WASHINGTON — In 1996, the political world was buzzing about the intentions of a possible presidential contender — one who could make history. In the end, Colin L. Powell, four-star American icon, proclaimed that he would not run after all, disappointing millions of supporters but generating sighs of relief at the Clinton White House.

Powell showed over the weekend that he could still affect presidential politics, declaring his support for Democrat Barack Obama. The prospect of Obama becoming the first African American president, Powell said, would “electrify the world,” and the endorsement is already reverberating. Given his decades as a professional soldier and high-ranking official in three Republican administrations, Powell carries weight with the military and moderate voters. Now, more of them could swing to Obama.

Even before Obama was first elected to public office as a state senator in Illinois, Powell was considered the odds-on favorite to become the first African American to head a major-party presidential ticket. He looked to be a formidable candidate in the 1996 race: a black centrist, long an independent, who had led the victorious U.S. military during the 1991 Persian Gulf War. But he declined to run, citing concerns about his privacy and a lack of passion for political combat. There were also reports that his wife, Alma, feared for his safety.

Instead, Powell said, he would join the Republican Party, hoping that his involvement would broaden the GOP’s appeal and humanize its attempts to reform social welfare programs. “I believe I can help the party of Lincoln move once again close to the spirit of Lincoln,” he said. With his embrace of Obama, Powell, 71, has broken ranks.

The decision led to debate over his motives. Conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh suggested Powell’s endorsement was rooted in race and the hope that Obama would become the first black president. “I am now researching his past endorsements to see if I can find all the inexperienced, very liberal, white candidates he has endorsed,” Limbaugh said in an e-mail. “I’ll let you know what I come up with.”

Powell, in his appearance on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” denied that race was the motivating factor. He said he had pondered a decision for months, and that he had told Obama, “I’ll give you all the advice I can, but I’m not going to vote for you just because you’re black.” Powell’s decision to cross party lines, former associates said, is far more complicated than black and white. “It was a painful thing for him to do, for sure,” Larry Wilkerson, a retired Army colonel who was Powell’s chief of staff at the State Department, said in an interview Sunday. “One of the principal parts of his character is defined by loyalty.”

The Republican Party and Republican presidents “have done a lot for his career,” Wilkerson said. Powell was President Reagan’s national security advisor, then served as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff under President George H.W. Bush before he became President George W. Bush’s first secretary of State.

Wilkerson said that Powell ultimately was distressed over what he saw as growing divisiveness in the country and a return to “the vitriol and bigotry and prejudice” of the 1960s. Adm. Henry Ulrich, the former commander of U.S. naval forces in Europe, said he thought Powell’s decision was not easy.

“Colin Powell is a very, very, very bright, thoughtful person, and I can assure you that he did not enter into this endorsement without giving it lots and lots of thought and give it all the due process it deserved,” Ulrich said. “I think it is remarkable that he has endorsed a Democrat, and so I am sure he didn’t do it lightly.

“Sen. Obama is quite lucky and fortunate,” he added. “It should have made his Sunday.”

Colin Powell endorses Obama, breaks ranks with the GOP – Los Angeles Times.

Democratic Sen. Barack Obama rejected Republican Sen. John McCain’s dramatic call Wednesday to delay Friday’s presidential debate because of the economic crisis. The McCain campaign said McCain would not show up for the debate unless a deal to address the crisis was reached.

The Commission on Presidential Debates and the University of Mississippi, the scheduled host of Friday night’s first debate, said the debate would go forward. They did not say what they would do if McCain failed to show up in Oxford, Miss.

Speaking to reporters in Clearwater, Fla., Obama said he and McCain agreed on the need to issue a joint statement of support for legislation to rescue the banking industry. But he declined McCain’s call to postpone the debate.

“This is exactly the time when the American people need to hear from the person who in approximately 40 days will be responsible for dealing with this mess,” Obama told reporters in Clearwater, Fla.

“In my mind, it’s more important than ever that we present ourselves to the American people and describe where we want to take the country and where we want to take the economy,” he said.

A senior adviser to McCain told NBC News that Obama’s insistence on going ahead had not changed McCain’s position. The aide said McCain would stay in Washington and skip the debate unless a financial agreement was in place by Friday.

Speaking to reporters in New York, McCain said he would suspend his campaign to work on banking legislation, saying President Bush’s proposed $700 billion bailout appeared unlikely to pass.

Obama stopped short of following his model, saying he had told congressional leaders that he was willing to help out, but only if they thought it would be useful.

As for the debate, he said, “It’s going to be part of the president’s job to be able to deal with more than one thing at once.”

Obama camp sees political ploy

Obama said he and McCain discussed the economy in two telephone calls earlier Wednesday. Obama said it was he who proposed issuing a joint statement on the bailout plan.

He indicated that McCain’s statement seeking to delay the debate came as a surprise, saying McCain had told him in their second call only that he was thinking about the idea.

