In the wildly partisan environment of American politics, two men didn’t sound like crazed ideologues tonight. One of them we all saw was Scott Brown. The other, reacting like a grownup to the will of the voters, was Democratic Senator (VA) Jim Webb, who wrote these eloquent words:
In many ways the campaign in Massachusetts became a referendum not only on health care reform but also on the openness and integrity of our government process. It is vital that we restore the respect of the American people in our system of government and in our leaders. To that end, I believe it would only be fair and prudent that we suspend further votes on health care legislation until Senator-elect Brown is seated.
Too bad Webb isn’t the leader of his party and not that endless parade of sleaze-merchants appearing on TV tonight blaming Martha Coakley. This was a much more significant election that that. Only fourteen months ago, Barack Obama – promising hope, change, bi-partisanship and transparency (!) – won the election in Massachusetts by twenty-seven points. In barely more than a year there has been a turn-around of some thirty-two points. Is all this based on the ineptitude of Martha Coakley? Don’t be ridiculous. Not even David Axelrod believes that, no matter what he says. No, the real ineptitude was on the part of the current administration and Jim Webb clearly knows it. Good on him. In our culture, anyone who crosses party lines to make a criticism deserves our encouragement and high praise.
Not that I don’t question Webb’s sincerity TODAY. Where was he when the Senate vote was taken. I never heard his voice say anything to convince me he cared any differently then his brothers in the party. Maybe he’s seeing the chickens coming home to roost and trying to save his a$$. And if Brown hadn’t have been elected, I’d bet the house that he’d have voted on reconciliation.
Sounds too much like a foxhole conversion.
Hence the expression “from the bottom of my fox hole”.
Thrilling isn’t it! It feels … lucky! A gift out of nowhere! (Yes, I know it wasn’t “luck” … but …)
I must be overreacting, but this has returned some feelings of (genuine) hope that our country, as it was brilliantly designed to be, might be returned to us (at least someday, after the gigantic debt is repaid to Communist China) –
and that the ridiculous spending, humungous growth of government, and “Czars” and “Progressive” and deliberately deceptive takeover and controls and destructive regulations and punitive debilitating taxation — and deliberate defense weakness and “transnationalism” —
will be defeated, and the harm they’ve done, and intend to do, can be stopped and/or reversed at some point before it’s too late.
“It’s the People’s Seat!!” What a guy!! Fast on his dancin’ feet.
Brown’s acceptance speech — impressive. Good speaker. Bright. Specific. Articulate. Clever. Handsome. Cool. Hmmm. I suspect he’s going to be a star in the Senate. Lord knows the Republicans need one there.
Checked out his website. Issues section — mostly good — though some “off.”
For instance:
He didn’t mention drilling for oil.
Regarding Iran, it seems he believes it’s a threat to Israel, but doesn’t mention the threat it is to us and the world. It seems he hasn’t had the time to devote to studying the issues involving Iran and Co. in depth.
Let’s hope he learns.
Let’s hope he doesn’t compromise and cooperate much, if at all.
At least for now, no more supermajority Dems!
I wonder if this means that Ms. Whatshername Louisiana doesn’t get her $300,000,000?
As for Webb — he said he was responding to a people’s “referendum.” Whatever he might or might not have done before, for whatever reasons, he RESPONDED in the right way when he had something he felt was tangible to respond to. That’s good! And much more than any of his colleagues did. He definately deserves praise.
Congratulations to us all, every one!
In victory Brown remarked,”Americans want their tax money spent on the armed forces to destroy the terrorists, not on lawyers to defend them.” That is a proposition I believe 85% of Democrats will agree with, not just 100% of Republicans.
