivel. If the authors are identified- google them to find out who they are and it will shed great light on the "information" they provide.

[HelpinUtah]

It's been said that snopes.com and factcheck.org are partisan in favor of Obama.  I'm just saying what I've been hearing.  Whether it's true or not - but so far the media hasn't been willing to report anything negative about Obama, but blast McCain and Palin any chance they get.  

Personally, we are all in for a RUDE awakening when Obama becomes President.  I will support him if he wins because it's the American thing to do, but mark my words it won't be long before we see the REAL Obama.  Then God help us!  I hope and pray I'm wrong!  

[toxictome]

What do you know that I don't?

Please enlighten me...what IS the REAL Obama?

[lovepat906]

I am glad Utah that you are suspicious of what you "hear". My grandmother- God rest her soul, used to say "Don't believe anything you hear and only half of what you see!" That's why I search relentlessly for valid corroboration of anything that is put out there as fact.
There is absolutely no reliable validation that either of those sites are anything but non-partisan. If you look you will see debunking on both sides. Just because some do not like the facts doesn't mean they are not true or their verification is false. And just because someone wants to believe unfounded information doesn't make the debunking illegitimate.
I will also support the President elect- whoever he may be. We have too many problems that need to be addressed to be a divided nation. I can only hope that the hate, fear and ugliness can be stuffed back into pandora's box after the people have spoken.

[HelpinUtah]

I was just listening to a radio show and there were some Cuban Americans that called into the show.  One said he was 18 when he moved to America.  He said when he was in Cuba, the same things that Obama is saying are the exact things that Castro said during his campaigns.  He said that now Cubans are in horrible situations.  I am only saying what I heard him say.  Another one called stating the same things.  Only she said that they tried to convince their friends in Venezuela not to vote for Chavez - because Chavez was also stating the same stuff in his campaign as Castro.  She said that her community is getting very nervous about Obama as President based on that information.  That made me stop and think a little more.  I hope they are wrong!!!!

Like I said before, if Obama is elected I will support my President.  I just hope he doesn't lead us down the same road as Castro and Chavez.  I am hoping and praying that my gut feelings about Obama are wrong!!!

[laurel453]

that is not true. Obama has nothing to do with castro or chavez and i know very well about them because i come from spain ( southern europe)  but my god....don't get yourself mislead by this intoxicating information and lies about obama.

also, Obama does not mean socialism, no way. it has nothing to do with iit.

but in any case, i'm currently living in a country with a socialist government and i can swear to all of you that i have/keep the same freedom i had with the right party's government  we had before this one....nobody has to share any private wealth, no creativeness is censored or freedom of speech ( as i have read in some journals...) ...and you can live as well as with other ideas in my country while having this socialist govrnment, they are useless in many economic terms, but this is not the case with you as you have the useless people in economic terms just in the other side with bush....... And it is just the same with the rest of the european countries ....( i'm not talking about countries behind the so callled iron curtain..i mean west europeans countries...)

so please, vote whatever you feel...but don't get intoxicated by these lies..

[laurel453]

and no, i didn't vote this socialist party in my country  ( just in case  you were asking ....  :)

[HelpinUtah]

I respect your feelings and opinions.  I'm just not sold on Obama.  Why would people in the cuban community say these things, unless they believed what they were saying.  My MIL grew up as Hitler's youth and she told me once how charismatic Hitler was and how he fooled everyone.  I'm NOT saying Obama is a Hitler, but I am saying that people have been fooled before due to the candidates charisma and promises.  I just don't buy into Obama's promises.  I do believe he wants to change America and her Constitution for the worse.  Like I said, these are my opinions and feelings based on my observations of his speeches and the things he says.  

At the same time, I believe everyone has a right to be heard and the freedom we have allows us to vote how we like and see things the way we see them.  

I will support Obama if he is the next President, which I believe he will win.  But, I pray like I said above that I'm wrong!  

