Webb wins Virginia Primary

[Catchawave]

Weeeeehoooooo!!!!

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060614/ap_on_el_ge/primary_races;_ylt=AqOyEhvbjaVgKev2uCBgoACyFz4D;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--

RICHMOND, Va. - James Webb, a former Reagan administration Navy secretary who left the Republican Party over the Iraq war, won the Democratic nomination Tuesday to take on GOP Sen. George Allen (news, bio, voting record) in the fall.

cont'd at link....:bounce: :patriot: :toast:

[OldLeftieLawyer]

1. Finally!

I voted for a winner....................

:::: sigh ::::

[thereismore]

2. He can do it. He can take down Allen. nt

[Adelante]

3. YAY!!

:toast:

Good work, Catchawave.

[saltpoint]

4. Okeydoke. Now let's get rid of Cement-Head Allen.

[MADem]

14. Wooden head, more like--he's HOWDY DOODY!!!!!

[spooky3]

15. haha, that's great!

[987654321]

37. Awesome like a possum!

[Pierre.Suave]

60. Hey,

that is the republican uniform.

Rep. Mark Kennedy Mn 6th

http://imageshack.us>

http://imageshack.us>



I am not even kiddding when I say that he wore that so much, the campaign workers, of which I was one, for Patty Wetterling (congressional campaign for MN 6th in 2004) wore a similar outfit for halloween and went "as" mark kennedy.

I should add that when this guy would see us at parades, for example, he would grab his wife and kids and go to the other side of the street. Rep. Kennedy (R-MN6th) also makes an appearance in Fahrenheit 9/11, when Michael Moore asks him if his son is signed up for the army, Mister republican gives Micheal Moore one evil look, and then walks off.

[MADem]

64. Indeed. who could forget...LAMAR!!!!!....in the run up to the 00 contest!

[FrenchieCat]

5. Very good!

Now, let's get ready to rumble and kick Allen's Ass....cause that's what I want to see. If anyone can do it with his hands tied behind his back, it's Webb.

What is the GOP gonna say bout him?

He used to be a republican?

Nope, cause that won't work in the General Election. Hahahahahahahahah :rofl:

[NCarolinawoman]

6. Really really happy about this!!!!!

Do you think some Republicans in the military crossed over and supported him?

:) :patriot:

[MADem]

66. Some??? How about ALL!!!!

I can IMAGINE the environment in the Pentagon and surrounding bases nowadays, never mind the major medical facilities. It was HORRIBLE well BEFORE the war, with the place crawling with idiot political appointee know-nothings, it's gotta be like doing twelve to fourteen hour shifts in Gitmo now. The only joy those folks have is that they get to fight the Beltway home, get a meal, and sleep in their own beds, only to get up and do it again.

Those guys and gals have SEEN Jack Murtha in the passageways. They know who he calls in on, they know which Flags/Generals order the car to go up to the Hill to see him.

Think about it--who would you vote for were you in uniform? The bastard who will send even MORE of your assets abroad to be maimed and killed, while expecting you to carry on without cash or personnel? The one who will send YOUR ass too, even if you are a funky paperpusher, when the limits get stretched to breaking? The guy who is raping your installation operating budget? Or the guy who's gonna bring your assets home, hopefully before too many of them buy the farm?

Webb has been there, done that, so he's more credible. I'd not be surprised if the military vote, along with the disaffected and displaced IT worker vote, did it for him.

[Catchawave]

7. Thank you Jk and Wes supporters!

:hi: :patriot: :toast:

[Tom Rinaldo]

11. Thank you right back Catchawave, we were all together on this one

Just like we were in 2004 after the Democrats nominated Kerry/Edwards. Just like I know we will be in 2008 after the Primaries are finally over. It's time for all Democrats to unite behind Webb now. We want to take Allan Down!

[saltpoint]

16. Yes. Allen must go.

[fedupinBushcountry]

21. You'll be happy to know

I ended up voting for Webb. Kerry and his classiness made me take one more final look. :-)

Hey and Virginia Beach helped in the win in this district, Webb won the district by 47 votes, whew.

:hi: :patriot: :toast:

Now lets take barfbag out in November.

[SCRUBDASHRUB]

78. Voted for Webb also. Unfortunately, he didn't win in Richmond, but

what matters is he won the primary. Now, in November let's kick that doofus Allen out of the Senate.

[CarolNYC]

35. I know this was a big one for you, Catch...

I'm not in VA but I know there were a lot of Clarkies there on the ground working it...

What a great victory!

No rest for the weary though...You've got to get ready for the real tough fight coming up. Good luck!

