Jim Webb In Bristol

Today I went to an event at the Holiday Inn here in Bristol with Jim Webb.  This was my first time seeing Webb in-person, and I was thoroughly impressed.  As intelligent as he comes across on television, he’s even more impressive in-person.  He covered issues from his Reagan television ad and his time in the Reagan administration to social and economic fairness and the Iraq War.

George Allen had a guy with a camera at the event, who apparently I was sitting directly in front of.  The guy’s name was John.  He apparently didn’t have a last name (or, since he didn’t want anybody to know it, left it off his name tag).  I’ll say this about him (and I don’t like to talk bad about folks too much): If these folks with the cameras are representing the campaign of a sitting U.S. Senator, they shouldn’t wear shorts that are way too short for a guy, or shirts with motor oil (or something) on them.

One thing that was very interesting to me was Webb’s segment on the lead-up to the Iraq War, and calling his friend, Senator Chuck Hagel of Nebraska.  He posed a very detailed question to Hagel for him to pass on to the Department of Defense.  He said that in previous times, he would pose even more detailed questions, “Like ethnic breakup of fatalities in any given battle in the Vietnam War, and within 24 hours, boom, there’s a spreadsheet,” (that quote was not verbatim, but close) but, with the particular question posed to Hagel, it took longer.  Much longer.  After 60 days, Hagel received a letter back from an Assistant Secretary for Public Relations that blew the question off totally, without any kind of answer.  That, Jim Webb said, was the standard practice for the Bush administration.

After Webb’s speech, he took questions from the audience.  It amazed me that every question posed to him, he had a thorough and specific answer for.  No dancing around the issue.  The questions ranged from international trade laws, to gaffes from Allen, to closing the gap between the three classes.

I came away from this event even more convinced than ever that Jim Webb is not only the best and brightest for the job, and that he would make a great Senator, but that in January, he will be our Senator.

-Neal

Is Bob Corker Against Emergency Services?

There was supposed to be a story here, but it didn’t do it, for some reason.  I’ll re-write it tonight.

Ned Lamont Is The One

Very recently, I was supporting Joe Lieberman for U.S. Senate in Connecticut.  I can no longer in good conscience support him in this primary.

One of the things my grandpa taught me was “Never change horses in the middle of the creek.”  Well, I’ve never rode a horse, and if he wanted to cross a creek, he just walked through it.  I eventually understood this phrase to mean that you don’t change your mind on important things, even if it’s in your best interest.

But another thing he also taught me, very importantly, is that you must do what your heart tells you to do.  And that’s what I’m doing.

I’ve done alot of reading and alot of listening, and I have come to the conclusion that Ned Lamont is the only candidate in the race for U.S. Senate in Connecticut who has the right stance on the Iraq War.  Couple that with his other progressive stances, and I think we’ve got a winner.

Joe Lieberman has done alot for this country, and for our party.  But he’s wrong on the Iraq War issue, and the degree to which he is still unable to fully admit his mistake, I can’t believe he is the best candidate in this race.

If you’re reading this, and you’re from Connecticut, I urge you to vote for Ned Lamont for U.S. Senate.

It’s Got To Be Lamont…

I’ve made a switch in the Connecticut primary.  I’m now backing Ned Lamont over Joe Lieberman for the Tuesday election.  I’ll be explaining later today…

-Neal

Can We Get This Show On The Road?

I’m a big supporter of Jim Webb, and everybody knows that.  But I’m getting frustrated with the situation we’ve got here.  In Jim Webb we have a great candidate.  Just the kind of candidate the Democratic Party needs to defeat Republicans.

But in the Jim Webb for Senate campaign, we have serious problems.  I don’t fault any one person.  I fault a lack of money, a lack of planning, and a lack of visability.

The Kaine campaign in 2005 was always one step ahead of Jerry Kilgore’s people.  Tim Kaine assembled one of the best campaign staffs I’ve seen.  And Harris Miller’s staff earlier this year was almost as good.  Those folks knew how to run a race.  These folks should be highly involved in the Webb campaign.

The way some of my blogginh colleagues talk, this election is a slam-dunk already.  I hate to say it, but it’s anything but.  If the Webb campaign can’t get its’ act together, it’s going to get more and more one-sided as we come closer to November.  And, frankly, neither our state, our party, nor of country can afford to have George Allen in the Senate any longer, or have the Republicans in control of the Senate.

It is vital that the Webb campaign get a huge shot of cash to help it out, and that Jim Webb start campaigning more vigorously.  A look at his website would lead me to believe he’s taking it pretty easy when it comes to campaigning.  Right now, the only event listed is on August 3rd in Virginia Beach.  Then the next event listed is a full 10 days away.  And, since the August 13 event is actually a series of statewide house parties, I doubt anybody who comes out for those isn’t already solidly in the Webb camp.

Many of the events that have been on the schedule recently (wit ha couple exceptions, yes) have been in Democrat strongholds.  That doesn’t help a whole lot.  Where are the events in Lynchburg, in Martinsville, in Bristol (!!!!), in Winchester?

There’s no need for me to mention the recent debate between Webb and Allen.  It’s my belief that more Virginians could quote, word for word, “Casey at the Bat” than could tell you anything about the debate.  It was like it was top-secret.  Both campaigns claimed a big victory, so I guess your point of view on the debate depends on who you’ve already decided to vote for (which has all the nasty characteristics of a vicious circle).

I don’t speak for the Bristol Democratic Committee, but I can speak for myself and relay what individual members have said.  What they’re saying, and what I’ve been saying here, is that the Webb campaign needs to get its’ act together now, get in every part of the state (I would strive for all the independent cities and 2/3 of the counties), walk around on the street and talk to people, go sit in coffee shops, do what ever it takes to get the message out.

This race won’t be decided among the blogosphere, the religious right, or the party faithful in general.  This race will be decided in McDonalds, Wal-Mart, NASCAR stadiums, high school football games, and church socials.  Let’s beat George Allen to them.