Ex-naval head seeks to be Democratic nominee for Senate

[Judi Lynn]

Ex-naval head seeks to be Democratic nominee for Senate

BY TYLER WHITLEY
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Feb 8, 2006

Former Navy Secretary James H. Webb Jr. said yesterday that he will file papers this week to seek the Democratic nomination to run for the U.S. Senate this year.

Webb, who lives in Arlington County, would join Harris N. Miller, a Fairfax County computer executive, in seeking the party's nomination.

The nominee will oppose U.S. Sen. George Allen, a Republican who is seeking a second six-year term in the Senate. Allen is a strong favorite.

Webb, who was secretary of the Navy under Republican President Ronald Reagan, resigned in protest of cutbacks in the Navy fleet. He has been a strong critic of the war in Iraq, saying that the Bush administration has never developed an exit strategy.

Webb is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy and served in the Marines in the Vietnam War. He is the author of the nonfiction book "Born Fighting, How the Scots-Irish Shaped America," as well as six novels.
(snip/...)

http://www.timesdispatch.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=RTD%2FMGArticle%2FRTD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1137833937927&path=!news&s=1045855934842


Credentials! Here's his Webbsite: http://www.jameswebb.com/about.htm





Republican Senator George Allen

[Bozita]

1. He's everything that Allen isn't --- Swiftboating will show he's a traitor

Count on it!

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

28. Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would love him to kick Allen's ass! Virginian here.

[LittleClarkie]

2. Sic em, Mr. Webb

Save my home state from the likes of Allen. They deserve better. He's not terribly bright and has his head so far up Bush's ass he has to ask the president to open his mouth so Allen can see.

[cyclezealot]

4. Allen's kookiness precedes Bush II.

[LittleClarkie]

5. When was he elected?

I just assumed it was 2000.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Whoops, you're right! I just reread his little bio:

ALLEN, George, a Representative and a Senator from Virginia; born in Whittier, Los Angeles County, Calif., March 8, 1952; B.A., J.D., University of Virginia; elected as a Republican to the One Hundred Second Congress by special election November 5, 1991, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of D. French Slaughter Jr., and served from November 5, 1991, to January 3, 1993; was not a candidate for reelection to the One Hundred and Third Congress, but was a successful candidate for Governor of Virginia for the term beginning January 15, 1994, and served until January 17, 1998; elected to the United States Senate in 2000 for the term ending January 3, 2007; chair, National Republican Senatorial Committee (2003-2005).

http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=A000121

Seems he's been there forever, right?

[cyclezealot]

39. Recall in college he was affiliated

with some pretty outrageous groups. Need do some googling in order to find the stories.Seems were just like Rehnquist, anti voter groups.

[wiley]

3. Uh, whoa!

[Judi Lynn]

7. Washington Post:Reagan Navy Secretary Will Run for U.S. Senate

Reagan Navy Secretary Will Run for U.S. Senate

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, February 8, 2006; Page B05

RICHMOND, Feb. 7 -- James Webb, who served as President Ronald Reagan's Navy secretary, said Tuesday that he will seek the Democratic nomination to run against U.S. Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) this year, hoping to challenge the one-term incumbent on foreign policy and the conduct of the war in Iraq.

"I don't wake up in the morning wanting to be a U.S. senator," Webb said in an interview. "I wake up every morning very concerned about the country. We need to put some focus back in our foreign policy, a different focus."

Webb, who has been flirting with a Senate bid for months, declined to elaborate about his decision or his campaign plans. But he said he will file papers this week to officially become a candidate. He said he will formally announce his plans as early as next week.

"Yes, we're going to file papers later this week," he said. In addition to a focus on foreign policy, he said his campaign would "look very hard at all the notions of fairness in our society."
(snip/...)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/02/07/AR2006020701852.html?nav=rss_metro

[depakid]

21. President Ronald Reagan's Navy secretary

Not sure why everyone's crowing- like this is good news.

Yep. This guy sounds very progressive... and likely to vote with the party on important issues.

[Vogon_Glory]

24. While I'd Prefer A Progressive...

While I'd much prefer a progressive, I could live with someone who wouldn't march in lockstep with Republican Party/"conservative" reactionaries 100 percent of the time.

[Zynx]

30. In Virginia you aren't ever going to get a "progressive".

[Renew Deal]

49. Isn't the naval secretary a military position?

Meaning non-partisan?

[tritsofme]

8. Someone needs to keep Allen's reelect numbers down

So he doesn't run into the 2008 cycle with a lot of momentum and positive spin surrounding him.

I shouldn't have to remind these people that deride Allen's intelligence and call him unelectable that this is the same thing people said about another idiot 6 years ago.

