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Colin Powell Vouches for "Sterling" Sen. Stevens
After nearly forty years in the Senate, there probably aren't many people in Washington that Ted Stevens doesn't know.
Sen. Dan Inouye of Hawaii testified yesterday, and today the defense continued its parade of character witnesses, calling former Secretary of State Colin Powell to the stand, who testified to Stevens' "sterling" character.
From The Hill:
On the stand, Powell called Stevens "a master appropriator" and "a great defender of Alaska's interests." He said the senator's reputation could be summed up in one word: "sterling.""With Sen. Stevens, I always had a guy who could tell me when I was off-base, tell me when I had no clothes on -- figuratively," he said.
In the late 1980s, Powell said he worked long hours with Stevens, sometimes until "2 or 3 in the morning," as they worked with Democrats to find ways to support freedom fighters in Latin America. Powell described Stevens as a tough but practical appropriator who forced him to have his facts straight when making a request for more money, including in the late 1980s when the government was trying to build up the Army.
Is this the "good soldier" in him talking again?
October 10, 2008 6:25 PM | Reply | Permalink
What a good question, and what a depressing thought.
October 11, 2008 8:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well duh... you always call folks you haven't been lying and conniving with.
Of course,there appears to be few of those contacts around... as far as Stevens is concerned...
October 10, 2008 6:36 PM | Reply | Permalink
Powell has already proved (My Lai & "evidence" vs S. Hussein presented in front of Congress) that he fails the truth test in key moments requiring honor and integrity. When guts aren't required he does OK. This is probably not one of those times.
October 10, 2008 6:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well just review his testimony at the UN about WMD and you can assess his credibility from that. What is Powell's reputation in metal speak ...? Tin?
October 10, 2008 6:38 PM | Reply | Permalink
I wonder if the prosecution asked any penetrating questions or just gave him a peck on the cheek.
October 10, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Salute and march over the cliff. exactly why Powell will never be President. Loyalty over honor!
October 10, 2008 6:40 PM | Reply | Permalink
Wow. Well there goes any benefit from having him endorse Obama.
I really like Gen. Powell, but really can't understand how he's painted himself into these corners.
Truly sad.
October 10, 2008 6:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
i used to want to like him too. But after his whoring performance bewfore the UN on behalf of Bush/Cheney's war-lies I washed my hands of him. He's just another Republican.
October 10, 2008 9:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Please liberals enough w/ the " loyalty " and " good soldier " CRAP, he has been a part of the " white security system " since he was tapped by Frank Carlucci (founder of Carlyle ) to move up the ranks of the military Industrial complex .
He's NOT simply following orders and unless you read Robert Parry's investigation , you don't know a dam nothing about the guy .
He helped design the illegal invasion of Panama , that murdered over 2000 civilians, remember the mass graves the dug exposed by the documentary " Panama Deception " He lied to the Saudis , by telling them Saddam was on their border w/ his military, ready to invade, a LIE proven by satellite photos, obtained by the St. Petersburg Tims .
He protected Casper Weinberger (worked directly under him )and HELP send missiles to Iran , in the Arms for Hostages .
He's a 100% collaborator for the military Industrial complex and helped design , lead and cover up EVERY illegal invasion , incursion or bombing of every little defenseless country they CHOSE . People with the same skin color as he , but is didn't matter . It didn't matter .
October 10, 2008 7:02 PM | Reply | Permalink
I was being facetious. Maybe it didn't come across.
October 10, 2008 7:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
ditto
October 10, 2008 7:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
That exactly right. Powell is utter scum. Always has been. Always will be. Anybody who ever respected him is like those who ever respected McCain—koolaid drinkers the whole of 'em.
October 10, 2008 11:05 PM | Reply | Permalink
Powell sold his soul to the neo-cons, and he has never tried to buy it back.
This is the guy who said that he was pro-choice, and pro-affirmative action, but he campaigned for and joined a Republican yahoo who opposed every thing that Powell claims he stood for.
Harry Belafonte had Powell and Rice pegged just right.
"In October 2002 Belafonte stirred controversy when, during an interview on a San Diego radio station, he intimated that Secretary of State Colin Powell, by virtue of his service in the Bush admininistration, was a traitor to African Americans. "There's an old saying in the days of slavery," Belafonte later explained on Larry King's CNN program. "There are those slaves who lived on the plantation, and there were those slaves who lived in the house. You got the privilege of living in the house if you served the master. Colin Powell was permitted to come into the house of the master" -- a reference to President George W. Bush. "But when such an individual," Belafonte continued, "is in the service of those who not only perpetuate the oppression, but sometimes design the way in which it is applied, it then becomes very, very, very, very critical that we raise our voices and be heard. And . . . Colin Powell is in that position." Belafonte directed the same sentiments to then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice."
October 10, 2008 7:10 PM | Reply | Permalink
Stevens' word is sterling? As in thirty pieces of silver?
October 10, 2008 7:32 PM | Reply | Permalink
Inouye? He's with a group of people who only has 15% approval rating, aka, the U.S. congress.... Inouye is alsoone of those big pork barrel players also. Powell? he lost all credibility when he talked about that mushroom cloud at the United Nation many moons ago. These people think so big of themselves.
