CNN

Secretary Powell and President Obama both share a love of country.
It is important that the Obama agenda be accomplished this year, if it is to be accomplished at all. It is imperitive that our now debtor nation not overspend in any area. I truly would appreciate honest debate and decisions - in our best interests. It would be be great to see Obama and Powell as the key players in this battle as I believe that both have the interests of the people above the political interest. Bring it on–get the best thinking on the critical issues on the table-let the Congess, the Court and the People decide. Just the facts "Jack".

Supreme Court Justice-to-be Sotomayor is an intelligent, qualified Hispanic female.....Since labels and stereotypes are sewn within the fabric of America, she unfortunately, can't break through the glass ceiling yet......But one day change will truly come......

Yes, Ricci was simple. There was absolutely nothing "tricky" about it–it was a very straight forward case of a government unconstitutionally discriminating against a group of people based on nothing more than the color of their skins.

That Sonia Sotomayor judicially endorsed an unconstitutional act is more than sufficient grounds to deny her a seat on the Supreme Court.

Well isn't this the pits, this General now can see the light. As a military officer I never could figure out what he was thinking when he voted for this man. Such a disaster waiting to happen and it is unfolding right before our eyes. Get smart people the decisions he is making are terrible and we ALL will wind up paying.

TCM – I see you still drag the 'Affirmative Action' excuse around...
So let me see if I got it, Colin Powell got up where he ended by the whim of a law and not his own qualities? What an insult to the Army!!!
And Sotomayor ended up as a judge and decided the destiny of hundreds if not thousand of lives' aspirations and rights because she's a Latin Woman? What an insult to the Justice in the USA!!!!
Finally... What an insult to all the million of voters that put our current POTUS in his post to claim, so falsely, that he never would have made up to college if not by his merits and from them on (always by his merits and efforts) he created a successful political career!

Since Sotomayor is clearly for affirmative action, I'm curious if her qualifications are as stated. Did she get into these schools by affirmative action or her smarts? Did she get her job as a judge by intelligence or affirmative action? I believe she meant what she said with her "latina woman/white man statement no matter how she tries to quantify her words. BTW-I'm female & a former democrat (now independent) who has many questions about her.
Gen. Powell-don't give her a pass yet.

@TCM: Colin Powell's position had nothing to do with affirmative action; it was the result of over 35 years of military service, including two tours in Vietnam and an extensive collection of medals and awards, not the least of which were the Bronze Star and Purple Heart.

Although our President's achievements have not been as impressive in his comparatively short career, he does have the distinction of receiving more votes than anyone else in the most recent election and therefore earning the right to be President of the United States; a position Republicans seem unable to respect now that their candidate doesn't hold it.

How nice it is to hear a voice of sanity and intelligence emanate from the Republican party. I am so tired of racism being spewed out under the guise of politics in this country.

I'm so disappointed with Colin Powell these days. He reminds me of this variety of chameleon – the Smith's dwarf – that use their color-changing ability to blend in with their surroundings as an effective form of camouflage to survive. I had very high regards for him in the past, I thought he was over and above all these race issues in the country; a self-made man, who had made it to the top, not because of the color of his skin, but because of what he was, and what he stood for. I was wrong.

I looked up to him because I'm a minority myself. I came to this great country with nothing but a few clothes and a determination to make it good here with perseverance and respectable work ethics. I didn't become rich but I live a decent, dignified life. I work shoulder-to-shoulder with people of all colors, but mostly white, not losing self-respect nor feeling inferior. I have never used the color of my skin or ethnicity as a defense when I fail, nor "take advantage of it" to get ahead of a "game." What I give is what I get, and I'm happy with what I get.

Why is Powell all the sudden the "darling" of certain news agencies? I hardly ever saw him on TV, even when he was part of the government.

Hmmm....

Vote for Obama and suddenly you are loved...

Powell should wonder. What happened to the kids who had better grades than him. Did not they genuinekly deserve a fair treatment?

