Andy's BlogI have said before, I am a Christ-centered Bible believer, usually Conservative, who believes big government is the worst thing that can happen to this country. With all that said, I consider Obama my current candidate. But then Stephen1 got me thinking about write-ins and 1996...
In 1996 there was some serious rumblings about Colin Powell running against Bill Clinton. Man that would have been nice. But alas, Powell did not want to run, so we were stuck with Clinton, Lewinsky, and Bin Laden2 oh my!
My 2008 conclusion: I have decided to write-in Colin Powell as my vote for President and I think he just might actually win!3
Why do I think he could win? Because he doesn't want the job...
The way I see it, to win the Presidential Election with three candidates you need 218 electoral votes. According to my math, that is 48,427,488 popular votes.4
I sincerely believe that to get 48 million people to do something, it would only take the right 7 or 8 people. In this case I think those 7 are Sean Hannity, Rush Limbaugh, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, Glenn Beck, Bill O'Reilly, and James Dobson.5
I created an Excel spreadsheet (which can be downloaded here for your own use) and here are the results: write-in Powell beats Obama 255 to 236.
| McCain | Obama | Powell |
| Florida (27) | California (55) | Texas (34) |
| Arizona (10) | New York (31) | Ohio (20) |
| Nevada (5) | Illinois (21) | Georgia (15) |
| New Mexico (5) | Pennsylvania (21) | North Carolina (15) |
| Michigan (17) | Virginia (13) | |
| New Jersey (15) | Indiana (11) | |
| Massachusetts (12) | Missouri (11) | |
| Maryland (10) | Tennessee (11) | |
| Colorado (9) | Washington (11) | |
| Connecticut (7) | Minnesota (10) | |
| Oregon (7) | Wisconsin (10) | |
| Mississippi (6) | Alabama (9) | |
| Hawaii (4) | Louisiana (9) | |
| Maine (4) | Kentucky (8) | |
| New Hampshire (4) | South Carolina (8) | |
| Rhode Island (4) | Iowa (7) | |
| Delaware (3) | Oklahoma (7) | |
| Vermont (3) | Arkansas (6) | |
| Washington DC (3) | Kansas (6) | |
| Nebraska (5) | ||
| Utah (5) | ||
| West Virginia (5) | ||
| Idaho (4) | ||
| Alaska (3) | ||
| Montana (3) | ||
| North Dakota (3) | ||
| South Dakota (3) | ||
| Wyoming (3) | ||
| 47 EC Votes for McCain | 236 EC Votes for Obama | 255 EC Votes for Powell |
So why would Powell make a better President than Obama and McCain?
He has a stellar international reputation. We are in a desperate need to fix our international image. It effects our economy, our safety, and the well-being of all human life. Our international image is a pro-life issue.
He argued against the Iraq War. Before it was cool to be against the Iraq War, Powell was against it. He argued against it with Rumsfeld and Bush in the room. And this isn't because he is a pussy like Sheehan and the Democrats. It's because he knew it wasn't the right thing to do, and it wouldn't make us any safer.
He argued for the Iraq War. Powell realizes it isn't about him. He was loyal to his "boss" - even when they disagreed. Since we are all the boss of the President, I appreciate someone who is loyal to his constituents and his country.
His nickname is the Reluctant Warrior. This is what I want in my President in this day and age. I don't want a Bush or McCain who is looking for a fight. But I also don't want a pussy like Obama or Clinton who won't stand up when we need it. Powell was a General in the US Army. He knows when he needs to fight. And he knows when he doesn't.
Bi-Partisian Reputation. We need it. Americans care less and less about political parties. We need candidates who agree.
Conservative Spending. I don't know why I think this, but Powell strikes me as a guy who can control spending. He might not back the FairTax, but he seems like he wouldn't spend like Bush and Clinton.
He's one of the smartest men in politics. Usually intelligence and politics is an oxymoron. Not with Powell.
He's relatable. If intelligence and politics are oxymorons; relatability and intelligence are definitely an oxymoron. Powell's got both. He is Kerry and Bush mixed in one.
So how do we do this?
Simple. The 7 people above put their full support behind him. They encourage the people they influence (which has got to be above 48 million) to write him in as President and that doing so isn't throwing away their vote.
We then setup a website (say Powell08.com) and ask people to register their commitment to vote for Powell. By November, there will be enough commitments that people will realize they aren't throwing away their vote by writing-in Powell and we will have the first unofficial, three candidate race.
So what if he doesn't take the job?
Fine. It is his choice. But at least we will send a message to all politicians that we are not happy (which we aren't). I am not sure constitutionally speaking how it would be settled, but I'll let the courts figure that one out.
But think what happens if he does take it. He will have no special interests because nobody donated to his campaign. He won't worry about reelection because he didn't want it in the first place. He will be free to do what he does best: get things done in a fair and intelligent manner.
So the balls in your court 7. Are you going to be like Colbert above and throw in the towel and just reluctantly vote for McCain? Or are you going man up and do something revolutionary. They say talk radio has no influence anymore, prove them wrong in a way they can't dispute.
anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job.[/i]
Douglas Adams