Powell to Run for President as a Democrat!

Colin Powell to Run for President? As a Democrat!

By John C. Dvorak

summer 2005

It was a couple of weeks ago that I heard that venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers was going to bring on a big name and there would be a fuss about it. I was about to take bets that it was Al Gore, someone who hangs out with a few of the KPCB folks, namely John Doerr.

The news reports about this event when it was finally announced made little sense to me. The related link (see sidebar) from Silicon Beat is an example. Here's what we are told. Powell is going to help entrepreneurs. He's going to lecture owners of businesses that he has invested in. First of all what makes a career military man an expert in entrepreneurship? As for lecturing people he invests with, why does he need KPCB for that?

In some reports we are told that he is a technology maven. I know someone who worked closely with Powell in Washington and he told me that as far as he knows this is not true.

In one report John Doerr, who solicited Powell, said that Powell was not brought in to be a "rainmaker." This refers to a person who makes things happen, especially when it comes to getting people to invest in a fund. Powell could, for example, go to China and get them to invest.

Doerr said he's worked with Powell back when he was on the board of AOL. That's when the board was loaded with ex-military and government people and Doerr was an investor with Netscape when AOL bought it.

Doerr has been a political jock-sniffer ever since his net worth got past $500 million and he began to dabble in politics. A former Republican turned-Democrat, he successfully orchestrated a campaign to limit shareholder lawsuits in California. He is a huge supporter of Diane Feinstein and pals with Al Gore who he supported for President. He's a rich Democrat looking to move up on the social ladder in hopes of getting an Ambassadorship or an appointment to a cabinet post. Or at least that's what people in the valley think.

He can't do that unless one of his boys gets in and his has not come close to picking a winner. He's lost a good bit of credibility with his fellow Democratic investors as he has promoted one loser after another costing them a small fortune in donations and resulting in no White House dinners.

So what is this ambitious political maven doing with Powell?

It's obvious to me: he wants to flip Powell into a Democrat and run him for President.

If he can't get him to change parties then he'll run Powell as a Republican since neither party has any heir apparent. Doerr is sick of losing and sees Powell as his ticket to the White House cabinet.

Doerr would become a kingmaker if he can pull this off, and it's very do-able either way but more do-able by flipping Powell after grooming him.

The idea here is to give Powell some perceived "chops" as an entrepreneur cum businessman cum investor with one of the top VC firms in the world. Looks good on the resume and is analogous to George W. Bush "owning" the Texas Rangers. It's high quality window dressing.

The grooming process should take about two years, that's enough time for Powell to gain credibility as a businessman-entrepreneur. All the while Doerr will be spending his time lining up money for the Powell run while attempting to set up a machine to give him a chance to actually win.

Turning Powell into a Democrat will be first order of business and all-important if Powell wants to get the black vote. Being black himself will not work, he needs to be black and a Democrat. Moderate Republicans would vote for him even if he was a Democrat and he would only lose out on the far right Republican vote. Turning Democrat would also give him a good point of inflection.

As for Powell sticking with the Republican party and running, the fact is that the current Republican regime will never let Powell win the nomination. He's not on the same page as they are.

The Democrats, meanwhile, need someone badly and with Doerr and other big money Democrats promoting Powell as an electable cross-over candidate this could work. It would also make Doerr look good if he could pull it off.

You should also note that Doerr was a huge financial backer of Howard Dean. Dean now heads the DNC and owes Doerr. You can be certain the Powell situation is being discussed daily. Much of the discussion would have to do with the timing of any announcement saying Powell has changed parties. It's critical.

That said, let's assume that Powell runs as a Democrat. The big issue would be his running mate. Hillary anyone? The Doerr-Powell faction would have to give up something by letting Powell join the party in the first place. It would have to be an old-line progressive Democrat. This is where they will blow it, again, and lose the cross-over vote and the election.

