Sunday Snapshot -- The Power Of Powell

Even a Sunday stump appearance by John McCain couldn't keep Gen./ex-Sec/State Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama on "Meet the Press" off the headlines. McCain also spoke to "Fox News Sunday," where he responded to the Powell endorsement:

McCain: "Well, I've always admired and respected General Powell. We're longtime friends. This doesn't come as a surprise. But I'm also very pleased to have the endorsement of four former secretaries of state, Secretaries Kissinger, Baker, Eagleburger and Haig. And I'm proud to have the endorsement of well over 200 retired Army generals and admirals. But I respect and continue to respect and admire Secretary Powell."

Fox's Wallace: "Just briefly, though, one of the key lines of your campaign has been that Obama's not ready to lead. Here is Colin Powell saying he is."

McCain: "We have a respectful disagreement, and I think the American people will pay close attention to our message for the future and keeping America secure."

Much more, including Powell's comments, more from McCain, and pol and pundit react, after the jump.

(KATHERINE LEHR)

Powell, asked if he's prepared to make a public declaration of which candidate he supports: "Yes, but let me lead into it this way. I know both of these individuals very well now. I've known John for 25 years ... and I've gotten to know Mr. Obama quite well over the past two years. Both of them are distinguished Americans who are patriotic, who are dedicated to the welfare of our country. Either one of them, I think, would be a good president. I have said to Mr. McCain that I admire all he has done. I have some concerns about the direction that the party has taken in recent years. It has moved more to the right than I would like to see it, but that's a choice the party makes. And I've said to Mr. Obama, 'You have to pass a test of do you have enough experience, and do you bring the judgment to the table that would give us confidence that you would be a good president.'"

More: "I have especially watched over the last six of seven weeks as both of them have really taken a final exam with respect to this economic crisis that we are in and coming out of the conventions. And I must say that I've gotten a good measure of both. In the case of Mr. McCain, I found that he was a little unsure as to deal with the economic problems that we were having and almost every day there was a different approach to the problem. And that concerned me, sensing that he didn't have a complete grasp of the economic problems that we had. And I was also concerned at the selection of Governor [Sarah] Palin. She's a very distinguished woman, and she's to be admired; but at the same time, now that we have had a chance to watch her for some seven weeks, I don't believe she's ready to be president of the United States, which is the job of the vice president. And so that raised some question in my mind as to the judgment that Senator McCain made."

More: "On the Obama side ... he displayed a steadiness, an intellectual curiosity, a depth of knowledge and an approach to looking at problems like this and picking a vice president that, I think, is ready to be president on day one. And also, in not just jumping in and changing every day, but showing intellectual vigor. ... Over the last seven weeks, the approach of the Republican Party and Mr. McCain has become narrower and narrower. Mr. Obama, at the same time, has given us a more inclusive, broader reach into the needs and aspirations of our people. He's crossing lines -- ethnic lines, racial lines, generational lines. ... And I've also been disappointed, frankly, by some of the approaches that Senator McCain has taken recently, or his campaign ads, on issues that are not really central to the problems that the American people are worried about. This Bill Ayers situation that's been going on for weeks became something of a central point of the campaign. But Mr. McCain says that he's a washed-out terrorist. Well, then, why do we keep talking about him? And why do we have these robocalls going on around the country trying to suggest that, because of this very, very limited relationship that Senator Obama has had with Mr. Ayers, somehow, Mr. Obama is tainted. What they're trying to connect him to is some kind of terrorist feelings. And I think that's inappropriate."

More: "Now, I understand what politics is all about. I know how you can go after one another, and that's good. But I think this goes too far. ... I would have difficulty with two more conservative appointments to the Supreme Court, but that's what we'd be looking at in a McCain administration. I'm also troubled by, not what Senator McCain says, but what members of the party say. And it is permitted to be said such things as, 'Well, you know that Mr. Obama is a Muslim.' Well, the correct answer is, he is not a Muslim, he's a Christian. ... Now, we have got to stop polarizing ourself in this way. And John McCain is as nondiscriminatory as anyone I know. But I'm troubled about the fact that, within the party, we have these kinds of expressions. So, when I look at all of this and I think back to my Army career, we've got two individuals, either one of them could be a good president. But which is the president that we need now? Which is the individual that serves the needs of the nation for the next period of time? And I come to the conclusion that because of his ability to inspire, because of the inclusive nature of his campaign, because he is reaching out all across America, because of who he is and his rhetorical abilities -- and we have to take that into account -- as well as his substance -- he has both style and substance -- he has met the standard of being a successful president, being an exceptional president. I think he is a transformational figure. He is a new generation coming onto the world stage, onto the American stage, and for that reason I'll be voting for Senator Barack Obama."

