Colin Powell commands same price as a pack of smokes

Apparently, being Colin Powell just isn't what it used to be. Time was, the former secretary of state and chairman of the joint chiefs commanded audiences with the world's most powerful statesmen. Presidents and politicians sought his counsel. Now, he's being sold like a free toaster.

I woke up this morning to find Powell in an advertisement in the Washington Post, offered up as an also-ran at the Get Motivated seminar that rolls into town in September. "SAVE! SAVE! SAVE!" the ad declares. See Powell for "ALMOST FREE!"

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How much is "almost free," you might ask? Forty-nine bucks. "Not $49 per person," explains the ad, "but per office! So, if you have 10 people from your office attend, the investment is only $4.90 each! That is almost free!"

Indeed it is. It's about the same price as a pack of smokes. Not a bad deal, considering the guy won a war.