--end

Related links:

KPCB Press Release

Associated Press

Silicon Beat

Old Whitehouse Bio

Amazing Powell Fluff piece

Pre-bubble Fluff Piece on Doerr

and this interview

Doerr's Politics (pro-offshoring)

The other John Doerr

copyright by John C. Dvorak 2003

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	Colin Powell to Run for President? As a Democrat! By John C. Dvorak
	summer 2005
	It was a couple of weeks ago that I heard that venture capital firm Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield and Byers was going to bring on a big name and there would be a fuss about it. I was about to take bets that it was Al Gore, someone who hangs out with a few of the KPCB folks, namely John Doerr. The news reports about this event when it was finally announced made little sense to me. The related link (see sidebar) from Silicon Beat is an example. Here's what we are told. Powell is going to help entrepreneurs. He's going to lecture owners of businesses that he has invested in. First of all what makes a career military man an expert in entrepreneurship? As for lecturing people he invests with, why does he need KPCB for that? In some reports we are told that he is a technology maven. I know someone who worked closely with Powell in Washington and he told me that as far as he knows this is not true. In one report John Doerr, who solicited Powell, said that Powell was not brought in to be a "rainmaker." This refers to a person who makes things happen, especially when it comes to getting people to invest in a fund. Powell could, for example, go to China and get them to invest. Doerr said he's worked with Powell back when he was on the board of AOL. That's when the board was loaded with ex-military and government people and Doerr was an investor with Netscape when AOL bought it. Doerr has been a political jock-sniffer ever since his net worth got past $500 million and he began to dabble in politics. A former Republican turned-Democrat, he successfully orchestrated a campaign to limit shareholder lawsuits in California. He is a huge supporter of Diane Feinstein and pals with Al Gore who he supported for President. He's a rich Democrat looking to move up on the social ladder in hopes of getting an Ambassadorship or an appointment to a cabinet post. Or at least that's what people in the valley think. He can't do that unless one of his boys gets in and his has not come close to picking a winner. He's lost a good bit of credibility with his fellow Democratic investors as he has promoted one loser after another costing them a small fortune in donations and resulting in no White House dinners. So what is this ambitious political maven doing with Powell? It's obvious to me: he wants to flip Powell into a Democrat and run him for President. If he can't get him to change parties then he'll run Powell as a Republican since neither party has any heir apparent. Doerr is sick of losing and sees Powell as his ticket to the White House cabinet. Doerr would become a kingmaker if he can pull this off, and it's very do-able either way but more do-able by flipping Powell after grooming him. The idea here is to give Powell some perceived "chops" as an entrepreneur cum businessman cum investor with one of the top VC firms in the world. Looks good on the resume and is analogous to George W. Bush "owning" the Texas Rangers. It's high quality window dressing. The grooming process should take about two years, that's enough time for Powell to gain credibility as a businessman-entrepreneur. All the while Doerr will be spending his time lining up money for the Powell run while attempting to set up a machine to give him a chance to actually win. Turning Powell into a Democrat will be first order of business and all-important if Powell wants to get the black vote. Being black himself will not work, he needs to be black and a Democrat. Moderate Republicans would vote for him even if he was a Democrat and he would only lose out on the far right Republican vote. Turning Democrat would also give him a good point of inflection. As for Powell sticking with the Republican party and running, the fact is that the current Republican regime will never let Powell win the nomination. He's not on the same page as they are. The Democrats, meanwhile, need someone badly and with Doerr and other big money Democrats promoting Powell as an electable cross-over candidate this could work. It would also make Doerr look good if he could pull it off. You should also note that Doerr was a huge financial backer of Howard Dean. Dean now heads the DNC and owes Doerr. You can be certain the Powell situation is being discussed daily. Much of the discussion would have to do with the timing of any announcement saying Powell has changed parties. It's critical. That said, let's assume that Powell runs as a Democrat. The big issue would be his running mate. Hillary anyone? The Doerr-Powell faction would have to give up something by letting Powell join the party in the first place. It would have to be an old-line progressive Democrat. This is where they will blow it, again, and lose the cross-over vote and the election. --end		Related links: KPCB Press Release Associated Press Silicon Beat Old Whitehouse Bio Amazing Powell Fluff piece Pre-bubble Fluff Piece on Doerr and this interview Doerr's Politics (pro-offshoring) The other John Doerr
	copyright by John C. Dvorak 2003
	Add your comment here
	BACK TO Dvorak Uncensored