Powell, asked if he will be campaigning for Obama: "I don't plan to. Two weeks left, let them go at each other in the finest tradition. But I will be voting for him."

Powell, on Obama's lack of nat'l security experience: "He has educated himself, as he has become very familiar with these issues. He speaks authoritatively. He speaks with great insight into the challenges we're facing of a military and political and economic nature. And he is surrounding himself, I'm confident, with people who'll be able to give him the expertise that he, at the moment, does not have. And so I have watched an individual who has intellectual vigor and who dives deeply into issues and approaches issues with a very, very steady hand. And so I'm confident that he will be ready to take on these challenges on January 21st."

NBC's Brokaw: "And you are fully aware that there will be some -- how many, no one can say for sure -- but there will be some who will say this is an African-American, distinguished American, supporting another African-American because of race."

Powell: "If I had only had that in mind, I could have done this six, eight, 10 months ago. I really have been going back and forth between somebody I have the highest respect and regard for, John McCain, and somebody I was getting to know, Barack Obama. And it was only in the last couple of months that I settled on this. And I can't deny that it will be a historic event for an African-American to become president. And should that happen, all Americans should be proud -- not just African-Americans, but all Americans -- that we have reached this point in our national history where such a thing could happen. It will also not only electrify our country, I think it'll electrify the world."

Brokaw: "You do know that there are supporters of Barack Obama who feel very strongly about his candidacy because he was opposed to the war from the beginning, and they're going to say, 'Who needs Colin Powell? He was the guy who helped get us into this mess.'"

Powell: "I'm not here to get their approval or lack of approval. I am here to express my view as to who I'm going to vote for."

Brokaw: "I know you're very close to President Bush 41. ... What do you think he'll think about you this morning endorsing Barack Obama?"

Powell: "I will let President Bush 41 speak for himself and let others speak for themselves, just as I have spoken for myself. ... Both Senator McCain and Senator Obama will be good presidents. It isn't easy for me to disappoint Senator McCain in the way that I have this morning, and I regret that. But I strongly believe that at this point in America's history, we need a president that will not just continue, even with a new face and with some changes and with some maverick aspects, who will not just continue, basically, the policies that we have been following in recent years. I think we need a transformational figure. I think we need a president who is a generational change. And that's why I'm supporting Barack Obama. Not out of any lack of respect or admiration for Senator John McCain."

Powell, asked how much of a factor race will be when voters go into the booth on 11/4: "I don't know the answer to that question. ... We have already seen the so-called 'Bradley factor' in the current spread between the candidates. And so that remains to be seen. I hope it is not the case. I think we have advanced considerably in this country since the days of Tom Bradley. And I hope that is not the case. It would be very unfortunate if it were the case."

Brokaw: "If Senator Obama is elected president, will there be a place for Colin Powell in that administration? Maybe as the ambassador at large in Africa or to take on the daunting task of resolving the Israeli/Palestinian issue?"

Powell: "I served 40 years in government, and I'm not looking forward to a position or an assignment. Of course, I have always said if a president asks you to do something, you have to consider it. But I am in no way interested in returning to government. But I, of course, would sit and talk to any president who wishes to talk to me."

Brokaw: "You're not ruling it out?"

Powell: "I would sit and talk to any president who wishes to talk to me, but I'm not anxious to rule it in."

More from the interview:

Brokaw: "In all your years of public service, have you ever seen an incoming president face such daunting challenges?"

Powell: "No. I have seen more difficult times in our history. I think about the early '70s when we were going through Watergate, Spiro Agnew, Nixon period, that was not a good time. But right now we're also facing a very daunting period. And I think the number one issue the president's going to have to deal with is the economy. ... It's not just an American problem, it's an international problem. ... The president will also have to make decisions quickly as to how to deal with Iraq and Afghanistan. And also I think the president has to reach out to the world and show that there is a new president, a new administration that is looking forward to working with our friends and allies. And in my judgment, also willing to talk to people who we have not been willing to talk to before. Because this is a time for outreach."

