Webb "tears up the playbook" ....Newsweek asks: "Could this help land Webb on the 2008 ticket?"

[Faryn Balyncd]

A Powerful Response[br />
Jim Webb tore up his party's playbook—and helped point the Democrats in a new direction.
By Jonathan Alter

"Something unprecedented happened tonight, beyond the doorkeeper announcing, "Madame Speaker." For the first time ever, the response to the State of the Union Message overshadowed the president's big speech. Virginia Sen. James Webb, in office only three weeks, managed to convey a muscular liberalism—with personal touches—that left President Bush's ordinary address in the dust. In the past, the Democratic response has been anemic—remember Washington Gov. Gary Locke? This time it pointed the way to a revival for national Democrats.


"Webb was given a speech to read by the Democratic leadership. He threw it out and wrote his own................

........."Could this help land Webb on the 2008 ticket?"

[acmavm]

1. Geeze, he threw out the prepared speech and wrote his own???

THIS guy is the type of dem we need in office.

[CountAllVotes]

4. no joke!

JIM WEBB FOR PRESIDENT!!!!!
:woohoo:

:dem: :kick:

[SaveElmer]

2. Please Nooooooo.......

I live in Virginia, we finally have gotten a Democratic Senator in office...please do not take him away right away!!!

[Lasher]

21. During the campaign Webb said he would serve out his full 8 year term if elected.

Something tells me this guy Webb is a man of his word. If anyone deserves to keep a newly elected Democratic Senator, it is my brothers and sisters in the other Virginia. :)

But I'll tell you what, I could really get behind him as our Presidential nominee.

[Faryn Balyncd]

27. Does anyone feel a DRAFT....?

[Efilroft Sul]

29. Six years. Senate terms are six years.

But I get what you mean. Webb is a good egg. Congratulations, Virginians.

[Lasher]

33. Duh. Guess I've got 8 years stuck in my mind

Eight. Long. Years.

I could really get behind Webb. It's so refreshing to see a politician who doesn't seem like he's running a marketing campaign.

[Efilroft Sul]

34. Eight long years indeed.

Don't worry, every now and then, my synapses fire wildly, too.

I think you're spot on about Webb -- and the funny thing is, my job involves marketing.

[Lasher]

36. Heh heh. Guess I stepped on my foot again.

No offense I hope. I have done some marketing myself but I don't think that should be all someone has to say if they want to be a leader of our country.

Lasher

[Efilroft Sul]

40. No offense taken.

Marketing/advertising can be a reprehensible business. What's good about working in this field, though, is that I've become near impervious to the b.s. of others. And knowing that, I do my best to not b.s. those receiving my messages (persuasion's one thing, b.s. is another).

Persuasion, substance, ethics: Those are what marketing/advertising professionals and politicians need.

[Lasher]

41. I am keenly aware of this concept

Many millions of dollars were spent at my direction while I was with my former employer. Lots of Sales/Marketing reps came to call. A good number of them who were up front and stood behind their word did quite well due to interaction with me. None of the con artists did.

You have a better chance of being prosperous if you hold on to your principles and guard your reputation.

Lasher

[Robson]

44. Being "senatorial" is not necessarily an attribute

I've seen too many senatorial senators that speak all the right words without an ounce of passion and often without any real credibility. I won't mention any names, but we all know those of whom I speak (see I can speak senatorial too..lol). They are as stale as 2 week old bread.

From the first time I heard Webb speak I was impressed with his freshness and succinctness. Jim Webb is what the Senate needs, and most importantly what the Democratic Party needs. The Party needs an image of toughness, combined with no muss, no fuss pure unadulterated COMPETANCE. And the "image" must be reality btw.

These people are around and they need to be nurtured and elected.

[Mme. Defarge]

57. Moi aussi!

[beachmom]

54. Agreed. We haven't had a bloody Dem senator in Va. in some time.

He needs to stay in the Senate, because he's working for us.

[lancdem]

3. Even some Repubs liked Webb's speech better

than Shrub's - Sen. John Warner, for one. I thought it was phenomenal myself. :)

[murray hill farm]

7. His whole demeaner is...

"Presidental"...if he ran, he would win...he is what we have needed as a candidate for a long, long, long time in this country. But...do I think he would consider it at this time? NO!

[mtnester]

8. Yeah, but to me and hubby, he also looked like a guy we could have

a shot of Crown, neat, with.

