Bush/Powell Ticket In '04...(?)

[chiburb]

Yesterday I saw a crawl on CNN that said 90% of Americans think "highly" of Powell. Given that Cheney will likely be a liability in '04, and as has been speculated here many times, Rove has to dump him (for health reasons), will the VEEP spot be Powell's reward? Wouldn't that be a "dream" ticket for them? Wouldn't that siphon off some of the African-American vote (presumed) from our ticket? Especially since it sets Powell up to be President in '08?

I see a much tougher row to hoe for ANY of our candidates against Bush/Powell. Tell me why I'm wrong...

[maddezmom]

1. actually think he'll step down

and maybe use his recent health problem as an excuse. JMO

[reachout]

2. I don't think it will happen

The Republicans count on too many deeply racist people voting for them to risk alienating their base like that. Let's face it, they built a lot of their modern strength by pulling away Dixiecrats opposed to civil rights.

[chiburb]

7. I would agree except...

Powell has proven to 'transcend' race. Besides, what you lose in Confederate Flag votes you pick up in traditional Democratic votes...

[WhoCountsTheVotes]

17. No, it very well might happen

Powell is very popular in the South, and popular among Republicans and independents. Powell would make Bush *very* hard to beat.

[YNGW]

3. One reason Is...

Cheney's gonna be in the ticket. I haven't heard any reasonable explanation to make me think otherwise.

I think Powell in '08 may be a move they'll take. First major party to nominate an African-American. Looks good on the resume'.

[chiburb]

6. That's why I think it'll happen in '04...

They can't afford to take ANY chances at losing the WH. The bloom is off Cheney, and the possibility of the 1st African-American Veep (in line for the presidency in '08) is too tempting to resist.

[Silverhair]

15. True. Bush has already committed himself publicly to Cheney in 04. n/t

[AlinPA]

4. I have been saying this for two years.

Powell would make the ticket almost impossible to beat. This hurts me to say it.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

5. Cheney has been confirmed by Bush

in fact, he's the only confirmation Bush has made. That being said I don't believe Powell would take the offer, in fact - i believe Powell hates George and PNAC - but serves because he has an inflated sense of duty.

[chiburb]

11. You're saying that Bush wouldn't lie?

Rove would toss Cheney in a defribilater beat! As for the PNACers, Baker "signals" that the adults are back in charge. Rummy, Wolfie, and Perle have little creds left after their excellent Iraq adventure.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

8. no f-ing way

Powell has been left hanging out to dry so many times by this administration... the only way he's running as a VP is on a Democratic ticket at this point. I don't see any way he serves a second term, much less accepting a higher role.

[goddess40]

9. Powell

I am not sure the black population thinks all that highly of Powell as I think they feel he sold out to Bush when he lied about the WMD and yellowcake. However, I am not black and I apologize to them if I am wrong. I agree Powell may step down giving heath concerns as the reason. If you notice, when it was announced he was having surgery for prostate cancer there were no comments about how this was not a significant problem and he would be back on the job soon. Also, Powell's wife may be against this. And how would that certain group of whites vote that still hold racial predjudice close to their hearts. Unfortunately, racial predjudice is still alive and kicking.

[mazzarro]

19. I think that Powell will prove to be of no substantial attraction to

blacks than the general public assumes. He has lost the respect of all reasonable people throughout the world with the bold face lies in his UN speech coupled with the fact that he has proven to be an ineffectual member of shrub's* cabinet. All the hoopla surrounding his appointment as Secretary of State at the begining have turned out to be over rating of his political skills, which, I am afraid is not that high compared to Dumsfeld's. I think he is seeking for the most opportuned time to make as graceful an exit as is possible from the administration.

[Mel]

10. Diane Sawyer interview

the Chimpy said Cheney would be his VP but, he wouldn't take a stand on his cabinet members I found that interesting.

I think Bush* could gain some of the African American vote from a Powell VP pick but he would lose some of the white vote for it so it might balance itself out.