Powell, on what should be the new POTUS' first priority: "I would start with talking to the American people and talking to the world, and conveying a new image of American leadership, a new image of America's role in the world" (NBC, 10/19).

I GOT FOUR ON IT

More from the McCain interview on FOX:

McCain, asked if he's "in a world of trouble": "Are we behind? Sure. I'm the underdog. ... I've been on enough campaigns, my friend, to sense enthusiasm and momentum, and we've got it. ... I don't have to look at polls, but the polling numbers have closed dramatically in the last few days. We're going to be in a tight race and we're going to be up late on election night. I'm confident of that."

More McCain: "Senator Obama raised $150 million in -- I understand, during the month of September, completely breaking whatever idea we had after Watergate to keep the costs and spending on campaigns under control -- first time, first time since the Watergate scandal. And I can tell you this, that has unleashed now in presidential campaigns a new flood of spending that will then cause a scandal, and then we will fix it again. ... There's $200 million of those campaign contributions -- there's no record. They're not reported. ... A lot of strange things going on in this campaign. The American people should know where every penny came from. They know where every penny of my campaign contributions came from."

Wallace: "As you alluded to ... Obama today announced that he raised $150 million in September. By way of comparison, accepting public financing, you're getting $84 million for the entire campaign. He's outspending you on advertising 4-1. In the key state of Virginia, for instance, he has three times as many field offices. Is he buying this election?"

McCain: "Well, I think you could make that argument, but we're not going to let him. We're not going to let that happen. But what I worry about is future elections, too, not only mine. ... The dam is broken. We're now going to see huge amounts of money coming into political campaigns, and we know history tells us that always leads to scandal."

McCain, asked if he's suggesting that there's anything illegal or improper: "No, no. I'm saying that history shows us where unlimited amounts of money are in political campaigns, it leads to scandal. ... This is the first since the Watergate scandal that any candidate for president of the United States, a major party candidate, has broken the pledge to take public financing. ... I'm saying it's laying a predicate for the future that can be very dangerous. History has shown that."

McCain, on Joe the Plumber: "He was attacked by Joe Biden. He was criticized by Senator Obama. And the media have attacked him."

McCain, asked if Obama is a socialist: "I think his plans are redistribution of the wealth. ... That's one of the tenets of socialism. But it's more the liberal left, which he's always been on. He's always been in the left lane of American politics. ... Redistribution of the wealth? I don't believe in it. I believe in wealth creation by Joe the Plumber."

Wallace: "But, Senator, you voted for the $700 billion bailout that's being used partially to nationalize American banks. Isn't that socialism?"

McCain: "That is reacting to a crisis that's due to greed and excess in Washington. And what this administration is doing wrong, and what Paulson is doing wrong. ... It was a package that had to be enacted because the economy was about to go into the tank."

Wallace, on the Ayers robo calls: "Back in 2000 when you were the target of robo calls, you called these hate calls and you said..."

McCain: "They worked."

Wallace: "And you said the following, 'I promise you, I have never and will never have anything to do with that kind of political tactic.' Now you've hired the same guy who did the robo calls against you ... reportedly, to do the robo calls against Obama. ... Republican Senator Susan Collins, the co-chair of your campaign in Maine, has asked you to stop the robo calls. Will you do that?"

McCain: "Of course not. These are legitimate and truthful, and they are far different than the phone calls that were made about my family and about certain aspects that -- things that this is -- this is dramatically different. ... That robo call is totally accurate. And there is no comparison between it and the things that were done and said in South Carolina."

McCain, asked if he's gone on the attack against Ayres because he's behind: "Facts are stubborn things. Senator Obama has spent more money on attack ads against me than any campaign in history. ... I know what kind of campaign we're running. I know what we're saying at the rallies. We need to keep Americans in their home. We need to create jobs. We need to keep taxes low. We need to restore this economy. That's what this campaign is all about."

Wallace: "If Barack Obama is elected president with bigger -- and it looks likely that that's what's going to happen -- Democratic majorities in the House and the Senate, how will things be different in this country by the end of his first term?"

