I never bought the claptrap about Colin Powell being able to run and win from the Republican Party. Times may have changed a bit since '96 but whites routinely overstate their support for black candidates. But at one time I had a great deal of respect for Powell. I appreciated the way he stood strong for Affirmative Action in the heart of the Republican National Convention, revealing attacks against it for what they were.
And in his position as Secretary of State I've often thought that he was the only one between us and an extinction-level event. But when he was pimped on the national stage...making claims that he had to have known were not only false but were falsiFIED, I lost it. Sidney Blumenthal over at
On one hand this is definitely Old School. "I thank whatever Gods may Be, for my Unconquerable Soul."
But on the other? That extinction-level event looms large for me. I don't even think Powell's character would allow him to critique the current policies of the Administration after he retired. And this is problematic for me.
Where is Affirmitive Action at? Where can I sign up for it. Nobody that I know even knows where to get Affirmitive Action at.
Those who champion getting rid of it use it as a smoke screen. To be quiet honest, it could go away tommorrow and the modern black person wouldn't even notice.
Posted by: John at January 10, 2004 02:13 AMI think his stances on the issues you bring up (as well as his stance on Affirmative Action) is an indirect reason why he's receiving the cold shoulder from circles within the White House. That is, I'm willing to bet that the moderates/liberal wing of the GOP (which has the same approximate stances Powell does) is much less likely to support proactive military action, and a strong unilateral approach.
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John you're both right and wrong. Affirmative Action is being neutered as we speak...but it still exists. I know I benefit from it. But you're right in that I'd say the AVERAGE modern black person would probably not notice. I don't think my youngest brother has ever received a single solitary benefit from Affirmative Action...unless we count the benefits he gets from being my brother (access to professional networks, etc.).
Thanks to the both of you for reading, and commenting.
Which is what we need to prevent an extinction level event. I don't forsee an individual terrorist having the capabilities of significantly altering life on our planet as we know it. However I can easily imagine a state afraid of being hit first either striking without warning, engaging in a coalition to strike, or arming terrorists on the down low. Multilateralism combined with a strong defense of our borders works I think.
Posted by: Lester Spence at January 10, 2004 05:42 PM
I just found your blog yesterday and enjoy reading it. I disagree with most of your politics but your point of view on the Black/White divide and your links are interesting.
Posted by: Daniel Day at January 9, 2004 11:19 PMI am a conservative/libertarian white male 49 y.o.
Colin Powell favors gun control and access to abortion. This had put him in the minority in the RP on two critical issues well before his waffling on the war on terror.
I share your concern about an extinction-level event. What should we do to prevent it?