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2006-11-15 Home Front: Politix
Senate Maverick: A Dem Senator the Burg might like!
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Posted by OldSpook 2006-11-15 00:50|| || Front Page|| [11133 views since 2007-05-07]  Top

#1 Go read his book: Born Fighting, How the Scots-Irish shaped America. Cites Reagan, Stonewall Jackson, Grant, Patton, Nascar, the Scots-Irish value of military service and unapologetic patriotism, the central importance of Family and Bible-base Christianity, and populist, etc. Praised by Senator McCain back in 2004 when it was first published.

Blurb from the dust-jacket:

(Rantburgers, how does this fit in with your conservatism?)

Our rights come from God not the Government; all of us are born equal and "born aristocrats" don't exist; tread on either of these 2 truths and we'll fight you down to the last unbroken bone. the Scots Irish have fought *all* our wars for us, including Vietnam.

Goes all the way back to Hadrian's Wall, William Wallace, etc. All about individualism, liberty and the warrior spirit, clan and hearth.

And if you red the very first pagaragraph of the very first chapeter, he cites all the counties and towns where I grew up. I feel as if I know him. I grew up there, and know the very people he talks about, know the towns, know the way of life.

I think he is going to be a hell of a problem for the Liberals when they finally realize the conservative populist porcupine they have pulled into their embrace.

Disclosure: the names he cites in his family on page 7 overlap 3 times with my family from the same area - and sometimes the same towns he mentions, so we may be related way back in the mists some place (I'm having one of my brothers that still lives down that way check things as well as my cousin who is a VA State Trooper). Bit of tribal pride there on my part - I hope he rattles a lot of cages in DC. Hopefully my pride will not turn to shame.

So Burg, whatcha think now?
Posted by Oldspook 2006-11-15 01:15||   2006-11-15 01:15|| Front Page Top

#2 After voting on Election Day, Webb spent the rest of the day walking through Arlington Cemetary in the rain. Others with him included his Radioman from Vietnam.

Pelosi and the rest of the Donks were smoozing with their supporters.

Webb is the "Real Deal" unlike Lurch Kerry.
Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2006-11-15 01:38||   2006-11-15 01:38|| Front Page Top

#3 It will be instructive to watch how Webb votes when the Democrap party leader push gun control, Court Justice votes, immigration etc.

Webb may be a 21 century old Democrat.

After voting on Election Day, Webb spent the rest of the day walking through Arlington Cemetary in the rain. Others with him included his Radioman from Vietnam.

impressive, very
Posted by RD 2006-11-15 02:06||   2006-11-15 02:06|| Front Page Top

#4 It will be instructive to watch how Webb votes when the Democrap party leader push gun control, Court Justice votes, immigration etc.

Webb may be a 21 century old Democrat.

After voting on Election Day, Webb spent the rest of the day walking through Arlington Cemetary in the rain. Others with him included his Radioman from Vietnam.

impressive, very
Posted by RD 2006-11-15 02:07||   2006-11-15 02:07|| Front Page Top

#5 I like the man's writing, and there's no question he's a brave cuss. I also think having men like him in the Donk party is a help.

And I'm waiting for the day he chokes Ted Kennedy on the Senate floor ;-)
Posted by Steve White">Steve White  2006-11-15 02:20||   2006-11-15 02:20|| Front Page Top

#6 And I'm waiting for the day he chokes Ted Kennedy on the Senate floor ;-)

gawd I'd pays me large to see it wid me own eyes arrr!

wonder what color Teddy would turn since he's already purple.. »:-)

Posted by RD 2006-11-15 02:49||   2006-11-15 02:49|| Front Page Top

#7 "...disdain for the Clintons." I like him.
Posted by Sneaze Shaiting3550 2006-11-15 04:24||   2006-11-15 04:24|| Front Page Top

#8 Not as bad as I thought. So why'd he run as a Donk?
Posted by Bobby 2006-11-15 06:10||   2006-11-15 06:10|| Front Page Top

#9 Webb spent the rest of the day walking through Arlington Cemetary in the rain

brought out the dead vote.
Posted by anon 2006-11-15 06:34||   2006-11-15 06:34|| Front Page Top

#10 Why'd he run as a Donk?

