More George Allen Stupidity

[beachmom]

Hi, first post in the Virginia forum. I'm in Hampton Roads and would LOVE to get a new Senator to replace this sorry excuse for one:

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=102558&ran=222029

Allen's letter touting general stirs up religion, politics
By DALE EISMAN, The Virginian-Pilot
© April 5, 2006


WASHINGTON - His career apparently stalled after superiors chided him for casting the war on terrorism in religious terms , Army Lt. Gen. William G. "Jerry" Boykin on Tuesday was caught up in a campaign for the U.S. Senate and a budding contest for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination.

A letter from U.S. Sen. George Allen, R-Va., urging Boykin's promotion and transfer to a high-profile assignment drew howls of outrage from a potential Democratic challenger to Allen.

Boykin's past comments about Muslims "are inappropriate and reckless, and George Allen knows it," said Harris Miller, one of two Democrats vying for their party's nomination to oppose Allen's re-election.

Excellent response, Mr. Miller. I suppose that the other Senator from Virginia will support Allen against pesky liberals like Miller.

Allen's fellow Virginia senator, Republican John Warner, issued a statement saying "this officer would not be among those whom I would recommend for this position." Warner chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee, which would review Boykin's nomination and the promotion to four-star rank that goes with it.

And what of lefty blogosphere darling James Webb? I'm sure he has a fantastic smackdown against this latest idiocy.

Though he declined to join Miller in attacking Allen's decision to send the letter, another Democrat seeking the Senate seat said such direct involvement by a senator in a pending promotion "is a little unusual."

James Webb, a former secretary of the Navy, said letters like Allen's are "not unprecedented" but also "are not the usual province of the Congress."

Oh.

[swimboy]

1. It is always worth paying close attention when

our two Virginia senators disagree on something.

[rogue emissary]

2. This is the second time Webb has pulled his punches.

When the DCCC did a great job of making a news story out of Allen's boredom. Webb waited two days to make a statement about the article. Since he waited so long only one or two papers even covered it. While Miller was quoted in just about every paper and broadcast.

As much as I'm not a fan of Miller. He has the common sense to jump on any chance to get his name in the paper and criticize Allen. I'm still anyone but Allen, but Webb is making it real difficult to vote for him in the primaries.

[TheVirginian]

3. I actually disagree

Webb is making himself look more stately, more smart. If Miller continues at this pace, it won't be long until every quote by Miller in the papers will be met with rolling eyes.

Honestly, his "criticisms" are flat, predictable, and over-the-top. Even when he has legitimate material to work with, he always seems to take it to a ridiculous level. Does it get him in the papers? Yes. But it doesn't help his credibility at all; in fact, it damages it.

Its especially hollow when you consider that, less than SIX MONTHS ago, Harris Miller sent Senator Allen a letter thanking him for his leadership. (Link: http://www.itaa.org/isec/spywareallen111805.pdf ) That quick of a turn-around, from a supporter to Allen's most fervent critic, smacks of opportunism and insincerity, and I don't think it will resonate with voters in a state where Allen enjoys 69% favorability. (Link: http://www.rasmussenreports.com/2006/State%20Polls/March%202006/Virginia%20Senate%20March.htm )

[Catchawave]

4. When Webb was on the Colbert Report,

He wouldn't even say anything negative about Miller. He is such a gentleman.

[TheVirginian]

5. Exactly.

Even if Webb does attack Miller--with as much as Miller has been attacking Webb its bound to happen--it will be defensive and reasonable, not outlandish and slanderous like Miller's negative blitz has been. While obviously Miller is a Democrat and therefore a favorable choice to replace Allen, he seems to be cut from the same cloth of politician as many other spin artists, from both sides of the aisle.

James Webb is not a politician, and this, his greatest weakness, may be his greatest strength, against Miller in the primaries and against Allen in the general. Miller, in my opinion, is just embarassing himself. Its almost as if he's running a Kilgore-esque campaign of non-stop negativity.

[beachmom]

11. Guess it's in the eye of the beholder

I saw somebody not quite ready for prime time, giggling like a school girl at all of Colbert's jokes.

Look, I know there's a lot of buzz on the LW blogosphere about Webb. But that's not how primaries are won. They're won with GOTV efforts (like how Leslie Byrne won last year's lt. gov. primary largely from union votes), since the primaries have such a low voter turnout rate. Although I will commend your enthusiasm for your candidate, you're talking to one Virginian Democratic voter who has not been impressed by Webb.

At least in my paper, there has been very little coverage of this primary, which is why I posted this one of a few lonely articles that even mentioned either Democratic candidates. We'll see how the two candidates do in, say, May, when the primary is closer at hand.

[rogue emissary]

6. Stately doesn't usually win primaries races.

Miller might be getting predictable and that'll be up to the voters to decide. At least he's getting his name out there and he's trying to set up an alternative to Allen. How does Webb's line of "if you like Bush you'll love Allen" help him when Virginia is one of the few states were Bush still gets barely decent poll numbers?

It appears other than Webb's war stance, he says very little publicly. The above article is a perfect example of him not really taking a public stance. Even Warner had the guts to say it was wrong and he's a Republican. Stating that something is wrong or how you would do something differently isn't necessarily criticizing.