Jim Webb firmly believes in the vague and dangerous concept of “economic fairness.” He is a big government Progressive and Teddy Roosevelt is one of his favorite presidents. Webb is a well-meaning economic illiterate asserting, “If the Democratic Party was not going to insist on protecting the economic well-being of our workers, who will?” He is somebody who reads just enough to get into trouble—but not enough to clearly understand the subject. It dawned on me while reading Webb’s book, A Time to Fight: Reclaiming A Fair And Just America, that the man’s economic vision is hindered by zero sum thinking. To be blunt, his thinking on these issues are not much more mature than those of a Daily Kos kid. He simply does not get it. However, Webb does possess a saving grace. He embraces the doctrine of American exceptionalism. Senator Webb is not a self-hating American like Barack Obama and much of the Democratic Party.
Being one of Sen Webb’s constituents, I emailed him my appreciation of his comments. However, David Thomson is correct. While doing some research a few weeks ago regarding who will be running against my congressman, Gerry Connolly, I happened across a website called Blu Va(think I’m remembering the name correctly ). Webb was listed there as a proud Progressive. He ran as a moderate. And lest we forget, he was one of the first out of the box to support Obama.
This DOES seem too much like an after-the-fact response. Where was his leadership this summer when he could have demonstrated transparency? I have contacted Senator Webb’s office numerous times inquiring about Town Hall meetings and was continually rebuffed with, “Sign up for his email newsletter and you will be first to hear when a Town Hall meeting will be in your area.” After Senator Webb voted FOR the Senate Health Care bill to move foreward, I finally called and informed his staff member, “I am angry. I feel betrayed by Senator Webb who ran as a centrist and “financially responsible” candidate. I will give like I’ve never given before. I will work as I’ve never worked before to bring about real change in the system!” Several days late and trillions of dollars short!!!!!
It’s pretty sad that we have to salute someone( Webb) for stating the obvious.
I met Webb at a diplomatic function before he ran for the Senate. I spoke with him for about an hour and was not impressed. Every spider sense told me this guy was a political whore of the worst kind. He was dismissive when he should have been engaging and self-important to the point of outright vanity. I had been prepared to really like him but wound up walking a way from the gaggle of people adoring him in disgust. He is right to make the statement he did, but I doubt his sincerity and will do so unless and until he actually switches parties.
Unfortunately, as Nate noted Sen. Webb is a political whore…first class too. He is doing this because he knows that if he doesn’t distance himself from the rest of the dimocrats, in 2012 his number is up. Just connect the dots. He votes in lockstep with the other 60 (oops 59 soon).
As usual Sen. Webb is speaking from his arse.
I am one of Jim Webb’s constituents, and I can testify that for months now, Webb has had thousands of his constituents tell him that they want transparency, are opposed to the current health care bill, etc. Although his responses always sound thoughtful and measured, I learned rather quickly that he is all about going along with those who are in power. Remember, he was a Democrat until Reaganism swept the country, and then he became a Republican. And now that the Dems are in power, he’s one of them again. So while I applaud him for (seemingly) not sticking his head in the sand and denying the import of this vote, I am pessimistic that it translates into anything meaningful on the ground. Too bad Virginians didn’t listen more to George Allen and less to the media, but I think we’ve learned our lesson now (witness Bob McDonnell’s landslide victory in a state that, just a year ago, the Democrats said had turned blue for good). Mr. Webb is fortunate that he isn’t up for election this year, but we won’t forget his votes on health care et al. He had best beware.
Mr. Webb has a point. I see the whole thing as a protest vote against an entrenched machine. Regardless of how you vote, I’m sure it bothered a lot of people when the Democratic machine in Massachusetts changed the Commonwealth’s rule for filling a vacancy twice within recent years, both time to benefit one particular party. In 2004, when it looked like Kerry might become president, they changed the rules so that then-Republican Governor Mitt Romney couldn’t appoint his replacement. Instead, the rules were changed so that the seat remained empty until a special election filled it.
Fast forward to last summer, when Ted Kennedy passed away. Since this would have denied the Democrats the 60th vote to override a filibuster, lo and behold, the rules were changed again! Now, the Democratic Governor Patrick could appoint a replacement until the special election. And, once again, the rules were blatantly changed to favor one political party over another.