He's into old-fashioned class-warfare protectionist economics.
Posted by Mike 2006-11-15 06:38||   2006-11-15 06:38|| Front Page Top

#11 The politics of the Karl Rove era were designed to distract and divide the very people who would ordinarily be rebelling against the deterioration of their way of life. Working Americans have been repeatedly seduced at the polls by emotional issues such as the predictable mantra of "God, guns, gays, abortion and the flag" while their way of life shifted ineluctably beneath their feet. But this election cycle showed an electorate that intends to hold government leaders accountable for allowing every American a fair opportunity to succeed.

hmmmm... I agree with this statement. But I think he's walking a fine line by looking to blame Rove to appeal to the left. It is the left who consider themselves "elites" and the left who make it possible to emotionally appeal to Gods, Guns, Gays and abortions by pushing too far in those regards.

It may be that he is walking the fine line between red and blue and we will be better for it. But it reminds me of a story from the civil war about a man in Natchez who attempted to invite both sides to his house for a lavish party so that when they were confiscating homes, that his might be left alone. The plan worked pefectly, except that he forgot to invite one bean counter. The bean counter was humliated and angry at having been left out and thus not only chose his beautiful home but had it razed.
Posted by anon 2006-11-15 06:54||   2006-11-15 06:54|| Front Page Top

#12 that WSJ article leaves me with a bad taste in my mouth, just like his campaign did. He seems to be operating from the principle that people are stupid and easily fooled. Maybe they are. Time will tell. Whatever, I wish him good luck, he's going to need it.
Posted by anon 2006-11-15 06:59||   2006-11-15 06:59|| Front Page Top

#13 If he's into class warfare protectionist economics how does he stand on controlling the borders? Kind of an inherent contradiction there, one way or the other. Lax border control works toward class warfare but against protectionist economics.
Posted by Glenmore">Glenmore  2006-11-15 07:18||   2006-11-15 07:18|| Front Page Top

#14 If he's so goddamned conservative, why is he running with the modern day communist party?
Posted by bigjim-ky 2006-11-15 07:37||   2006-11-15 07:37|| Front Page Top

#15 Anyone know what his border policy thoughts are?

Everytime I hear a liberal demand a higher minimum wage but protecting the illegals I darn near choke.

Webb vs Kennedy: Pay per view tickets on me boys!
Posted by Icerigger 2006-11-15 07:45||   2006-11-15 07:45|| Front Page Top

#16 What I would pay to see is Webb saying, "Yes, mam", to Nancy Peolosi and Patty Murray.
Posted by anon 2006-11-15 07:48||   2006-11-15 07:48|| Front Page Top

#17 Sounds like an old-fashioned populist to me (can anyone say "cross of gold"?) He claims to be into freedom, but essentially disses the market. Who cares what CEOs make - their activity helps the whole economy. Let's not redistribute the pie, let's make the pie bigger and let more folks grab bigger pieces themselves.
Posted by Spot">Spot  2006-11-15 08:13||   2006-11-15 08:13|| Front Page Top

#18 "Our rights come from God not the Government;"

Sigh. If I were to posit the opposite, you'd have a meltdown.
Posted by .com 2006-11-15 08:23||   2006-11-15 08:23|| Front Page Top

#19 Nah .com, I'd just rip you to shreds logically. Jefferson and Locke are wonderful allies. :-)

All - I was deliberately a bit optimistic with this post. His campaign and allowing the leftys to smear and burn brings a lot of doubt about his ability to be true to his core. His anti-capitalist populism also is a bit owrrisome. I grew up in coal/railroad country like him, and a lot of the poeple there have a permanent chip on their shoulders regarding the rich "executives, bankers and brokers". Tooke me leaving the region to get over it in my case. In his, he hasnt gotten there yet.