[Dr Fate]

9. Allen has a different rug in that pic.

I dont know whether to laugh at it or shoot it.

[Judi Lynn]

11. Here's a puffy one.

I've ended up staring at the top of his tv screen head myself!

[Dr Fate]

12. I guess he keeps them all on those creepy manikin heads too....

...that or in small cages!

[Old and In the Way]

10. Excellent news.

I'd love to see see Allen get taken out. Derail his chances in '08, too.

[jobycom]

13. Wow. Those are serious credentials. That race just got interesting. nt

[TacticalPeek]

14. K and R!

:kick:

[philarq]

15. Danger Will Robinson

Webb is one evil SOB. I dare anyone to look into his background and then say with a straight face that he believes him to be a Democrat. If he actually wins as a democrat, this will be akin to Moses coming back from the dead and down from the mountain to just tell everyone the whole 10 commandments thing was just a joke, and God really only had 5 good ones so he made the others up.

HOWEVER: in terms of getting rid of Allen---and in the spirit of "better a monkey than him," Even I, a cynical bastard with an accent would be willing to hold my nose firmly, close my eyes, and vote for Webb. If nothing else, he knows how to seriously manipulate Washington to do his bidding.

[salin]

20. Don't know him

could you fill us in a little bit per your concerns?

[AlecBGreen]

37. philarq

Hey pal, dont come here spouting that crap unless your gonna back it up. One evil SOB eh? Then there should be plenty of things to choose from...name one.

[philarq]

41. ok----

USA TODAY article by Webb Feb 18, 2004


Veterans face conundrum: Kerry or Bush?

Both Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., and President Bush have had their attackers and defenders on the issue of Vietnam War service. But given Kerry's infamous anti-war activities, it is striking that many Vietnam veterans have chosen either to support him or maintain a skeptical distance from both camps. Indeed, Kerry's wins in Iowa and New Hampshire, which jump-started his campaign, often are attributed to his support among veterans.

Having been involved in veterans' issues since the 1970s, I know many veterans who in earlier days spoke of their disdain for Kerry but are now holding their fire. Kerry's negatives, however, do not automatically become Bush's positives, particularly when the focus of many now is on America's involvement in postwar Iraq. And in that context, the most important question is how — or whether — each candidate proposes to end the United States' military presence there.

To be sure, Kerry deserves condemnation for his activities as the leader of Vietnam Veterans Against the War (VVAW). In the early 1970s, this small organization — never more than 7,000 veterans out of a potential pool of 9 million — became the darling of the anti-war movement and the liberal media. Its activities went far beyond simply criticizing the politics of the war to repeatedly and dishonestly misrepresenting the service of Vietnam veterans and the positive feelings most felt after serving.

Kerry and his VVAW compatriots portrayed their fellow veterans as unwilling soldiers, morally debased and haunted by their service. While this might have fit a small minority, the most accurate survey, done by the Harris Poll in 1980, showed that 91% of those who went to Vietnam were "glad they served their country," 74% "enjoyed their time in the military" and 89% agreed with the statement that "our troops were asked to fight in a war which our political leaders in Washington would not let them win."

Kerry's own comments were filled with hyperbolic exaggerations that sought to make egregious acts seem commonplace. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing in 1971, he testified that fellow veterans had routinely "raped, cut off ears, cut off heads, taped wires from portable telephones to human genitals and turned up the power, cut off limbs, blown up bodies, randomly shot at civilians, razed villages in fashion reminiscent of Genghis Khan." With those words, he defamed a generation of honorable men. No matter how he spins it today, at a minimum, he owes them a full and complete apology.

The view that Kerry remained on the "wrong side" of the war was compounded by his failure to consult with leaders of America's million-plus Vietnamese community while playing a dominant role in the normalization of relations with communist Vietnam during the early 1990s. Many Vietnamese-Americans believe Kerry has been an apologist for the Hanoi government on such key issues as human rights. Kerry personally has bottled up the Vietnamese Human Rights Act, which twice passed the House by wide majorities, so that it cannot even be debated on the Senate floor.

---SNIP---

He served as Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs and Secretary of the Navy (1987-1988) during Ronald Reagan's presidential administration. He resigned as Secretary of the Navy after refusing to agree to reduction of the Navy's force structure.

Webb was one of the leaders within the navy for the buildup of the 600 ship navy and an increase to 15+ carrier battle groups.

-------

I can only suggest that Webb if elected will certainly be a Democrat in the mold of John Stennis, who certainly never saw a ship he didn't like.

[hopein08]

43. You had me confused there...but I think I got it...

you probably should have mentioned that Webb wrote that article. I had no idea what it had to do with anything at first. He did write it, right?

