Why did the new Democratic majority select Senator James Webb (D-VA) to give the Democratic response to the president’s State of the Union Address? Since when does this privilege fall to a freshman, even a freshman senator? It’s seems that despite the bad experience with nominating John Kerry to be their standard bearer in 2004, the Democrats have learned nothing. At least they recognize that they have a serious national security credibility problem but the leadership and the base simply cannot get beyond Vietnam. Hence, they asked a US Marine officer turned novelist, turned Navy Secretary, turned Democrat to present their--well, their opposition to all things Bush, because one certainly did not hear ANY tangible plans. Senator Webb is a graduate of my alma mater, the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis. He is a highly decorated Marine from Vietnam who unlike Senator Kerry actually and definitively earned his commendations for bravery and valor in combat. His novels have sold very well because he is a very talented writer. But on close inspection, something about Senator Webb is very disturbing. Perhaps it harkens all the way back to his midshipman days in Annapolis and a simple boxing match lost. You see, James Webb lost a boxing match to a man he clearly despises, Oliver North. Webb, as chronicled by Robert Timberg in his best-selling book, The Nightingale’s Song, was heavily favored to beat North in the Brigade boxing championships but lost. Timberg claims that Webb believed he was intentionally denied the title by poor preparation from his coach, or more accurately the boxing coach made sure Ollie was better prepared to beat him! Regardless, Webb believes he was wronged and today we can see this streak of vengeance in him. More on this later.
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3 comments:
Wah, ha, ha, ha. What rubbish.
The junior senator has more gravitas in his little pinkie that the whole slew of folks who condemn him for having an original thought.
Webb loves his country, loves the Marines and ANY person who personally knows him or has ever spoken to him had to have a sense that this guy is the real McCoy and is speaking out against the war because he truly believes it is a horrific mistake that harms the military and nation. Equal to another vet, Sen. Chuck Hagel, Webb is not a shrinking violet who will remain silent on the sidelines as he watches more and more of his beloved Marines die.
Webb is a straight shooter who says what he means, means what he says and doesn't worry about talking points or which way the political winds are blowing; he's no ordinary politician with an 'aw shucks, focus-group-tested' smile and handshake.
As a Virginia voter, I am so damn proud to have have two serious cerebral senators who truly care about their constituents and who'll vote my interest (whether I fully agree with them 100 percent of the time or not).
Here's a little something-something to ponder about Webb's character as evidence by the Navy Cross he received.
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The Navy Cross is presented to James H. Webb, Jr., First Lieutenant, U.S. Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving as a Platoon Commander with Company D, First Battalion, Fifth Marines, First Marine Division (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, in connection with combat operations against the enemy in the Republic of Vietnam. On 10 July 1969, while participating in a company-sized search and destroy operation deep in hostile territory, First Lieutenant Webb's platoon discovered a well-camouflaged bunker complex which appeared to be unoccupied. Deploying his men into defensive positions, First Lieutenant Webb was advancing to the first bunker when three enemy soldiers armed with hand grenades jumped out. Reacting instantly, he grabbed the closest man and, brandishing his .45 caliber pistol at the others, apprehended all three of the soldiers. Accompanied by one of his men, he then approached the second bunker and called for the enemy to surrender. When the hostile soldiers failed to answer him and threw a grenade which detonated dangerously close to him, First Lieutenant Webb detonated a claymore mine in the bunker aperture, accounting for two enemy casualties and disclosing the entrance to a tunnel. Despite the smoke and debris from the explosion and the possibility of enemy soldiers hiding in the tunnel, he then conducted a thorough search which yielded several items of equipment and numerous documents containing valuable intelligence data. Continuing the assault, he approached a third bunker and was preparing to fire into it when the enemy threw another grenade. Observing the grenade land dangerously close to his companion, First Lieutenant Webb simultaneously fired his weapon at the enemy, pushed the Marine away from the grenade, and shielded him from the explosion with his own body. Although sustaining painful fragmentation wounds from the explosion, he managed to throw a grenade into the aperture and completely destroy the remaining bunker. By his courage, aggressive leadership, and selfless devotion to duty, First Lieutenant Webb upheld the highest traditions of the Marine Corps and of the United States Naval Service.
In Shakespeare’s play “Coriolanus” we have a noble Roman who has received many wounds for his country. On wishing to be elected as Roman Consul, he is implored by advisors and citizens alike to show his wounds. He replies: "I will not seal your knowledge with showing them."
Coriolanus is too proud to gain office on his wounds; but not Jim Webb. His platform is his medals and the service of his son whose boots he wore as if they were a war trophy. Like another war “hero” John Kerry, who tried to ride his medals into the presidency, the man is a disaster.
Do not misunderstand me, unlike Kerry, I believe that Webb gained his medals honorably. But that does not make me want to vote for him. I disagree with is ideas; I disagree with his attitude and I believe that before his term is up you will be glad to see the last of him.
Howling Latina, please re-read what you wrote. You are not persuasive. Rather, you are one side of a shouting match. It is preaching to the choir, or insulting your foes, but not trying to argue your case.
Webb may believe all he says; in fact I think he does. That’s what worries me about him. Some of the greatest monsters in human history have been very sincere. It is their conviction that allowed them to kill so many of their enemies or lead their people into slavery.
And half of your argument is about Webb’s heroism. I suppose that if I were to want a man to attack an enemy position, Webb would be among the people I would consider. But while it shows him as a brave fighter, it is no indicator of wisdom. And so far, all I have seen or heard of Webb is his willingness to make enemies of people who are not his enemies and a shrewish vituperousness that may encourage thoughtless partisans, but which trouble people who want answers to our problems at home and abroad. And unless we descend into civil war, the answer to our problems does not involve throwing grenades into the political oppositions’ bunker. Unfortunately, that is what Webb has done and it does not serve him - or us - well.
Not one logical argument provided here.
Folks need to start reading real conservatives (Charles Krauthammer, George Will, William Buckley, for starters) and stop listening to Rush and the Hannitizer. Real conservatives are starting to wake up and actually think through this thing, and not just parrot the talking points provided by Herr Rove. Think for yourselves, folks, and maybe look up the word "conservative" while you're at it. This was a liberal war, started by the second most liberal Republican president ever. Wake up and start thinking.
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