Webb's SOTU response - couple of thoughts

[radfringe]

On Tuesday night, Jim Webb gave a great response. Soon after the blogs and forums were buzzing with Jim Webb for President comments

The "surge" of Webb for President postings kind of puzzled me and posed this question:

Why the rush to create and jump on a Webb for President band wagon?

A few months ago Feingold stood up in Congress and proposed censoring bush - this was followed by Feingold for President bandwagons.

So what is it about a speech or interview that gets us rushing all over the place to cheer this one or that one for president?

Well, could it be that we are starving for leadership? That we are thirsting for someone, (anyone), to stand up and speak truth to power? To dare to question authority? To, well, to meet our impressions of what is a President?

Our response to Webb's SOTU comments highlights how much we yearn for someone to be Presidential.

I'm not belittling Webb's speech - what he said needed to be said, and I hope other Democrats make a note of it.

I am, however, urging people to slow down a bit - one speech doesn't make person suitable for leadership. Webb may have the ability to be president, so let's give him some time to show more than a speech.

The risk we are facing, is in following someone - anyone - because we are so desperate for a leader.

-- ok flame away

[babylonsister]

1. I so agree, and predicted the reaction. And you're right, we're starving

for leadership and for someone to tell the truth to and for us. That's why Olbermann is such a popular force.
But one speech does not a president make. I'm willing to wait.

[RC]

3. You are correct;

We are starved for real leaders that use common sense and listen to the people they work for, namely us, the citizens of the United States.

[caseycoon]

2. I don't wanna flame Radfringe...

I agree with you. I don't even have a favorite for '08 yet. We have time to really study these folks & make a decision later when we know them better. I think you are right about the desperate need for a real leader, though. I know a really good speech stirs ME up! LOL!

[Dinger]

4. Webb Should Have Been The One Giving The SOTU Speech

That is all.

[sweetheart]

5. No wars, mr. webb

I liked his speech until he got to the part where 'democrats' care about how the war is fought,
as if democrats are all on board with the war... no, jim.

No improvement in fighting changes anytyhing... the war was criminal, i want an impeachment,
not an improved battle position.

[demnan]

6. That's an astute observation

We are hungry for leadership. I think there are many who idealize the role of President to the point where no one would be good enough. Whoever we get as President is going to be human, and therefore imperfect. Webb isn't running so its a moot point where he's concerned, but this is true of Clinton, Edwards, Obama, et al. We won't find a perfect person in the batch. I'd just like someone with common sense and a better sense of priorities.

[BR_Parkway]

7. No flame here - I think you nailed the reasoning, we are starved

we're hungry for a true Representative - not someone that we send to DC to become part of the power structure and forget about us. It has as much to do with the very low Congressional ratings and the simple fact that we want leaders, not professional politicians who wait to find out what the polls and strategists tell them their positions should be.

Give me raw, unpolished honesty any day over careful parsing.

It's the reason I have more respect for Fred Phelps than I do Dobson, Falwell and the rest of the It's Ok to Hate Gays for Profit crowd - while I am 100% in disagreement with everything he says, at least he just comes out and says what he thinks, something the others won't do because they might lose standing or political influence or (gasp) funding!

On Edit - look how much improved Gore is in the polls (when he's not even running) simply because he went from being an overly handled and positioned candidate into a being a man with a mission and a vision and the passion to speak out about it in a manner that isn't speechified to get him more votes or money - it's just honesty, and leadership.