Colin Powell and Fareed Zakaria

[120mm]

Watching Colin Powell's "mini non-campaign for President when he really didn't run" back in the day, I was turned off by his obvious lack of core beliefs and tendency to say exactly what he thought people wanted to hear, audience-dependent.

Dude comes off as manufactured and phoney, to me. I've never been able to work up a tear for retired Four Star Generals and Politically connected hacks, anyway....

[Rex Brynen]

Watching Colin Powell's "mini non-campaign for President when he really didn't run" back in the day, I was turned off by his obvious lack of core beliefs and tendency to say exactly what he thought people wanted to hear, audience-dependent.

Frankly, I don't get that at all. The views he articulates in the interview, regarding both fiscal conservatism and a degree of social liberalism, are the ones that he's always articulated. I don't think being thoughtfully positioned at the centre of the political spectrum constitutes a lack of core beliefs.

I do think he's got off rather lightly for the decision to intervene in Iraq, and in the past this is where I would argue that he's worked hard to craft (or recraft) his image—and escape some of the judgement of history.

Then again, unlike Schmedlap, I rather do have a fondness for politicians and journalists. I've worked with many of both, and have found the vast majority to be serious, ethical, dedicated people who put in long hours trying to do what they think is right. It is true that the incentive system often leads them to pander to popular tastes, but that's the way the democratic system is designed to work.

[Old Eagle]

GEN Powell staked out some very common sense positions from which he has not moved. Having watched him closely while he was Chairman, I was consistently impressed with his calm, no nonsense approach to numerous crises that kept raising their ugly heads. Fiscal conservatism and social engagement resonate with my midwestern value system.

[Ron Humphrey]

I have had great respect for Powell for a long time even though I might often find myself in disagreement with some of what he says.

However reference those who took his endorsement as a strike against republicans I think they have actually missed the point. I too was bothered by the direction in which some of the political hoopla was going in so far as ones ability to enter office based on anything other than ones character and capability.

What I saw in the interview simply served to re-enforce my belief had this not been the case that he may very well have chosen not to endorse either candidate.

[Steve Blair]

I've never been a huge fan of Powell for a number of reasons. He's an astute media chameleon...rather like Al Gore as Schmedlap pointed out.

[Spud]

I was turned off by his obvious lack of core beliefs and tendency to say exactly what he thought people wanted to hear, audience-dependent.

Dude comes off as manufactured and phoney, to me.

It didn't stop us voting in a Prime Minister with exactly those attributes ... sigh