McCain: "Well, we know that the majority leader, Harry Reid, and Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are already planning on new big spending packages, tax increases, already, so I think you'll see another spending spree, and I think taxes will go up, and I don't think that it will be good for America. ... Protectionism is not good for America. Senator Obama believes that in many ways -- certainly, when he said he wanted to unilaterally renegotiate the North American Free Trade Agreement. So I worry about the economy of the country, particularly at this difficult time."

McCain, on Palin's appearance on NBC's "SNL": "She did a great job."

McCain, asked if Palin has become a drag on the ticket: "I could not be more pleased. She has excited and energized our base. She is a direct counterpoint to the liberal feminist agenda for America. ... She's the best thing that could have happened to my campaign and to America."

Wallace: "The New York Times ran a very rough piece about your wife Cindy yesterday in which it said, among other things, that she aspires to be Princess Diana, which I guess means that you would be Prince Charles. But seriously, look, it was a tough article. I wouldn't like it written about my wife. What's your reaction and her reaction to the story?"

McCain: "I didn't read it. I heard about it. And I suggested that she not do that either."

Wallace: "Do you agree with your wife's lawyer that if they're going to go into these kinds of matters that the New York Times should investigate Barack Obama's drug dealer?"

McCain: "I just want to go on with this campaign. Most Americans want in these difficult economic times to see who has a plan of action for getting our economy out of the ditch, helping working families, men and women."

Wallace: "When people saw you at the Al Smith dinner and they saw you on 'Letterman,' a number of people this week said, 'Where's that John McCain been,' that, you know, 'There's the funny, unplugged John McCain,' and that you've been too bottled up by your campaign. Do you feel that at all?"

McCain: "Campaign rallies are not for stand-up comic routines. Campaign rallies are to tell people what you're going to do for them and for America and draw the differences between ourselves and our opponents. It's not an easy business. It's not beanbag. But it is exhilarating."

Wallace: "Have you even dealt in your mind with the possibility that you could lose, and could you live with that?"

McCain: "Oh, sure. I mean, I don't dwell on it. But look, I've had a wonderful life. I have to go back and live in Arizona, and be in the United States Senate representing them, and with a wonderful family, and daughters and sons that I'm so proud of, and a life that's been blessed. I'm the luckiest guy you have ever interviewed and will ever interview. I'm the most fortunate man on earth, and I thank God for it every single day."

Wallace: "So if the world turns an unfortunate way on November 4th, don't feel sorry for John McCain?"

McCain: "Don't feel sorry for John McCain, and John McCain will be concentrating on not feeling sorry for himself" (10/19).

CAN WE BE BLUNT?

Other GOPers reacted to the Powell endorsement:

MO Gov. Matt Blunt (R): "I don't know that it will make a difference in Missouri. You know, Missourians admire Colin Powell for his many years of service to our country, but in the end they're going to evaluate where the candidates on issues that are important to them. Taxes, growing our economy, creating more wealth rather than redistributing existing wealth, protecting innocent life, protecting second amendment rights, and all those issues. Senator McCain obviously lines up with the values of Missourians" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 10/19).

Newt Gingrich, on the Powell endorsement: "What that just did in one soundbite -- and I assume that soundbite will end up in an ad -- is it eliminated the experience argument" ("This Week," ABC, 10/19).

Rudy Giuliani: "[I] have the highest regard for Colin Powell and consider him a personal friend, and like happens with personal friends sometimes, you disagree. I don't see the same things in Barack Obama that Colin Powell sees. I just come to a different conclusion. ... I think General Powell is wrong, respectfully. I believe he has come to this conclusion, you can see, in an agonized way, because he likes both men very much. I know he's a close friend of John McCain's."

Giuliani, on Powell's disappointment in the judgment of McCain selecting Palin as VP: "If I were talking to Powell and we were having like a friend to friend discussion about this, I'd say, well, you know, you find deficiencies with the experience of the vice presidential candidate -- the presidential candidate you're supporting has less experience than she has" ("Late Edition," CNN, 10/19).

House Min. Whip Roy Blunt: "I wish he would have endorsed John McCain. He said both of these guys were ready to be president. I was glad to hear him say that. ... I usually agree with him, but often, over the years, I haven't agreed with him, particularly about the tone of political debate in the country. I really do think that the associations that Barack Obama's had with Bill Ayers are one of the things that people ought to be thinking about. I think the association, frankly, with Reverend Wright, for 20 years, is something that I wish John McCain wouldn't have taken off the table. I think it does matter what a guy listens to, week in and week, out for 20 years. I think it matters where you decide to launch your campaign for the Senate. I think those are well within the bounds of political discourse" ("Late Edition," CNN, 10/19).