Powell, Obama and Sotomayor– all have something in common. They have used their race to excel.

What is this about reverse discrimination? To me discrimination is just
that regardless of color or creed. What makes it reverse because it is
black discriminating against a white? That is wrong! Websters
dictionary states discrimination as this. "To show favoror disfavor unjustly." It does not state a color or creed or reverse. So lets stop with
this reverse discrimination and revers racist because anyway you
look at it is is DISCRIMINATION, period. No reverse to it, it is just
plain wrong.

Why has Powell resurfaced?

He has done enough with limited talent, thanks to Republican's help.

Then when the Republicans needed him, he went on to support one of his own. Now he is criticizing his support. He cannot have it both ways.

Minorities don't want a level playing field, they want preferential treatment. Any minority who was truly interested in a fair shake would be offended and appalled by "affirmative action."

My response to Powell:

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Affirmative action will not get us there. Affirmative action will crush and destroy those dreams.

Affirmative action creates racism.

You cannot look at Powell and Obama and not wonder how many more qualified persons were overlooked because they happened to be born with lighter colored skin. Powell admits this. Racism happens when you start asking the same question about all minorities.

Democrats like low income "victims" with low expectations who rely on big brother to give them everything. It is the Democrats core voting base. This administration is doing everything it can to create more victims by making competition and freedom a thing of the past.

Powell, Sotomayor and Obama all should be fans of Affirmative Action; in fact they owe their careers strictly to their ethnicity.
____________

Though I am against Affirmative Action, you speak as if the same cannot be said for many Caucasians. How many Caucasians do you think were given promotions or jobs in the past over minorities just because they were the same color as the person doing the promoting and hiring?

TCM wrote:
Powell, Sotomayor and Obama all should be fans of Affirmative Action; in fact they owe their careers strictly to their ethnicity.
____________________________________
How ignorant, mean-spirited, and most importantly, UNTRUE! They owe their careers to their talent, which I imagine they possess in far greater quantity than you do. They are all people of conspicuous talent, which is NOT a function of whether or not a withered soul like you happens to like their policies and politics. So disagree with them if you want, but I'd bet they would absolutely crush you by any measure of intelligence. Even Charles Krauthammer, cranky rightist neocon of Fox News and Washington post, described Obama (whose policies Krauthammer really despises) as a having a first-class intellect and temperament. I bet Chuckie wouldn't say the same thing about you . . .

Secretary Powell, the United States Supreme Court, by its very nature, is not the place to hope that maybe this judge "can make it" if given a chance.

By the way, Hunter, you mention 50+ million who voted for Obama (not ALL of whom think he's doing a good job, by the way...liking him is different from perceptions of effectiveness–read the polls).

Don't forget that this "landslide victory" is more of electoral votes, and approximately 49 million people voted for McCain. We/they are not just cast aside, and we're still here. The leadership of this country has to represent ALL of us...or so I thought I heard from Obama when he was a candidate. Maybe now that he's elected that all has changed...yet another flip-flop and broken promise to add to his pile of them...

@Hunter:

Cmon! Are you REALLY trying to say that "kool aid" is a phrase only from the right??? Cmon....

My guess is that the blogs from about a year ago had JUST as many of you liberal folks casting this at conservatives as there now conservatives casting it at liberals. And is it distasteful? Yeah, the memory of Jonestown is still fresh for some people. But lighten up, Francis...

People, at SOME point we have to break the cycle of pettiness and start simply being better than we have been. Both sides have given Supreme Court nominees a hard time, but now is the time to do it a different and better way.

We need more people like Colin Powell, and fewer people that are so intent on a) revenge (Pelosi) b) lining their pockets (Frank) or c) stoking their ego and trying to be the new Lincoln (Obama).

Do I like that he supported Obama? Nope, but I respect his right to choose. He's very smart, got good common sense, a great perspective and can be bi-partisan. My biggest disappointment with him is that he isn't willing to run for President when we as a country need him so much, but again, that's his right.