[Eurobabe]

8. Excellent news!

Yippee! Now, beat the douche bag -- Allen.

[Stinky The Clown]

9. I'm pleased about this

[LibDemAlways]

10. Webb better be prepared for

a vicious campaign. The repukes will pull out all the stops to win this one. And he'd be well advised to familiarize himself with Allen's ugly past and not be afraid to hammer him with it and make him own it.

The reichwing will vote for the racist asshole no matter what. Webb's job is to make sure the moderate/conservative DLC type Dems and the independents know what a shit Allen is as a person along with his sorry rubber-stamp voting record.

[oc2002]

40. Although I despise the DLC moderate dems, its still better than Allen.

I hope Webb will move somewhat to the left, there are many in Virginia that have not much of a choice, but at least we got rid of Harris wanabee Leiberman Pro-War-candidate today.

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

51. GOP Defectors don't have to be DLC'ers

The best news about GOP defectors is how many there have been in the last year.

BushCo has taken the Republican party away from many of its traditions and the honorable, moderate or even some of the true conservatives won't have it. Guys like Webb are leaving because of principles, not convenience.

Remember the old cry of defecting Democrats, "I didn't leave the party, the party left me."

This is now hitting the GOP.

[struggle4progress]

71. Unlikely that a Reaganite will "move to the left." If Webb wins ..

.. the DLC will use his win to try to move the Democrats further to the right, spouting some crap about "centrists like Ronald Reagan."

[MADem]

67. They'll have a bitch of a time, though!!!

In order to trash his credentials, they have to trash Ronnie Reagan. It's a FINE line, there!

Webb is a tough sumbitch. The only thing he will have to watch is his tendency to talk a little TOO straight. Now that he's won, I imagine the DNC is going to help him with that 'campaign shaping' business. He needs to count to five, at least, when he gets really pissed off...but he's no dummy, he can learn!

[MADem]

12. Boy, does this SCREW ALLEN!!!!

No summer and harvest trips to Iowa, no strolling the streets of New Hampshire, no fiddlefarting about in Ohio!!! That early start he wanted to get on his Pretzeldunce campaign is gonna have to be pushed to the back burner! And all that MONEY he had, it's gotta go to trying to hang on to his seat.

I felt quite strongly that a lot of people who had previously voted GOP in general elections would turn out for Webb. Because of the goofy primary system in VA, where anyone, regardless of party, can vote in a primary, the GOP effort to get out the vote for MILLER (to ensure an Allen win) backfired. Many GOP likely voted for Webb as a protest against Allen, and recognizing that they could live with either, seeing as Webb has the better perspective, from their POV, on military issues.

And he's right about the war, and has been right all along. It isn't a "business problem" as Miller said, it's a colossal fucking mistake.

[Clark2008]

58. Why is it goofy?

Most of the South is like that, which is why there are so many people changing parties undocumented.

I like that I can vote in the Republican primary, pick the creep who has no chance and then vote Democratic in the general election. :evilgrin:

(I'm in Tennessee).

[MADem]

63. Because the party with an incumbent often has incentive to vote for

the LOUSIEST challenger, just to skate their guy back in. That makes for lousy governance, IMO. You get to choose between Stinky and Stinkier, more often than not. Rarely does it work out where a 'triangulation' candidate can bridge the divide, and the stronger challenger emerges victorious--this particular VA race is unusual in that regard.

I'm of the mind that each party should choose their own candidates, without any "help" from the opposition, as a rule. However, I am the first to acknowledge that this backassward system benefitted Webb this time--the GOP 'faithful' who are also military or former military aren't happy with Allen, his head is too far up the Monkey's ass. They bothered to get off their asses and go vote for him, and that helped him tremendously. Turnout for the primary, I understand, was rather dismal. Here's hoping he gets a boatload of votes in the general.

[Penndems]

13. That's my candidate! :)

Congratulations to the next Senator from Virginia!

On to victory in November . . .:) :patriot:

[Sparkly]

17. Hurray, Virginia!!!

:bounce:

[fairfaxvadem]

18. couple of thoughts...

The "establishment" Dems in Northern VA need to wake up. The region went solidly for Webb. Surprised that the naval area in southern VA did not, but this was a media campaign and Miller put a lot of money in those areas of Virginia, and relied on his local familiarity here in Norther Virginia, which turned out to be his undoing. Hopefully, the good folks in Chesapeake and the other regions will get a better picture of Webb going forward. I think he has been sorely misrepresented.

Webb was/is a Democrat, he went one way in the '80s along with many other Dems. The Dem Party needs to acknowledge the loss of a lot of supporters during that time. And move on. And make room for them when they come back looking for a political home.