[kingdale3]

i just want everyone to know that I have seen in videos, barak obama NOT saluting the flag during the national anthem, while Bill Richardson and Hillary Clinton stand right next to him saluting the flag. I SAW IT!!!!! noone told me about it. i saw it.

i heard with my own ears barak obama saying that he wanted to, and i quote, "spread the wealth around". thats socialism. I HEARD IT!!!!!! none told me about it. i heard it.

i heard barak obama say with my own two ears, that we were "air-raiding villages and killing civilians" in iraq. i heard the interview before and after the comment, so saying that it was taken out of context, is not correct. plus the fact, that you should never say anything like that about our brave men and women over there in any context, is horrible. I HEARD IT!!!!!! none told me about it. i heard it.

i have no idea why people keep saying that there is hate in stating facts. i have heard these things. i do not hate any man, woman or child. God, tells me not to. i am telling you, that barak obama has some serious issues with his judgement and it scares me to think that anyone who is in charge of our country, would have that much lack of judgement. he is not proud of our country. he wants to "CHANGE" it. i know that you will argue that he only wants to change from George Bushs' policies, but again i have heard with my own two ears, the things he wants to change about our country.

vote for whom you like. i am just stating facts over what i have heard and seen with my own two eyes and ears. it sounds as if there are some of you in this site that might be angry with my opinions and what i have seen and heard. I am not mad at you. i know there are reasons why you believe in him. i just dont agree.

on a side note: have you noticed that in this election there are more people that have thier minds closed and thier mouths open on both sides(me included) than in any other election.

[laurel453]

yeah, i also respect what your feelings and opinions are, please and be sure that  i was not saying you were  wrong in supporting whoever you do, it's ok for me, helpin ( for sure i do respect you and your vote and believings...

and  pls, do not worry because i would never dare to think you were making any comparison between Hitler and Obama . Of course i understand that you could not be making any comparison at all between Obama with Hitler with your exmple because i know we would all agree there is no comparison possible at all between them, it was a way of speaking, yeah, i know,  but may i tell you something?

here we learn that fears are not facts and about your example,  well, countries have been misled and mistrusted by non at all charistmatic leaders as well. You know that History, sadly, is full of both ways...

and finally,  you were asking yourself about  their other possibly  intentions  in those cubans opinions you had listened.....Yeah, you were right for askinfg about other motives..... Well  , i can give you the best reason and motive  that move most of the cuban fanatism in florida: ask yourself  now about whose party is going to support them "best"  in their personal battle against Castro and you've got your answer...( besides bush administration owes all to florida, remember too ),. That's all, they are doing  the same since exile, helpin...They put their own interest first, not the usa interests, believe me, helpin. And they are this selfish  at this pòint because they want to govern cuba as soon as castro dies ( and he  will  die really soon.... hope so too ) .

hummm... and by the way, when is the day ?  :)

[allaboutmary]

Utah......Florida is like little Havana. My sister is (was) married to a Cuban and we talk and deal with Cuban Americans every day.  None that I know of feel this way about Obama. Actually most of them hate Bush.  Things are changing here, most Cubans are voting democratic this year.
I'm not doubting what you heard on the radio. I just wanted to let you know that it's not at all what I'm hearing here in little Havana. lol

[owhatamistake]

Bush isn't running. :-)

[laurel453]

but i'm not wrong if bush and macain are both of the same party, republican party, i think... am i ? :)

yeah, allabout , i think you're right and  little havana has changed . There are many people  really fed up of those fanatics, that is why i used the word fanatism, you see...

[kingdale3]

but if you anything about either Mc Cain or obama they are both further left then any other presidential candidate in history. meaning Mc Cain is not in line with Bush.

[kingdale3]

let me repost that:

but if you know anything about either Mc Cain or obama they are both further left then any other presidential candidate in thier particular party in history. meaning Mc Cain is not in line with Bush.

[owhatamistake]

You're right...McCain and Bush are both Republicans.  It just gets tiring to hear the argument that people hate Bush when speaking of McCain.  McCain himself had to remind Obama that he wasn't George Bush.

[laurel453]

yeah, he is not G. bush  :)

[owhatamistake]

I agree!

[laurel453]

hummm maybe even me could agree   :)  haaha

[kingdale3]

someone out there that actually agrees with me. FINALLY!!!    haha

i thought i was the only one out there.

[owhatamistake]

You are not alone. LOL....and I'm glad to not be alone either. LOL!