[philarq]

46. yes --

I put his name at the top

[VirginiaDem]

25. Look again

Sure, he's conservative but that's about what it will take here in Virginia. He was opposed wholeheartedly to the Iraq war and has been outspoken from the beginning. He has also been outspoken in favor of veterans, soldiers, etc. He will run on the war and get a big, big boost from that.

He's a fiscal conservative as well, which these days makes him a Democrat.

[blm]

27. He also supported Kerry over Bush BECAUSE of Bush's incompetence and his

insensitivity to veterans and the ballooning of the deficit.

He's a conservative who wants to preserve the social safety nets, and that is fine with me. He's also opposed to war as a first resort, like most veterans.

[philarq]

48. If as I said you are willing to hold your nose

You could vote for him. I truly believe he is Pro-Navy to the point of excess, but cannot fault him for that. He was at one point associated with PNAC, however.

John Stennis was a decent senator, and Webb would most likely be in that mold. It takes a little head scratching to wonder why durring the Reagan administration an aircraft carrier was named after a Democrat Senator who never even served in the military....

http://www.cvn74.navy.mil/

and as for small government being a Democratic ideal, that is something that Democrats need to be shouting from the highest moutain continuously. becaust that is definitely the method that will get a number of Repugs to change. --just need to point out the facts.

[MADem]

44. I have to agree with you, having seen the guy in action up close and

personal, as it were.

He is a misogynistic, mean pig when he wants to be.

However, getting rid of Allen IS a good thing--and if we can swap Allen for a waffling Republican who is beholden to Democratic funding, at least the bastard can be kept in check.

[Leilani]

16. self delete

[farmboxer]

17. I can't stand Allen! I hope he simply tells the truth about Bush

and Repubs! All Dems have to do is tell the truth! The truth to a Repub is like a cross to a vampire!

[salin]

19. It would be interesting if some of the vilest 08 contenders

(Santorum, Allen) got knocked out of the senate in 06...which is looking quite likely in Pa. Btw - Heya farmboxer haven't seen you in awhile :hi:

[JudyM]

45. Allen needs to go. I'm tired of writing and calling him with no hope of

being heard.

[Hekate]

18. Welcome to the Democratic party, Mr Webb, and best wishes

Incoming s**tboats from the Right! Hold your nose and duck!

Hope the guy gets some support, and turns out to be a good Dem after all.

Hekate

[Vogon_Glory]

22. Webb Leaving the GOP? WHOA, Indeed!

James Webb leaving the GOP to run as a Democrat? WHOA indeed! I remember reading some of his op-ed pieces savaging Democrats in Robert Bartley's Wall Street Journal op-ed pages. For James Webb to leave the GOP behind might mean the beginning of another shift in American politics. How many more moderate conservatives will turn their backs on what Bush, Rove, Norquist, Scaifeet alli have wrought?

I also hope that James Webb can come to reconcile with many of the Democrats he'd been at odds with in the past.

In the meantime, Mr. Webb, welcome to the Democratic Party.

[loudsue]

51. Today's democrats ARE yesterday's republicans.

He should fit right in with the other DLCers.

:kick:

[underpants]

23. !! SWEET NECTAR OF LIBERTY!!!

I always post this in any thread about Allen.

Allen is NOT a redneck...he is a redneck wannabe.

Condi Rice’s confirmation hearing
1/19/05
http://allen.senate.gov/?c=story&t=press&story=2005011961776.859375

Because of President Reagan's steadfast determination, hundreds of millions of people tasting that sweet nectar of liberty in central Europe are now friends and allies," said Senator Allen.

On the 2004 election
10/10/2004
http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_detail.php?speech_id=69507
Ronald Reagan's election changed the dynamic of the Cold War from one of containment and co-existence to the advancement of freedom. As a result, hundreds of millions of people in Central Europe, once behind the Iron Curtain, now taste the sweet nectar of liberty, have joined NATO, and are true friends and allies.

Senator Allen's Tribute to President Reagan
June 8, 2004
http://www.nrsc.org/nrscweb/newsdesk/articles/401.shtml

But President Reagan believed the blessings of liberty must not be bestowed only on a few nations and only to those blessed to be born on free soil; Ronald Reagan, with the strength of his convictions, exported and advanced democracy to continents, countries, and people yearning to taste the sweet nectar of libert.



GOVERNOR ALLEN SELECTED AS "JEFFERSON SCHOLAR"
August 28, 1998
http://www.alec.org/viewpage.cfm?pgname=3.1aa56

He also pointed to North Korea, China, Iraq, Cuba and other countries where "there are people who have never truly tasted freedom's sweet nectar.