Ex-Rep. Rob Portman (R-OH): "I don't think it makes a big difference. Endorsements are typically overrated, I think. But Colin Powell is well respected. I was interested to see that he said this morning that he thought either man would be a good president. It didn't surprise me a lot because I've heard General Powell talk about both candidates. He says he respects both men but he's always had a special admiration for Senator Obama" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 10/19).

GOP strategist Alex Castellanos: "Colin Powell ... is a warm glass of milk and a cookie for those voters who have a hard time going to sleep at night thinking, well, what kind of president would Barack Obama be?" ("Late Edition," CNN, 10/19).

WE'RE SO EXCITED, AND WE JUST CAN'T HIDE IT

And Dems voiced their enthusiasm:

VA Gov. Tim Kaine (D): "Very important in Virginia for a couple of reasons. General Powell is not seen as a dividing figure but a uniting figure. And so him vouching for Senator Obama convinces those of us who want to see a greater unification of the nation that he's the right guy. Second, General Powell is not an ideological figure. He's a pragmatic person. And so those of us who are, you know, pragmatists first who worry about results and just trying to do the right thing and manage government well, I think they'll see the endorsement by General Powell very positively. Finally it vouches for the senator in terms of that critical issue. We know he has plans to make a change in direction of national security policy. To have the confidence of General Powell in this election is very important. Virginians care about this. We're a state that loves the military. A lot of installations, a lot of folks in service or veterans. So General Powell's endorsement will mean a lot to Virginians, especially the undecideds and Independents" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 10/19).

Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL): "There are some people who are going to say this is somehow racial solidarity. If General Powell were primarily concerned about racial solidarity, he frankly would never have chosen to be a Republican in a party where there is a very thin black presence. General Powell has a consistent history of doing what he thinks is right and what he thinks is in his country's interest. He has always put his country first, as some would say. So I think General Powell's endorsement is an important event in this campaign because Colin Powell is one of the most venerated figures in American public life. He made some mistakes in judgment when he served as secretary of state, and he has owned up to a lot of those mistakes in judgment. I think this is a very helpful event and is part of the momentum that Senator Obama is gathering around him" ("Late Edition," CNN, 10/19).

Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL): "That is going to resonate in Florida in a significant way. We have thousands of military retirees in the state of Florida. And I think what Colin Powell's endorsement does say is it shows that Barack Obama can build bridges across party lines. ... On military issues and foreign policy issues, Colin Powell is clearly respected and that is going to resonate with Floridians. And you know, we're the biggest swing state in the general election, as we usually are" ("Face the Nation," CBS, 10/19).

Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO): "General Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama is going to speak very loudly in Missouri. We had 175,000 people show up to see Barack Obama in Missouri yesterday, the most large political gatherings ever in the history of our country, and that was before General Powell said that Barack Obama is the right leader now. And by the way, Missourians have common sense. Does anybody in their right mind think that General Powell would ever endorse anyone that had any patience with terrorists? Of course he wouldn't" ("Late Edition," CNN, 10/19).

Dem strategist Hilary Rosen: "When you think about who is the big get in the primaries for Democrats, it was Al Gore. Now who was the big get in the general election? It's always been Colin Powell" ("Late Edition," CNN, 10/19).

ROUNDTABLE ROUNDUP

The "This Week" roundtable discussed the Powell endorsement and WH '08.

New York Times' Friedman: "General Powell helps a lot, I think, especially at this moment. That's a real affirmation that the country can trust Barack Obama as commander in chief, and Colin Powell still has a lot of cred with Republicans and Democrats."

ABC's Stephanopoulos: "When you look at that half hour that Barack Obama is going to buy on the networks in the final week of the campaign, I wouldn't be surprised if Warren Buffett is in there and Colin Powell."

Ex-WH adviser David Gergen: "It is the most important endorsement of the campaign so far. And it does say that he's going to be surrounded by mainstream people as well" (ABC, 10/19).

The "Fox News Sunday" roundtable discussed WH '08 and the Powell endorsement.