As for Powell getting where he is because of AA...well, it might have helped, but anybody that thinks he's not wicked smart isn't that smart themselves. If we had more people like Powell and Lieberman and fewer Pelosis and Reids, the country would be much better off.

J. P.

I wonder if you and like-minded bloggers on the right know what the term "kool-aid drinkers" refers to. If you do, you must understand what an vile tag to stick on the 50+ million who voted for the other guy and are satisfied with his performance to date. Yikes, What's your temperment that you can slap fellow Americans with such a replusive insult.

Have you ever made any arrogant or bigoted statements. If so, does that mean you are unfit to hold office?

Powell, Sotomayor and Obama all should be fans of Affirmative Action; in fact they owe their careers strictly to their ethnicity.

Yes, based on one incredibly ignorant, arrogant and bigoted statement we can't conclude she's an ignorant, arrogant bigot. Sorry, Powell. You've been a hero of mine for many years, but lately you've been drinking the BaracKool-Aid.

Does anybody remember Robert Bork (persecuted for his conservative beliefs), or Clarence Thomas (liberals lined up for his "high-tech lynching). Now Powell wants to say we should be fair to Obama's Nominee...maybe as fair as Obama was to now Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Alito. Obama voted against those two nominees on purely ideological lines. We should give his Nominees the same type of "consideration". People like Sotomayor wouldn't know what equality was if it kicked her teeth in. Everything about them is colored by race.

Good for you Mr. Powell. Judge Sotomayor will make an outstanding addition to the Supreme Court. Someone needs to be there to watch the conservative, don't live in the real world men on the court. It is nice to see a republican with brains.

Since being on the 2nd circuit she has been involved in 380 rulings with 5 out of 6 being overturned by narrow margins.. Roberts has even overruled one of his own rulings since sitting on SCOTUS. She doesn't seem to anymore racist then most people. Sessions comes to mind pretty easily. She's obviously more intelligent then Thomas by a long shot.. I don't see much that the right can do to prevent her from sitting on the bench.

Steve-Michigan

Hmm, it's interesting in that so many gripe about affirmative action in college selections yet Bush received extra points for being the son and grandson of alumni. Hypocritical, no?

@ jmack ....... In your posting, you said, "All nine Justices ruled that the Sotomayor "reasoning" used in her decision was, in fact, unreasonable."

That is not correct. The rueling was a 5 to 4 vote by the Nine Justices.

Powell is clear on this, to bad he wasn't clear on WMDs. before we sacrificed thousands of soldiers and billions of dollars . You listen to his logic, he should have been on the steps of the White House screaming for no war, BUT HE WAS NOT. He knew and he did nothing, makes him a traitor as I see it.

Sotomeyer would not be the nominee if she wasn't hispanic. If you think about that its really pathetic.

Why dont the racists posting on here ever have the guts to come out and say they are racists?They always hide under hoods.PS,John King is so biased for republicans it hurts.hahaha

Until everybody can just think of themselves as an American without the hyphen, we will continue to be subjected to the politicos taking advantage of our division to futher their own lust for power.
Gen Powell is only half right, having an open mind, if he means being impartial is fine for the court, being a liberal is not a qualification, nor a disqualification. Being able to see if a certain law violates the Constitution is a requirment. I don´t think she can do this. She is too interested in promoting her own political agenda. She should withdraw her name and run for office. The court has to at least try to stay above party and politics.

"Problem here is relatively simple…Powell is not a Republican and shouldn't speak on behalf Republicans."

Is it because he doesn't agree with you that you want to exclude him from your party? Sorry, Mr. Sensible, it's people like Colin Powell that will save the Republican party. Loud, hate filled mouth-pieces from whatever party are a turn-off.

What IS relatively simple is this country needs intelligent, reasonable, unselfish and honest leaders. I'm not sure we have enough of them and I don't know where to find them but we can't listen to rich and getting richer radio personalities for our advice.

