I'll bet there were a lot of Americans who had the same reaction I had while watching Gen. Colin Powell remove himself from presidential consideration the other day.
"Gee," we said to ourselves softly, "This guy may be too good, too honest and well-meaning a person to run for president. And that's a shame."Which is why Dole's comment on Powell's decision to run is so hilarious.
"I will actively seek his advice and counsel as we work to bring our people together, broaden the appeal of our party and move our nation forward," said Dole. Hey, in person Dole can be an entertaining rascal. He has a quick wit and a tongue like a willow switch. But he is not a unifier. He wants a broader party only in the sense that it might mean more GOP voters, not in the sense of greater moderation.
Which brings us back to Powell, who has been miscast as a person who would have brought Americans together and made them forget racial and other animosities. Powell is not a miracle man. I think that what Americans saw in him was decency and a sense of duty that would surpass mere partisanship and political flapdoodle. A lot of Americans, in short, saw in Colin Powell what is generally lacking in those who are the leaders in public life today: a person meriting respect and admiration even if you disagree with him.