I Hope This Is True

The ex-Marine, pedophilia novel writing, "I don't know where my weapon is" so-called Senator Webb has announced he will not run for his Senate seat.

Good idea, Pally, cause we had your ass in our sights and a good time you would not have had.

This Is Done In Communist and Totalitarian Regimes

They change the rules to benefit themsleves.

If somehow, those ignorant peasants and simle-minded serfs manage to start moving things politially in a direction that appears favorable to them, the politicians simply adjust the rules to change with the time.

Bawney Fwank, that lovable little Lenin-wannabe, has suggested that the 60 vote rule is now somehow un-Consitutional. We suddenly find ourselves in the midst of a Constitutional crisis.

Bawney, your socialist butt-buddies in the Senate didn't have a problem with the 60 vote rule while they had the majority. Now that we have potentially upset the "balance of power" in the Senate, they want to change the rules.

Too bad. Wait until November when we run every one of your sorry asses out and really change the balance of power, with the people, the citizens, in charge.

Jim Webb is next on the list. I've had about as much as I can stand from this yahoo. He can't be trusted. He was probably handed that statement and told to be the "voice of reason" by the ballerina and Dabney Coleman. (Axelrod--I swear he looks like Dabney Coleman).

We Don't Want An Apology-Go Away

More after the jump.

Webb and Warner owe Virginia an apology

Senators place party before commonwealth

Two weeks ago, while most Virginians prepared to celebrate Christmas with family and friends, Virginia's two senators quietly broke faith with the commonwealth, voting for the Obama health care bill. In addition to adding an estimated 261,927 people to Virginia's Medicaid rolls, Sens. James Webb and Mark Warner "charitably" committed Virginians to pick up the Medicaid tab for half-a-dozen other states.

Medicaid already is so expensive that it threatens to bust the bank in Virginia. We commit one-sixth of the state budget to Medicaid - $7 billion a year. Now Virginia's two senators hope to impose on their own state a federally mandated increase in Medicaid enrollment of nearly 30 percent.

Skilled politicians that they are, Messrs. Webb and Warner hedged, of course: They expressed a few doubts, uttered a few platitudes about cost-cutting, and touted their "independence" and credentials as mavericks. But at the end of the day, they were right there with President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, burdening Virginia with new costs we can only begin to fathom.

Mr. Webb, in particular, had the tough talk down pat - insisting that true reform must not create "a cumbersome, overly bureaucratic system." He pledged that his vote would be contingent on eliminating proposed Medicaid cuts, excluding abortion coverage, and ensuring fair and equal treatment. His statements were refreshing - and ultimately meaningless. Mr. Webb's Democratic colleagues ignored his objections, and he dutifully and passively submitted, voting for precisely the kind of bill he said he would reject.

Ya THINK!?!?!?

Dems brace for voter backlash on health

First up (or down) wil be ex-Marine Jim (I Don't Know Where My Gun Is) Webb.

Democratic leaders are girding for a political war over the health care overhaul heading in to this year's midterm elections, preparing strategies and raising funds to fend off attacks by Republicans eager to capitalize on voter discontent.

Analysts from both parties predict the sweeping impact of the proposed health care changes, which will affect every American, to be the overriding issue, with the strongest and most personal impact in 2010.

Democratic leaders acknowledged this week in last-minute party fundraising appeals that they expect Republicans to come out with both guns blazing in pursuit of major gains in the House and Senate.

"They will spend the next 11 months spinning our health care victory into a weapon and hitting us with it. We might have the momentum now, but we must show the GOP and the pundits that we can sustain it until the 2010 elections," said Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee.

DCExaminer Morrning Email Blast

DCExaminer Email Blast this morning has news of interest to Virginians:

Chris Stirewalt - Webb could put the hickory to Obama's Afghan plan
Webb's opposition would rally the Left, which believes Obama is now in the thrall of the military-industrial complex, and give courage to a number of conservatives who think Obama's strategy is doomed but are afraid to give the impression that they're not supporting the troops.

