OMG They pulled a Wilson on Colin Powell too, forcing him to resign!

[spooked]

I was wondering if Rove & Company must had ever tried the "Get 'em through their Wives" ruse before.


On August 4, 2003, the Washington Post published an article stating that Powell planned to step down due to a promise to his wife:

"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.

But a State Department spokesman vigorously denied the story on Monday.``There's no basis to the story at all,'' said Philip T. Reeker. ``There was no such conversation.''

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."
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/alt.politics/msg/b68802b16ec3eef2?as_umsgid=[e-mail]


"The Post said Powell indicated a commitment made to his wife was a key factor in his desire to serve only one term.

Rice and Wolfowitz are the leading candidates to replace Powell, The Post said. Rice appeared to have an edge because of her proximity to Bush, it added.

''My gut tells me that he will leave at the end of this term,'' said one official.

The Post story is not helpful to Powell, who could find his effectiveness diminished if he is seen as a lame duck for the remaining 18 months of Bush's current term.

In Crawford, Texas, where Bush is on vacation at his ranch, White House spokesman Scott McClellan attributed the story to the Washington ''rumor mill.''
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/soc.culture.cambodia/browse_thread/thread/22e06bb9a9c30b3f/b65c1356dbd29580?q=powell+ranch+texas+(colin+OR+col%C3%ADn)&rnum=1&hl=en#b65c1356dbd29580


Remember when Powell "resigned" on November 15, 2004? Again, his wife's wishes were given as the reason for his resignation:

"The 67-year-old reportedly promised his wife he would serve only one term as secretary of state. He said in his resignation letter it was time to return to a private life."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4013621.stm

"Powell will leave on Jan. 21, 2005, the day after the next presidential inauguration, sources familiar with the conversation said. Powell has indicated to associates that a commitment made to his wife, rather than any dismay at the administration's foreign policy, is a key factor in his desire to limit his tenure to one presidential term."
http://www.tvnewslies.org/html/jumped_ship.html



BUT, ACCORDING TO THIS NYT ARTICLE BY Maureen Dowd, THE ENTIRE "STORY" ABOUT POWELL'S WIFE WAS A LIE!!

August 6, 2003
Neocon Coup at the Department d'Etat
By MAUREEN DOWD NY TIMES

Let others fight over whether the war in Iraq was a neocon vigilante action disrupting diplomacy. The neocons have moved on to a vigilante action to occupy diplomacy...

President Bush staged a Texan tableau vivant last night, playing host at his ranch to the secretary of state, his wife, Alma, and his deputy, Richard Armitage. Mr. Bush wanted to show solidarity after a Washington Post story on Monday that said that Colin Powell, under pressure from his wife, said he would not be part of a second Bush term, nor would Mr. Armitage.

Mr. Bush might be trying to signal his respect for Mr. Powell, but the president is not always privy to the start of a grandiose neocon scheme...

Countering the Post story, Mr. Powell's posse claimed that neither the secretary of state nor his deputy had ever said they intended to step down, and charged that the neocons were leaking a canard to turn the two men they consider lame doves into lame ducks.

"This is the revenge of the neocons for two months of bad news, looking like they're falling all over themselves in Iraq," said a Powell confidant, noting that Alma Powell was furious she had been dragged in.

In The Post, nearly all of the names of those who could move up if Mr. Powell moves out are Iraq hawks: Condi Rice, Paul Wolfowitz and Newt Gingrich were mentioned as candidates for secretary of state; Wolfie, Cheney Chief of Staff Scooter Libby and Condi deputy Steve Hadley, who may be radioactive after the uranium mistake, were mentioned for national security chief.

The move against the popular Powell had all the earmarks of the neocons' pre-emptive strike on Iraq:

2.) Sex-up the intelligence. The leakers spread word that Mr. Armitage told Condi that he and Mr. Powell would leave on Jan. 21, 2005, the day after the next presidential inauguration. "Nonsense," said Mr. Powell. "Nonsense," said Mr. Armitage.