[lovepat906]

Just a amusing tidbit. I work in a school in a conservative county that traditionally votes a straight Republican ticket. This morning I happened to be in the office for the daily Pledge of Allegiance and the playing of the National Anthem. In the office were at least 7 adults other than myself- most of whom have made their preference for McCain clear. Now here'is the interesting part, While everyone put their hand over their heart for the pledge no one but myself kept it there for the anthem. Afterwards I asked the group if anyone knew if it was proper flag etiquitte to have hand on heart for the anthem. None of them seemed to know! So.My point is that there are apparently many folks who stand quietly and respectfully without hand on heart for the anthem. I would NEVER accuse these people of being anti- American or unpatriotic.

[lovepat906]

As for the socialism accusation: When you put Obama's comments to Wurzelbacher  in context, you will see that "Joe" brought up a flat tax, "Obama responded by endorsing progressive taxation – the principle of taxing those with higher incomes at a higher percentage than those with lower incomes. And it is in that context that Obama said he wanted to "spread the wealth."

Progressive taxes do indeed spread the wealth a bit. But they do so much more modestly than government owning the means of production ( Socialism).

Few serious policy makers — including McCain — consider progressive taxation socialist. In fact, on the Oct. 26, 2008 edition of NBC's Meet the Press, McCain stood by a comment he made in 2000 that "there's nothing wrong with paying somewhat more" in taxes when you "reach a certain level of comfort."

"You put into different, different categories of wealthier people paying, paying higher taxes into different brackets," McCain told host Tom Brokaw, as if to say progressive taxes are a no-brainer.

Indeed, progressive taxation has been a cornerstone of American tax policy since the federal government first collected an income tax in 1863. It was based on the Tax Act of 1862, which President Abraham Lincoln signed, and which imposed a "duty of three per centum" on all income over $600, and five percent on income over $10,000.

So no, Obama's tax increase on those making more than $250,000 would not represent a transformation of the U.S. system of government. His desire to "spread the wealth" through progressive taxation makes him no less a capitalist than McCain, or Lincoln. Palin's allegation that Obama wants to "experiment with socialism" seems designed less to inform than to inflame." www.politifact.com

Ask ourself this: Whay would Warren Buffet and three fromer secretaries of the treasury- ALL avowed capitalists endorse a socialist? It is nonsensical

[lovepat906]

PS: McCain has voiced the "CHANGE" mantra all during his campaign. Does that mean that he TOO is "not proud of our country."?????

[lovepat906]

As far as "air-raiding villages and killing civilians" in iraq: I think you can find actual news archives of that taking place- it has been termed " collateral damage" in the war on terror. It is not intentional but an unfortunate reality of war in a populated country,
I have searched and cannot find the interview wherein  Obama makes that remark. Could you post a link so that we can also consider the context?

[lovepat906]

More on " socialism" to consider.

Here's Teddy Roosevelt- a McCain hero:
“The man of great wealth owes a peculiar obligation to the State, because he derives special advantages from the mere existence of government,” Roosevelt declared in 1907. “Not only should he recognize this obligation in the way he leads his daily life and in the way he earns and spends his money, but it should also be recognized by the way in which he pays for the protection the State gives him.”

"That’s why Roosevelt supported a graduated inheritance tax as well as the 16th Amendment to the Constitution, which allowed the federal government to collect personal income taxes. But let’s be clear: Roosevelt was no socialist. Indeed, progressive taxation was often put forth as an alternative to socialism. In a time of growing economic inequality and labor unrest, supporters said, only a tax on the rich would stave off revolution.

And McCain wasn’t a socialist, either, when he advocated progressive taxation back in 2000. “I don’t think Bill Gates needs a tax cut. I think you and your parents do,” McCain said, during his battle with George W. Bush for the Republican presidential nomination. Mocking Bush’s calls for across-the-board tax relief, McCain underlined just who would be relieved: the rich. “We give the millionaire a $2,000 refund,” McCain explained. “Governor Bush gives him $50,000.”

Fast-forward to this year’s campaign, and we find a very new McCain. Rather than rejecting Bush’s tax cuts, like Roosevelt would, McCain wants to make them permanent. Even more, McCain and his backers now deride anyone who disagrees with them as a “tax-and-spend liberal,” or, yes, as a socialist.