Webb, as far as I can tell, is far more liberal than even Harris Miller. He's not just anti-Iraq War, he is pro-choice, pro-civil unions, pro-American jobs, etc. Bob Casey, in Pennsylvania, is anti-choice, and yet, we're backing him 100% against Santorum. Webb should get no less from us against Allen.

Let the games begin.....

[sandnsea]

19. He'll get 100% support

The DSCC backed him in the primaries as it is. Why would you think he wouldn't get 100% support??

[fairfaxvadem]

23. Mostly, I'm speaking about the "home team" in Virginia.

Not the national party. I don't know if you are in Virginia, but for us here in Fairfax, there have been some very tense moments among fellow Dems and this primary, particularly with our local Dem leadership, including elected officials.

Also, as far as I know, after the 2004 election, George Allen hired John Thune's campaign manager. A Rove protege.

This is going to get really, really ugly.

[sandnsea]

25. Most will come around

Some won't and I understand that considering Webb's Republican background, but I think most will recognize that if there's a chance to take back the Senate, they should get behind it.

[fairfaxvadem]

28. Well, let's just say that...

Any "Republicanism" coming from Webb won't be anything like what George Allen and George Bush are dishing out.

I know that there will never be a Dem in Virginia as liberal as I am who can win in this state. Given that, I took my chances on Jim Webb over Harris Miller. It was part "instinct to win this race" and in part, after meeting them both in person.

The strange thing is, I know very, very few "Miller" supporters among the rank and file Dems active in the local party, at least, here in my neck of the woods in Fairfax County. I had my precinct covered all day today outside the polls, and of the five of us, only one was for Miller. And at a local fundraiser two weeks ago, the support for Webb was overwhelming. It's been a very interesting experience, to say the least.

[sandnsea]

30. I agree with that

But when he wins, and then sides with Salazar and Pryor on some such or other, I will just punch the first person who calls him a DINO, I swear to god. Elected officials can only do so much in moving a voting constituency off their basic world view. It looks like to me that has to happen at the local level, neighbor to neighbor.

[Hippo_Tron]

20. Even if Webb is just a Dem to be an opportunist

I'll take an opportunist over George Allen any day.

[phylla]

22. Just returned from a victory party-Webb IS the real thing

You are going to love the man!
I supported him at first because Wes Clark and Leslie Burne endorsed him-
I have worked like crazy for him and have been around him quite a bit.
He has my respect. He is an amazing man and will become an equally wonderful Senator.
MY MAN WON!!!!
YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAyyyyyyyy!!!!!

[Stinky The Clown]

24. I have a question about a personal aspect of Webb ......

I just watched his victory speech on the local newz. Is his wife Vietnamese? There was an Asian woman at his side who appeared to me to be a) his wife and b) Vietnamese. Was that his wife?

[fedupinBushcountry]

29. Yes and yes n/t

[Stinky The Clown]

31. Danke!

[magnolia]

41. Yes...

[MADem]

68. He's not, though, Remember, we are the Big Tent

He's definitely more conservative than some Democrats, but he's got the basics down. The old "least of the brethren" aspect; help the poor, sick, needy, elderly. Check his website; he's where most of us are on the crucial items. He probably is close to Murtha on most issues, and he's no screaming liberal, and we like him just fine.

If anything, Webb went GOP for craven opportunity--he was a Dem first, before the Reagan era. He switched parties probably to curry favor with the boss. Now he's home, and we need to welcome the prodigal son, slay the fatted calf, and throw him a victory party!

[Hippo_Tron]

74. I'm just saying that DU probably won't like his senate voting record

Hell I might not, either. That said, at the very least he's 1000 times better than George Allen.

[oc2002]

42. Harris was dispicable. I know I got many mailed items from his campaign.

Harris was the true DLC choice in that race, not Webb.

Harris and the DLC must of outspent Webb by 3 to 1, Harris tried to muscle his way in with dirty tricks and a dirty smear campaign with millions from his billionare contacts and special interests.

[Major Hogwash]

26. You're kidding me!!

OMG! I can't believe it.

Maybe people are finally beginning to wake up!

Woo-hoo!

[tom22]

27. Jim Webb is a good man. Read his books.

[wyldwolf]

47. I'd love to. Can you recommend your favorite?

[DinahMoeHum]

53. You can refer to his own website (not his campaign one) for books

http://www.jameswebb.com/
(scroll halfway down, and the books are on your left)

My personal favorites are: A Sense of Honor, A Country Such as This, and Something to Die For.