NPR's Williams: "[The endorsement] helps Barack Obama a little bit with that inexperience thing. ... What Colin Powell has done now is put himself in position where he will be an Obama adviser. I think you see this with lots of the older generation of black politicians right now. I think that's part of what happened with John Lewis and his unfortunate comment. ... But General Powell is the original crossover black politician rock star, and now he's embraced the younger generation, and I guess the benefit of that would be with white voters who had questions about Barack Obama's lack of military credentials."

Fox's Hume: "I think it probably helps some with independents who regard Colin Powell as kind of the essence of what they think of as a citizen soldier and as sort of the model African American success story, as a man of sort of moderate outlook and temperament. And I think his endorsement will probably help to solidify independents who were maybe a little concerned about Obama" (10/19).

The "Face the Nation" roundtable discussed the Powell endorsement and WH '08.

Washington Post's Balz: "There are two, I think, important things that happened with his endorsement of Senator Obama. One is to say to people who have perhaps had questions about it, that he believes he's ready to be president and to be commander in chief. Colin Powell obviously speaks with credibility on that issue. And, I think, for people who may be still on the fence, wondering about that, there's some reassurance there. I think the other is the criticism of McCain for picking Governor Palin as his running mate -- he said explicitly he did not think she was ready. This is something that is beginning to become almost a chorus in some parts of the Republican Party. I think, again, that will raise questions for people who are undecided" (CBS, 10/19).

The "Late Edition" roundtable discussed the Powell endorsement and WH '08.

CNN's Brown: "To the extent that people still feel some uncertainty about Barack Obama in that role of commander in chief, I think Powell's endorsement goes a long way toward inoculating Obama against that. ... If something did happen, like a Georgia situation like we saw this summer, or, God forbid, a terrorist attack, the image of Obama standing there with Colin Powell and Joe Biden, I think, would be a pretty reassuring image to a lot of people."

CNN's Borger: "What was so interesting to me about the Powell endorsement was the breadth of it. It wasn't just about he'll be OK in national security. It spoke to McCain's judgment in a crisis, dealing with the economic crisis in the country. It spoke, in a way, to his temperament. It spoke to his judgment in choosing Sarah Palin as his vice president. ... And it also spoke about the Republican Party. He specifically said, this is a party that's been narrowing. ... He is a member of the big-tent Republican Party, and it's very clear that, by saying it's narrowing, that he's talking to independent voters out there and saying, you know, this is not the way the Republican Party ought to go" (10/19).

The "Meet the Press" roundtable discussed the Powell endorsement and WH '08.

MSNBC's Scarborough, asked if the endorsement makes a long-term difference: "Maybe not long-term, but ... this is a campaign where you have two and a half weeks left. And so if a Powell endorsement occupies the media for two, three days, that's critically important to John McCain. He's got to turn the attention back to his campaign, to his issues. This is a bad distraction for him at a very bad time. ... There is a huge military population in Florida and a very large retired military population in Florida. Colin Powell's endorsement helps him probably more in Florida than any other state."

New York Times' Brooks: "Republicans can either attack Colin Powell or they can regard him as a symptom of what's wrong with the party. And Powell was not attacking John McCain. ... He was attacking the Republican Party. And the key word there was 'narrowing.' ... A lot of people who were Republicans feel they've been left out not by McCain, but by the party. And if McCain has any blame, it's in the beginning of this campaign, he didn't say, 'I'm different,' he didn't break with the party, he didn't reform the party. He got ... sucked in, at least halfway, into the orthodoxy of the party that is narrowing."

NBC's Mitchell: "It makes a difference with the military in North Carolina and Virginia, two other states that have really big military populations; conceivably, also, in South Carolina as well. ... By mentioning the Supreme Court, he's appealing to a lot of those women who may not agree with Barack Obama on a lot of social questions, but feel the tug on Roe v. Wade and also would be influenced by Colin Powell and by a centrist Republican saying that this party is different. I think this is a very powerful political statement."

Newsweek's Meacham: "Having Colin Powell endorse the Democratic nominee for president is like having the seal of approval from the most important military figure of the age. ... This is not a liberal endorsement. This is from a ... general who served both Bushes, and I think the first President Bush more happily. And I think right now the country is more with the first President Bush on questions of power and the role of America in the world than it is with the second" (NBC, 10/19).