Jim Webb seemed like such a smart person

[ProfessorPlum]

Doesn't he realize that the Bushies have already been breaking the law and using all of the illegal means to wiretap which the Dems just made legal? It's not as if they aren't already doing what Congress just rubber-stamped. So how does that make anyone safer?

From Webb's office:

Yesterday I supported two measures to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. These measures were considered against the backdrop of heightened concerns from our nation's intelligence community abut the threat of international terrorism. The ramifications of the two amendments before us last night were not political. Instead they related to the urgent demands of national security. I chose to heed those warnings.

Dummy.

[aquart]

1. Did you tell him so?

[ProfessorPlum]

2. Like that's going to make a f*ing difference

I feel old and disgusted and exhausted from battling the GOP. We spend all of our time and money trying to get these Democrats elected, and they turn out to be as brain-dead (or complicit) as our idiot Freeper brothers-in-law.

The FISA law was a hideous breach of the Fourth Amendment even when it was followed. The fact that it has been "amended" into oblivion is about the last straw I can bear.

[atreides1]

4. I did

And I also told him that this bill was in my opinion similar to the "Enabling Act", and that I found the use of the term "Homeland" offensive.

I reminded him that perhaps he could give the "leadership" a lesson in what that term meant, by telling them that leaders put themselves in the front so that those following them know that they share the same risks. And that sometimes you have to risk everything to do the right thing.

So far I've received no reply, but if I get one I'll put up here at DU.

[Myrina]

3. He used to be a Republican, he's still a 'military/security insider'

Why would you have expected him to do anything else? :shrug:

[demnan]

5. You inspired me

Dear Mr. Webb,

I am sorry to hear that you voted to extend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. I hope you will support the ACLU's efforts to uncover the supposed http://www.aclu.org/safefree/spying/31227prs20070808.html security threat that you and other members of Congress have alluded too.

This administration has a poor history in interpreting intelligence issues, as they did not heed the warnings of "chatter" before 9/11, they fabricated intelligence in the Downing Street Memos and outed a CIA agent for their own political revenge. I need more information before I would be convinced that it is necessary to my safety to erode the rights of American citizens based on any intelligence findings from this administration.

While the timid Democrats keep impeachment off the table, the Bush Administration and their Republican and Democratic minions are busy destroying our Constitutional rights.

By the time this government gets done, there won't be a country worth defending left. This is why I support the ACLU in their valiant efforts to save our Constitution. I hope you will reconsider. Talk to Col. Lawrence Wilkerson about this endless war we are in. Talk to Barbara Olshansky about the inmates of Guantanamo Bay and how this administration disappeared countless innocents and denied them their habeas corpus rights. I beg you to support the impeachment and removal of this evil bunch of criminals and to rescind the Patriot Act.

This country has always faced dangers when we must, and we of Scots-Irish heritage have always been a courageous people, we're not willing to give up our rights just to feel a false sense of security, especially not to a bloodthirsty, power-hungry war criminal like Dick Cheney.

Sincerely,

[ProfessorPlum]

9. Excellent letter

I hope you get a response.

[CreekDog]

6. i HATE the title of this thread

Who the heck are you to suggest that he is suddenly not smart?!

I don't agree with what he did, but it's pretty low to suggest a lapse in intelligence because he did something you don't agree with.

I don't recall you running and then winning a longshot senate race in Virginia against an incumbent Republican.

I kind of think to pull that off, he was and IS still smarter than you.

And I wouldn't talk to you this way had you not gone after Sen. Webb in this way to start with. It's a taste of your own medicine.

[ProfessorPlum]

8. Perhaps you are right

He seemed like he was a moral, ethical person.

[ProfessorPlum]

11. I was being kind

He's either stupid, or complicit.

[CreekDog]

12. You're still being whatever you were when you made the OP

It's one thing to disagree, that's justifiable, but you just devolve into calling him stupid, add complicit or stupid.

Must every political disagreement turn into a comment on one's intelligence and/or character?

[peace frog]

7. And to think I sent him money

when he was running well behind Macaca Boy for the US Senate, and I'm a Floridian!
Live and learn - that's the last dime Webb will get from me.

[CreekDog]

13. Yes, let's just give up on the guy

He's been going toe to toe all along, reliably and then on this issue, he absolutely thinks he's doing the right thing.

I don't happen to agree, but unlike all of you, I'm not going to suddenly think getting him elected was not worth it. After all, with Webb, you have in less than a year, so much that he's gone to the mat on. With Allen, what would you have had on ANY issue? A big fat nothing.

The level of intelligence is so low on this thread it's ridiculous.

Most of you cannot think about more than one thing at a time.

So, you go off the deep end. Suddenly, he's stupid, he's got no character, he's got no courage, even though that doesn't square with the rest of what's he's done.

