What about Powell as VP? Sure, it'd turn off some whites - who aren't racist enough to vote against ONE black guy but for whom two are one too many - but I think that would be offset by others who are concerned by Obama's "lack of experience" or foreign policy/military/security credentials and who see Powell as a good guy or even a hero.

Actually, I could see Obama asking Powell to be Secretary of State. He might not have to weigh executing the job versus being the good soldier this time.

I know the far left wouldn't be impressed, as lots of people will never forgive him for the UN presentation (which he himself is embarrassed about), but he has to be considered. He's socially liberal (or at least moderate) on abortion, affirmative action, and gun control. He was the sole voice of reason in the Bush Administration (and that's why he's no longer in it). He is still highly respected by moderate conservatives.

I also think it would be an interesting choice, one that I would not oppose.

That said, Powell has a lot to atone for.

Why doesn't the idea of Obamacons not make anyone nervous? Why the self-congratulations? Do people think Obamacons like Obama because he is so great? Or maybe it is because he really isn't a liberal?

Ronald Reagan ran for president just about 30 years ago now (I know - it makes me feel old, too!), but people keep talking about who's going to win over those Reagan democrats. Who the heck are they? No one I know. I think the Republican party needs to worry about Obama Republicans. Would their have been any Hillary Republicans? I doubt it. So I think Obama is the best candidate the Democratic party could have chosen. He'll pull sane Republicans to the Democratic side as well as independents and bring in a ton of new voters.

There are too many Democrats in line to be Obama's vice president for him to seriously consider a Republican, even one who endorses him. The howls of protest — and lost opportunities to gain important leverage within his party — would be too great.

Nevertheless there's something poignant about Powell jumping ship. A cadre of ambitious, upwardly mobile African Americans joined the Republican party a generation ago in the belief that, as with Nixon being the only one who could go to China (an equally mistaken but persistent notion), the GOP was the only party that could elect a black American president. Maybe 2008 will be the year that puts the lie to that idea.

Why all this fawning over Powell? He used to be seen as a wise and moderating force but that was years ago. I can reluctantly forgive him for his UN show of smoke and mirrors but I have a hard time respecting his amiable silence in all the disasters that followed. Good Soldier, indeed. Another good-natured (spineless) go-along we do not need now. Keynote speaker at the Democratic convention?!! What message exactly would that give to the nation about our fresh, new, hopeful, "opposition" party? (Of course any notion of new or hopeful is fast fading anyway). Like McClellen, Powell is way too little too late.

Powell was once presidential material but he got the world stage and delivered the pack of lies that was the Bush administration's case for war. He had been around long enough to know when he was being used, which is why he demanded CIA Director George Tenet be seen with him at the U.N. Powell's very presence in the Bush administration was largely a sham because Bush didn't want his advice and he didn't want to delegate foreign policy to him, he just wanted Powell's political capital in front of him like an ablative shield. Powell loyally performed that function and got burned, just as Bush's real inner circle designed.

...the "good soldier" willing to lie, cover up, and sell every ounce of his own credibility to start an illegal war to get Bush (re)elected, Cheney his oil, and the neocons their wet dream, is still capable of showing his face in public, and Novak somehow thinks that his "endorsement" carries any weight? And, the keynote address at the convention? WTF? Well, after the sellout, er, "compromise" the Congressional Dems pulled, I guess he would be perfect. After all, Pinochet, Idi Amin, Marcos, and Duvalier are kinda busy. Hey, Rios Montt is still alive, and not in prison. And, he was a general, too...

I doubt he'd be interested (remember the speculation that he'd run himself?)

But he is too flawed a choice to be a net gain. He is just one more smart, talented, dedicated, American whose gifts and strengths have been abused and damaged by the Bush administration. Powell not only ha a credibility problem, but he seems less statesmanlike - more cronylike - after his time with Bush. Which is tragic.

Plus, I doubt Obama would choose a Republican of any kind for his running mate.

I think for someone as lowlife as Colin Powell turned out to be, as a spokesperson in front of the UN, espousing war against Iraq, should not go near Obama, he will hurt him in so many ways. Powell is despicable and lost all of his credibility and his integrity, please, Mr Obama, keep him away from you. He will lose you votes, no one trusts him. Nancy Keiler

That would be awesome in terms of "duh we didn't know being crazy would render us unelectable".

These openhearted assistances offerred to Obama's campaign, like Jim Johnson, and FISA, and the remains of Colin Powell's credibility unexamined since his fall guy roleplay before the murder of post-Hussein Iraq, so wonderfully accrue to the benefit of the electorate, it is possible now to invite every useful endorsement to tease out of hiding and join the parade.

Soon, maybe Sirhan and Manson, McVeigh and James Earl Ray could be included.

That might tip the sentiment so urgently sought in this contest.

Perhaps, after Denver, we'll finally see Nixon's ghost pledge up to Obama. The applauded victory would then be assured.

And, here i was thinking Bob Novak would help the other side...

Let joy be unrefined...