Va. Republican George Allen facing tough fight for his Senate seat

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Fri, Jun. 16, 2006
Va. Republican George Allen facing tough fight for his Senate seat
By Steven Thomma
Knight Ridder Newspapers

ARLINGTON, Va. - Sen. George Allen of Virginia might be getting a little ahead of himself.

He traveled to Iowa this weekend to headline a state Republican event, part of his early jockeying for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination. But before he can set his sights on the White House, he must hold onto his seat in the Senate.

At this early stage, Allen is favored to win a second term. But analysts say the state has moved away from Allen toward the political center. And Democrats think they've found the right candidate to take on Allen.

This week they nominated Republican-turned-Democrat James Webb, a secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, a man who loathed Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, questions affirmative action and supports gun rights, and endorsed both George W. Bush and Allen in 2000.
(snip/...)

http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/news/nation/14836742.htm

[w4rma]

1. think/believe. Why did the editor choose "think" instead of "believe"?(nt)

[rodeodance]

2. nice to see this.

[searchingforlight]

3. Allen - Santorum - defeated! Hummm. That would be sweet!

[Secret Agent]

4. If you like Joe Lieberman, you're gonna love James Webb.

[Vogon_Glory]

5. Webb May Not Be Perfect, BUT

James Webb may not be the ideal progressive candidate, but replacing a lockstep right-wing Republican with someone who will walk with progressives at least once in a while is an improvement over the status quo.

Besides, if Webb wins his race, as far as the hard-right GOPsters will be concerned, once he's tainted with "Democrat," they'll NEVER accept him back in to the inner circle of the GOP. Just think of the fates of those selfless Republicans (Excluding that toe-sucking speech writer) who put their partisanship aside to serve in the Clinton administration.

[queenbdem87]

8. No....he IS an ideal progressive candidate

That article is a bunch of BS. Webb has progressive positions on every issue. He wants to repeal the tax cuts, get out of Iraq, he for gay rights, he is economically progressivel, and against outsourcing. come on guys....think!

[Vogon_Glory]

14. Thank You for the Correction

[mitchtv]

24. tell the truth-limited gay rights

better than nothing , but let's not get too enthusiastic. Progressive? in a limited sense(as compared to Allen)

[kaygore]

25. You are correct

I attended one of his debates against Miller. Also, Webb has been against the war in Iraq from day one.

Unlike Allen, Webb is bright, articulate, a decorated military man, and a person who worked his way up without having the advantage of a famous father as Allen and Bush have. If Allen's dad had not been the famous coach of the Washington Redskins, Allen would be wiping tables in a beer joint today. He's not the brightest bulb on the Christmas tree and was a mediocre governor at best.

[Secret Agent]

13. I agree.

[reprobate]

17. Now let's go easy on toe-suckers. Democrats have a big tent. all welcome.

[Vogon_Glory]

21. Only On The Toe-Suckers That Don't Publish Hatchet Jobs Afterwards

I'm willing to go easy only on those toe-suckers who don't go off and publish hatchet jobs on their former bosses with Regnery and other right-wing publishing outfits. :mad:

Since I doubt that you'd do such a dastardly thing, you're quite safe.

:party:

[reprobate]

27. Ah, a meeting of the minds. We each have had our honor upheld.Thank you.

[skipos]

7. A lot of people in VA think Lieberman is too progressive

hence, they elected George Allen. You think they are going to go from someone like Allen to someone like Boxer or Feingold?

[queenbdem87]

9. I don't and I don't know any ppl in VA that do

[Secret Agent]

11. Actually, I was being facetious. I wish the best for Webb (and Lieberman).

[queenbdem87]

10. Bullshit

Webb is AGAINST the war in Iraq and always has been! He is much more progressive than Lieberman.

[Secret Agent]

12. Easy now, I am not opposed to Webb, I am in favor of a "big tent".

[queenbdem87]

6. Webb does not question affirmative action....

Just because he didn't say it should specifically go to African American's alone. That bullshit was Miller propaganda!

[rogue emissary]

19. From Webb's WSJ article in 05/22/00

" Affirmative action, which originally sought to repair the state-induced damage to blacks from slavery and its aftermath, has within one generation brought about a permeating state-sponsored racism that is as odious as the Jim Crow laws it sought to countermand." - Webb

Miller didn't make him write that paragraph. Quite a few DU'er found stuff like this on his writing's site way before Miller brought it up.

[LibDemAlways]

15. Will Webb be willing to stoop to the repuke's level

in order to win this thing? When the mud starts flying, is he going to try and stay above the fray? Is that a winning strategy? I ask because when The New Republic piece came out last month exposing Allen for the racist asshole he's been for decades, Webb's official comment was that the article hit "below the belt."

The repukes want to keep this seat badly. They will pull out all the stops with money and organization. Unless Webb is prepared to fight fire with fire - and that includes going after Allen on the character issue and making him own up to and own his past - he won't win.

I'm quite confident the repukes are already busily conducting "opposition research" on Webb. Allen is a big, ripe target with lots of no-longer-secret skeletons rattling around in his closet. If Webb doesn't rip the white sheets off the guy, it will be a hell of a missed opportunity.

[Toots]

16. a man who loathed Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton

Yes this is the guy we need....Filled with hatred for truly good people...:shrug:

[queenbdem87]

18. He is not a republican anymore

it doesnt matter what he said or endorsed before when he WAS a republican. He came around and had an epiphany, saw what was wrong with the rethugs, and came to the democrats. He said the republican party was all wrong and thats why he decided to switch.

[Faygo Kid]

23. If you like George W. Bush, you will love George Allen

Riding the coattails of his famous father, wealthy and privileged, dumb as a brick, plays himself as a "compassionate conservative," but really extreme right wing - why hasn't Karl Rove latched on to this guy for 2008?

[Catchawave]

28. He was never a "Republican"....

From his website: http://www.webbforsenate.com/

His first appeal was to people like himself. "It's time to welcome home those Democrats who left for a time, the Reagan Democrats, the conservative Democrats, whatever labels we give them," Webb said. "It's time to welcome them home."

[leesa]

20. Sounds like a bright bulb. If they elected Allan though, maybe that's

the best they can hope for right now. Perhaps he has learned how to think outside the box a little bit? Neither Clinton nor Carter were angels, but 'loathing them' simply implies GOP mindless reaction, since they were far superior to the criminals Reagan and Bush's I/II.

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[drduffy]

26. Webb sounds like another

Lieberman type troll. Republican 'Lite' at the very best. Is this better than a rabid repuke that you at least know is a repuke? Damned if I know.