Never for a moment do you consider that he voted for the FISA law in accord with his conscience and his strong intellect and that he inteligently thought he was doing the right thing.

You are so black and white that you cannot grant him that he is anything good because of this vote.

My friends, it is this inability to see someone do something you disagree with and still see that person as intelligent and of good character that is the biggest indication of your own lack of intelligence and character.

Yup. You wanted to have fun and get mad, but then you didn't play fair. So your argument doesn't impugn his character, but instead your own and betrays the rules that you are foisting on everyone else.

"Thou shalt not disagree with me or else one is stupid or a coward or both."

Grow up.

[peace frog]

16. "So you go off the deep end" ???

:rofl:

Completely unworthy of a response - but thanks heaps for the laffs, creekie.

[CreekDog]

18. I called out the unfair criticisms of Webb

This could have been a thread criticized his votes on anything, but that's not what happened.

He was called stupid and lacking in character/courage, totally ignoring the entirety of his record.

That was absolutely unfair and to wit, innacurate.

And someone who engages in that (if nothing else is known about them) is not someone who has credibility to impugn the hard won character and intelligence of a good man.

I think what some here did was pretty low.

[peace frog]

20. Take three deep breaths

and calm yourself, creek. You're all in a lather over nothing.

[CreekDog]

19. No, you went off the deep end

One vote and suddenly, all your effort was wasted and you will never, ever support him ever again.

You went off the deep end.

I just pointed out what you and others are doing and how myopic you are being in doing so.

[peace frog]

22. See my post #20

Repeat as needed.

[CreekDog]

24. Be consistent

So, people get into a lather knocking Jim Webb

But I get into a lather pointing out that they are being unfair in their criticisms by ignoring all other issues and thus my lather isn't justified?

[peace frog]

28. Lather, rinse, repeat

:rofl:

[CreekDog]

29. Huh?

Knucklehead.

[peace frog]

30. "Give us a kiss."

:pals:

[polichick]

10. Jim Webb seemed like a tough guy...

...who could stand up to Bush ~ and maybe even punch his lights out. Who knew!?!

[CreekDog]

15. and he still is a tough guy who stands up to Bush

I hate this crap.

One vote and suddenly the guy is Satan's ambassador in the US Senate.

Based on what I know of Webb, instead of thinking he's an idiot, I would give what he voted for a second look, because there is not a damn thing he has done as senator that would lead you to believe he doesn't do what his capable mind and listened to conscience thinks is right.

And I would like to see a contest between the people here that have assailed Webbb's character and intelligence. The contest shall be between those people and Jim Webb and the test will pit the their intelligence and character against his. Who will win that contest?

[polichick]

21. We have a right to be disappointed in Webb...

...he let us down big time. Don't take it personally ~ unless you're Jim, of course. :)

[Pyrzqxgl]

27. You've got to realize how important this vote was.

Time after time these Republican creeps have taken our Bill of Rights and run it thru a shredder and when one of our own
goes along with their fascist credos it gets a little alarming. Webb isn't in my state but if I were a Democrat in
Virginia I'd sure write him a letter if I disagreed on a big one like this, I don't care how many times I agreed with
him. We've got to keep in touch with the people we elect on the issues we care about & let them know when we're pissed
off at them. You don't need to threaten them, just a simple "Hey Mr. Webb you done me & the people wrong on this one"
would suffice.

[MasonJar]

14. Let them know how you feel, especially your reps and Reid and Pelosi.

This legislation must be reversed...the sooner the better. Pelosi will get on it immediately. She needs our support and our calls to our reps,,,now and often.

[peace frog]

17. Agreed

and doing just that. :thumbsup:

[jn2375]

23. what a sucker, I thought he had more intelligence than that

[CreekDog]

25. Webb is not a sucker and is intelligent

He simply didn't vote the way you wanted him to on this issue.

Does everybody who votes differently than you do lack your intelligence and get conned?

[ProfessorPlum]

31. Here is the basic problem with what he did

Not only with his vote, but with his explanation of his vote, he shows us that he buys the basic Cheney storyline that if we give up all of our liberties and put ourselves entirely within Bush and Gonzales unchecked control, we will be safer.

And that is a stupid storyline to accept as true. It's not true. And Webb either knows it but is in favor of concentrated executive power, or doesn't know it and is an idiot who hasn't been watching the news for the last 8 years. Because if he thinks that giving ALBERTO GONZALES the power to spy on every journalist and Democrat won't be abused, he is truly weak-minded. Not to mention the fact that Bush had vast, nearly unchecked power to "protect" us BEFORE 9/11, and somehow (surprise surprise) failed to do so.

[TwilightGardener]

26. I trust Jim Webb--I believe he did what he thinks is best.

I can't see a reason to question his intelligence.