Colin Powell

Your Sept. 13 editorial concerning Colin Powell mentions what you call "the growing distrust of the professional political class." This distrust grows directly out of some so-called "reforms" of a few decades ago, viz. the presidential primary system. It had its flaws, but the old system (smoke-filled rooms and meaningful conventions) generally threw up an eminent and seasoned man somewhat above the preliminary partisan debate. A partisan himself, he could nevertheless enter the general campaign seemingly above petty politics.

Soldier. Statesman. Best-selling author. Winner of an unprecedented two presidential Medals of Freedom. Sought after by both parties as a presidential candidate. Colin Luther Powell, the son of Jamaican immigrants, personifies the American dream. Powell has also made a deep impression abroad, as kings, presidents and foreign ministers vie for his ear. Despite his stature, however, it hasn't been smooth sailing for America's 65th secretary of State.

Former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell warned Sunday that ideological conservatives, particularly radio commentator Rush Limbaugh, had gained a hold over the Republican Party that risked driving the GOP into an extended exile from power. Powell cast his warnings in unusually personal terms as he answered recent charges from two champions of the Republican right -- Limbaugh and former Vice President Dick Cheney -- that he was no longer a Republican. "Rush will not get his wish, and Mr.

Colin Powell says he's not prepared to endorse Barack Obama again, as he did during the 2008 campaign. But for the moment, it seems as if Powell has a thumb on the scale in the president's favor. In separate television interviews as he promotes his new book, the retired general and former Secretary of State under President George W. Bush both praised President Obama's efforts on the economy and raised questions about Mitt Romney's views on foreign policy. But, he insists he plans to keep his "powder dry" when it comes to throwing his support behind one of the two. "I feel as a private citizen, I ought to listen to what the president says and what the president's been doing.

Gen. Colin Powell, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, is scheduled to be a keynote speaker at a three-day conference on defense and industrial quality next week at the Mandalay Beach Resort in Oxnard. Powell will appear Monday, the event's first day, on a program titled "Vision for Defense in the 21st Century." The Tuesday program will focus on quality training and technology. On Wednesday, senior Navy officials will discuss warfare systems engineering.

Colin Powell is admired for being admirable the way some Hollywood celebrities are famous for being famous. He is a charismatic figure with a compelling biography, and Americans of all persuasions have a way of projecting onto him their own views.

Five representatives of the Simi Valley-based Freedom Tree organization are scheduled to fly to Washington, D.C., today to honor Gen. Colin Powell and to seek funding to expand the organization nationwide. Randy Sundeen, president of the group, said the five-day trip will include discussions with U. S. Department of Agriculture officials regarding the availability of land and funding for tree-planting nationwide.

Foul-mouthed radio personality Howard Stern has another Powell to reckon with: Secretary of State Colin L. Powell. The nation's top diplomat came to the defense of his son, Federal Communications Commission Chairman Michael K. Powell, after Stern said the younger Powell got the job only because of his family name. Colin Powell labeled the accusation "just so much nonsense."

Re "Powell says it's time to close Guantanamo," June 11 Isn't it a little late for former Secretary of State Colin L. Powell to get religion? Your article says he advocates reexamining his "don't ask, don't tell" policy on homosexuals in the military. He also belatedly advises closing the infamous detention facility at Guantanamo and bewails the botched occupation of Iraq. The ship has sailed, Colin Powell. Too late to pull a George Tenet-style apology. It was your plain duty to resign as secretary of State as soon as you realized how the administration snookered you into making your "yellow cake" speech at the United Nations.