But in any event, I hope he causes as much chaos over there as Chaffee+McCain did on the conservative side of things. On economic policy he is going to be a headache. But I do beleive he will be a reliable ally on the second amendment.
Posted by OldSpook 2006-11-15 08:49||   2006-11-15 08:49|| Front Page Top

#20 Lol. The age-old conundrum - for which there has never been a shortage of heartfelt emotion, but always a complete lack anything even remotely resembling proof.

We all do no end of feeling, and we mistake it for thinking.
-Sam Clemens
Posted by .com 2006-11-15 08:58||   2006-11-15 08:58|| Front Page Top

#21 After voting on Election Day, Webb spent the rest of the day walking through Arlington Cemetary in the rain. Others with him included his Radioman from Vietnam.

Sounds to me like he made some promises a few years back and went to let them know he has not forgotten and will be good to his word.
Posted by 49 Pan">49 Pan  2006-11-15 09:29||   2006-11-15 09:29|| Front Page Top

#22 We will see. Money talks bullshit and votes on the floor run the marathon.

Our rights come from God not the Government

Our rights come from how much we are willing to concede to the government and how much we are willing to protect...violently. 'Cus at the end of the day, what is the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution? Ink stains on paper. That is all they will ever be if we aren't willing to stand up for and fight for the values our founding fathers, military through the years and people willing to stand up for liberty fought for.
Posted by DarthVader">DarthVader  2006-11-15 09:46||   2006-11-15 09:46|| Front Page Top

#23 It should be the first order of business for the new Congress to begin addressing these divisions, and to work to bring true fairness back to economic life....Once they understand that there are (and were) clear alternatives to the policies that have dislocated careers and altered futures, they will demand more accountability from the leaders who have failed to protect their interests.

And what might those alternatives be? Hm? ...crickets...
Posted by  KBK 2006-11-15 10:28||   2006-11-15 10:28|| Front Page Top

#24 Sounds like they want us all back on assembly lines.
Posted by .com 2006-11-15 10:30||   2006-11-15 10:30|| Front Page Top

#25 Webb is what we used to call "liberal" 40 years ago, before the Far Left (e.g. Michael Harrington) deliberately hijacked the term. Some former liberals are now called "neo-cons." Others just resigned.
Think of Hubert Horatio Hornblower Humphrey, "Scoop" Jackson, LBJ, and many other Democrats from the 50s and 60s.
It would be nice if such were returning to the party, but the far left has too much power and too little sense of fair play and order.
Posted by Jackal">Jackal  2006-11-15 11:05|| http://home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html]">[http://home.earthlink.net/~sleepyjackal/index.html]  2006-11-15 11:05|| Front Page Top

#26 Senator Casey also leans conservative. The donks in the Senate have turned toward the right, The House also has a bunch of new member donks who lean right. The House repubs have more conservatives and far less RINOs, and the Senate repubs have also lost RINOs.
Who won this election again ?
Posted by wxjames 2006-11-15 11:23||   2006-11-15 11:23|| Front Page Top

#27 Who won this election again ?

Reagan.
Posted by Dreadnought 2006-11-15 11:53||   2006-11-15 11:53|| Front Page Top

#28 Hey OldSpook,

Does Webb's book cover my favorite Scots-Irish hardass, Old Hickory? If so, that goes on the Amazon Xmas wishlist.
Posted by Vegas Matt 2006-11-15 11:55||   2006-11-15 11:55|| Front Page Top

#29 Yes - he dedicates almost an entire chapter to Andrew Jackson - and refers to him and "Jacksonians" throughout the book.
Posted by Oldspook 2006-11-15 12:25||   2006-11-15 12:25|| Front Page Top

#30 Clarification: his 2 favoreite presidents are Jackson and Reagan.

And his son is serving in Iraq, I have heard.