In short, James Webb is the real thing - Tom Clancy is just a phony-baloney "paperback fighter"


:kick:

[DinahMoeHum]

32. IMHO, he has a better-than-even chance of beating Allen

because his campaign advisors are Steve Jarding and Dave "Mudcat" Saunders, the folks who advised Mark Warner on his gubernatorial campaign.

www.foxesinthehenhouse.com

www.webbforsenate.org


:kick::kick::kick:

[CarolNYC]

33. Yay!

Congrats Virginia...You done gone!

Now let's do it again in November! :)

[Burma Jones]

34. As a neighbor in Maryland, and former Virginian

I am very happy with this outcome. Webb can beat Allen. I mean, we're getting kinda sick and tired of idiots with a drawl........

By idiot, of course, I mean Allen and the Chimp, not Miller......

[Taliesihne]

36. A wolf in sheeps clothing

Is still a wolf.

He's a republican with a D after his name. I refuse to accept that democrats have to all become conservatives to win the general election. The man campaigned for Bush ffs - and he's rewarded with the Democratic party nomination? :puke:

That said, I despise Allen and will vote for Webb in the fall. I just have zero faith that he'll represent any form of liberal ideology.

It's a bittersweet victory imo. Don't skewer me too badly for putting this up, as I stated, I will support him in the fall, but only with my vote. A shame really - I was looking forward to volunteering.

[oc2002]

43. Harris was better? I think not.

Webb may not be a liberal, but he was against the war in Iraq and he is against the corporate exportation our jobs, which Harris supports and worked for.


In my book, Webb is right in the middle, not the left or right.

[Taliesihne]

45. Re:

The 'middle' right now is right of center. I'm more upset at the lack of choices for a liberal then anything. We got to choose between a corporate schil and a reformed hawk.

He's the right choice for Va, no doubt, just irks me personally.

[oc2002]

49. I agree, but at the moment its the about as left as Virginia is going

to go.

[struggle4progress]

72. "In the middle"? He spouted the rightwing line about Kerry in 04:

completely misrepresented Kerry's testimony re Vietnam &c.

Webb is a rightwing Reaganite. He may be less of a rightwing hack that the fellow in office now, but he will represent only a small improvement.

[FrenchieCat]

76. Well Kerry endorsed him....so if Webb is good enough for Kerry.....

he's good enough!

PS. Plus Webb voted for Kerry in 2004......so far as I'm concerned, he's strategically the best that Virginia and Democrats who want to see a majority in November could have done!

[wyldwolf]

44. I agree with PART of what you are saying

Webb is the mythical "Reagan Democrat" who has come home. Thus, he is NOT the grassroots progressive the netroots is making him out to be. He was recruited by Wes Clark and endorsed early by the DLC. That being said, I like the guy!

[Taliesihne]

46. Re:

Guess I'm hoping for too much to see a progressive candidate.

[Tom Rinaldo]

65. I don't think there was one available in Virginia who could beat Allan

Allan is a Virginia fixture, bad as we all know that he is. Warner could have beat him, but Warner chose to run for President instead, and Warner isn't exactly a full blown Progressive either, though he clearly has taken a number of progressive positions. But I prefer Webb on Iraq over Warner, for what it's worth. I think Webb isn't easily intimidated by anyone, and we really need more Senators with backbone. I am sure Frist will be a very unhappy camper having to deal with Webb in the Senate, and if Webb puts us in the majority Frist will need to check himself into the family hospital for depression.

[w4rma]

48. I like Webb, also. His positions on my two most important issues

are exactly the same as mine.

[987654321]

38. Yes!

George Allen is an ignorant waste of space who needs to be out of public office altogether. Whatever differences I have with Webb, being that I am a unapologetic liberal, he will be a million times better than Allen. It is already obvious that he cares more about his own personal convictions than loyalty to the republican party he once belonged to. That says a lot to me about how he would handle himself in the Senate.

[oc2002]

39. Thank God we got Webb in there for the fight in November,,Harris was horid

Harris had the money, and the "The Lobby" on his side, and would of been another Leiberman for the war in Iraq.


Webb was always against the war.

[oc2002]

50. The Cherry on top of this is that the Washington Post picked the wrong one

Again.

The WP endorsed Harris over Webb, mostly because I beleive the Washington Post is stinking with Neocons.

IN YOUR FACE WASHINGTON POST!

[MADem]

69. Well said! NT

[oc2002]

52. Allen will DUMP 7.5 MILLION DOLLARS TO STOP WEBB!

this is going to be the fight that the Democrats must put in all thier chips on the stack, and double down.

