Powell for President

Colin Powell, the decorated war hero and former secretary of state, told Tom Brokaw yesterday on "Meet the Press" that he is supporting Barack Obama for president, which is better, in my opinion, than supporting John McCain. Obama, despite his relative inexperience, understands that the country must look forward, and as cliche-ridden as it sounds, change. McCain, I'm sorry, just isn't convincing about leading us out of the recession, war, health care crisis, environmental and climate woes, etc. And Obama has a better plan for the middle class, which is helpful to me.

But what sort of troubled me about the announcement was the idea that Powell, who has essentially sworn off public service, or people like him, isn't running for the nation's highest office himself. While Obama is articulate and visionary, Powell is that and so much more. He's seasoned, he's tested, he's accomplished. Obama's intelligent, but Powell is a classic novel to Obama's short story. (McCain would be a letter to the editor...)

It's understandable that Colin Powell does not want to serve his country as president - he's already done so much. But it's depressing that the presidential race never truly garners the best possible candidates - only the candidates who are willing to run, can get their party's backing, raise millions, and are generally popular.

The Leader of the Free World is an awfully powerful title, but a salary of $400,000 a year (which is what a U.S. president makes) seems a touch low, and the toll, physically, emotionally, on the president and his family, isn't always good.

Still, it'd be nice to see a truly intelligent, talented, creative, innovative, tough, and sensible leader - a modern day Rennaissance Man (or woman) - in the White House. For now, I guess, Obama is the best we have.

When you look at who's there now, it's clear to see that it could be worse.