Definitely a different kind of Democrat in many ways. What remains to be seen is if he can maintain his "independant/conservatvie" qualities in the face of the hard left leadership.
Posted by OldSpook 2006-11-15 12:29||   2006-11-15 12:29|| Front Page Top

#31 OK verified: His son Jimmy is a Lance Corporal in the USCM, and is infantry branch.

Supposedly he is currently serving in Iraq, in combat.

Lots to like, lots to dislike. Interesting character.

Posted by OldSpook 2006-11-15 12:45||   2006-11-15 12:45|| Front Page Top

#32 What if Webb gets a belly full of Pelosi, Boxer, Kennedy, et al and turns Republican?
Posted by GolfBravoUSMC 2006-11-15 12:49||   2006-11-15 12:49|| Front Page Top

#33 Nancy Pelosi has said that loyality to the Democratic Party is a prerequisite to obtaining any kind of appointment in "her" government. I don't think Webb fits in. I do believe the Pelosi-ites will devide the Democratic party by their failure to recognize that a Congressperson owes allegience to the Constiuents first. I may be disappointed in this but if they don't do what the people wnat they will not be reelected. Just ask the Republicans.
Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues  2006-11-15 13:01||   2006-11-15 13:01|| Front Page Top

#34 I do have issues with some CEO compensation, so his comments there don't scare me, but his solutions to the problem might. I don't have any problem with CEO's and senior management making a lot of money. But there is a difference between a lot of money and obscene amounts of money. This is something that I think the companies themselves need to get a handle on, and fast, or else the government is going to come in and legislate a "solution".

Webb seems to be an interesting guy. It should be fun to watch how this plays out.
Posted by remoteman 2006-11-15 13:15||   2006-11-15 13:15|| Front Page Top

#35 "Nancy Pelosi has said that loyality to the Democratic Party is a prerequisite to obtaining any kind of appointment in "her" government. I don't think Webb fits in."

Deacon, you're right. Webb DOESN'T fit in. He's a Senator, Pelosi runs the house. It will be interesting to see what Reid does about HIS mavericks and House confreres.

Senators, in general, disdain their colleagues from the House as junior partners.

Popcorn anyone?
Posted by AlanC">AlanC  2006-11-15 15:32||   2006-11-15 15:32|| Front Page Top

#36 "Wait till he locks horns with Pelosi's San Fran values people."

*Sigh* The Body Politic has a way of quashing the ideals of freshmen congress critters. (Especially on the left side of the aisle.) Everything from the mundane, such as delivery of office supplies, to the horse-trading for committee assignments. Hopefully, the fragile centrist façade the Democrats so desperately need in 2008 will be to Webb’s advantage.
Posted by DepotGuy 2006-11-15 15:36||   2006-11-15 15:36|| Front Page Top

#37 AlanC, you are right. He is Sanator and I goofed. Dopey me.
Posted by Deacon Blues">Deacon Blues  2006-11-15 16:50||   2006-11-15 16:50|| Front Page Top

#38 Webb has a good heart and I like him. He may be Protectionist, but he has Americas best interest at heart. I rarely get to see FDR blue dogs anymore - even if they flow left. I like him. Find more.

JFK would be considered a Republican these days. This guy went back to roots. It is so very encouraging to me to see a reformation of that party - even if so little shines through. This Man makes my veteran status look like a holiday leave. He is someone worth working with and as politically inarticulate as he may seem, he does have a good mind. I hope this is the change we were seeking from that party. I back him.

One note: The jobs we have may not be as good as the jobs we used to have, but 4.6 is a very good unemployment rate. Check the worldfactbook to see what other countries face.

Webb could do much good at sponsoring small business manufacturing to bring some of that base back to us. I do not want to live in an empty shell of an economic paradise - but the best protection is strong competition and that starts by being better and having better products cheaper than shipping them across 2,000 miles of ocean (Hint hint).
Posted by closedanger@hotmail.com">closedanger@hotmail.com  2006-11-15 23:28||   2006-11-15 23:28|| Front Page Top

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