The Last Big Endorsement?

The story of the day, assuming that the rest of the evening will be relatively quiet, is Colin Powell's endorsement of Barack Obama. See video and print in the NYT.

On the one hand, Powell retains a certain aura unique to him as a sort of post-partisan keeper of the national interest, not only from the length and breadth of his service to the nation, but to his ability to serve very different administrations in quite effective ways.

Powell's time with W. has done much to tarnish that reputation- few things undermine one's claim to expertise more severely than Powell's UN appearance.

Which brings us to this morning. Nothing about the material we have so far seen seems to suggest that Powell was anything other than calculating in turning on his party and personal friend, John McCain. At that level, he provides an eloquent example of what putting his country first actually looks like. More, however, is the extent to which this feels like Powell speaking as much to his own legacy as to any other audience. In fact, who other than future historians (or current ones) could he be talking to? Are there really still undecideds in the Washington defense community, and if so, will this decide them? I hardly think JTP will be particularly swayed by the endorsement of someone so obscure as a former secretary of state. Despite the eye-rolling of certain American historians whenever I broach this theory, I remain convinced that had some different choices been made, Powell could have mopped the floor with the entire Republican field back in 2000, crossing many of the lines Obama is crossing in this one, and putting American policy on a very different track today. Clearly, Powell is unimpressed by the achievements of his party over the last decade. Today is something of a nod toward that alternative past, and a hopfull vision for a very different future.

**update**

Of course, there are other interpretation. Mr. Limbaugh in this thoughtful piece suggests secretary Powell is a racist. Way to go, Rush.