As you know, we here at RK strongly support Jim Webb as Barack Obama's running mate. Increasingly, others are seeing the glaringly obvious advantages as well. Now, it's Margaret Carlson of Bloomberg.com, who writes that "Webb's Just the Reagan Democrat Obama Needs":
It's time for Senator Barack Obama to place the following ad:WANTED -- Military man south of Mason Dixon line, at home in a helmet, hardhat and combat boots. Political experience in a red state and knowledge of firearms helpful. Applicant must be familiar with bowling, boxing and bass fishing. College degree not required. Wine drinkers need not apply. Interested parties please respond to veepstakes@obama.com.
Pretty much what we've been saying, except that I never knew Jim Webb bowled. :) Still, as Margaret Carlson writes, "Webb the perfect fit for a party desperately in search of Reagan Democrats." The question is, will the party be smart enough to realize that? We'll see sometime this summer.
P.S. If you agree with Margaret Carlson, please sign the petition. Thanks.
"Her husband, for one, seems to have a pretty clear idea what he thinks she should get as a consolation prize. In Bill Clinton's view, she has earned nothing short of an offer to be Obama's running mate, according to some who are close to the former President."
And the entitlement of her supporters, many of whom insist the nomination was "stolen" from her (they never explain exactly how). This is a difficult situation, for which I do not want her on the ticket, but it is like she is holding her voters hostage if he does not ask her.
I agree somebody like Webb would be good or Joe Biden, but right now she won't concede, and is getting more absurd by the day with her arguments. How do we get around all of this?
as far as VEEP - unless she is willing to publicly disclose their 2007b income and taxes (they filed for an extension) as well as all contributors to Bill's library and foundation, she unwilling to accept proper vetting and should be disqualified. Because if that info were to come out, it would be clear how they have been trading on the possibility of HRC becoming president - this is far worse than Terry McAuliffe selling nights in the Lincoln Bedroom
In Michigan, just split the delegates 50-50. That or have a revote, which probably won't happen at this point. Mail in ballots could be done in two weeks.
I'd bet Senator Webb could elevate the tone of the VP debates just by giving the moderators the kind of look that says, "go ahead, ask me one of those stupid haircut or bowling questions, I dare you."
I wish everyone would stop talking about how awful the article was and go back and read the damn thing. Aside from some obnoxious comments which Webb has said he regrets deeply the tenor of the article had much more to do with whether it was appropriate to change the culture of the Academy and it discussed the extreme harshness of combat conditions which Webb, speaking as someone who'd been through the hell of the An Hoa Basin, was thinking of when he thought of combat. There were many complimentary comments about women as leaders in the same article, including his expectation that we'd see a woman president one day and his praise for Margaret Thatcher. His record with military women is very good, the only exceptions being the whining Republican party hacks who made that stupid commercial against him - and let's not forget to ask ourselves what McCain's position on the change at the Academy was. Most of the old Academy guys strongly opposed it and it's likely a quote could be found somewhere.
Webb opened up a lot of billets for women in the Navy, cleared the way for the promotion of the first African American female to admiral, and has expressed a lot of admiration for the women combat pilots and medics in Iraq and Afghanistan. His thinking has matured and moderated. That's what happens after 32 years for most people.
I'd advise everyone who wants to understand where Webb was coming from when he wrote the article to read Fields of Fire, A Sense of Honor, and the article itself.
They're going to start the process early and be extremely thorough.
Potential ticket-mates, in no particular order, include Sen. Jim Webb (D-VA), former Sen. Sam Nunn (D-GA), Gov. Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ex-Sen. Tom Daschle (D-SD), Gov. Bill Richardson (D-NM), Ex-Sen. John Edwards, (D-NC), Sen. Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Gov. Kathleen Sebelius (D-KS), Gov. Janet Napolitano (D-AZ), Sen. John Biden (D-DE), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT) ex-Rep. Tim Roemer (D-IN), Gov. Ted Strickland (D-OH) and others.
I find it interesting that even though its in "no particular order", this list puts Jim Webb first... coincidence? Maybe, maybe not.
Anyway, it's just a feeling I have - I have no proof whatsoever. But, Webb is the perfect choice for Obama's VP. And I think it's going to happen.
I love Jim Webb as our Senator, but we are deluding ourselves if we think he can solve any problems for Obama. He won because NoVA and Hampton roads turned blue for him; not because of any connection he made in Appalachia. He is barely polling over 50% in VA approval, so he won't bring this state into any more play (Mark Warner would be a different story).
Obama needs to shore up the democratic base in blue collar and women voters. Hillary has played herself into that role.
Finally Webb would hate being VP. Senators get to be the center of their own little universe accountable only every 6 years. VP's get to go to funerals and open walmarts.
Webb has emerged as a Senate leader, but he (like Obama) has relatively little political experience. He isn't well known outside Virginia and isn't even popular enough in Virginia to help carry the state.
Webb has repeatedly said he doesn't want the job and hasn't even endorsed Obama.
If Obama wants to shore up his foreign policy credentials with a VP pick, he would do better Nunn. If he wants to help carry a whole region, he would do better with Richardson. If he needs to capture the support Clinton feminists, he should choose Sebelius.
Maybe I'm just selfish, but I would rather keep Webb to ourselves as Virginia's senior Senator (and add Mark Warner).
...when we're trying to get 60 votes for health care reform, we can't afford to lose a Democratic seat in Virginia while Tim Kaine is still ineligible to run.
And this:
Another thing is that I'm usually not a big fan of ticket-balancing, especially for something like credibility on foreign policy issues. Mori Dinauer is right that if Obama picks Webb for those purposes, the media narrative becomes "Obama lacks credibility on foreign policy issues -- that's why he had to pick Webb!"
And most especially this, which we in Virginia have forgotten, or perhaps suppressed:
I wonder if he's really up for life in the presidential fishbowl. With career politicians, you can usually have more confidence that they'll be able to put up with all the BS that comes with running for national office. I've talked to a couple people who watched his Senate race, who say that campaigning 24/7 for months on end isn't really his forte.
Maybe the blogger is thinking about the fact that Kaine can't be elected Va. Governor for consecutive terms, but that has no bearing at all on eligibility to run for either the Senate or VP. Granted, if Kaine were to be elected Senator or VP the Lt. Governor would become Governor, but that's only for one year and we already have two excellent Dem. candidates for the gubernatorial race next year.
Again, why would Kaine be inelgible to run for any Federal office ? The ineligibility statement doesn't make any logical sense to me. Maybe I'm misreading it ?
T.C.
Gov. Charlie Crist could run for president or vice president without having to give up his governorship, under a proposed change to the state's "resign-to-run" law set for debate this afternoon.