Contrary to what lots of pundits will say, both left and right, I think the biggest message of Brown’s election is “stop rigging the system to favor yourselves!” I hope the elected officials of both parties get that message.
Let’s not forget that Webb went out of his way to snub President Bush after being elected to his Senate seat a petty and unnecessary thing to do. When the sentiment was running against Bush this made him popular with the people afflicted with BDS. Now that sentiment is running against the Dems he goes into the CYA mode of a typical politician. What I have heard from Brown so far is straight forward with no obfustication of his principles and beliefs.
In a Congress that is almost completely out of touch with reality, at least Webb is reacting to a stimulus. (Mom said to say something nice if you can.) It is going to require tossing most of these self dealing parasites to reclaim our government. The job has just begun.
What are these morons thinking? We have a real unemployment/underemployment rate of 22% with no improvement in sight. The first rule of holes applies – when you’re in one, stop digging. The open, blatant, corruption involved in the healthcare deal ought to sicken every honest American. I’m voting the incumbents out in November. They are the problem.
Mr. Simon:
“Too bad Webb isn’t the leader of his party and not that endless parade of sleaze-merchants appearing on TV tonight blaming Martha Coakley.”
Usually I’d be glad to remind all that you usually can’t go wrong when you pick a Virginian,(Wilson excepted), but in this case I have to take a pass.
Webb isn’t really a Virginian,(neither really was Wilson for that matter), he didn’t serve his apprenticeship in the genteel school of Old Dominion politics,(although he gives a pretty good impression of it, as evidenced by his gracious speech).
The fact is that Webb’s Senate campaign has to be viewed in the context of his personal history with another ex-Marine carpetbagger, whose own Virginia Senatorial campaign surprisingly, (to some),went down in flames many years ago: Oliver North.
Webb and North were middies together at Canoe U. over in Annapolis, and have had a LONG-running competition with each other.
I, for one, don’t cotton much to people using my elective representative offices as a means of “counting coup”. It’s unseemly, and evokes the worst of 3rd world governance, where regimes are overthrown because colonel’s wives snub each other at a luncheon.
T’ain’t how we prefer to do things down heah.
Hey, Rog, who really gives a sh-t? I mean, you got health insurance, I got health insurance. As for the 45 million American lowlife who don’t … well, tough noogies.
Lemme edit your column down a little for you Roger.
Jim Webb likes his job, he wants to keep it.
That’s better, don’t you agree?
To Zeke:
Well, after those eligible for Medicaid/Medicare go and apply, and the working young who can afford health care decide it is worth cutting into their clubbing/video game/entertainment funds to buy it, and illegals go back to their home country to see what freebies they have to offer there we are left with a much smaller group of chronic uninsured… once you have toned your rhetoric to these less hyperbolic figures you and your cause can expect some traction in the U.S. … in the mean time it is completely sane to ignore everyone who tosses that “47 million” figure around. It is a crystal clear alert to everyone that the person quoting that number is deep into progressive dogma and probably not willing to have a meaningful discussion.
#12 Zeke:
“Hey, Rog, who really gives a sh-t? I mean, you got health insurance, I got health insurance. As for the 45 million American lowlife who don’t … well, tough noogies.”
Are you sure that all 45 million are even Americans, chum?
That oughtta cull quite a few, don’t you agree?
Now of those who are left, what do you suppose their monthly cell-phone bills run?
New car payments?
Cable or satellite TeeVee bills?
How mmany millions just don’t WANT health insurance, (until the very moment that they personally need to pay for medical care)?
You gettin’ the point, ace?
“When I feel the heat, I see the light” — Everett Dirksen
Webb and many others feel the heat and understand they must at least give the appearance of tacking to the center. The radical hot-house orchid on Pennsylvania Ave. will likely be unwilling to follow suit. He wouldn’t know how, even if he wanted to. As far as Obama sees it, only he can “be the change”. To use his own derisive language, he is a “bitter clinger” to the various isms (statism is a nice catch-all) that have forged his world view – combined, of course, with his phenomenal ego.