I do know this much none of my friends would vote for Bush* if he picked Powell for VP matter of fact they call Powell an Uncle Tom.

[Warren Stuart]

12. Racism

There are people in this country who will never vote for a black person no matter what their qualifications.

So some people think highly of Colin Powell? The same could be said of Ozzie Osbourne, wouldn't you love to see him on the Republican ticket?

How was the question asked? Who asked the question? People tend to lie to poll questioners, they think they are taking a test and want to give the right answers.

Powell has issues: My Lai, Prostate cancer and the fact that a lot conservative hate his guts. Rove ain't stupid, he won't risk alienating his base.

You should stop projecting your values on Republicans, it's like multiplying by zero, they have no values.

[beanball]

21. You hit the nail

right on the head,coudn't agree with you more.The repugs place a high value on other peoples $$$$$$$$.

[salin]

13. Now wouldn't that shake up the Pentagon (neocon)/State Dept struggle

Would Bush really give such a serious slap to the Neocons? He had a chance to push them back when Wolfie went public to sabatoge Baker's European trip - but instead bush backed the Neocons.

Note that this power struggle goes back a long way - it just hasn't been as visible as it is today. Read David Brock's book for the Neocon take on Poppy (limp noodle... not a "real conservative"). Indeed the current crop of Neocons - most notable being Cheney himself - were slapped down first in the first Gulf War (they were the march to bagdad folks) and then forced to pull back from their wild-eyed plans (now being enacted) and shelve them because they were perceived by Poppy's crowd to be far too extreme.

Selecting Powell as VP, especially over Cheney, would be a HUGE reversal for W. I wouldn't expect it anytime soon. Personally I believe that Cheney (and others) play W's ego like a fiddle... reminding him of how Poppy went from skyhigh approval ratings to election loss... {and probably asserting that the loss was due to NOT following their strategies - see above re: shelving}. They (the neocon clache in the WH) seem to have made him rather dependent upon them - over Poppy. Sometimes it is like watching a really bizarre (and sadly with HUGE national and international reprecussions) psycho-drama.

[beyurslf]

14. I don't think Powell would take it if offered.

And I don't think he would hurt our numbers with the African American community. Every friend I have who is AA thinks nothing good of him. They call him a puppet for Bush. They also rightly say he is the one that Repub's love to pull out to show they aren't racist. I have white Repub friends who do just this. They love Colin. They love Condi.

[leftyandproud]

16. This would f*ck us

seriously...a Bush/Powell or Bush/Giuliani ticket will doom our nominee.

[chiburb]

18. Bush/Guiliani doesn't scare me as much...

Powell negates Clark's perceived strengths. Powell attracts SOME A-A votes from Dean. I don't think Dean/Clark are hurt at all by Guiliani...

[mazzarro]

20. Your assumption is pure nonesense!

Powell or Giuliani will not have that much impact as you are attributing to them - IMO. They are both overrated!

[BigDaddyLove]

26. If there was ever a person who was 'overrated'...........

it would have to be Bunnypants, and he still got close enough to be able to steal an election. I can certainly see Guiliani as a viable VP candidate......he is "America's Mayor" afterall.

[Lefty59]

22. If not Bush/Powell, then Bush/Rice

Or possibly Condi v. Hillary in '08

[eissa]

23. No way

Cheney runs the show and he's not about to replace himself, especially not with a black man who's considered a dove by their standards. Let's face it, Powell was only put in to give the illusion that this administration gives a rat's ass about minorities.

[Kamika]

24. colored person for republicans made Dem win La

Tons of ppl refused to vote in Lousiana because the republican was colored.. I sincerly doubt they'd dare

[snyttri]

25. Powell would not even be in a second Bush administration, lrt alone VP

He lost the power struggle with neocons and has been pushed out (though Rumsfeld is on the way out, too), Baker has been appointed to usurp him as special envoy to get concessions from Germany and France.

[Name removed]

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