"As a military officer, he didn't feel that it was proper to belong to a partisan organization."

I think that speaks very well for Colin Powell's own good judgement. He would make a rather good future candidate for either party, I would think.

Back when it seemed inevitable that Hillary Clinton would be the one to run on the Democratic ticket in 2008, it occurred to me that the most classic possible Republican opponent to run against her would be Condoleeza Rice! Not that I'm saying it would have been at all likely a scenario, but it certainly would have been entertaining...