Byron York - Obama's Brilliant First Year' -- Nationalize health care, expand government, undermine Reagan
The Democratic National Committee is sending around links to a new article, "Obama's Brilliant First Year," by Jacob Weisberg, of Slate and Newsweek. Weisberg argues that if Barack Obama manages to pass a national health care bill by January 20, 2010, the first anniversary of his inauguration, he will have "accomplished more than any other postwar American president at a comparable point in his presidency."

Michael Barone - Palin running even with Obama?
It's not too early, apparently, to test opinion on the 2012 presidential race. Pollster Scott Rasmussen has asked likely voters to decide between Barack Obama and three reasonably well-known Republicans, Mitt Romney, Mike Huckabee and Sarah Palin. He also asked about their preferences in three-way pairings between those candidates and recently-resigned CNN commentator Lou Dobbs. There are three interesting findings.

Number one. Obama is essentially tied with all three Republicans, leading Huckabee 45%-41% and Palin 46%-43% and even with Romney at 44%-44%. In other words, Obama is running at his job approval ratinRg level, which Rasmussen has at 46%-54%. This is reminiscent of the 2004 general election, in which George W. Bush's 51% of the vote mirrored his job approval numbers.

Re-Direct Fire Support for Anti-Bailout Bill

The Senate lines are jammed, according to well-placed sources inside the beltway. They are asking that we re-direct our phone calls to the local offices of Senators.

Fire for effect. Keep up the pressure. Remind them that domestic energy supplies are directly tied to national and financial security.

VA Vets for Freedom Update

Today, Vets for Freedom is releasing our second TV ad in the “Four Months for Victory” campaign. The ad, “Some in Washington,” contrasts the thoughts of Washington lawmakers on the surge with the realities on the ground in Iraq. The ad will be running in Virginia, and is available here.

Yesterday, Sen. Barack Obama gave an address in Washington, DC on his plans for Iraq and Afghanistan. Here’s some excerpts:

· It has been 18 months since President Bush announced the surge. As I have said many times, our troops have performed brilliantly in lowering the level of violence. General Petraeus has used new tactics to protect the Iraqi population. We have talked directly to Sunni tribes that used to be hostile to America, and supported their fight against al Qaeda. Shiite militias have generally respected a cease-fire. Those are the facts, and all Americans welcome them.

· In the 18 months since the surge began, as I warned at the outset - Iraq's leaders have not made the political progress that was the purpose of the surge. They have not invested tens of billions of dollars in oil revenues to rebuild their country. They have not resolved their differences or shaped a new political compact.

Here’s what some of our local representatives had to say on the surge when President Bush announced it in 2007:

· “None of the previous surges in troop levels had any lasting effect on the war, and there is no credible reason to believe that this surge will be any different.” Floor Remarks of Rep. Bobby Scott (VA-3), on Feb. 16, 2007
· "The President's 'surge' proposal will only result in a surge in the number of U.S. soldiers injured or killed in Iraq. Rep. Jim Moran (VA-8), on Jan. 9, 2007
· “We need a new direction.” Sen. Jim Webb, in the Democratic response to President Bush’s 2007 State of the Union Address

We have that new direction. More importantly, it’s working.

This year alone, the Iraqi government has passed laws on de-Baathification and criminal amnesty, and defined the power structure between Iraq’s central government and the Iraqi provinces. The provincial powers law provided for provincial elections to be held this year or early next, allowing Iraqis to again set the course of their country democratically.

Since the surge began in 2007, the Iraqis have contributed more and more to their country’s reconstruction and security. Iraq’s budget in 2007-when the surge began-allocated $10 billion for reconstruction, an increase of 21% over the previous year’s budget. It also provided for $73 billion to be spent on security for the country. The 2008 budget has $11 billion budgeted for reconstruction and capital investment.

The point of our campaign is to get the facts out to the people of Virginia so that they are well informed on both the military and political progress being made daily by the Iraqi people, with the assistance of our brave men and women in uniform. With that in mind, I’m asking you to forward this email to ten of your friends and associates this week, and ask them to sign up to support our efforts in Virginia.