When the Allen boredom story came out. WJLA not only had no comment from Webb, but they said they couldn't reach his publicist. Now I can agree that going negative or only criticizing can hurt a candidate. Web just comes off as having nothing to say or doesn't want to bother with taking a position.

Both men have the same problem of supporting Allen in the past. Saying Miller is the only hypocrite is a little dishonest.

[JohnKleeb]

7. very true

I'll be supporting and voting for whoever the nominee is here but its unfair to tar Mr. Miller with the label of Allen supporter for this information act since Webb actually did endorse Allen in 200. Senator Warner had the same past position that Mr. Webb did, Warner a few years before becoming Virginia's senator had been Nixon's secretary of the Navy. Miller I think is doing this so he can get press coverage. Webb has had the total advantage with this so far, he's been on Stephen Colbert and I believe was on one of the cable news channel shows. We should be happy also that we even have candidates in the first place. I mean John Warner doesn't tick me off nearly as much as George Allen but I wish the party would have ran at least someone after he nearly got beat in 1996 yes I know the man who nearly beat him was in the governors chair then but it still would have been nice if someone had run.

[TheVirginian]

8. I guess we'll find out in June.

Every race is its own. I wasn't making a prediction on the primaries as much as I was stating my own opinion. To me, Miller gets less respectible every time he opens his mouth. The fact that Webb doesn't chase every story that comes out means that, when he does say something, its significant. Now I'm not saying that Webb's the perfect candidate; I'm just comparing his public tact versus Miller's.

Nor was I calling Miller the only hypocrite, or a hypocrite in general. I don't think its hypocritical to change one's opinions. But Webb's transition was far more gradual, and far more believable. The Iraq War was a very divisive war in terms of public opinion. In the course of six months, though, Harris Miller has gone from thanking Senator Allen for his leadership to being his loudest critic, saying that he can't remember an instance of leadership. It just smacks of insincerity and opportunism. To me, Miller is running a campaign-by-numbers. Webb is simply being himself.

[abluelady]

9. I find it very telling

when a candidate is campaigning by badmouthing his opponents as opposed to talking about himself/herself. Let's fact it if you have nothing to sell and you have to say something, go negative.

I was amazed how many people voted I met when working for Tim Kaine who only voted for him because they felt Kilgore's ads were so negative. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone felt that way!

[beachmom]

10. Nice rationalization, but it falls short

I'm from a very red area, and I can tell you it is John Warner who is thought of as a statesman. And he was quite clear that Allen's idea was a bad one. Webb wouldn't even say that, which tells me that his lack of backbone on this issue is just the tip of the iceberg. What would happen if he were a Senator? Would he also let a lot of what the Christian right does pass with a non-response like this? Will he end up enabling the * administration issue by issue? Based on his past, there is no guarantee that he won't become a turncoat the minute he walks in the Senate chamber.

Sigh. Like JohnKleeb, I will vote for Miller in the primary, but if it's Webb in the general, I suppose I will hold my nose and vote for Webb. But make no mistake about it, if Webb wins, the general will simply be a Republican vs. yet another Republican, not much of a choice at all. And I want other Virginians to know that Webb is being touted by a few in the lefty blogosphere, with many of us who have remained silent not going along for the ride.

[TheVirginian]

12. I think you mistake my criticism of Miller...

as full support of Webb. Believe me, I have my fair share of concerns about Webb as well. Just as the campaigning goes, I find myself more and more impressed with James Webb and less and less impressed with Harris Miller. While Miller would probably be a more reliable Democrat in Congress, James Webb (in my opinion) is undeniably the better man.

[JohnKleeb]

13. Not only does Warner think it was a bad idea

He had the same job Mr. Webb did back in the early 70's. I'll for sure vote for Webb if he wins the primaries but I feel more comfortable with Mr. Miller. I admit and please no one flame me here but Webb's characterization of the Vietnam era war protesters upset me personally because my father was one of them and I've protested Iraq a few times myself. Mr. Webb's possible position on affirmative action is also upsetting and I hear he's against gun control too. I admit like everyone I have a bias but I feel much more comfortable with Mr. Miller and my own state senator, Janet Howell has endorsed him so that gives me a slight bias to Mr. Miller since she's been my state senator for a while and I trust her judgement. I'll vote for the nominee though but I just don't share the netroots feelings on Mr. Webb. I also think Mr. Miller is doing these attacks on Mr. Webb and Mr. Allen to get himself some press. Mr. Webb has gotten a huge advantage with the press even though he wasn't the first person to declare himself for this race. Either way let's all agree on this either of these two guys would make a better senator than Allen.

[abluelady]

14. Have You Met Either Candidate

I recently met Webb and was very impresseed. I believe there should be no guns allowed anywhere but not many agree with me. I also realize there will never be a candidate in VA liberal enough for me, so I make do. Jim's position, if you listen to him probably would not upset you on affirmative action. He is definitely a believer for the underdog. I also protested Vietnam and would do so again, but still prefer Jim. I find it hard supporting the Dem that the "party" supports. The Dem party nowadays definitely doesn't represent me, especially here in VA. And I will vote for Miller if he wins the primary but I don't think he can defeat Allen and I think Webb could.

[JohnKleeb]

15. No I havent met either

I don't feel comfortable with the man is all and to be honest I am not in love with Miller either but I see him being more preferable to me at least. To each their own I guess. I am gonna try to have an open mind on this.