WP: Webb's Icy Exchange Might Diminish Effectiveness

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/01/AR2006120101205.html

The icy exchange between President Bush and James Webb at the White House, made public this week, has turned Virginia's senator-elect into something of a folk hero among critics of the president who have longed for someone to challenge his bravado.

At the same time, Webb's refusal to play the gentlemanly political games so common in Washington has angered some conservatives and could raise questions about how the new Democratic senator -- not even sworn into office yet -- can be an effective lawmaker in a sharply divided Congress.

"He already has become what Washington did not need another of, a subtraction from the city's civility and clear speaking," conservative columnist George Will wrote on Thursday.

On the campaign trail, Webb rarely minced words about Bush, repeatedly calling the Iraq war "a blunder of historic proportions." At the White House reception early last month, Webb said he tried to avoid interacting with the president. But when Bush walked up to Webb to ask about his son, a Marine serving in Iraq, Webb hinted at the campaign criticism.

What a BS article! It doesn't even explain how it will reduce his effectiveness!

[ret5hd]

1. Hey George...How much clearer can he be?!?!?

[fooj]

2. George Will is an idiot.

These Repukes are the last people who should be lecturing ANYONE on civility. Screw them. It's all GAME ON from here on out.

[RamboLiberal]

6. Writer of this article was By Michael D. Shear

But what a load of crap. Except for a few lemming whiners most of the people quoted praised Webb and didn't think it would reduce effectiveness. Webb could well be a go-to Dem for interviews and our own maverick in a way that McCain no longer is.

[fooj]

9. Yes. I know that.

However, George Will is STILL an idiot. LOL!!!!!! He wrote something about this yesterday.

[RamboLiberal]

14. Oh I agree Will is an idiot

eom

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Imagine if O.J. Simpson had asked Ron Goldman...

"How's your son?"

and then the media claimed Goldman was the rude one?

[NOLADEM]

4. Who the fuck wrote this article? Babs?

[LibDemAlways]

5. The WP is whoring bigtime here.

"A subtraction for the city's civility and clear speaking." Seems to me Webb is very clear spoken. Chimp's snide comeback to him was what was "uncivil." God, I hate these water-carrying assholes like Will.

[The_Casual_Observer]

7. Ask a stupid question, get a stupid answer.

It's about time the world in general call bush out as a total asshole.

[sam sarrha]

16. It's more like this.. 'Ask a Stupid person a question..get a stupid answer' Bush isn't capable of

rational thought more less rational response..

click on the Blue Link in my signature below. that explains it all....!!

he is a wet brain alcoholic drug addict privileged psychotic narcissist

[MasonJar]

8. Flush the Conservatives! We have seen what their inluence

wields on the fragile, unsuspecting world.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

10. Yeah, Bush and Rove have been the model of civility these last 6 yrs. They STILL refer to

the "Democrat Party" etc.

[fooj]

19. Hey Mayberry- let's show them some "civility"...

[Robbien]

11. When GOPers are being rude bullies George is cheerleading them on

But when Democratic politicians start standing up for their beliefs, Georgie is all whiney.

[blm]

30. And DC presscorps immediately chimes in against the Democrat - right on schedule.

.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

12. Since the Dems are in control of Congress

and W is a lame duck, I don't see how Webb's honest exchange with a snooty Bush is going to hurt him. Amongst military families, I'd say his answer raised his political capital.

[MasonJar]

28. Only the MSM would print such an absurdity like Will anyway.

[Diane R]

13. This is bizarre. Did they not read the 80+ pages of comments for Will's article?

Reading those comments was wonderful. Ninety-eight percent of the respondents supported Webb...strongly. How could the WP not know that?

[Straight Shooter]

25. Because WaPo can't read the comments with its head up bush's butt. n/t

[zara]

15. Let's see, what Dem gets Bush to change policies by bootlicking?

Answer: none. Bush is like a vampire who needs bootlickers as blood sources to sustain his pre-existing malady.
Bush only understands force. And he does not respond well to it.
This article is garbage. Except it reveals the beltway mentality.

[Shakespeare]

17. Well, for starters, Webb wasn't the one who was rude.

Mr. "That's Not What I Asked You" megaturd wannabe dictator asshole is the one who started off with the ugliness.

I thought Webb exhibited remarkable restraint.

[datadiva]

18. My response

The point is so lost in this article. It wasn't the question or the answer. It was the response to the answer that upset Webb. As it should have. The President asked a question, got an answer then made a smart ass remark. So it's okay for him to be a smart ass and no one else. Im tired of people cowtowing to him. We need people like Webb who is not afraid to speak his mind. Maybe we will still be able to bring America back to where we were before the fiasco that exists now.

[evilgenius602]

20. you know what? go fuck yourself WaPo

I find myself saying that more and more. Used to be my favorite newspaper. I don't recognize it anymore. Webb is arguably closest to the Barry Goldwater conservativism that the Senate has seen in 30 years. So in the word of John Dean, Kitty Graham can go get her tits in a ringer. Oh wait, she's dead isn't she?

[anotherdrew]

24. seriously, how can we put them out of business? it's time to shut this shit down! n/t

[tridim]

21. It's pointless to speak to Bush in a civil manner

Why even bother, the asshole only listens when he's put in his place by stronger people.

Jim Webb did good.

[anotherdrew]

22. conservatives can fuck off and die, this is nothing but news trying to lead people

"news" papers have no business printing such garbage anywhere but as an editorial, and an oposing viewpoint should also be presented.

this is a perfect example of how these news outlets attempt to control and mold public opinion, they need to fuck off and die just like the god-damned conservatives, who have very nearly destroyed this country.

