The Nation: Webb for President?

[marmar]

Webb for President?

Ari Berman
Jim Webb's Democratic response to President Bush last night is drawing rave reviews--on the blogs, from television pundits and in the world of talk radio. "That response could do for Webb something akin to what Barack Obama's 2004 convention speech did for the Illinois senator," wrote The New Republic's Michael Crowley. Andrew Sullivan called Webb's speech "the most effective Democratic response in the Bush years. He managed to bridge economic populism with military service and pride: a very potent combination."

Some are even suggesting he run for President--or Veep. "I say he put himself in the veepstakes with his response," blogged former American Prospect editor Mike Tomasky. "Why Can't Our 2008 Contenders Talk Like Webb?" asked MYDD blogger Matt Stoller.

Since he arrived in DC, Webb has been a rock star. But it's not because he tried to cultivate the Washington press corps or held glitzy fundraisers with lobbyists. It's because he is the antithesis of the blow-dried, poll-tested, inherently cautious politicians who dominate so much of Washington. Certainly Webb has a number of shortcomings, which Bob Moser detailed in a Nation profile of him last October. Yet his popularity proves just how much the American people are yearning for authenticity, honesty and a healthy heaping of common sense, even if it comes in unconventional packaging.

Webb just became a Senator, so it's highly unlikely he'll run for higher office any time soon. But that doesn't mean that the ever-expanding field of '08 contenders shouldn't pay attention to the lessons from his speech on Tuesday night.

http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion?pid=160126

[Ninja Jordan]

1. In 2012

[snowbear]

3. ...you mean 2016?

Because President Obama, Clark, Richardson or whichever other Democrat wins will be serving EIGHT full years and not a minute less!

Get in here -->

[Ninja Jordan]

4. I dont think Hillary can win!!!!

I hope Im wrong.

[snowbear]

6. Me either..

I think it will be one of the following:

Govenor Richardson
Former Senator Edwards
Senator Obama
-----------------------
General Wes Clark (if he runs)
Al Gore (if he runs)

[Little Wing]

2. I'm open to that

We're obviously going to need someone who won't take shit when his service is questioned (Gore/Kerry) and can talk the talk about a strong defense (author of plenty easy to read jarhead books), as well as former Assistant Secretary of Defense, under REAGAN of all people.

Can form a sentence, doesn't appear to have a bucket of canned answers, probably won't try the "Let's chat" approach, doesn't have Terry McAwful on his side.

He's from Virginia, and as much as I hate to say it, he's not black.

[marmar]

9. "and as much as I hate to say it, he's not black."

Perhaps, but hopefully that's only true for one or two more election cycles. The United States will be minority-majority in 25 or so more years, and hopefully the he/she can't win because he or she is AfricanAmerican/Latino/Asian etc etc bullshit will be a bad memory.

[Little Wing]

10. I know

However I believe we need the strongest person we can get to win this one, and let the cycle shift over to a dem reign of 20-30 years in the WH. You can be sure the GOP is wanting the same thing for themselves.

[Demit]

5. I am thoroughly sick of this compulsion to leapfrog newbies into the office of president.

I would like to see these so-called rock stars perform in the jobs they were just elected to do. I like Webb and I like Obama but sweet Jesus they just got here. It's not all about lovely speeches.

[tnlurker]

11. Actually I would rather see a newbie in the office

The office of President that is. They are less likely to be corrupted by the usual politic of the beltway crowd.
The fresher from the real world the better.

[Just-plain-Kathy]

18. My husband and I were just saying the same thing.

I'd like to see a Feingold/Webb ticket...'truth and strength'.

[Auntie Bush]

20. By the time they run an expensive campaign...they will be

corrupted...if they're corruptible. If not...then it won't matter if they wait and gain experience.

[davidwparker]

7. He just got in as our senator. He should run someday ...

[davidwparker]

8. "'pay attention to the lessons from his speech"

Yes, backbone works with the voters.

[beachmom]

12. Forget it -- as a Virginian, I want him to serve out his term in the Senate.

It's the first time since I moved here that I have a Dem to represent me on the federal level. Yes, he gave a good speech, and I like him, but he's not a seasoned pol yet, and should be concentrating on working for the people of Virginia. I hope all of this doesn't go to his head.

[SaveElmer]

14. Ditto...nt

[harveyc]

13. Isn't he pro-life & pro-gun? ... n/t

[NobleCynic]

17. So?

To be frank, we can elect as many pro-life Democrats as we want. The Republicans will never overturn Roe v Wade. Never. They may talk big, but there is no incentive for them to do so. They benefit far more from fighting abortion than they ever could by banning it. They learned the lesson of history well (Look into the rise and fall of the Federalist Party. The worst thing that can happen to a political party is complete success. After succeeding in all of your goals, once you have nothing left to fight for, you have no reason to run and no reason to exist.)

Proof? The Republicans have controlled the Supreme Court since 1970 with a current 7-2 advantage (Meaning that yes, it was a Republican Supreme Court that originally ruled on Roe v. Wade), controlled Congress from 1994-2006 with a short interruption in the Senate from 2001-2002, and controlled the presidency from 2001 to present. No matter how look at it, they controlled all branches of government, two absolutely and one by a majority, for at least five to six years. And they didn't overturn Roe v Wade. They know it is far more useful to have abortion to fight against than to actually ban it.

(Edited for grammar)

[Faryn Balyncd]

15. Webb has a vision which recognize that Americans want unapologetic LEADERSHIP.......

Americans are sick of spineless DLC-backed corporatists who will not speak truth to power, and have the guts to confront, rather than accommodate/imitate, malignant policy.

We can all learn from Jim Webb.

Each of us saw that last night.

Today, this realization - - - of Jim Webb's vision & leadership - - - is not present, not just in the progressive blogoshere, but on the pages of Newsweek and The Nation.

[drb]

16. Ding!! You're the winnder!!!

[TSIAS]

19. Webb for VP!