Powell's original reason given for not running for higher office was that he and his family would be vivisected by the media and the opposition party and it would not be worth having his loved ones terrorized and his honesty questioned constantly, as had been happening to other people such as the Supreme Court nominees. But the fact was that CLINTON had offered him a high position in his administration and Powell chose to stay on the sidelines for EIGHT YEARS while waiting for another Republican administration to come to power. He got his wish, went to work for Jr., and seems to have instantly regretted it. Almost immediately there seemed to be a distinct cooling on his part, and with almost 2 years to go in Jr.'s first term he said he would be leaving. It's my guess that he got too strong a whiff of the putrid business that was being done by that bunch. He could not speak out or denounce them or reveal what he knew. A once honest and honorable man sat there and sold out his principles for politicians. I'll bet Powell felt dirty all over even being near Dubya
