I wonder what spin the Miller campaign will try to use to undercut the power of this?

Who cares what the Miller campaign says, frankly?  The only people who seem to listen to them are lazy reporters and his old "friends" (e.g., political cronies).

that these people aren't important, they risk seriously pissing off those staffers and those staffers' large circle of friends, not to mention a lot of other staffers, who work largely behind the scenes but have tremendous power in politics.  I'd say that the Miller campaign had better come up with a better response than that. 

Then again, they could just quit.  I've been told by a Miller supporter that even Miller's campaign staff doesn't believe Miller can win this.  That's second or possibly even third hand information, so it should be taken with a grain of salt, but I just don't see how things get better for Harris from here on out. 

I'd love to hear a little more about these endorsees.  What they're currently doing, where they're located, etc.  These are very interesting endorsements.

are listed in the press release by the Webb campaign.  My understanding is that Robb Chief of Staff Tom Lehner currently is Executive Vice President for Governmental Affairs for the American Financial Services Association in Washington D.C. 

Robb Legislative Director Ridge Schuyle is director of the Piedmont Program of the Nature Conservancy.

Robb Press Secretary Julia Sutherland is now Managing Director of Public Strategies, Inc.

You might want to Google the others...

I can tell you about one, Louise Ware.  She has just retired as the Director of DPOR, appointed to this position by Governor Warner.  This leaves Louise more time to be active in politics!  She worked in the Clinton Administration Dept of Veterans Affairs, and before that was one of the Clinton "travelers" who traveled far and wide to support him.  She was obviously also heavily involved in the Robb campaign and has remained in touch with Sen. Robb and his family on a regular basis.  Louise is well connected in national veterans affairs and with Democrats all over the country.  I've probably left out every bit as much as I've included about what she's seen and done!  She's a Democrat's Democrat.

He was a Democrat until the late 1970s, and really an Independent since the Reagan Administration days.  Always, he was a "Jacksonian Democrat" and a populist at heart.  Webb was NEVER a social conservative.  And most importantly, Jim Webb is EXACTLY the type of person we need BACK in the Democratic Party if we ever hope to be a national party again.

As far as the blogosphere is concerned, it's pretty much the entire Democratic blogosphere for Webb, not just the "left wing" of it.  In fact, the most left wing blog in Virginia, GOTV by Alice Marshall, is backing Miller, not Webb. 

As far as Chuck Robb is concerned, he has obviously given the green light to his former staffers to endorse Webb.  Robb himself reportedly is reluctant to jump back into politics, and who can blame him?

Webb has been consistent with his stand on issues, so you're wrong in your accusations.  It's Miller who has done a 180, posturing his candidacy to suit what he thinks is most likely to get him elected.  The MSM isn't reporting all this yet, but it will.  They know the facts in this race.  They've been brutal on Webb and given Miller a pass so far because if they come out with the facts too early, this race is over, and a potential readership draw is lost.  Talk to the editors of some of the newspapers in Virginia.  If you can get them to be honest about it, they'll tell you it's true. 

It's not my theory.  It came from an editor of my paper, who's name I won't divulge, for fear of getting him in trouble.  I thought that the MSM was misinformed.  According to this editor, they're just trying to keep readers' interest in the story.  Lame, huh?  Ah well...  The truth will out soon enough I guess.  Miller's toast.

Mark Plotkin asked him this exact question when Jim Webb was on WTOP last Friday:

http://wtop.com/?sid=789605&nid=93

Hmmmmmmmm....I find it "interesting" that you would use the word "interesting."  Let's look at the other comments you have made, shall we?

This just gets better and better (0.00 / 1) 
Webb is willing to go hobnob with political insiders at Shad Planking but he is unwilling to accept a simple debate with Miller in front of the FCCC?
As mentioned by many, Channel 8 would have carried it live, many big papers would have been in attendance and it would have provided a platform for regular Virginian's to meet Webb.  Yet he ran from the opportunity.

Senator Allen has accepted an invitation to debate/speak before the FCCC during the General Election, will Webb run then too?

I have to say I find it amusing that Webb is willing to send all his supporters to put up signs in Wakefield for the political insiders but he is unwilling to face Miller on a platform that will expose him to many regular Virginians.

Sophrosyne

huh? (0.75 / 4) 
So despite the all the evidence your plan is to simply bury your head in the sand and say Webb is wonderful and has the best chance of beating Allen (even as he raises next to nothing and goes nowhere in the latest poll while Miller gains a bit of movement)... and you're just going to respond "Webb said it isn't true" to the comprehensive story being reported by TC that Webb ran from the biggest opportunity in front of him (not just to debate but to debate in front of the FCCC!)?

Sophrosyne

You may not be a troll, bc I reserve that word for Republicans who come to NON-Republican blogs and just flat out make fun of Dems and the whole "liberal left."  I have a feeling, though I don't know you, that you are indeed a member of the Democratic party, and not part of the dark side.  It is, however, unfortunate that you choose to come here to trash Webb and his supporters.

I have been saying for weeks now, if Miller fans and supporters have all of this time on their hands to spread lies and misinformation about webb, well, then why hasn't a great blog and website been created just for the purpose of letting them have a place to speak their minds?  You are more than welcome here by me and probably all (remember we ARE the party of inclusion) but I have to say...you are walking into the Lion's Den when you come to RK for the sole purpose of bashing James Webb, Virginia's next Senator.

