tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078662512777171745.post2853625531164027093..comments2010-10-13T07:18:26.955-04:00Scott Cavanaghhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18274607025849615002noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8078662512777171745.post-69305647463032580152008-03-24T14:59:00.000-04:002008-03-24T14:59:00.000-04:00This response is directed towards Shadowdancer. General Powell deserved credit and respect for many of his past achievements but his stature has regressed significantly because of his work with the Dubya administration. I would not have lost as much respect as I have for General Powell if he had resigned from the Dubya administration because of his acknowledged skepticism about the invasion of Iraq instead of being played ("time to put on the uniform" Bush supposedly told him) by Dubya and Cheney. Powell showed a lack of character involving the Iraq situation and compounded it by writing a book, cashing in, about his reservations instead of doing what would have been the brave thing and either resigning and/or speaking up - at the time, not years later - about the mismanaged Iraq war. If General Powell had done that he, conceivably, could have perhaps changed the public's initial view of the situation and changed the administration's policies. Then, Shadowdancer, he would have earned respect.<BR/>As for what I have done to make a meaningful impact on the world, I am not in a position of power like General Powell was. However, I try to influence matters as much as I can as a concerned citizen by voting for intelligent candidates and by working for significant causes. Your General Powell, by supporting the Iraq invasion, has certainly had a meaningful impact on the world - in all the wrong ways.<BR/>As for free speech, the Dubya administration that General Powell was a part of, has consistently fought to limit that right in many ways (how about those protest zones that keep people away from Dubya, Cheney and company). Why do you label me a self-righteous pompous ass when in my past comment all I did was point out facts about Gen. Powell at the U.N, Senator McCain's speech and the Pentagon's report on Saddam and the non-existent Al-Qaeda connection. The truth about the GOP hurts, doesn't it? As usual, GOP supporters cannot handle the truth and have to veer the conversation off the topic(s) and into name-calling.Mike Hartnoreply@blogger.com