[bluestateguy]

23. Yeah, it might hurt his re-election chances in (snort, giggle) 2012.

:rofl:

[IndianaGreen]

26. Bush is the greatest war criminal and mass murderer in this century!

The WaPo is showing its complicity as a propaganda arm of the Bush dictatorship.

[Warren Stupidity]

27. The party of Fuck Off and Asshole, Major League

the party of Swiftboating, the party that mocked Michael Fox, the party that has redefined dirty politics, that party suddenly discovers that civility is a good thing? How about fuck off you assholes, get your major league swiftboating idiocy out of here. Take your WaPo and the rest of your toady media and shove it.

Jim Webb speaks for me. I want Democratic leaders who are not afraid to express the anger and outrage that was lately expressed at the polls.

[Warren Stupidity]

29. Oh and as if it isn't obvious

the tactics employed since we kicked their criminal butts out of power in congress have been aimed at dividing us, at destroying potential leaders, at diverting attention away from what is likely the worst military blunder in our history (here is a clue, we are losing the war against al qaeda), and at preventing at all costs the emergence of a real opposition to their continuance of their failed policies and criminal activities.

[screenplaya]

31. All the pundits loved candidate Bush's fake personality...

and it did not help his effectiveness one iota.

[Gloria]

32. As long as he can vote, his effectiveness won't be diminished...this

is such a load of HORSESHIT!! How dainty politics has become, suddenly. Is this a news article or just opinion called news??

[Old and In the Way]

33. Or, it might not.

Screw George Will and his "civility". What a suck-up sycophant to this administration.

[depakid]

34. Typical Post Propaganda

Just when you think they can't get even more slanted. they prove you wrong.

What an embarrassment that paper has become.

[Aviation Pro]

35. "has angered some conservatives"

Who gives a flying fuck about these losers?

[alcibiades_mystery]

36. "Some conservatives think..." Who gives a fuck what those losers think?

Seriously.

[TheCowsCameHome]

40. They should be grateful they came in second.

It's more than they deserve anyway.

[donkeyotay]

37. What the liberal media said. Translation time:

The icy exchange between senator-elect James Webb and the embattled president at the White House, made public this week, has turned Virginia's senator-elect into something of a folk hero among critics of the president who have longed for someone to challenge his bullshit.

The unpopular president's refusal to play the gentlemanly political games so common in Washington has angered some liberals and could raise questions about how the new Democratic senators -- not even sworn into office yet -- can be effective lawmakers in such a poisonous atmosphere.

"Bush has become what Washington did not need another of, a subtraction from the city's civility and clear speaking," conservative columnist George Will wrote on Thursday.

On the campaign trail, Webb rarely minced words about Bush, repeatedly calling the Iraq war "a blunder of historic proportions." At the White House reception early last month, Webb said he tried to avoid interacting with the president. And when Bush walked up to Webb to ask about his son, a Marine serving in Iraq, Webb was polite but firm saying "I want our boys home." The president rudely spat back, "That's not what I asked."

[frylock]

38. why do the times and the wapo get jocked on this board so much?

They're not on our side. In fact, much like NPR, they are agencies of dis/misinformation.

[Demeter]

39. They Are National Papers of Record, And Form National Opinion

They are the enemy, if we let them be, or our friend, if we can get their attention.

It's just like who controls the thermostat in the house--an engine of great power, and we must know what they are saying, so we can correct any error or bias, and catch any mind games.

[Metta]

41. Look at the source - G. Will, a man with no Elvis.

Much more so, he disdains Elvis in others when he sees it. Typical for not dealing with his own stuff and then projecting it onto others. What a putz.

[JI7]

42. this is such crap, why are they acting like WEBB is the one in the wrong here

it's a total pass to the fucking Chimp and his ugly treatment of soldiers and their families.

[gulliver]

43. Boy, I sure hope Webb takes George Will's advice.

We need more people who laugh at Bush's jokes, no matter how many people get killed. What's a few hundred thousand dead? We need people who will treat Bush like any president who is responsible for an American catostrophe should be treated: with respect, deference, and above all with humor. It is never right to disapprove of someone and show it. If Jeffrey Dahmer was entitled to a cheery good morning from the parents of his victims, if John Mark Karr deserves a future teaching at a nursery school, if John Hinckley can serve as a poster child for the NRA, then surely George W. Bush deserves a little respect as a Commander. Anything else would be unusual.

[Warren DeMontague]

44. Well, if George Will says so, it must be true.

Pffffffffffffffft.

[RamboLiberal]

45. WPost scrubbed Headline to this story

Now its "Remark By Webb Arouses Passions"

Glad I captured the original BS Headline by the "Liberal media". :sarcasm:

[PBass]

46. WEBB seems to be exactly what the Dems need more of....

A SCRAPPER.

I can't think of another politician who has me more intrigued, right now. WEBB has me on the edge of my seat.

[bklyncowgirl]

47. Washington decorum and politeness have helped get us into this mess.

Remember how shocked the entire Washington establishment was when Howard Dean said that Saddam Hussein's capture had not made America safer?

Remember how utterly offended they were when Stephen Colbert tweaked the leader of the free world to his face--the same people who had guffawed obediently when Bush did his looking for those missing WMD routine and saw nothing at all offensive in Bush mocking his own rationale for going into a war in which Americans were bleeding and dying.

Remember how long it took for them to even acknowledge that the Downing Street Memos existed how long it took for mainstream pundits, much less major Democratic politicians to utter the word "lie" with respect to George W. Bush?

The Washington Establishment is a big part of the problem and I personally hope that the Democrats do not attempt to turn some of our newly elected representatives of the people, like Jim Webb, into mealymouthed go-along, get-along political sheep.

[marmar]

48. I call "mierda del toro"

What a crappy piece of so-called "analysis."