WP: Webb May Be Senate Maverick

[RamboLiberal]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/11/AR2006111100471.html

James Webb walked into the Fish Market restaurant in Alexandria in December and wanted longtime Democratic strategist Steve Jarding to answer just one question: What were his chances of defeating Sen. George Allen (R), one of Virginia's most popular politicians?

"Give me a number. What are my odds?" Webb, who had never run for elective office, asked.

"I said, 'Jim, they are really low,' " Jarding recalled. Webb shot back, "Give me a number."

After Jarding said "15 percent," Webb confidently said, "If I have that much of a chance, I will take it and win."

<snip>

But Webb, a former Republican and Reagan administration official, said he might be a bit of a maverick in the Senate, which could frustrate Democratic leaders who poured more than $6 million into his campaign.

"I have my own views, and I have a lot of experiences, and I think I can bring the experiences I had to issues rather than having to read off a party briefing sheet," Webb said Friday in an interview.

[Ignacio Upton]

1. Webb's a DINO!!!!!

:evilgrin: :sarcasm:

[RamboLiberal]

2. BS - Let's give him a chance before tagging him!

I for one don't want Dems who toe the line with their party like the lemming Repukes do.

I for one couldn't be happier with our freshman class! IMHO Dems have a ton of talent while the Repukes are left with McCain, Rudy and a ton of wingnuts.

[Ignacio Upton]

3. Read the rest of my post

:)

[jgraz]

5. Ignacio, you may be more right than you know

Especially when you talk about the "traditional" Dems like Biden, Shumer and Fein$tein. Webb's gonna make 'em look like neocons with his economic philosophy.

[RamboLiberal]

7. Oops - my apologies - blew right by the saracasm smilie

Blame it on being bleary-eyed this week from staying up late waiting for results and watching the pundit shows.

[longship]

8. Observe first, then judge.

I don't like that tag being applied like that. Nobody but Webb knows how he's going to act in the Senate. He might end up being a great Senator. Give the man a chance before you start labelling him.

A "MavericK" may be just the thing we need right now. He could be the guy who starts pushing for some key investigations on the military corruption, for instance.

Let him do his job.

[Boo Boo]

9. Read first, then judge.

The original poster was being sarcastic.

[jgraz]

4. If he's a maverick, he'll be to the left of many Dems

On the campaign trail, Webb talked about the "three Americas" -- rich, poor and middle-class -- and how society was breaking down over "class lines." Webb, who vows to never change what he believes for a "dollar or a vote," said he wants to close corporate tax loopholes and pay closer attention to escalating salaries for chief executives.

Webb also has an affinity for the labor movement, even though Virginia is a right-to-work state. He plans to push to raise the minimum wage and said that "organized labor is very important because everyone needs an agent."

Yep, this election was certainly a victory for the centrists. :sarcasm:

[skipos]

6. He will be 1000 times better than Allen,

and that is what is most important to me. I don't expect to agree with him on everything.