ANYONE BUT WEBB

Your own remarks about Webb ought to be held in relief against the following remarks made in that bastion of liberal-Marxist thought, The Wall Street Journal.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121400455088993487.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_topbox

Quote:

Sen. Webb, a politician for less than two years, could be a risky combatant for the Democratic party. The 62-year-old lawmaker and novelist has a zeal that sometimes defies political niceties: He didn't shake President Bush's hand when the president asked about his son's deployment to Iraq. Some of his views aren't politically correct. He contends that "poor whites" are an oppressed class, and defends Confederate soldiers for fighting for state sovereignty.

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Descended from Scottish-Irish settlers who became pioneers in the Virginia mountains, Sen. Webb was born in Missouri into a military family that moved some 20 times during his childhood. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1968 and went into the Marine Corps, where he served as a rifle platoon and company commander in Vietnam. He earned several medals for valor including the Navy Cross, one of the military's highest honors, in part for using his own body to shield a fellow soldier from an exploding grenade.

As to your remarks about webb's disaffiliations of working class credentials,

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Some of his views aren't politically correct. He contends that "poor whites" are an oppressed class, and defends Confederate soldiers for fighting for state sovereignty.

Noted as well, that like the working class his military experience is analogous, viz., he too carried the heavy load while Mccain was a member of the military elite as a pilot who did not get his hands dirty until being shot down.

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During Senate debate recently over the legislation( new GI Bill), an interesting dynamic emerged between Sens. Webb, McCain and Hagel -- all three Vietnam vets who had differing experiences of the war. Sens. Webb and Hagel were combat soldiers, whereas Sen. McCain (who originally opposed the bill) was a naval pilot and longtime prisoner of war. The three got to know one another only after returning to the U.S. in the 1970s.

"Not to denigrate John's five-and-a-half years in prison, but Jim and I have the perspective of being on the ground, doing the dirty work and seeing terrible and bloody suffering," Sen. Hagel says. "Jim and I have always been focused on the bottom ranks who are carrying the load."

As well, promoting his liberal, elite tendencies that cut against the grain of working class males;

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Until his run for the Senate in 2006, Sen. Webb says he never officially affiliated with a political party. Married three times, he has five children ranging in age from 1 to 38. In what he calls a rite of passage like a "Southern bar mitzvah," he says that, except for his toddler, "I've taught all my children how to shoot."

So you got a Marine who won a Navy Cross for valor and an Emmy Award for journalism, who thinks poor white people are getting the shaft, and who walks around with a pistol and teaches his own kids to shoot guns, yet consider him a dilettante who is just affecting working class values?

nhuh huh, friend. Webb is the guy who ought to be sitting in the Oval Office, but I'll settle for VP at the moment.

If one is looking for a 21st century avatar and amalgum of JFK and RFK, James Webb suits the bill.

kuvasz wrote:

Your own remarks about Webb ought to be held in relief against the following remarks made in that bastion of liberal-Marxist thought, The Wall Street Journal.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121400455088993487.html?mod=special_page_campaign2008_topbox

Quote:

Sen. Webb, a politician for less than two years, could be a risky combatant for the Democratic party. The 62-year-old lawmaker and novelist has a zeal that sometimes defies political niceties: He didn't shake President Bush's hand when the president asked about his son's deployment to Iraq. Some of his views aren't politically correct. He contends that "poor whites" are an oppressed class, and defends Confederate soldiers for fighting for state sovereignty.

Quote:

Descended from Scottish-Irish settlers who became pioneers in the Virginia mountains, Sen. Webb was born in Missouri into a military family that moved some 20 times during his childhood. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 1968 and went into the Marine Corps, where he served as a rifle platoon and company commander in Vietnam. He earned several medals for valor including the Navy Cross, one of the military's highest honors, in part for using his own body to shield a fellow soldier from an exploding grenade.

As to your remarks about webb's disaffiliations of working class credentials,

Quote:

Some of his views aren't politically correct. He contends that "poor whites" are an oppressed class, and defends Confederate soldiers for fighting for state sovereignty.

Noted as well, that like the working class his military experience is analogous, viz., he too carried the heavy load while Mccain was a member of the military elite as a pilot who did not get his hands dirty until being shot down.

Quote:

During Senate debate recently over the legislation( new GI Bill), an interesting dynamic emerged between Sens. Webb, McCain and Hagel -- all three Vietnam vets who had differing experiences of the war. Sens. Webb and Hagel were combat soldiers, whereas Sen. McCain (who originally opposed the bill) was a naval pilot and longtime prisoner of war. The three got to know one another only after returning to the U.S. in the 1970s.