In the coming weeks, Virginia Vets for Freedom will hold our first organizational meetings in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads. These meetings will allow you to learn more about Vets for Freedom, meet the state leadership, and learn more about our state strategy for the upcoming months. Also, look for similar updates each week in your email.

I look forward to working and meeting with all of you in the near future. Working together, we can make Virginia Vets for Freedom the loudest voice for victory in the Commonwealth!!

Coby Dillard
State Captain
VA Vets for Freedom

Vets for Freedom Endorses McCain-Graham Bill

Vets for Freedom Supports Revised GI Bill
STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2008
(Washington DC)

Vets for Freedom urges Senate members to work together to pass a GI Bill that not only addresses the immediate need for increased financial and educational benefits, but that also takes into account the unique dynamics of today’s all-volunteer force. The US military is working hard to increase its ranks in order to meet strategic needs across the globe; and as a result, it is imperative that recruitment and retention are both addressed as part of any GI Bill.

The Webb Bill correctly recognizes the rising costs of secondary education, and the importance of pegging yearly benefit increases to educational inflation indices, rather than the Consumer Price Index, which would require Congress to revisit the issue in a few years. The Webb Bill also allows for the accrual of Active Duty benefits for Reservists and National Guardsmen, many of which have seen repeated deployments.

On the other hand, the McCain-Graham Bill substantially increases monthly educational benefits and could be implemented immediately; while the Webb Bill would take over a year to implement and would require a new layer of Pentagon bureaucracy. The McCain-Graham Bill also rewards troops who remain in the military, providing strong incentives for our best and brightest to continue their service and support a growing force. "Both the Webb and McCain-Graham bills have valuable aspects that address the needs of our military and our men and women in uniform." said Pete Hegseth, Executive Director of Vets for Freedom. "Vets for Freedom trusts that those involved will work toward a compromise to integrate the best aspects of both bills, and ensure its passage and implementation in a timely manner.

"Vets for Freedom is a nonpartisan organization established by combat veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Its mission is to educate the American public about the importance of achieving success in these conflicts by applying our first-hand knowledge to issues of American military strategy. For more information, please visit www.vetsforfreedom.org.

Ass Meet Hat

Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) prepares for the leadership role of a lifetime; opening and closing a nine second session of the Senate of the United States of America in order to thwart the constitutional authority of the President to make appointments when Congress is in recess.

"Don King comb-out. Climb up on chair. Bang gavel...."

The historic moment nanosecond:

Climbing to the president's chair, Webb took the gavel and banged it.

"The Senate will come to order," he intoned, reading from a two-line script to a floor empty of other senators but witnessed from the gallery by one reporter and about a half dozen staffers. "Under the previous order, the Senate stands in recess until Friday, December 28th, 2007 at 10 a.m."

His work done, Webb left. The floor staff reported to those in the gallery overhead that the session had lasted nine seconds. [link]

For that flash in the pan, all he had to do was sell out a generation of American Warriors, court Hillary Clinton, and kiss John Kerry's butt. How sweet is that?

More background info:

President Bush has used recess appointments to seat blocked judicial nominees, ambassadors, and Federal commission members, angering Senate Democrats each time. After he appointed Judge William Pryor to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, Senate Democrats, led by Sen. Ted Kennedy, sued, saying that the appointment was unconstitutional. Sen. Kennedy and others petitioned the court to enforce a narrow interpretation of the president's power to make appointments during Senate recesses, allowing them only during the annual recess at Christmas. The Eleventh Circuit court disagreed, ruling 8-2 that the president's action was Constitutional, settling on a broader interpretation of the power that grants the president the authority to make recess appointments at any time during the year. The Supreme Court declined to intervene in the case, letting the lower court's decision stand.