[Stinky The Clown]

34. 'Nectar obsessed' .... makes ya wonder, huh?

:)

[farmbo]

26. BFD...Allen wrote a book too: "How I Struggled To The Top On My Own Name"

"...Senator George Allen's Struggle To Make a Name For Himself In Virginia; With a Special Forward Spiced With Tales of The Washington Redskins' Glory Days Under His Dad, Coach George Allen."

Now available on Amazon.com

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

29. I believe Allen grew up in CA. Is that right?

I can't stand him!! Grr... He literally looks like a penis...and that's an inuslt to penises.

No offense to our lovely guys here.

[Stinky The Clown]

32. He also had some serious racist shit going when he was in HS.

The internet seems to be scrubbed of any reporting about it, but when Coach Allen's Stupid Son was a high school jock in California he was involved in some pretty bad racist shit in school. I am almost certain he was (puniched) punished for it. But the story seems to have vanished from the internets. Does anyone else recall this?

edit for bad slepping

[BrotherBuzz]

40. DU scoop and link - for what it's worth

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=364&topic_id=237505&mesg_id=237603

LibDemAlways (1000+ posts)
Wed Jan-25-06 11:30 AM

1. He has that effect on people.


He's one of the smarmiest, most hypocritical, and surely the phoniest repuke senator -- and that's saying a lot in that crowd. In case you've missed it in other Allen threads, I went to high school with the SOB and was a firsthand witness to the racist graffiti he spraypainted on the walls of the school one weekend to stir up animosity toward black kids from a nearby school we were scheduled to play in football that week. He tried to make the writing look like black gang graffiti, but screwed up when he misspelled the name of their school (Morningside - how hard is that?). Anyhow he was caught and had to publically apologize. By the way this was in Southern California where the bigot grew up. Even back then he had his car papered with Confederate battle flag stickers. What an ass.

[Stinky The Clown]

47. Yeah! That's the story! I hadn't seen it on DU before.

I love this post to that same thread .......

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x237505#238105

LibDemAlways Donating Member (1000+ posts)
Wed Jan-25-06 03:08 PM

Response to Reply #2
3. Unfortunately, no. His dad was coach of


the LA Rams NFL team at the time and a real respected guy in what was even then a well-to-do repuke area. Out of deference to his dad, the graffiti was cleaned up same day by school officials. George apologized over the school PA, and that was that. However, there were 630 of us in that class, plus an additional 1800 kids who went to the school at the time, and I'm sure most of them remember it well. It was a big deal because graffiti was unheard of at that school and also because everyone knew George Allen. In addition to his dad being an NFL coach, he was varsity QB of our high school team. If Allen ever chooses to run for higher office - and I know that's what he shooting for - this will come back to haunt him.

He has been asked about this incident and tries to laugh it off as a "boyhood prank." I've been in touch with a Virginia based reporter who has written some articles about Allen's racist past (including the noose he kept in his law office). I've given him names of school officials and pals of Allen who, if they choose to talk, would have some good dirt to dish. The reporter thinks the racial stuff would be a big hurdle for him to overcome on a national ticket.

I wonder if the story by the Virginia reprter was ever done? I hope not. It would be far more delicious to roll it out at a more ..... uh ...... appropriate time. :evilgrin:

[BrotherBuzz]

50. Timing is everything

especially when you own the information.

:thumbsup:

[Zynx]

33. Now I'll always associate it with George Allen. Thanks.

;-)

[Stinky The Clown]

31. (K&R) I like this. I like this a LOT.

This guy is what we need. He'll play well in NoVa and he'll play well in Tidewater. He'll play well in Richmond, too, I suspect. Virginia has one former SecNav as a Senator ... why not two?

And if you haven't read his book, at least read this review of it. http://www.ashbrook.org/publicat/oped/owens/04/webb.html

This guy 'gets it'.

Will (Gov) Warner back him?

And yanno ... as far as being a former Republican ... look at it this way ...... he was never cut out to be a Republican. He has a deal-breaker trait ..... 'integrity'.

If you've heard him speak ... he's good. Real good. Has a no-nonsense way about him that plays well. Articulate and just plain smart.

Yup. I like this guy.

[NJmaverick]

35. Awesome Candidate!

Gives me hope for the party!

[RedEarth]

36. Great ..... I just hope he can beat the sanctimonious Allen

[wishlist]

38. He seems to be intelligent and thoughtful in his opposition to Iraq war

Here is good article in Daily Kos from last year about Webb:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/12/81844/063

[brentspeak]

42. George Allen is the quintessential baby-holding politician

I've seen three George Allen campaign commercials. Each one featured him holding an infant child and going on and on about "family values".