October 10, 2008 7:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
"... they worked with Democrats to find ways to support freedom fighters in Latin America."
So they worked together to fund Latin American deaths squads. For these acts of altruism millions of widows and orphans can only say, "Gracias."
October 10, 2008 7:46 PM | Reply | Permalink
Gotta love those "freedom fighters in Latin America"
Does this make Stevens and Powell war criminals?
October 10, 2008 7:55 PM | Reply | Permalink
YES.
October 10, 2008 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
Powell disgraced himself in the Bush administration. I'm kind of surprised that he hasn't learned his lesson. Maybe he's not so bright after all.
October 10, 2008 9:18 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yeah, what is up with THAT?
Recall how Powell playing the game got his son the plum job as head of the FCC. Those appointments come with conditions. Reminds me of the mafia. He owed a debt and he pays with his loyalty on the stand, like his testifying.
When he got before the UN and told the lie he did, he admitted it was a low point in his life.
When told GWB that he owned Iraq if he invaded it he was right and it has proved to be a mess.
And while Ted by reason of his being in the Congress a gazillion years has had to have SOME friends. If the jury puts it in perspecdtive, I hope they come to the conclusion that TED's BEEN THERE WAAAY TOO LONG AND HIS ASS SHLD BE OUTTA THERE!
October 10, 2008 9:44 PM | Reply | Permalink
I doubt the character testimony is going to be worth much, in view of the facts.
And all the cross examination has to do is ask Powell if he had ever been deceived by someone in goverment before. Like for his Iraq speech.
October 10, 2008 9:58 PM | Reply | Permalink
If he comes out for Obama soon I will forget everything I am thinking.
October 10, 2008 11:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
Good soldier my arse. Powell is a race traitor. He has no problem standing up for a Stevens but afraid to endorse Barack. I have no respect for this man
October 11, 2008 12:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
Sterling character? And Saddam had Nigerian Yellowcake Uranium like you told the UN? Can't believe a thing you say anymore. How much is your defense-biz stacked portfolio worth now? Still climbing no doubt.
Here, read a little history while you are up there talking about Sterling Stevens.
http://thetruthburns.wordpress.com/2008/09/26/mccains-maverick-left-eye-a-history-of-presidential-infirmity/
October 11, 2008 2:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ha ha ha! We all know how much Colin's word is worth. Brass would be overvaluing it.
October 11, 2008 6:32 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, if the war criminal says so, then it must be true.
October 11, 2008 7:54 AM | Reply | Permalink
Why would Colin Powell do this?
October 11, 2008 8:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
Powell: Dickless Wonder. In the sell-your-soul race, he and McCain are neck-and-neck.
October 11, 2008 12:06 PM | Reply | Permalink
"Colin Powell Vouches for "Sterling" Sen. Stevens"
Well, ya see Colin, the problem is is that your word is NOT sterling. Can you remember how many times you lied to us? Yep, we can't either. And the pity is that your lying cost how many lives, broke how many bodies and put us in how much debt?
Your rock is lonely. Get back there.
October 11, 2008 1:24 PM | Reply | Permalink
I hope this puts to rest any thoughts that Powell would have made a good president, or that he has integrity. Like all republicans, he will say anything.
October 11, 2008 1:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Initial coverup of My Lai massacre: Colin Powell
Iran-Contra illegal arms shipments: Colin Powell
Iraq war lies about WMD and anthras: Colin Powell
"I was only following orders.": Nuremburg Defense
October 11, 2008 1:50 PM | Reply | Permalink
Any credibility Powell may have had, he flushed away when he signed on to the Bush organization and put on that performance selling the lie that we had to invade Iraq. What was it now, trailers and tubes that could be used in a nuclear program. Also 'we know where they are....'. Once a reputation is lost, it doesn't come back. So, who cares what he has to say about Senator Stevens? Who cares what he has to say about anything? Tell him to go home and enjoy his pension, happy that it isn't in and IRA or 401K.
October 11, 2008 2:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
Well I sure had it wrong about Colin Powell. Looks like he has turned into a neocon.
October 11, 2008 3:33 PM | Reply | Permalink
Why Stevens would have Powell as a character witness is beyond me. The last I heard Powell, was desperately seeking the people who duped him when his gave his UN speech favoring an invasion of Iraq. He has not found them. (He need only look in the mirror).
Powell's testimony cannot possibly help Stevens. Why cant someone like Stevens be put on the Goldman/Sachs payroll so he doesn't have to nickel and dime home contractors--aka Alaska Big Wigs???
October 11, 2008 5:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, and OJ was out looking for the real killer.
-- ARG
October 12, 2008 12:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
Now all we need to find is someone willing to vouch for Powell's word as "sterling".
don't look at me...
October 12, 2008 7:35 AM | Reply | Permalink
'I worked long hours with the man finding ways to fund death squads in El Salvador'- a hell of an endorsement...
October 12, 2008 2:14 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's become sadly obvious that Powell knows very little about America. If he understood this country, he'd be president now.
October 12, 2008 5:42 PM | Reply | Permalink
Not really the most credible witness, I'd say. Remember his speech at the UN vouching there were WMD in Iraq? Look at this cartoon on the Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3 blog!
October 15, 2008 5:39 PM | Reply | Permalink