It's not just a matter of whether you support Obama or Romney. It's who they have coming with them. I always keep my powder dry, as they say in the military.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of leadership teams and their values over individual candidates.
Colin Powell's quote highlights that evaluating political candidates goes beyond their personal ideologies; it is critical to consider the people they surround themselves with and the principles they represent. He uses a military saying to convey the need for preparedness and caution in decision-making, suggesting that the effectiveness of a leader is often determined by their advisors and allies.
In practice
In a debate about the upcoming elections, I might say, 'It's not just a matter of whether you support Obama or Romney. It's who they have coming with them.'
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier. I am talking about a gung-ho attitude that says 'we can change things here, we can achieve awesome goals, we can be the best. 'Spare me the grim litany of the 'realist;' give me the unrealistic aspirations of the optimist any day.
One of the fondest expressions around is that we can't be the world's policeman. But guess who gets called when suddenly someone needs a cop.
Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.
If you get the dirty end of the stick, sharpen it and turn it into a useful tool.
High-quality early-childhood programs and health coverage have expanded, and the number of mentoring relationships for at-risk youth has risen dramatically. That progress is encouraging, but it's not evenly distributed.
As I've thought about gay marriage, I don't see any reason not to say that [couples] should be able to get married.
What I think is fair to say is that, coming out of the Republican camp, there have been efforts to suggest that perhaps I'm not who I say I am when it comes to my faith - something which I find deeply offensive, and that has been going on for a pretty long time.
Fighting corruption is not just good governance. It's self-defense. It's patriotism.
Growing up, I never ever thought that I would or could or should be involved in politics. I didn't see anyone who looked like me in spaces of power.
We must not confuse dissent with disloyalty.
We need more of the Office Desk and less of the Show Window in politics. Let men in office substitute the midnight oil for the limelight.
In a democracy, when you get 20 million people in the street, you resign.
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