Democrats are never going to win elections by whining and complaing that big bad EX-Republicans are trying to infiltrate their party.  It's silly, uninformed, offensive, and elitist behavior, and I for one will not stand for it.  If we want to win elections, we better start playing the game a little differently than we have in the past because folks, it ain't working.  And although Harris Miller claims to be a "life-long member" of the Democratic party....well, a BAD Democrat is worse than any Republican.

Word.

This is big.  People should realize how loyal these people are to Robb.  Without direction, or at least a wink and a nod from Robb, this would never have occured.

Since Robb is on an independent Commission he cannot endorse.  This was the best he could do. 

Hopefully The Miller supporters will now stop whining about the Webb endorsement of Allen in 2000 and focus on beating him in 2006.  After all, if Chuck Robb is excited about Webb's candidacy, what is all the fuss about?

Obviously, this is coming from Robb himself.  You'd have to be really naive not to see that. And yes, Chuck Robb IS excited about Jim Webb's candidacy.  So the Miller folks can stop fighting other peoples' battles for them, especially when those people - like Chuck Robb - have worked things out for themselves with Webb.

These are some really, really impressive folks and they aren't just endorsing: they're rolling up their sleeves and getting involved!

I posted yesterday saying that Miller has a slight lead in local endorsements: no more.  Today's announcement erases Miller's perceived lead.

Webb is now firmly in command at every level of endorsement:

--Local Dems
--National Dems
--Military Dems
--Labors Dems

Miller's wave broke weeks ago and his campaign is now drifting out to sea.

... that Webb is not a Democrat because he endorsed Allen over Robb in 2000? If Robb's freaking STAFF can forgive, what excuse do we have not to?

most likely bc it was troll rated out of existance, a comment about Webb not being a Dem is now gone, and so are all of the replies.  While I feel like I should perhaps "let things lie," I feel that this whole issue of Webb as the evil republican in disguise deserves to be addressed EVRY TIME IT COMES UP in conversation.  Here was my comment:

You find it "interesting?" (0.00 / 0) 

Hmmmmmmmm....I find it "interesting" that you would use the word "interesting."  Let's look at the other comments you have made, shall we?

This just gets better and better (0.00 / 1) 
Webb is willing to go hobnob with political insiders at Shad Planking but he is unwilling to accept a simple debate with Miller in front of the FCCC?
As mentioned by many, Channel 8 would have carried it live, many big papers would have been in attendance and it would have provided a platform for regular Virginian's to meet Webb.  Yet he ran from the opportunity.

Senator Allen has accepted an invitation to debate/speak before the FCCC during the General Election, will Webb run then too?

I have to say I find it amusing that Webb is willing to send all his supporters to put up signs in Wakefield for the political insiders but he is unwilling to face Miller on a platform that will expose him to many regular Virginians.

Sophrosyne

huh? (0.75 / 4) 
So despite the all the evidence your plan is to simply bury your head in the sand and say Webb is wonderful and has the best chance of beating Allen (even as he raises next to nothing and goes nowhere in the latest poll while Miller gains a bit of movement)... and you're just going to respond "Webb said it isn't true" to the comprehensive story being reported by TC that Webb ran from the biggest opportunity in front of him (not just to debate but to debate in front of the FCCC!)?

Sophrosyne

You may not be a troll, bc I reserve that word for Republicans who come to NON-Republican blogs and just flat out make fun of Dems and the whole "liberal left."  I have a feeling, though I don't know you, that you are indeed a member of the Democratic party, and not part of the dark side.  It is, however, unfortunate that you choose to come here to trash Webb and his supporters.

I have been saying for weeks now, if Miller fans and supporters have all of this time on their hands to spread lies and misinformation about webb, well, then why hasn't a great blog and website been created just for the purpose of letting them have a place to speak their minds?  You are more than welcome here by me and probably all (remember we ARE the party of inclusion) but I have to say...you are walking into the Lion's Den when you come to RK for the sole purpose of bashing James Webb, Virginia's next Senator.

Democrats are never going to win elections by whining and complaing that big bad EX-Republicans are trying to infiltrate their party.  It's silly, uninformed, offensive, and elitist behavior, and I for one will not stand for it.  If we want to win elections, we better start playing the game a little differently than we have in the past because folks, it ain't working.  And although Harris Miller claims to be a "life-long member" of the Democratic party....well, a BAD Democrat is worse than any Republican.

Word.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by: phriendlyjaime @ May 16, 2006 at 10:48:34 MST 
[ Parent | Reply ] 

No further explanation necessary, right?

Did I do something to offend, thegools?  I thought you were one of the folks here on RK I had a fun, blogosphere relationship with.  What gives?

My bad!  I didn't read carefully enough.  I thought those "Sophrosyne" were yours.  Instead you are criticizing the "Sophrosyne" troll non-sense.  I couldn't agree with you more.  My apologies. 

My yawn...is from just how boring it is to see the same groundless non-sense that one sees trolls planting....most don't even use a name, or change their name with every post.  The spit trash and leave no sense that they are anything more than a malicious, cowardly, goof-ball. 
 

Glad we cleared that up!

And rhe beat goes on!!