1. Racism is alive and well in American media. It seems only blacks are permitted to negatively comment about blacks, hispanics on hispanics, etc. without being labeled racist by the media.
2. Why is Powell suddenly dominating various CNN news articles? Why is CNN holding back on McKinney (the former lawmaker who slapped the White House guard) being detained by Israel? There are many news worthy activities. Come on; stopping squeezing every angle on positive articles and report news.

Mr. Powell, Ms. Sotomayor had her "chance" with her original ruling. There was nothing "tricky" about this case. All nine Justices ruled that the Sotomayor "reasoning" used in her decision was, in fact, unreasonable. Yet you, Mr. Powell, with all your years of legal experience, deem Ms. Sotomayor worthy. I do not.

to SensibleFella,

The problem with you is that Powell is exactly the type of Republican the GOP needs to become, more moderate, in the middle, and able to intelligently take on all issues instead of the Neo-Crazed Sarah Palin, John Boehner, Mark Sanford, Rush Limbaugh, John Ensign, John Cornyn, Mitch McConnell, Newt Gingrich type of Republicans who won't win elections. The public is fed up with the far right loons who are only interested in obstruction instead of construction in ideas and policy.

The only other GOP candidates who are even viable at this point who are considered moderates are Mitt Romney and Tim Pawlenty and Charlie Crist. However, the far right loons who control the base of the party will villify them all including Powell which will lead again, to them staying a minority. The GOP refuses to be inclusive and change to what the people want because their party only wants what they want., which is division.

She should be disrailed because she is part of the anti constitution group that is trying to destroy the constitution. She has proven time and time again that she is a racist and is not capable of being fair in her decisions. I think I read that she has the highest percentage of opinions being overturned than any other judge in the country around 70% of those that go to the supreme court. She has proven that she is not in sync with the constitution or history to be overturned that often. She personally does not qualify to be an associate justice of the supreme court. We don't need a racist on the supreme court, we need someone who is blind to race and does not base decisions on the race of the individual.

The problem with Sotomayor is her consistent and many comments about the wisdom of a particular race and gender being superior to another race and gender. This is something she has repeated over and over, not just once. She has a mania about the superiority of the Hispanic race and female gender. She should not be confirmed.

Why is it we always say African America or Native American and make everything about race. I never hear this White American. Why cant it be this American instead of making everything into skin color?

Your article never mentions who "Mr. Powell" is! How about adding his first name?

Gen Powell, welcome back. It's nice to hearyour measured, intelligent, response to questions about America. The country is hopeful that you may well set the pace for an intellectual exchange that has been so absent in recent years.

Denna,
Well said!!

Who *writes* this blog? The subject of this article is referred to throughout as "Powell." I'm guessing you mean Colin Powell, former secretary of state and national security advisor. But who can tell?

Also: it's *amazing* to see right-wingers fall upon their own in a blood frenzy, whenever someone makes the mistake of advancing a non-party-line opinion. This is why you people are all but irrelevant in the national conversation today.

SensibleFella,
I see that you're reading again from the Rush talking points. Try harder.

Powell is a republican in name only.

Thank you Mr. Powell. – @SensibleFella 10:56 a.m. – Actually, Mr. Powell is far too intelligent to be a Republican. You people should be d@mned grateful that he considers himself one. What the GOP needs is a party filled with Colin Powells. You and your ilk should just break off into a third, fringe party and crown Crazy Limbaugh as your king. Kudos to the none-insane elements of the GOP.

Powell is a republican, but has a different opinion about some issues than other republicans,

Yeah, right. Would love to see the process unfold for a Republican nominee with half the gaffes and an overturned high profile decision. Oh, that's right. A Republican nominee would no longer be the nominee.

Powell is a go-between.

Problem here is relatively simple...Powell is not a Republican and shouldn't speak on behalf Republicans.