"Not to denigrate John's five-and-a-half years in prison, but Jim and I have the perspective of being on the ground, doing the dirty work and seeing terrible and bloody suffering," Sen. Hagel says. "Jim and I have always been focused on the bottom ranks who are carrying the load."

As well, promoting his liberal, elite tendencies that cut against the grain of working class males;

Quote:

Until his run for the Senate in 2006, Sen. Webb says he never officially affiliated with a political party. Married three times, he has five children ranging in age from 1 to 38. In what he calls a rite of passage like a "Southern bar mitzvah," he says that, except for his toddler, "I've taught all my children how to shoot."

So you got a Marine who won a Navy Cross for valor and an Emmy Award for journalism, who thinks poor white people are getting the shaft, and who walks around with a pistol and teaches his own kids to shoot guns, yet consider him a dilettante who is just affecting working class values?

nhuh huh, friend. Webb is the guy who ought to be sitting in the Oval Office, but I'll settle for VP at the moment.

If one is looking for a 21st century avatar and amalgum of JFK and RFK, James Webb suits the bill.

You've leapt to a false conclusion.

I don't think him a member of the liberal elite (quite to the contrary), nor do I consider him a dilettante who is affecting working class values.

I don't know if there is a definitive explanation of "working class values" but I don't think teaching all your kids to shoot is at the top of the list unless of course you are addressing a caricature rather than the real thing.

He has a military heritage which, while hardly being a bad thing, is not the same as a working class heritage. The warrior is not the same icon as the hard working stiff, although the latter may be inclined to admire the former. It's hard, though, to fathom why working class supporters of Hillary Clinton would necessarily fall into line behind Webb because he's a warrior.

Personally, I kind of like the guy and would rather see him as president than Obama, but I still don't think there is a chance Obama will pick him no matter how much Kuvy and Katrina vanden Heuvel love him. Some of the reasons being those highlighted in the WSJ piece that you seem to believe is in sharp contrast to my own views on the man:

Sen. Webb, a politician for less than two years, could be a risky combatant for the Democratic party.

He contends that "poor whites" are an oppressed class, and defends Confederate soldiers for fighting for state sovereignty.

In what he calls a rite of passage like a "Southern bar mitzvah," he says that, except for his toddler, "I've taught all my children how to shoot."

Its odd that such a stalwart voice for The Left would not readily understand how Webb's persona might disturb the sensibilities of many of it's most influential members.

If you are so in favor of him being on the ticket, then you are better served defending his liberal rather than working class bonafides.

34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

That is simple to explain; first, Webb wants GIs to get college educations, and parents to have paid maternity leave, and those are majority held beliefs, so you don't speak with objective authority on calling his positions "liberal," second, when you say that I do not readily understand how Webb's persona disturbs liberal sensibilities, you have to show proof for that misunderstanding, and you haven't illustrated that in my writings. third, I am a liberal because of my class-conciousness, recognizing concomitant inequalities of economic class, and so too Webb recognizes and has commented on repeatedly about the same inequalities, while those which you refer to as being disturbed as liberalism's most influential members; they are not liberals simply because of class inequalities as Webb and I recognize, but via personal tastes and lifestyles.

I happen to side with George Bush's favorite philosopher; a true revolutionary in his own day.

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34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

-Matt. 25:34-40

Frankly, I am liberal because I believe in the truth of the words of Jesus spoken above and am driven to political positions to help those who cannot help themselves.

My question is, why you aren't?

Some people are talking up Sen. Jack Reed as a runningmate. He is a superb guy with a great record who would be better than Webb as a runningmate.

Webb is married for the third time. Could this be used against him?

Whats left now? Edwards with National Enquirer stardom? Chris Dodd of Countrywide sweetheart deals notoriety? Oh no, is it back to Hillary?

From what I have read, McCain has been vindicated. Just how does a sweeheart loan become vindicated, Advocate, for Dodd? Seems pretty clear it was wrong, like a possible bribe or kickback, doesn't it, for his work in Congress?

I was very happy when he beat out the Macaca guy (who otherwise was on track to be the Republican nominee).

He is considerably to the right on several issues for my taste. Besides that Webb is doing a pretty good job opposing the war (with some weight) in the Senate.

I think Obama can do better.

If Obama chooses to go the route of military leadership... Wes Clark would make me much happier.

I would not be surprised to see Obama follow Bush's example and choose the recruiter he hired to screen the VP candidates.

Caroline Kennedy would have an electrifying effect on the ticket as VP, don't you think?

okie wrote:

Whats left now? Edwards with National Enquirer stardom? Chris Dodd of Countrywide sweetheart deals notoriety? Oh no, is it back to Hillary?

That is absolutely nothing compared to McCain's leadership of the Keating Five.