At a rally earlier this month in Wisconsin, one McCain supporter condemned Obama and House speaker Nancy Pelosi as “hooligans.” He went on to grumble that “socialists are taking over our country.” McCain nodded appreciatively, and later said that the speaker was right.

He isn’t. Teddy the Rough Rider knew that, a century ago, insisting that well-to-do Americans should pay more than the rest of us. And John McCain knew it, too, until he rode roughshod over Roosevelt’s memory. If you demand progressive taxation in 1907, you get your face carved onto Mount Rushmore. But if you advocate the same thing in 2008, you’re an enemy of hard-working plumbers. Go figure."


• Jonathan Zimmerman teaches history and education at New York University. He is the author of “Innocents Abroad: American Teachers in the American Century.”

[lovepat906]

Modern custom does not require a hand over the heart, said Anne Garside, director of communication for the Maryland Historical Society, home of the original manuscript of the Star-Spangled Banner. “I think the bottom line is that you show respect with your demeanor,” she said. “Whether you put your hand over your heart, hold your hat at shoulder level or waist level, is really in this day and age irrelevant.”

[HelpinUtah]

Lovepat:
I suppose that could be true about the national anthem and hand over hearts, but I have NEVER been in a situation where the national anthem has been played that one person did not put their hand over their heart.  Every single time I have witnessed it - all involved put their hand over their heart.  I suppose it just depends on where you live or what situation you are in I guess.  However, I do not think someone is unamerican if they do not put their hand over their heart.  I'll give Obama that.  

But, you know how I feel about him otherwise!  :)  

[allaboutmary]

Utah....I know you were responding to Lovepat, but I just have to ask..... Yes , I know you are not voting Obama, and that's your choice.  You say...you pray he doesn't get elected...and if he does the real Obama will come out.....   Please just help me here , I'm just trying to understand.  I still don't know exactly what it is you disagree with...??? Or what you think the real Obama will do ?   Is it his plan for health care ?   Is it that he wants to let the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy expire ? Is it because he wants to help the middle class out of this mess, instead of the rich, big business's that have stuffed their pockets for the past 8 years?  Is it because he want to cautiously get us out of an unjust war in Iraq , that's costing us billions of dollars (we don't have)?  Is it because he's extremely intelligent and a great speaker ?  Just trying to understand what has turned you off to Obama.

[lovepat906]

I agree Utah. I think it might be cultural or regional. I know you are a life long conservative so I appreciate your respectful consideration of my candidate. I remind everyone that I have been nothing but respectful of Sen. McCain. I have not called him a liar or a warmonger or un-American. I have not subjected him to insult or passed on mean- spirited  opinion. The ugly robo-calls, the viral e-mails, the anonymous, undocumented " scare" tactics are just not acceptable to me- and I hope to every thinking voter. It is everyone's right to vote for the candidate who best represents their views on the issues. I just get a little crazed when people post that their vote is predicated on baseless ( or worse) propaganda. To that end I would like to pass on the folowing  non partisan fact check sites:
www.snopes.com  
www.factcheck.org  
www.politifact.com    
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/     http://www.pbs.org/mediashift/2008/09/political-fact-check-sites-proliferate-but-can-they-break-through-the-muck268.html  

[HelpinUtah]

Mary:

I have expressed my concerns about Obama previously.  Let's just say that I disagree with most of his policies and ideologies.  I do believe he has an agenda that does not fit in line with America.  He is charismatic, but I feel that he has very little substance. I do not agree with any of his plans for this country.  McCain better suits my ideology.  Like I've said before, he wasn't my choice for the conservative nominee, but he's fits my needs and ideas better than Obama.  Obama's tax plans to take from the rich and give to the poor, just won't work.  The scrutiny that poor Joe the Plumber has received since he asked Obama an honest question is horrible!  I feel so badly for him - he simply asked a question that Obama's people did not like. All Obama will do is send big corporations to other countries and there will be very little jobs left in America.  Yes, we have small businesses that can come back, but most won't be able to fill the need for all those jobs that are lost.  I won't say more than that out of respect for Obama supporters.  I've given my opinions before.  

I will say that I think Obama is going to win the election, and it does sadden me.  But, like I said before, I will support him as the President and give him the respect due to anyone in that position.