I really liked his response.

[cloudbase]

5. It's a long path

from today to the nomination, and there are more than a few tripping hazards along the way. We've got plenty of smart, motivated candidates, and the process of choosing the best will be both educational and entertaining.

[wryter2000]

6. Welcome to DU

:hi:

[aquart]

18. And it doesn't hurt to have fabulous people in the Senate to back them up.

The amount of talent we have in Washington right now is mind boggling.

[Le Taz Hot]

42. Smart? Yes. Motivated?

by all means. Ethical? Not by a long shot. (The exception being Kucinich and no, I'm not a fan.)

[bigwillq]

50. Hello!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[trudyco]

9. Is there a video link? -nt

[Faryn Balyncd]

11. Here's the VIDEO LINK........

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/23/sen-webbs-democratic-response-to-the-sotu-the-wars-costs-to-our-nation-have-been-staggering/

[GainesT1958]

10. I've been a Tar Heel for many years now...

But Jim Webb makes me proud again to be a native Virginian!:toast:

Good grief, how I wish I could have voted for this man...there hasn't been a Democratic response to a Repub SOTU in my lifetime that has been as strong, forceful, and uplifting. And it's been quite some time since a Democrat, asked to give the response of his Party, has spoken up so strongly for economic opportunity and justice for the middle and lower-income citizens of this nation. Something, ironically, the author of the late-1960s book "The Emerging Republican Majority", Kevin Phillips, did in his 2003 book, "Wealth and Democracy", but which no current Repub office-holder would dare say. Funny, it took a FORMER Repub cabinet member to do just that...and do so forcefully. "...If not, we will be showing him the way" applies not only to Iraq, but to so many things Jim Webb said.

Absolutely, completely, without reservation, AWESOME!!!

What a political future Jim Webb has! :kick:

B-)

[spooky3]

13. Can you believe that some of the talking heads here claimed

that we VAians (especially us NOVAians) were simply voting AGAINST Felix Jr. and not "for" Webb?

We were nervous but knew exactly what we were doing when we made a tough choice in the primary and gambled that Webb, although a former Republican, was telling us the truth and would fight hard to correct this govt's mistakes and that he would be a lot more appealing to the more conservative parts of the state than would his primary opponent, a tried and true progressive. Thank goodness the rest of the Dem. moneyed establishment came up with some $$ for him finally (very late) and Felix showed his true colors several times.

We love it when a plan comes together!

[LibDemAlways]

12. "pointed the way to a revival for national Democrats".....

Newsweek couldn't resist tempering their praise for Webb with a jab at the party that they apparently forgot recaptured both houses of Congress last Novembver - thanks, in no small part, to Jim Webb.

[demnan]

14. Anybody here like my avatar?

n/t

[monarch]

15. MSNBC news reader didn't

seem to know that the speech was his own. Sometime after 9am she snidely made reference to his reading/? (something else dismissive) the Democratic response. I didn't know the facts then or I would have paid more attention.

[Faryn Balyncd]

17. Who wrote her comments?

[KingFlorez]

16. He should stay in the Senate

He has the potential to be a really good Senator for the people of his state, I think he should stay where he's at now.

[lumberjack_jeff]

19. Hey! Take it easy on Gary, Johnathan.

Otherwise, spot on.

[sonias]

20. Webb on the 2008 ticket - whoa

This is going to be the most exciting election campaign season ever. The talent on our side is amazing. It's hard to decide. Whatever Jim Webb decides to do, I think his place in the party as a man of strength and character has been established.

Bring him out - more often. He should be one of the first people they book on the round of TV shows.
:woohoo:


Sonia

[w4rma]

22. I would wholehartedly support Webb for President. (nt)

[kwolf68]

23. Woooo hoooo...I voted for that guy

Senator Webb is a fine man...I am so proud he took out Felix Macaca.

[autorank]

24. K&R - An elegant exposition of the TRUTH - Webb is serious about his work and mission.

He threw it away! That typifies his performance so far and the man, ultimately.

He threw it away! What judgment. He's not going to take garbage handed to him
by people who produce an intellectually inferior product that causes him to misrepresent
his views and those of his constituents, of which I am one.

Excellent post - right on target and brief too;)

Highly recommended.

[Ninja Jordan]

25. We need Webb in the Senate!!!

[El Fuego]

26. "...left bush's ordinary speech in the dust."

