I am reassured -- The Democratic Leadership has not changed -- Webb wrote his speech himself.

[Mass]

I was wondering why the Democratic response was so good, after the tepid response of the previous years. At last a speech which did not seem modulated to respond to survey opinions, but honest, powerful, and personal at the same time.

Did the Democratic Leadership learned something in these few weeks? Not so fast. Here is the story!

Webb Steals State of the Union Limelight

Webb Steals State of the Union Limelight
“For the first time ever, the response to the State of the Union Message overshadowed the president's big speech,” writes Newsweek. Sen. James Webb (D-VA), “in office only three weeks, managed to convey a muscular liberalism -- with personal touches -- that left President Bush's ordinary address in the dust.”

“Webb was given a speech to read by the Democratic leadership. He threw it out and wrote his own. As a well-regarded novelist, Webb has a sense of narrative and human drama. He apparently felt that the boots his son wore in Iraq, which he used to great effect during his successful Senate campaign against Sen. George Allen, might be a bit hokey. So instead, he showed a picture of his father during the Berlin airlift. He then went on to describe taking the picture to bed every night and his family's long record of military service.”

I am sure some Democratic staffers will complain, but is this not so much better.

[ChazII]

1. It was one of the best n/t

[Olney Blue]

2. I feel good knowing he is in Congress!

Thanks, Virginia!

[LostinVA]

3. You're welcome!

[BonnieJW]

8. We're trying to cancel out Virgil Goode.

[malaise]

4. Webb was great

The way he incorporated the thoughts and actions of other presidents was a masterful stroke.

[Cassandra]

7. Particularly reminding viewers of a Republican president...

Eisenhower, who could end a war.

[demnan]

5. If they wanted a rubber stamp

they shouldn't have picked an American Original.

[John Q. Citizen]

19. I doubt there is any ill will, other than perhaps a bit of jelousy. Webb was awesome, and

that address will be remembered for a long long time.

[Chimichurri]

6. Foregoing the antiquated democratic machine helped us win this time around.

Webb epitomizes the results of that. We need the dems to continue to abandon the Carvilles and the Shrums that have held the party down for so long.

I was so proud to listen to him last night.

[Toots]

9. While I liked much of what he said I am concerned about the war mongering aspect

of it. It was a lot about war and being warriors. Father brother himself and son all warriors fighting wars. It is beginning to seem to me the Democrats are beginning to glorify war too damn much. I guess they feel because America is such a violent warlike nation they have no choice...Instead of cutting the Defense Budget they gave a standing ovation for increasing it....We already spend more on military than the next ten largest countries combined...Can't say that makes me happy...

[beachmom]

12. Service, not war, was what he was talking about. And sacrifice, too.

Since he invoked Eisenhower ENDING a war, that set the tone for his speech. We're always going to need a defense, but we should use it sparely and wisely. Webb was fantastic.

[Toots]

15. And the standing ovation for increasing Defense Spending????

:shrug:

[John Q. Citizen]

20. What does that have to do with Webb's truely great rebuttle? n/t

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

17. Webb told that part because Bush/Cheney are clueless draft dodgers pretending to be Generals

I love that he called Bush reckless for starting the Iraq war.

Reckless is a mild description of Bush's criminal adventure in Iraq, but this is an elected official speaking on national TV to an audience that doesn't scour the internet every day for political information.

[caseycoon]

10. Thanks for posting this

It's GREAT!
:o)

[babylonsister]

11. Holy smokes, Mass. He wrote that? Thanks for sharing! I know he

is a published novelist, but never considered he might write his own speech. It was so powerful!

[beachmom]

13. I love the symbolism there -- he "threw it out and wrote his own"

As in, we're throwing away the old script and starting a whole new party. Awesome. Glad to hear the MSM thinks he outdid Bush. Good. (As a Virginian, this was a proud day for our state indeed).

[mtnester]

14. Some of the Dems inside the beltway better take quick notes

because after Webb's delivery, their tap dance ain't gonna cut it anymore.

[Fovea]

16. Inspired, personal, and effective.

In short, everything the SOTU was not.

[mopinko]

18. i'd love to see the other speech.

and know who wrote it.