3.) Create a false rationale. Everyone knew the pair might not stay for a second term. But the neocons were impatient to give them a push, blaming poor Alma Powell for henpecking her husband when they were.



So, it looks like the neocons used a lie involving Powell's wife to squeeze Powell out of office. Even his denials couldn't save him.

Secretary of State Colin Powell on Monday dismissed as ''nonsense'' a Washington Post report that he and his deputy Richard Armitage planned to step down in early 2005. ''It's nonsense. I don't know what they are talking about. I serve at the pleasure of the president...''

[merh]

1. The bit about the promise to his wife is probably very true.

She is emotionally unstable, had a nervous breakdown before and she has made him promise never to run for VP or Prez, she fears for his life.

:shrug:

[merci_me]

3. How do you know this

about Mrs. Powell? I mean who (other than maybe the Rove machine) says she's "unstable"? Does her being a Democrat make her "Unstable"?

I'd think she'd want him to resign, because it must make her absolutely sick to see what he became, once he joined the gang of thugs. He was once a man to be proud of.

M

[Horse with no Name]

4. I remember after the first Gulf War

before Powell aligned himself with this administration, there was talk about him running for President--such was his reputation.
However, I don't have the links, but he stated at the time he had promised his wife he wouldn't run for those higher offices.

[merh]

8. It was a big deal back during Gulf War I - they wanted him to

be a candidate back then, a lot of the RNC were pushing for him to run for office riding on the waves of his "victory".

Some times the truth is just the truth. She is not strong emotionally and fears for his safety in public office. :hi:

Emotionally unstable is not the same thing as "unstable" so don't put words in my posts! :hi:

[Clark2008]

12. I don't consider it emotionally unstable to fear that some nut

will try to whack the first black president.

She's, sadly, probably more accurate than paranoid.

You've seen Free Republic, haven't you?

[merh]

13. She had a break down of sorts.

Maybe emotionally unstable wasn't correct.

Yes, I have seen FR and I was just explaining that she does not want him to run for any office and she didn't want him to take the post with the weed's admin.

[Clark2008]

14. She may have had a "breakdown," but that doesn't mean

she's emotionally unstable.

Hell, many people have nervous breakdowns once in their lives, get therapy, learn coping techniques and live peaceful lives.

I still contend that her fears regarding Powell holding the VP or president's office are probably well founded given the wingnut racists out there.

[merh]

15. Which is what I posted.

Or so I thought, are you just in a fighting mood? :shrug:

Find someone else, I don't particularly care to fight with you. :hi:

[TerdlowSmedley]

2. Do as we say, or Rove and his buddies will tar you

with the "pussy-whipped" label.

[tulsakatz]

5. either that or...........

.........or Arnold will call you a 'girlie man'!

[autorank]

6. I have ZERO sympathy for Powell.

He went to the UN and lied, participated in a fraud, and wants us all to think he's "the reasonable guy" in the Bush administration. Why couldn't he have stood tall when he got the memo with Plames name in it that said the Iraq hunt for nuclear material was bogus. Since Niger was the main rationale for this, he should have known the Bush charge was crap.

So what did he do? He used his considerable good will in the international community to perpetrate a fraud at the UN. Too bad. It's like Judy Miller; he was treated badly but deserved what he got for his general weak behavior and failure to blow the whistle on the Iraq war, easily the biggest disaster since Viet Nam.

Thanks Colin Powell.

[dogday]

7. Remember, it was not that long ago they showed Bush

at Powell's house eating dinner or such crap.... What do you think is up with that?

[Stirk]

9. Why does everybody always assume that Powell needed convincing?

He's another neocon who wanted to play empire, just like the rest of them.

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

10. his wife is unstabe?

after seeing him do that dance with the hard hat and tool belt i have to

wonder if he is the one who is unstable.

[Disturbed]

11. Powell mentioned that the takes Ambian a lot.

Maybe he got an adverse reaction?