Yes it did!!! :bounce:

[mzmolly]

28. Webb is a Rockstaaaaaaaaa! The MSNBC article is too good to pass up.

He did a fantastic job of relating to every American, and that's something we've been lacking for quite some time.

[Uncle Joe]

30. I thought Senator Webb gave an excellent rebuttal

The CEO to worker pay ratio was most timely to announce to the nation.

Thanks for the thread charles t

Kicked and recommended

[TheDonkey]

31. Obamaesque superstar elevation due to the Democratic response

Webb certainly is on the radar of all Democrats.

[Radical Activist]

35. Obama/Webb sounds nice.

It would add some foreign policy credentials and make a great populist ticket.

[hijinx87]

47. we have to be practical.

honestly. I am as intrigued by the Obama phenomenon as much as
anyone, and even suggested that webb deliver our response to the
SOTU before he was tapped by the leadership, but you couldn't put
together a much less qualified ticket than webb/obama.

[Radical Activist]

48. First,

the american public doesn't care that much about job qualifications. The less experienced candidate often wins so we shouldn't let that stop us. The public votes for the candidate with the more clear and compelling message every time.

That being said, Obama's 10 years in elected office and Webb's very extensive experience in foreign policy, including serving as secretary of the Navy, make a very well balanced and experienced ticket. They compliment eachother well that way and seem very well qualified to me.

[hijinx87]

49. I think the american public cares very much

about qualifications. save generals after major wars, when was the
last time a political neophyte was elected president?

obama's experience is almost exclusively in a state senate level and
below. webb has never held elective office until now.

I just think that ticket, while attractive for a multitude of reasons,
is unelectable.

[Radical Activist]

53. Kennedy over Nixon, Carter over Ford, Reagan over Carter, Clinton over Bush,

Bush over Gore. In each of those cases the candidate with less experience won. In terms of electability, it isn't an issue.

[roseBudd]

51. Clark & Webb would sweep the south even and get white male votes

[hijinx87]

52. I agree

I think clark or webb would be a fantastic vote magnet in
the south. but I think you need at least one established
democrat on the ticket.

[Bucky]

32. He's 60 years old; he needs to make his play now.

If we elect a two term Democratic president next year, he'll be 70 the next time the train stops by for him. People saying Obama's three years won't be enough should be more critical of Webb's current three weeks of experience in Congress.

I still smell a touch of hogwash in the "Webb tore up the big boys' script" story. There may be truth to it, but it still looks like 90% spin and hokum.

[roseBudd]

56. But I think Webb gives us an inkling of what kind of candidate can win even in the South

and that is a man's man who talks like a normal guy. For being a 4 star general and a really smaret guy, Clark and Webb both sound like regular people just saying stuff that makes sense.

Everyone else speaks either senatorial or spin.

[Infinite Hope]

37. Good that he spoke for himself. But he won't be on any 2008 ticket.

Even if he were invited, I doubt he'd take it. I believe he and others prefer him holding his seat. Though the governor of Virginia IS a Democrat and that could help matters if there was a push to put Webb on the ticket. But his strength will be helping to end the war and the place for that is in the Senate.

That all being said, Clark-Webb would be very interesting.

[MrSlayer]

38. Can't anyone just serve the terms they were elected to?

He just got in the damn senate seat for Christ's sake. Stay there for awhile.

[Ignacio Upton]

39. No, but it could land him the Chairmanship of the Armed Services Committee

Winning that seat was difficult, and I don't want to give it up.

[demo dutch]

43. Please no let him be Senator first!

[chaska]

45. Thank the gods for Jim Webb...

Finally we get someone who cares about the economic screwing of the disaffecteds that used to be the base of our party (and no longer vote, if they ever even have). And the fact that he's tough as nails and smart as a whip... could it have been any other way?

I'm just thrilled with JW, and was extremely impressed with his response.

I see him at the TOP of the ticket in the not too distant future, but not in this next election.

[hijinx87]

46. this is just so incredibly premature.

we have no idea what sort of voting record he is going to compile.

could we collect a little more information besides a single speech
before we start putting people on the national ticket?

[lynne]

55. Webb shows great promise -

- But he's lacking experience. He needs at least one term in the senate under his belt as evidence of what he can do before considering him as a contender on the big ticket.

[harveyc]

58. I asked this before and ...

didn't get an answer. Isn't Sen. Webb pro-life and pro-gun?