BECAUSE THE REPUBLICANS WILL SPEND WHATEVER IT TAKES TO WIN THIS FIGHT.

[wyldwolf]

54. Webb seems to have the support of a Democratic coalition

Wes Clark, John Kerry, the DLC, KOS, etc.

Mark Warner ans Tim Kaine will campaign for him. Some out of state bucks and he might have a chance.

[oc2002]

55. One thing is for certain, Allen is not laughing anymore..

I heard George Allen chuckle with glee when the Washington Post endorement of Harris, he was looking at a easy sail to his second term in office..

Allen is not laughing anymore..

[Adelante]

62. Mark Warner picked Harris for Virginia, didn't he?

Possibly that changed, but I thought he was at least neutral in the primary. But I have no doubt Warner will campaign well for Webb through November. Wes did great picking Webb, and Kerry, cheers to him, for working out his past issues with Webb and standing up. Good for the national Dems, the DSCC and DLC, too. It's also good to acknowledge the early support Webb took in pre-campaign from the grassroots on the ground in Virginia and the netroots, especially Raising Kaine and dKos. I see this race as emblematic of the kind of success we can have in all sorts of districts around the country, if we use common sense on local conditions, and if the different elements of the party work with each other, instead of against each other.

We've had so much strife, this outcome has lightened my heart a bit.

[spooky3]

77. Warner's photo was on Webb's mailers that I got--I think Warner did try

to be supportive of (or as you say, neutral toward) both candidates.

[Adelante]

80. Thanks, Spooky nt

[FrenchieCat]

79. Yep! Mark Warner wanted Harris.....and when he saw that

Webb might win, he went neutral on us! Now, what does that tell you about Warner? Weatherbane, anyone? :eyes:

btw, Warner and Harris have been friends for 20 years...yet Warner did a fundraiser in May for Webb, although he had done one for Harris earlier.

http://washingtontimes.com/metro/20060523-112231-8129r.htm
Mr. Warner said he will remain neutral in the Senate race. However, Mr. Warner's wife, Lisa Collis, donated $4,200 to Mr. Miller's campaign, and Mr. Warner's business partner, Nicholas Perrins, gave $2,100. Ellen Qualls, a spokeswoman for Mr. Warner, donated $250 to the Miller campaign.

[Tom Rinaldo]

81. It sounds like Warner did favor Harris, but...

...it's overall to Warner's credit I think that he signaled early that he could support Webb too. It wouldn't surprise me though if Harris sees it differently. He may have thought he could count on more loyalty from Warner than that.

Well, I really hope the Party pulls together in Virginia now to take on Allan. The netroots are solid! Warner stumping for Webb should help. I am sure that Clark will be spending some time in Virginia for Webb also. Kerry too I expect.

[Moloch]

57. We must

It looks like we are picking up two senate seats, defeating dewine and "man on dog" santorum.

I think the national democratic party should put most of its resources to defeating:

Allen (VA)
Burns (MT)
Chafee (RI)
Talent (MO)

If we do that successfully, we will have the senate.

[MADem]

70. And that's cash he, and the RNC, will NOT HAVE to run the shit for

Pretzeldunce. Instead of chomping corn in Iowa, and farting around in Manchester, NH, he's gonna have to CAMPAIGN. And SPEND. And TRAVEL around to backwaters in the SW of the state. And TALK. And when he talks, he can have a bad case of the mouthshits--we need to get him on tape.

The money they were planning to use in other races will have to be thrown into VA. Make them spend it ALL.....

[BonnieJW]

56. Voting yesterday

My husband and I voted yesterday at 5:30 PM. We were numbers 17 and 18; that's how many people voted in our precinct all day. Also, when we arrived, were given the choice of using the usual paper ballots or the NEW electronic touch screen machines. Why would they even bring those in when there is clear proof that they invite election fraud???? Who can I contact to voice my dismay?

[Orion The Hunter]

59. From neighboring MD...

allow me to say "Nice work VA in getting Webb in there". Now there is a real chance to knock Allen out of that seat. At the very least it'll slow his roll for a presidential bid since now Allen will have to trump in VA to prevent getting steamrolled by Webb.

And yes, it is nice to see the Washington Post blow it again by supporting Miller...what were those clowns thinking?!

[spooky3]

75. Contact Alice Whealin

[e-mail]

She is with verified virginia voting.

www.vavv.org

[Vidar]

61. Sounds good, though "politics does make strange bedfellows".

[paineinthearse]

73. Great news in Maine - Jean Hay Bright wins Dem primary for Senator

see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2679257&mesg_id=2679257