General Vincent Brooks....for President!

He was raised by Mr. and Mrs. Brooks.

 

He's an army brat.
http://www.nynewsday.com/entertainm...,2908868.story?coll=nyc-ent-topheadlines-left
He's got a better record than Colin Powell.

OK, that's an easy cheap shot, but I couldn't resist. (Look up My Lai and Colin Powell sometime, you'll find the words coverup and promotion in there, then there's that arms for hostages dealie...)

 

He is a very articulate speaker, I only hear him on the radio, never seen him till that article had the picture to connect the name to the face.

 

He seems like an intelligent person, but he is incredibly bland. Most people like their politicians to have a little more personality than Brooks. I think he's probably far more suited to military life than the political spotlight.

 

Wrong. You have been lied to by some jerk off who has an axe to grind about Powell. Try thinking for yourself.

You can start your education by actually studying this subject before you slander a great American like Powell.

By the way, I am also very impressed with Brooks.

 

*Disclamer*
I am makeing no specific claims about anything relating to anybody posting in this thread, but....

Has anybody ever noticed that when people get described as "articulate" they are always African-American? Sort of as if the assumption is that it is somehow "special" for a black man to be well spoken?

BTW, of all the generals & ex-generals, etc on TV, the only one who I'd want for my president is Wesley Clark, in spite of all his flaws. He could 'articulate' his way around the whole of CENTCOM. If he runs for president, no matter who against, I will give him my vote.

Re: Powell, and the Mai Lai, thing, I think it's definately overblown. More than likely he was guilty of not putting his full effort into researching the issue -- I can't believe that he was part of any "cover-up".

But, Powell does have a bit of a stink on him from his association with the Iran Contra affair as Caspar Weinberger's chief millitary guy, and his testamony before congress was clearly obfuscation.

According to Oliver North, Powell was North's chief contact, for transfering weapons to the Iranians, which Powell has consistantly denied, despite declassified info to the contrary. He also came up with this gem of testamony before the senate, when he said, "To my recollection, I don't have a recollection." He also claims to have conveniently "destroyed" any journals and documents relating to the affair, which is always a dubious claim when it comes to these types of issues.

 

I too have been impressed with Brooks' presentation and the thought of political aspirations crossed my mind.

But then I started to think of how different politics is from the military. By it's very nature, the military is a very structured, almost issue polarized environment. It's easier to know what to do because there is a chain of command and a code of ethics...even if it's a superficial one.

No pun or racist comment intended, but politics is much less black and white. The issues can get very gray. In the military, one can aspire to unwavering values, but in politics you get things like a tobacco subsidy to the Carolinas attached as a rider to the bill establishing the Martin Luther King Holiday.

There is much more compromising required to be an affective politician than a succesful general. At least, that is my humble opinion.

 

No, I have never noticed that.

 

Some people would be surprised at how many extremely intelligent African-Americans are in the military. It is pretty much the only career field where equal oppurtunity is more than just a pretty sign on the front door. If you're good then you get promoted and if you suck you probaly end up riding the lowest rank possible to retire at because the military is smart enough not to put incompetent people in charge of life and death decisions. Your bosses are more honest with you and don't smile to your face while reaching for the dagger to stab you in the back.

That wasn't the point of the article but I was sort of thowing out some additional info to go along with another post farther up where it was commented on that people take special care to mention that an African-American is well spoken and intelligent.

 

Yep...Intelligence is valued. I think the army does hand out promotions to officers who further themselves in their education. I don't know if I'm remember correctly but my cousin got a promotion to captain or major for getting a masters degree. Well maybe he did other stuff too to get that promotion but I'm sure the Masters was the main reason.

 

He already is a politician, all generals are. They compete for the votes of promotion board members as vigorously as any politician does for our votes, and to get ahead one must be noticed above their peers. In fact most generals usually do more politicking than generaling.

Like politicians, there are good generals and there are bad ones. He seems like a good one.

 

I'm sure this is probably true but it sounds kind of unethical and morally wrong for any military person of honor to lobby for the board member's promotion votes. Hmmm...I would think this way the most charismatic ones get promoted the most? I would also think the most charismatic ones aren't always the most competent.

When I join the Air Force and become an officer after getting my Bachelors, I hope I won't have to be a "military politician".

 

I would say that you'd be correct. Some Colonels seem to think that their primary job is to get their star, not run their outfit well.

You won't really have to worry about politicking until/unless you get to a field grade (Colonel or above). Until then you pretty much just focus on improving yourself to further your career.

 

I like him and I would vote for some one who came from that a military career to lead our country b/c I think our country would be much better off it things were a little tighter. Saying that, I think that should he want to, he could have a future in politics but in this day and age, I think its a stretch that any President will ever be elected that comes from a military career.

I think the more likely scenario will be in the future holding a high ranking cabinet position (i.e. Powell). Before anyone gets off on saying that it has anything at all to do with race, let me say that it is 100% coincidental that they are both African Americans, I would have and did say the same about Norman Schwarzkopf.

 

you really don't think that Colin Powell would have easily beaten bush for the republican party and eventually beat Al Gore easily?

 

If they're incompetent they usually never make Colonel. They do politic a lot but for the most part it's a bunch of very qualified men and women competing for the top spots. It's very rare that a dud gets through the system.

 

In defense of the "political" nature of the process, one of the traditional roles of military commanders has been to inspire confidence in his troops. Think back to the effect of MacArthur's "I shall return" speech on his men, or go watch the at basically accurate movie "Patton" and try to say that personality didn't have a strong effect on his troops. Then, imagine being some grunt having to go to war for the first time and having to listen to Maj. General Bill Gates try to inspire you to do your best...