According to Tyler Whitley in today's Richmond Times-Dispatch, Jim Webb is promising "a '24-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week' campaign after he sends his son [Lance Corporal Jimmy Webb] off to Iraq next week." According to Whitley, Webb's promise "brought boisterous cheers" and "drew nods of approval" from attendees at the Richmond headquarters office grand opening party. Webb added, "If half the people in Congress had to send a child to Iraq, the foreign policy would be drastically different." How true.In addition, Whitley reports on Jim Webb's private meeting yesterday with Democrats in the Virginia General Assembly. According to Del. Robert Hull (D-Fairfax), Webb said that he was a "nonpolitician" who would "likely stumble during the race" but was "on track to win."
I would add that, in stark contrast to Jim Webb, George Allen is a career politician who stumbles every time he opens his mouth and is on track to lose! Ha.
P.S. Today, Jim Webb delivers a major policy speech in Virginia Beach and celebrates the opening of the Hampton Roads campaign office.
P.P.S. I just noticed the following quote by UVA political scientist Larry Sabato and thought it worth passing along. Speaking of the latest poll numbers showing Jim Webb tied or even slightly ahead of George Allen, Sabato says:
It's a big incentive for people to deliver and to bring big Democratic donors. Suddenly they see that George Allen is vulnerable. If they can't see that, they're blind.
But this case is special. Allen, who so resolutely believes in the Iraq war effort, doesn't have immediate family risking life or limb. Allen played a part in the decision that would send over 2,600 Americans to their death - and he continues to support that decision, which will no doubt cause further death and injury to American servicemen and women.
His daughter had a choice and she choose to go to school instead of serve. I don't fault her at all - I made the same choice, as do many Americans. The best of luck to her as she begins a new stage of her life.
But I have a big issue with George Allen, using his daughter as an example of what a good family man he is, how much like every father he is, when he is one of the people responsible for sending other people's children (and parents in many cases) off to war. A war which shouldn't have been fought in the first place and is now devolving into a civil war.
Contrast that with Jim Webb. He has a complete understanding of the situation as he's experienced it himself in Vietnam and now is seeing his own son off to war.
Is there any question about which of these men is better qualified to address such difficult issues? Is there any question about which of these men understands the needs of combat troops AND the difficult emotions of a parent whose child is in harms way while serving his/her country?
No. Allen has ZERO experience. Webb has about as much as any man could. Webb takes these issues very seriously with full conseration of the effects. Allen uses them for campaign slogans.
Sorry for the rant, but it distgusts me that Allen is part of a "brain trust" that is making horrible decisions which are costing good American's their lives when he (and Bush, and the others) have very little idea what it really means.
One candidate:
Supports the War in Iraq and claims it is part of the global war on terror.
Never served in the military.
Is seeing his child off to college.
The other candidate:
Denounces the War in Iraq and argues that it is a distraction from the global war on terror by pinning us down and restraining our flexibility to respond globally.
Is a genuine red blooded, American military hero who has earned The Navy Cross among other distinctions of valor.
Is seeing his child off to serve in the war in Iraq.
What to choose???
HELLO... VIRGINIA... I'm talking to you!!!
Don't forget Mr. Allen's fixation on not cutting and running... even though that is exactly what Bush did with New Orleans and Katrina. The final one-upmanship of Bush Allen is "Democrats don't have a plan, all they do is criticize." The Democrats do have plan, but the mass media studiously ignores any peep from them about how to "solve" Iraq. It only becomes noticed when this Republican Congressman or that picks up on part of it.
I sincerely hope to hear more specifics from Mr. Webb on his view of extricating us from the civil war. Given Hezbollah's fine new reputation and apparent efficiency in helping Lebanese civilians overcome the war devastation, there is definitely a question about who will replace us in Iraq if we pull out without (once again) a plan to deal with the aftermath. "What a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive." (as near as I can remember the quote).
I agree Matt... BS