Webb Lays It On Line With Gates

[Bob Geiger]

Here's a nice follow-up to my article yesterday about Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) in the form of a piece of bluntness he gave to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates in the Senate Armed Services Committee on Friday.

Said Webb:

"I also want to say something about my longtime friend, Senator McCain's comments when he was talking about the consequences of pulling out of Iraq and in your statement, Secretary Gates, you list some of these as an emboldened and strengthened Iran, a base of operations for jihadist networks in the heart of the Middle East, an undermining of the credibility of the United States.

"In many ways, quite frankly, those have been the results of the invasion and occupation. There's really nothing that's occurred since the invasion and occupation that was not predictable and in fact, most of it was predicted.

"It was predicted in many cases by people with long backgrounds in national security...and in many cases there were people who saw their military careers destroyed and who were personally demeaned by people who opposed them on the issues, including members of this administration. And they are people in my judgment, who will be remembered in history as having had a moral conscience."

And, being a freshman Senator in his first full week in Congress, Webb is probably holding back a little right now. Just wait until he really gets comfortable on Capitol Hill.

[SaveOurDemocracy]

1. Integrity and courage in DC?

That's going to take some getting used to! :toast: BRAVO, Senator Webb! :yourock:

[peacebird]

2. a-hem (strutting and sticking my chest out with pride) THAT is my new Senator!

:bounce:

:party:

after far too many years of Macaca-boy, I *finally* have a Senator I can be proud of!!!

:dem:

[spooky3]

10. A fresh breeze has been blowing across Virginia since Nov.

It's a great thing to experience.

[Jackpine Radical]

18. A wonderful feeling, isn't it?

[Mnemosyne]

3. I made calls for him and am very glad I did. Thanks. Here's to quick comfort! n/t

[CrazyOrangeCat]

4. Rock on, Sen. Webb

:dem: :kick:

[Zambero]

5. Muchos huevos!

Bravo Senator!

[williesgirl]

6. That's my Senator too! I'm so proud of him and hopeful for VA in future. recommended

[babylonsister]

7. With his experience, he's going to be a great asset to the Dem party.

:applause:

[nodular]

8. true. his life story is almost unbelievable.

war hero in Vietnam. Secretary of the Navy. first class novelist. truly an amazing guy. You might like to check out some of his books sometime.

[Joe Bacon]

9. GO JIM GO!

If he is just warming up and holding back right now, wow, just wait till he swings into full gear. Seeing him on CSPAN is a treat!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[mzmolly]

11. I am SO impressed with Jim Webb.

"It was predicted in many cases by people with long backgrounds in national security...and in many cases there were people who saw their military careers destroyed and who were personally demeaned by people who opposed them on the issues, including members of this administration. And they are people in my judgment, who will be remembered in history as having had a moral conscience."

I wonder if someday the media will report on it's own incompetence?

[sendero]

12. I really like..

.... this Webb fellow. He tells it like it is in a way that so many of our vaunted long-term heros in the senate never had and never will have the courage and intelligence to say it.

A toast to the Freshmen, who may well teach the Seniors how its done!

[Just-plain-Kathy]

13. Feingold/Webb in '08

:patriot:

Never once let Bush get away with anything!

[Bucky]

29. I have some bad news for you about Feingold...

Nah, never mind. You'll find out on your own soon enough.

[Clarkie1]

14. Webb is absolutely correct! K & R!

[oasis]

15. Webb's the real deal. (eom)

[Supersedeas]

30. Looking good so far. K&R

[Eurobabe]

16. Say it again, Webb ROCKS the house! And the Senate!

He'll be my senator soon too. :D

[Auntie Bush]

17. "Just wait until he really gets comfortable on Capitol Hill."

Just wait till he gets comfortable in the WH in the future. Like after 8 years of Clark. The country will be ready and waiting for him! As you say...he's just getting started and taking a commanding position. He's a born/real leader!

[kentuck]

19. I like what I am seeing thus far...

from Senator Webb. He is showing a lot of courage and initiative.

[LibDemAlways]

20. That VA Senate race should not have even been close.

Former Navy Secretary under Reagan, Vietnam War vet vs Phony cowboy, racist from California.

Thank God in the end enough Virginians saw through the bullshit and freed up Allen's time so he can attend KKK meetings, collect big paychecks for lending his name to corporate boards, and maybe do a little deer hunting.

Webb will kick ass in the Senate.

[caledesi]

21. That Webb is one smart dude. I like him bec he is articulate, direct,

succinct and knowledgeable.

[gratefultobelib]

22. He became my hero FOREVER after his putdown of bush

after the callous and uncaring question, "How's your boy?" GAWD!

[fuzzyball]

23. Great rhetoric, but will he have the balls to vote cut funding?

Action speaks louder than words. Let us see if delivers
on action and stop Bush's surge madness.

[happydreams]

25. Good question. The democrats have a tendency to get caught

up in all the rhetoric about the consequences of pulling out, blah, blah.
They should just state it bluntly: "Get the troops out ASAP". To hell with all the other gibberish.

[happydreams]

24. Wow, I like this guy. K&R

He so much as says that Bush inc. are a bunch of crooks.

[ellisonz]

26. Most Excellent.

:patriot:

[NastyRiffraff]

27. Congratulations, Virginia!

Looks like Jim Webb is the real thing. I think we'll be hearing a lot more from him.

[Bucky]

28. Keep an eye on him. I don't think the Senate is big enough to hold him.

Any minute now, DUers are going to start putting him name second in their "How about this ticket: X + Y" threads

[Imagevision]

31. Webb has military expeience -- Gates has Poppy...