If Bush wins in 2004 no more Powell

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-08-04 05:29am

The Associated Press wrote: WASHINGTON (Aug. 4) - Secretary of State Colin Powell and his top deputy have told the White House they will not serve a second term if President Bush is re-elected, The Washington Post reported.

Citing ``sources familiar with the conversation,'' the paper said in a story for Monday's editions that Powell deputy Richard L. Armitage recently told national security adviser Condoleezza Rice that he and Powell will leave on Jan. 21, 2005, the day after the next presidential inauguration.

The Post said Powell has indicated to associates that a promise to his wife, rather than any policy disagreements with others in the administration, is a key factor in his intention to serve only one term.

Administration officials with possible knowledge of Powell's plans could not be reached Sunday evening, but it has been widely anticipated that he would serve only one term.

That would follow the pattern of recent administrations. Only George Shultz under President Reagan has served more than one term in recent decades. He took office midway through Reagan's first term and then stayed on for the second.

Powell was widely touted as a potential Republican presidential candidate after retiring from the Army as chief of staff during the Clinton administration, but announced he would not run even as polls indicated he had overwhelming popularity with American voters.

Although never publicly confirmed, it was widely reported at the time that Powell was bowing to the wishes of his wife that he not be a candidate.

Powell, who turned 66 in April, has consistently declined to respond to speculation about how long he planned to head the State Department, but has made clear that he has many interests beyond government service, specifically a commitment to improving education opportunities for black Americans.

``I serve at the pleasure of the president,'' he said last month. ``That's the only answer I've ever given to that question, no matter what form it comes in.''.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2003-08-04 06:07am

A great man, but I doubt that the Black community wants to be educated as a "white man." Who here would vote for him if he ran in 2008?

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-08-04 06:19am

Vorlon1701 wrote:A great man, but I doubt that the Black community wants to be educated as a "white man." Who here would vote for him if he ran in 2008?

I like him enough to vote for him but I doubt his wife will let him.

Besides, he certainly doesn't have anything else to prove and he should be pretty much set for life with his military pension.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-08-04 07:01am

Its interesting, Powell is a man who, I think, would have the respect of international leaders in a way that most US Presidents simply dont have. He is well liked overeas IMHO.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-08-04 07:14am

Stuart Mackey wrote:Its interesting, Powell is a man who, I think, would have the respect of international leaders in a way that most US Presidents simply dont have. He is well liked overeas IMHO.

That's part of the reason I posted this article. I imagine his departure will end up making Bush's administration even less popular with the rest of the world. Of course that depends on whether Bush is re-elected and who they get to be Secretary of State after Powell.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-08-04 07:17am

Tsyroc wrote:
Stuart Mackey wrote:Its interesting, Powell is a man who, I think, would have the respect of international leaders in a way that most US Presidents simply dont have. He is well liked overeas IMHO.
That's part of the reason I posted this article. I imagine his departure will end up making Bush's administration even less popular with the rest of the world. Of course that depends on whether Bush is re-elected and who they get to be Secretary of State after Powell.

Indeed.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-08-04 07:20am

regardless of how well Powell would do in a general election, he would have a hard time gaining the GOP nomination....sad but true. Same problem for Guliani. The GOP nomination goes to a party loyalist who sucks enough fundie dick to get ahead.

Stuart Mackey · Post by **Stuart Mackey** » 2003-08-04 07:24am

Col. Crackpot wrote:regardless of how well Powell would do in a general election, he would have a hard time gaining the GOP nomination....sad but true. Same problem for Guliani. The GOP nomination goes to a party loyalist who sucks enough fundie dick to get ahead.

Its not nessary to have a party nomination to be president..or has your constitiion changed? If he is polling well enough and has well thought out policy there is no reason he could not win.

Tsyroc · Post by **Tsyroc** » 2003-08-04 07:34am

Stuart Mackey wrote: Its not nessary to have a party nomination to be president..or has your constitiion changed? If he is polling well enough and has well thought out policy there is no reason he could not win.

He could run as an Independant or a third party canidate but then the hard part is getting on the ballot in all 50 states. After that it depends on how well he can get votes. The two major parties are still going to put their canidates up so he would need to pull a decent amount of votes from both parties and the non-aligned or he's just going to end up being a spoiler. I doubt he'd end up being like John Anderson who ended up not having much impact in the election at all (Reagan defeated Carter).

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-08-04 08:19am

Stuart Mackey wrote:
Col. Crackpot wrote:regardless of how well Powell would do in a general election, he would have a hard time gaining the GOP nomination....sad but true. Same problem for Guliani. The GOP nomination goes to a party loyalist who sucks enough fundie dick to get ahead.
Its not nessary to have a party nomination to be president..or has your constitiion changed? If he is polling well enough and has well thought out policy there is no reason he could not win.

not legally needed, but anyone with even a cursory understanding of American politics knows that it is damn near impossible.

The Duchess of Zeon · Post by **The Duchess of Zeon** » 2003-08-04 09:24am

The Washington Post article claimed that Dr. Rice and Undersecretary of Defence Paul Wolfowitz were the two main contenders to replace him, considering that Armitage, if this is correct, would also be stepping down.

EmperorMing · Post by **EmperorMing** » 2003-08-04 09:29am

It would be an amusing what-if if Powell bacame President...

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-08-04 10:18am

Secratary of State Wolfowitz

:::shudder:::

Tragic · Post by **Tragic** » 2003-08-04 10:18am

He has denied the article and having that convorsation. So We won't know until the next election if he will stay or go.

Post by **Vympel** » 2003-08-04 11:51am

The Duchess of Zeon wrote:The Washington Post article claimed that Dr. Rice and Undersecretary of Defence Paul Wolfowitz were the two main contenders to replace him, considering that Armitage, if this is correct, would also be stepping down.

Wolfowitz ... God help us.

Col. Crackpot · Post by **Col. Crackpot** » 2003-08-04 12:06pm

Vympel wrote:
The Duchess of Zeon wrote:The Washington Post article claimed that Dr. Rice and Undersecretary of Defence Paul Wolfowitz were the two main contenders to replace him, considering that Armitage, if this is correct, would also be stepping down.
Wolfowitz ... God help us.

i thought a secratary of state/foreign minister was supposed to be a person admired by world leaders.

and in a related story Austrian officials tapped Jorg Haider to take over that country's foreign minstry. more to come