“I guess he was further along than I thought,” Obama said.

Aides to Obama characterized McCain’s proposal as a ploy to distract attention from his standing in the polls, which has fallen sharply in the last few days as Americans focus on the economic crisis on Wall Street.

Obama rejects McCain call to delay debate – Decision ’08- msnbc.com

I listened to Anderson Cooper and other analysts debate the reason why the McCain camp, previously planning to release the name at that time immediately after Obama’s speech, decided to wait the day after. It makes sense; it would have been too obvious. The “Oh yeah? Ya’ll think you’re historic and breaking barriers. Take that!” sort of touché would have been all too transparent.

That is not to say that Governor Palin is not a credible VP nominee nor is it to say that her service to her state of Alaska and this country is not without commendation. I actually know nothing about the Governor, and will spend the rest of the day googling the hell out of her. I would just like to point out the obvious. The Republicans may justify their “non-racist, non-sexist, non-discriminatory” image is a thing of the past with examples like Colonel Powell and Govenor Schwarzenerggar (sp?). But who would ever think that they would actually place a woman in the second most powerful position in the “world”, and NOT wrinkle their brow or suck their teeth thinking “sure. . .”.. A woman? And from Alaska?!! Call me skeptical, but there are secondary intentions.

I am glad to see that the Republicans are scared. It may not be a trembling urinary incontinent fear, more like a cocky visage with a single bead of sweat running down the side of the face, but fear nonetheless. Question: Would they have picked a woman if Clinton was the VP nominee? It seems as ‘dem Republicans were dusting off their cans of haterade stored 8 years ago and adding new fuel to the fire, ready to blast Clinton into obscurity. “Clinton hate” is still palpable in this country. Maybe not obvious to you, but just take a good look at your neighbor across the street, or the guy standing next to you in line for coffee, or your boss. Had she been the VP candidate, less drastic measures would have been needed, I think.

But is this a drastic measure? Maybe we are approaching the threshold of that “dream” MLK slumbered upon. We are no longer on that long journey, maybe we have arrived as a nation and what remains left are renovations and touch-ups to the house finally built on a strong foundation. Or maybe it is all an illusion? Just as tropical storms this week approach the Gulf Coast once again, the strength of this supposed American foundation will be tested by nature’s unrelenting force. What stands after this week along the Gulf Coast and what stands after November remains questionable.

Figure out who Governor Palin is. Figure out where you stand on the issues. Watch the debates. Educate yourself and others.

Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama selected Senator Joseph (Joe) Biden of Delaware as his Vice Presidential candidate around 12:04 PM EST. Speculation has been mounting for some time about the Illinois senator’s choice and the announcement was delayed from the expected Friday disclosure. The choice, confirmed by text message to supporters and on Obama’s website, will allow the pair a brief chance to rally together ahead of next week’s convention in Denver, Colorado.

Senator Biden is somewhat the wisest choice in that he is known for having heavy foreign policy experience, the one area repeatedly touted as Obama’s weakness. As well, being the son of a car salesman, Biden is expected to appeal to blue collar workers, another group Obama was perceived to have difficulty reaching. Lastly, he brings far more Capitol Hill experience to the Obama campaign having represented the state of Delaware in the US Senate for the past 36 years and currently chairing the Foreign Relations committee. Many remember Senator Biden as a competitor for the presidential nomination against Senator Obama and Senator Hillary Clinton, but Biden withdrew from the race in January.

Hillary Clinton, who had been touted as a possible running mate, said Senator Biden would be a “purposeful and dynamic vice-president”.

“In naming my colleague and friend Senator Joe Biden to be the vice presidential nominee, Senator Obama has continued in the best traditions for the vice-presidency by selecting an exceptionally strong, experienced leader and devoted public servant,” she said in a statement.

The McCain camp called the choice of Mr Biden ‘an admission by Barack Obama that he was not ready to be president’.

“Biden has denounced Barack Obama’s poor foreign policy judgement and has strongly argued in his own words what Americans are quickly realising – that Barack Obama is not ready to be president,” McCain campaign spokesman Ben Porritt said in a statement.

John McCain has reportedly not yet settled on a running mate. (Source: BBC News)

Jesse Jackson recently made a public apology for crass comments about Barack Obama. The civil rights leader believed that Obama was condescending to African-Americans with his faith-based initiative. Whispering to another guest before a live interview on Fox, Jackson said “See, Barack been, um, talking down to black people on this faith based… I want to cut his nuts off… Barack… he’s talking down to black people.”

Jackson argued in a news conference Wednesday that in addition to the senator’s present speeches harboring the ability to be interpreted as ‘speaking down’ to Black people, Obama should address more afro-centric issues such as the mortgage crisis, unemployment, and the disproportionate numbers of Blacks in prison. However, Rev. Jackson also apologized for his remarks, particularly when he learned they would be aired later that evening on The O’Reilly Factor. “For any harm or hurt that this hot mic private conversation may have caused, I apologize,” Jackson offered in a written apology earlier in the day. “My support for Senator Obama’s campaign is wide, deep and unequivocal.”