His “Aguirre” finish, madly pacing and muttering on his raft, is inevitable. Only he can rewrite the script and you just know that he won’t.
To quote Glenn, “Don’t get cocky”.
The biggest problem for ‘pubs will be that they misread the anger shown here (I voted for Scott so have seen it first hand).
The anger is at the political system that allows trillion dollar deficits to blatantly pay off pols like Nelso & Landrieu so that said pols will then give the remainder to the fattest of the fat cat rent seekers and corporatists.
The ‘pubs had better come down just as hard on the crony capitalist side of the equation as they do on the political side. Start with exactly who got paid off by AIG, Government Sachs, etc. Find out why after those folks had to get bailed out they STILL retained their positions and multi-million dollar bonuses. Follow the trail of Fannie and Freddie and their connection to the fat-cat CDS boys.
Come down hard too on the idea that the feds can nationalize private enterprise and pay off their union goons with the money that should have gone to Chrysler bond holders.
Best thing on TV last night:
Chris Matthews on MSNBC. He looked like somebody gutted him with a rusty coathook. I think the thrill is gone.
glenn – no more tinkling/tingling down Chrissy’s leg? He definitely tinkled himself last night.
What, exactly, is wrong with being, or sounding like, an ideologue? Most politicians are, or should be. People elect them to produce solutions to problems a country faces, and to produce a coherent, consistent set of solutions you better have an ideology tucked in in your wasteband.
Yes, your ideology may suck (communism, socialism, environmentalism, to name a few) but that is for the voters to judge. Beware, beware of a “non-ideological” politician. There are only two kinds of those: One. He has an agenda you WILL NOT like, or enjoy, once in place; TWO. he doesn’t know what he is talking about, just likes his place at the public trough.
Webb is simply the lesser of 60, now 59, evils. Nothing more.
#18 glenn: “Jim Webb likes his job, he wants to keep it.”
That’s it in a nutshell. Webb is Benedict Arlen Specter II — a slimy, party-hopping, political beast concerned first and foremost with its own survival.
re: #25 moderateGuy,
You are correct. The problem is that the radicals on either end of the spectrum can’t understand the need to compromise to effect change. My ideal politician would comport 100% with my principles. However, I am not so naive as to believe that I, or anyone, could implement that agenda. Other people get a vote too.
This is the problem with most Libertarians, they get hung up and throw hissy fits because some one doesn’t agree with their take on the drug war or gay marriage even though the person may have the best ideas on somthing like taxing, spending & nationalization.
I have some libertarian tendencies but am basically a conservative. If someone will be a reliable conservative (idealogue) on economics and the constituion I won’t bother picking nits on social issues that the gov’t has little control over in any case.
Ralph Woods @ #13 nails it. Webb’s refusal to shake the president’s hand speaks volumes more than any conciliatory gestures he may pretend to make now that Dems are feelin’ the heat.
His comments reminded me of an old saying involving desertion, rats, and a sinking ship.
“Hey, Rog, who really gives a sh-t? I mean, you got health insurance, I got health insurance. As for the 45 million American lowlife who don’t … well, tough noogies.”
Zeke,
Well, um, yeah. I’d say tough something-else, but I respect PMedia’s rules. We pay for it; others don’t. Health insurance isn’t a right, or even a “right”. Tell me why you think I should be paying for other people’s insurance (yes, I’m against Medi-whatever too) rather than tossing off guilt-attempting phrases and we might have an interesting discussion.
Coakley had a 30 point lead a month from the election. Saying she lost because she is a piece of cardboard who can’t keep a lead is, therefore, accurate.
does anybody actually like anybody anymore?
i like jim webb. i think he’s honest and he cares. period.
end of story.