Since Democrats have taken control of Congress, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has sought to make agreements with the White House over recess appointments. In April of this year, the first recess under a Democratic watch, President Bush made three appointments, including appointing a Swift Boat Veterans for Truth donor, Sam Fox, as Ambassador to Belgium. Determined not to let that happen again in August, Reid and the White House agreed that the Senate would move 42 stalled nominations and President Bush would make no recess appointments during the break. The deal held. Later in the year, a deal could not be reached, and so Reid held the Senate in pro-forma sessions over the Thanksgiving holiday, just as he is doing now. [Link]

Senate Meets Briefly to Block Bush
Webb Stands Guard in Empty Senate

How Far The Mighty Have Fallen

Sen. Jim Webb in February of 2001:

Check the casualty lists in any war. See who stands tall and salutes when the flag passes by. Note who wasn't sleeping in Lincoln's bedroom when Bill Clinton occupied the White House.

Instead, Bill and Hillary's misadventures provide an echo of a different time and place, another set of values. Of bright students brought to good schools and becoming convinced, as Ben Stein wrote of his years at Yale Law School with the Clintons, "that we were supermen, floating above history and precedent, the natural rulers of the universe. . . . The law did not apply to us."

Sen. Jim Webb in December of 2007:

Meet The Press Transcript
MR. RUSSERT: You were very critical of Bill Clinton, talked about his ethical fraudulence, he—that he left with arrogance. Are you more receptive to Hillary Clinton?

SEN. WEBB: Hillary Clinton has been, been very good to work with. She’s been very impressive. I, I sit on the Armed Services Committee with her. She has taken some positions and I’ve aligned myself with her on, on a number of positions over the past year.

MR. RUSSERT: She make a good president?

SEN. WEBB: I think Hillary Clinton would be a good president.

MR. RUSSERT: How about Barack Obama?

SEN. WEBB: I think Barack Obama would be a good president. Barack Obama is a, is a very bright individual, and he—he’s got a lot of good ideas. He’s very charismatic, and I—I’ve enjoyed working with both of them.

MR. RUSSERT: Protecting your options there, huh?

SEN. WEBB: Well, I just happen to—I happen to have respect for both of them.

Webb wants the authority to declare war against Iran

Update: At Mother Jones, (of all places), comes an analysis of the letter:

What's the significance of the letter? The answer has three parts:

1. Legally speaking, the letter has no significance whatsoever.
2. Moreover, it's legally false.
3. The legal aspect is essentially irrelevant. It's the political aspect that matters, and here it might have some impact.

Senator Webb has communicated to the President his opinion that the President has no authority to strike Iran without the consent of Congress. Apparently that authorization to fight international terrorism in 2001 has an expiration date. While I object to this belief, I am ambivalent about the Senator demanding this requirement.

The disgraceful way the Senate has been acting lately forces me to believe that, unless Iran detonated a nuclear weapon, Congress would weep and cry over ANY actions the President might take. So, the President should keep the Congress in the loop. Show them the intel. When action is needed, tell them that the strike will commence, unless THEY cancel it. If no action is taken, then if Iran develops and misuses nuclear weapons, THEY are responsible.

Another way, is to play it their way. They get to authorize the strike. They want the responsibility to declare war, since they feel that the previous authorization was not enough. So the President should go before Congress, lay out his reasons, regardless of secrets, and ask them to declare war. Bluntly lay out before the public on live TV that it is Congress that will determine the actions. Not him. That his hands will be tied if Congress does not authorize a strike. That Congress has to grow up and pay attention to something other than domestic politics. Then, no matter what happens, Congress can't bitch.

Or we can just ignore Webb for the pissant that he is.....

Notice that there are NO Republicans on this list, including RINO's. And no Senator Lieberman.
Oh, and no Dingy Harry Reid and no Obama. Didn't Obama object to even placing the Quds force on the terror list?

From Senator Webb's office:

Along with 29 co-signers, Senator Jim Webb of Virginia sent a letter to the White House today warning the President not to take offensive military action against Iran without the express consent of Congress. Designed to clarify any ambiguity as a result of a recent Senate amendment urging designation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a terrorist organization, the Senators also expressed concern that the administration's increasingly provocative rhetoric has undermined diplomatic efforts with Iran.

