Positive Jim Webb thread

[DemocratSinceBirth]

There used to be a tradition on DU where threads were started exclusively to talk positively about our candidates for president. I will start by saying something positive about Jim Webb

Our party owes him a debt of gratitude for killing George Allen's presidential aspirations in the crib.

[irisblue]

1. we give thanks to fate for that great blessing

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. He opposed the Iraq War.

[NCTraveler]

3. I like his openness.

Fact is, he could probably bring more into the bank and be more popular if he changed some of his rhetoric. He doesn't because it simply isn't him. I have a great respect for that in politics. Respect does not equal support. He stands for his principals more often than not.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. I do believe he has a concern for the proverbial little guy...

I do believe he has a concern for the proverbial little guy, as much as any candidate in the race...It's just wrapped up in an old southern populism with it racialism not racism that gets in the way.

[Recursion]

5. 10 years ago he was the candidate we needed in VA

And I'm glad he was there. I don't think either VA or nationwide is the right campaign for him now.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

6. He was the hero we needed, just not now./nt

[Raine1967]

14. I very much agree. nm

[karynnj]

7. He was likely necessary to getting the majority in the Senate

No one knows if his primary opponent would even have lucked into Allen imploding - and without that, no one would win. Because he had that possibility, John Kerry gave him a possibly very necessary endorsement in the primaries and helped him with GOTV funds from his leadership back - in spite of Webb having written a swiftboating op ed in 2004 after Kerry was the defacto nominee and refusing to shake Kerry's hand for 30 years because Kerry had said the Vietnam War was unwinnable. Kerry's action then was done because Webb had a shot at winning and no one thought his opponent did -- because of Webb's strengths.

[FSogol]

8. He is very interested in criminal justice reform. n/t

[TwilightGardener]

9. My kids both go to college because of the Webb GI Bill--they made it transferable, so my

husband (military retiree) split it between the two of them. It's really a godsend.

[Zambero]

10. For Virginia, Webb was about as progressive a Senator as one could get

He voted in favor of key legislation during the first two years of Obama's presidency, including ACA and Stimulus. If Allen had been elected to the Senate, those razor-thin margins would not have held up. During his initial years I office, Webb was known to hold GWB's feet to the fire regarding the ongoing Iraq War, and the two once went head to head on the topic during a White House reception.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

12. For Virginia, Webb was about as progressive a Senator as one could get

That can not be overstated...

The goal is to fill every office with the most progressive and electable candidate.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

11. He's stable

[Scootaloo]

13. That dude can metabolize glucose in his sleep!

[irisblue]

15. that is as low a bar as I can recall hearing in the last month

[mvd]

16. Has authored and co authored a lot of legislation..

that helps Veterans. A lot of service to his country.