In a calculated response, the Obama campaign noted the breadth of issues addressed by the Illinois senator. “He will continue to speak out about our responsibilities to ourselves and each other, and he of course accepts Rev. Jackson’s apology,” remarked Bill Burton, an Obama campaign spokesman. However, Jackson’s past comments about Obama “acting like he’s white” have torn somewhat of a rift between that Reverend and his son, Rep Jesse Jackson Jr., who has stated of his father, “His divisive and demeaning comments about the presumptive Democratic nominee — and I believe the next president of the United States — contradict his inspiring and courageous career.”

In the wake of media attention following the comment, additional notable minds within the African-American community have been tapped to weigh in on the aftermath such as author and Professor Michael Eric Dyson of Georgetown University. When asked if the situation would help or hurt Obama’s campaign, Dyson responded “It doesn’t hurt it. I think that with many people it just reinforces the fact that [Obama] is a man intent upon hammering the anvil of social responsibility as well as personal responsibilty.”

Editorial:

Jesse Jesse Jesse… ::sigh:: First off, good job whispering it. Meaning you knew enough that just in case yo mic wasn’t off that sh*t might not get picked up. And your mic wasn’t off now was it? And that sh*t did get picked up now didn’t it?

Second, why the [edited] would Barack need to reach out for the Black vote?! C’mon now, JJ! [That's right , i called him "JJ" ... he's fallen to that level right now.] Obama already had 90%. That means even those high-sadiddy cats that usually vote republican -you know, to further distance themselves from the reality that they too are the same people that most of America thinks is out to [insert crime] them- are voting for ThaRack. He wasn’t really talking to us with this faith-based initiative. Dude has to play to middle now, that’s how you get elected. I’d be mad at him if he didn’t. Clearly he’s a wise politician. Some folks remember your campaign, JJ… silence. So you was confused from jump this time.

Lastly, even if he had been trying to talk down to Black folks. You can’t say that dude would be all that wrong to do so. We been f*cking up for a minute now. And clearly any brotha/sista NOT already voting for him has some issues. Hell, cats that are voting for him have issues. Jesse, you got issues!! (‘Hot mic’ my @$$; pause.) So if the one cat that seriously could be the next president wants to condescend to help folks get on the ball, let him. From there, “let he who is without [bullsh*t issues keeping him/her from being the next president] cast the first stone.” … … silence.

So, can we please… please… make an agreement amongst us (“tenders to yo’ cotton money”), not to f*ck up til 01.20.09 less a few hundred thousand swing votes change their mind. After that… go BET all day. ::shudder::

Post-scrippa: Cut his nuts off?! Why is JJ gangsta? Extra mafioso with the retaliation. No more Sopranos for him. What, do we have “The Afro-sheen Don” over here? What about the rest of us “unidentified black males”?

Just looking at him, listening too him speak, invokes strong feelings and emotions of hope and the need for change. This man could have changed the world had Florida (and the rest of America) not royally hopped on the boat of failure for the lose. So standing next to the “agent of change” himself, and endorsing him was a powerful moment for America as a whole. Democratic. Republican. Independent. We all need that hope in our lives, cuz this shit has to stop. Here’s to you Ozone Man.
The Scion of Balance.

The image made me happy because it very subtly demonstrated and captured the affection that the couple share, not only as husband and wife, but as companions and friends. More importantly, it highlighted the fact that the tide may in fact be turning in Washington and, if given the chance, the duo could possibly help steer this country in a direction never seen before (hopefully for the better).

The “First Bump” has stirred up a huge hubbub in the media as they hunger for news stories. I swear they are getting more and more desperate. Among the media’s best names for this action are “Closed-Fist High-Five”, “Knuckle-Knock”, and “Celebratory Punch”. But, in what I think was the most affectionate moment in politics since Al Gore smooched up Tipper at the DNC Convention, I was waiting for someone to just f*** this one up.

Enter Fox News. Leave it to Fox News to call this slight gesture of fellowship a, and I shit you not, a “Terrorist Fist Jab”. I’m just gonna leave it at that. America just doesn’t pay attention. This isn’t even a “urban” issue (damn I hate that word). Everyone does this! And it’s funny how no one made any mention of Bush’s “Terrorist Chest Ram” from a few weeks back which, by the way, I think is frikkin’ hilarious.

I don’t know what I’m more angry about, the fact that they’ve linked a gesture comparable to a thumbs up to terrorism, the fact that the media’s officially ran out of things to talk about, or the fact that the two above are true and I’m spending my time writing about it. Dap Anyone? Be careful, the NSA may be listening…