November 1, 2007

President George W. Bush
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20500

Dear President Bush:

We are writing to express serious concerns with the provocative statements and actions stemming from your administration with respect to possible U.S. military action in Iran. These comments are counterproductive and undermine efforts to resolve tensions with Iran through diplomacy.

We wish to emphasize that no congressional authority exists for unilateral military action against Iran. This includes the Senate vote on September 26, 2007 on an amendment to the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act. This amendment, expressing the sense of the Senate on Iran, and the recent designation of the Quds Force of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist, should in no way be interpreted as a predicate for the use of military force in Iran.

We stand ready to work with your administration to address the challenges presented by Iran in a manner that safeguards our security interests and promotes a regional diplomatic solution, but we wish to emphasize that offensive military action should not be taken against Iran without the express consent of Congress.

Sincerely,

1. Webb
2. Akaka
3. Baucus
4. Boxer
5. Brown
6. Byrd
7. Cantwell
8. Carper
9. Casey
10. Clinton
11. Dodd
12. Dorgan
13. Durbin
14. Feinstein
15. Harkin
16. Johnson
17. Kerry
18. Klobuchar
19. Kohl
20. Leahy
21. McCaskill
22. Mikulski
23. Murray
24. Reed
25. Rockefeller
26. Sanders
27. Stabenow
28. Tester
29. Whitehouse
30. Wyden

Webb is connected to MoveOn.org

Apparently, the democrats don't seem to care that MoveOn.org slandered a patriotic soldier named General Petraeus. You know, the general that the democrats unanimously voted "yes" on for his position? Well the left has been slandering him. See this earlier post. Well, according to the blog Protein Wisdom, who has a similar post, he was updated by an email:

update 2: George J. emails:

Jeff — In case you didn’t already know, before she was Jim Webb’s Communication Director and Spokeswoman, Jessica Smith was the Chief Spokeswoman for MoveOn.org. In light of today’s NYT ad, how can Webb get away with keeping her on staff?

[…]

All day, bloggers have been asking if Dems will denounce MoveOn, and the answer is clearly “No” because of incestuous relationships like this. And it’s all the more important because Webb is viewed as a moderate, the most credible anti-war critic and top option for VP. Shouldn’t somebody ask him, what’s more important condoning MoveOn or independence of thought?

While I don't agree with his assessment of Webb at all, his question is excellent. Let's ask him.

Recent Senate Votes: Warner, Webb

From congress.org:

Recent Senate Votes

Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 - Vote Agreed to (83-14, 3 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill that would provide greater transparency in the legislative process.

Sen. John Warner voted YES

Sen. James Webb voted YES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007 - Vote Passed (68-31, 1 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill that would add 3 million lower-income children to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program.

Sen. John Warner voted YES

Sen. James Webb voted YES

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Protect America Act - Vote Passed (60-28, 12 Not Voting)

The Senate passed this bill which would temporarily expand the executive branch’s authority to spy on suspected foreign terrorists without a court order, when communications are passing through the U.S.

Sen. John Warner voted YES

Sen. James Webb voted YES

Just Who Are The Dogs And Ponies, Mr. Webb?

Iraq is a dog and pony show according to Sen. Jim Webb and besides, he has a free ticket to Vietnam.

Meet The Press Transcript 7/15/07
~excerpt~
SEN. GRAHAM: Have you been to Iraq?

SEN. WEBB: I have been to Afghanistan as a journalist.

SEN. GRAHAM: Have you been to Iraq and—have you been to Iraq and talked to the soldiers?

SEN. WEBB: You know, you haven’t been to Iraq.

SEN. GRAHAM: I’ve been to—I’ve been there seven times.

SEN. WEBB: You know, you go see the dog and pony shows.

SEN. GRAHAM: I’ve been there as a reservist, I have been there and I’m going back in August.

Jim Webb's New Book Coming Soon: Doo Doo Economics

Gas prices are too high so what does Senator Jim Webb (X) VA want to do? Tax Big Oil so they can pass it on to the consumer and raise prices some more.

When Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr., D-Pa., announced a bill for a windfall-profits tax on oil companies, Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., signed on as a co-sponsor and appeared at a news conference with Casey and other freshmen Democratic senators.

Casey's proposed 50 percent tax on profits would apply when oil prices rise past $50 per barrel. The revenue would help low-income families pay for costs of transportation. Casey said his bill also would repeal tax loopholes and breaks granted by energy legislation signed into law in 2005.

"When we went into Iraq, oil was $24 a barrel; today it's $66 a barrel," Webb said. "It can be safely said the profits these oil companies are making now are a result of our policies in the Middle East."

The Casey bill "recoups some of the skyrocketing corporate profits of the big oil companies, invests in alternative energy sources and eases the burden of low-income Virginians at the pump." inRich.com

Just how is that revenue going to make it into the gas tanks of the poor in Virginia? It sounds like another luscious government program in the making.

Actually, it sounds more like someone had a brain fart. Again.

Being A Senator is Child's Play...

... if you're dumber than a rock.

Senator Jim Webb (X) VA, explaining why he no longer thinks setting a withdrawal date for removing our Troops from Iraq is a bad thing:
"There will be very little motivation for al-Qaida to continue in Iraq once we have left."

H/T: The right-wing liberal & The Ward View

Webb (X) to Vets: No Plane, No Show, No $, No Go

It seems Jim Webb (X) dissed the Vets in Hampton Roads before his famous tantrum in D.C. Also please note that this Veterans event was held on the Saturday after the election.

The Virginia Pilot Online:

The story starts this summer when local veterans groups in Hampton Roads invited Webb, then a mere candidate, to be part of the Nov. 11 Veterans Day festivities planned for Virginia Beach.

Back in August, well aware that he might be Virginia's next senator, Webb agreed to attend and give a speech. Priscilla Bede, the Virginia Beach doyenne of parade planning, launched into overdrive. With limos rented, hotel rooms reserved, programs printed, press releases flying and eager vets primed for Webb's speech, the newly minted senator backed out with less than two days to go, blaming his new Senate responsibilities

The Vets:

Patrick Callahan, combat vet and president of a local Vietnam Veterans of America chapter, is one of the angrier bunch. "Ditching us was uncalled for and it will not be forgiven," he says. "I can't tell you the number of vets who came up to me and said, 'Where's Webb?' I just didn't have a good answer to give them

Count Larry McCauley, a Navy vet, among those who are more than a little miffed. "I did something I never did before - voted for a Democrat," he says, "He owes us. We busted our asses to get him elected."

The Senator-elect Webb (X):

However, the extension of the time period in the election results, which carried forward until Thursday afternoon, was an unpredictable circumstance. And the logistics involved in getting from Northern Virginia to the event and then back again (four hours drive time each way - there was never an offer by the event's organizers to fly me there, or otherwise take care of transportation expenses), would have eaten up the entire weekend.

And quite frankly I am rather perplexed that there would not be a greater understanding of the circumstances that caused me to miss it.

Oh, boo-freakin'-hoo!

Jim Webb (X) At Starbucks

WuzzaDem

Comrade Webb: A View From The Left

A few excerpts from Whisky Bar's post, Comrade Webb:

"Webb was rewarded, eventually, by being named an assistant secretary of defense and then Secretary of the Navy in Reagan's Pentagon, where he became a fanatical advocate of a 500 600-ship Navy -- a defense contracting boondoggle so egregious even the Reagan Administration eventually abandoned it."
...

"Not only that, but Webb's now against the war -- just like us unreconstructed '60s (or, in my case, '70s) radicals. I just hope he doesn't mind being tarred as a stabber of backs or a spitter on the troops by the modern-day equivalents of the old Jim Webb. It kind of goes with the territory."
...

"But Webb's op ed definitely left me with a profound case of political vertigo. My sense of direction (this way is left; that way is right) is getting pretty scrambled. Former Reagan cabinet officers now sound like Abby Hoffman. Connecticut Senators who started out trying to impeach Richard Nixon now sound like John Mitchell. Where's it going to end?"