So Why Is Michael Powell Leaving?

[Dinger]

All I hear is that he's leaving, but I have yet to hear why? Anybody know?

[rooboy]

1. I heard on Thom Hartmann's radio show that Bush fired him.

Basically there was a deal that if Colin Powell accepted the job as SOS, then Michael Powell would get a job running the FCC. Now that Powell and * aren't exactly friends anymore, the moment Colin Powell left, Bush apparently ordered his kid to get out of Dodge.

[Geek_Girl]

2. I guess Nepotism can be a double edged sword.

eom

[Lithos]

4. That's the obvious thought

Michael Powell had zero credentials to run the FCC, it was so obviously a case of nepotism that once Colin was out, Michael had no protection.

L-

[depakid]

5. Clinton appointed Powell

to the FCC.

[tanyev]

10. Nope.

http://www.radiodiversity.com/archives/000830.shtml
Powell Named FCC Chairman
source: NY Times

WASHINGTON, Jan. 22 —President Bush today appointed Michael K. Powell, the oldest child of Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, to be the next chairman of the Federal Communications Commission.

Mr. Powell, 37, has served since autumn 1997 as one of the two Republican commissioners at the five-member agency, and since that term runs until July 2003, his selection as chairman does not require Senate confirmation.

[w4rma]

12. Exactly. He was one of the two REPUBLICAN commissioners from back then.

Republicans appointed him during Clinton's presidency. Bush promoted him to chair.

[KoKo]

15. You are both correct! Clinton appointed Powell to FCC, But Bush made

him the Head...:D

I have never understood WHY Clinton put Powell on there in the first place, though. And, it made it easy for the Chimp to name Powell head of FCC. With only two Dems on the Commission it made life hell for any of us Dems trying to get complaints heard.

[katinmn]

3. He failed EVERONE

He failed the public, and he failed to deliver all that corporate media asked.

[robbedvoter]

6. Condi shall be the universal token from now on

Another thug to the trough...

[KittyWampus]

7. There's More Money In The Private Sector?

that's all they really care about.

[readmylips]

8. He failed to arrest Janet Jackson....

himself....Miss Jackson, I'm Michael Powell and I'm here to make you walk the soul walk into jail...please leave your tits exposed. I need more publicity.

[NVMojo]

9. he was working on this just before he left...

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=industryNews&storyID=7375385

and the Armstrong Williams investigation...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1171438



he probably got canned ...

[Dinger]

19. My Guy Feeling Is It Was Because Of Armstrong Williams

At least AW can now go out and lay in the shit pasture. He's done . . stick a fork in him!

[EVDebs]

27. Ever hear of Operation Mockingbird ? This AW payola was tip of it

CIA's domestic payoffs to 'journalists'. Since this project is domestic #1 and an abuse of federal agencies #2 it is very illegal #3 and can still be FOIAed. No 'national security' issue on the No Child Left Behind portions of this...but these birds were mouthpieces for much much much more...

The Scent of Fear is in the air.

[BlueManDude]

11. $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

How soon before he ends up running one of the huge media conglomerates he's spent the last four years aiding and abeting?

[Clark2008]

13. I was hoping it was because his Dad's gonna write a tell-all

book about the Bush Administration and he didn't want to get killed.

I really hope Colin Powell pops these bastards. He's always been held in high regard by the American public. It might be a way for the general public to finally believe how crooked and scary this administration is AND to redeem himself for lying about wmds in Iraq.

(edited to clarify which Powell I was talking about)

[dogtag]

14. We can all dream, but I won't hold my breath. (n/t)

[KoKo]

16. Powell was thought of well by many of us on theleft at one time....

I find I really can't stand him after he lied for Bush in front of the UN and was a "good soldier" for him every day.

If he writes a "tell all" he will look like a hypocrit. Unless he's willing to reveal some real dirt that would make a difference.

[The Zanti Regent]

18. No he won't

Colin Powell is a god-damned phony.

A phony who filled my boy's head with lies and deceit and then that bastard sent my son, my only child to his death at the age of 19.

Powell's whole life has been one lie after another, one backstabbing to get ahead after another. Lie lie lie, from My Lai to Contra Cocaine to Iran Contra to plotting to overthrow Bill Clinton to stuffinf Florida ballot boxes with illegal military votes.

Frankly, I don't know who did more damage to America, Powell or his asshole son.

Burn in hell, Colinoreo, no matter how hard you try you will NEVER wash my son's blood off of your wannabee hands!

[Dinger]

20. I AM So Sorry Zanti Regent

You have my sincere sympathy. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. To lose a child... I can't even imagine.

[ldf]

28. colin powell has no soul left

don't expect anything out of him. he is nothing but a shell.

[KoKo]

17. The other possibility is

that he was tied to the "Payola Scandal" in some way. Maybe he knew what was going on with Williams and others? Or, maybe something happened with Sinclair? He may not have actively participated but "allowed" some shady stuff to go on? His leaving was so abrupt ...."to spend more time with his two boys.." that it did look odd. :shrug:

[demgrrrll]

21. That is an interesting theory. I wonder who might have some

inside information.

[KoKo]

22. Here's a little something from an article in "Alternet."

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21057/

And, despite the Journal's listless praise, calling Powell "one of Washington's better bureaucrats," Powell was not an especially well-loved public figure. Public comments, in fact, have historically run counter to his vision. In 2003, for example, while controversial rules to allow big media to expand their reach were being debated, two million comments were registered by the FCC – 99 percent were opposed. Powell, unsurprisingly, was a big proponent of that deregulation.

Again, Chester sheds some light on the public's concerns:

e led the agency on a campaign to further the role that big media and communications conglomerates play in determining what programming we will see; who will own most of our news outlets; determine how we access the internet; and how much we will have to pay for many of these services. He has overturned critical safeguards on media ownership ... permitting even fewer companies to control our media landscape. Powell's failure to oversee the communications giants under his purview, such as Worldcom, has cost investors billions, setting back the economy and responsible for the loss of tens of thousands of jobs. And by abandoning the public policies that helped ensure the Internet's evolution as an open network, Chairman Powell has likely placed its future into the hands of the cable and telephone monopolies.

By and large the groups were more interested in looking forward than back, however. Criticisms of Powell, rather than lashes used to berate him, have been closer to blueprints for what media reformers hope the next chairman will not do.

Robert McChesney suggests:

"Powell's departure presents an opportunity for President Bush to reach out to the millions of Americans who have pleaded with Congress and the FCC to stop further media consolidation, enforce public interest obligations, increase the diversity of voices in the media, and create policies that will encourage universal, low-cost access to the Internet. President Bush should choose a new chairman who will represent the public, not just the largest media moguls."

Pingree demands that the next chairman acknowledge the dirty little secret of the broadcasting industry:

http://www.alternet.org/mediaculture/21057/

[salin]

23. Throwing too many fines up that hit some cronies

in the pocket? You know, the tip of the hats to the fundies is supposed to be *symbolic*.... you aren't supposed to hurt some of our corporate owners in the pocketbooks.... ??

[KoKo]

24. An interesting point...but what are the "fines" he's done? n/t

[Vinca]

25. I think Dubya wants someone who WON'T investigate payola.

Too late, Shrub. It's only a matter of time before we know every entertainer/performer/journalist/toadie who's been paid off.

[JoMama49]

26. I think Michael's Dad, Colin, told his son to "get out while

you still can" or you'll go down with the whole ship!

[Dinger]

30. OOOOhhh, I LIKE The Way That Sounds!

It will be spectacular when bu$h and his ilk fall, absolutely spectacular!:nuke:

[bobwhite]

29. money

he's going to make tons of money