Comments on: Jim Webb Wins Democratic Nomination In Virginia

By: Brian

Brian — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 22:52:18 +0000

Yetanotherjohn-It's not so much that Webb is seen as a threat to beating Allen. It's that Allen is going to win by 10-20 points instead of the 30-40 he would beat Harris by. And that means the GOP must spend valuable resources on this race, just in case.

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:38:26 +0000

Stevely - Fairfax, Prince William, Loundoun, all previously strongholds of Republicans. Look at their congressional representation - all GOP. But the last gubernatorial election, Tim Kaine (D) got the majority of all those counties. How did that happen? Local issues - traffic, congestion, overbuilding, etc.

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 18:20:05 +0000

Legion,
I think we can take as given that someone running as a democrat can't be considered a good republican.

BTW, given that Webb is trailing Allen by double digits in all the polls I've seen (latest was 50 to 30) and that Allen has been at the magic 50 or better every time except for once at 49), why is Webb considered such a danger to Allen?

By: Below The Beltway

Below The Beltway — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:56:37 +0000

More on Allen vs. Webb...

......

By: legion

legion — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:19:25 +0000

So Lieberman, solid democrat on all issues except for the war = bad democrat. Webb, solid republican on all issues except for the war = good democrat.

Ahhhh, but is Webb considered a 'bad republican'? And btw, Lieberman isn't considered a bad dem for his war support. It's due to his willingness (enthusiasm, even) to bad-mouth other dems for for any percieved advantage. He can't just disagree; he's got to attack. The man has no loyalty to us, why should we be loyal to him?

By: yetanotherjohn

yetanotherjohn — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 16:03:56 +0000

So Lieberman, solid democrat on all issues except for the war = bad democrat.

Webb, solid republican on all issues except for the war = good democrat.

Ah the joys of such a delightfully nuanced party.

By: James Joyner

James Joyner — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 15:55:37 +0000

Anderson:

I think you're partly right on that score, although the war was already incredibly divisive even with the Democratic primaries in late 2003/early 2004--before most of those issues surfaced.

It's hard to argue that much of what Bush has done here is unprecedented when one looks at what Lincoln, Wilson, and FDR did in their wars. The difference is that this one is more controversial, perhaps mostly owing to a less deferential public and the multimedia era.

By: Anderson

Anderson — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 15:43:07 +0000

The only thing I remember about Webb is that "600-ship Navy" nonsense. But Dems can't be choosers, these days. Re: JJ's larger point, I think "the war" is such a polarizing issue because Bush has made it one. Treating Dems as traitors, violating laws and treaties against torture & surveillance, operating secret prisons, and attempting an unconstitutional power grab on "commander-in-chief" grounds ... whether the war was right or wrong, it didn't have to be like that. Bush, Cheney, and Rove made it that way.

By: Stevely

Stevely — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 15:18:49 +0000

NoVA is a "solid GOP stronghold?" *NoVA*? Since when?

By: Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator

Unpartisan.com Political News and Blog Aggregator — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 13:17:02 +0000

Former Reagan aide wins bruising Senate primary battle in Virginia...

James Webb, a former Reagan administration Navy secretary who left the Republican Party over the Ira...

By: lily

lily — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:27:18 +0000

The Kansas Democratic party has been picking up elected officials from the moderate Republicans, too. I think it's seven so far, including a former party chair.

By: DC Loser

DC Loser — Wed, 14 Jun 2006 12:12:56 +0000

Notice how Webb got a lock on the NoVA vote. I wonder how many were from crossover Republican voters? NoVA is turning from a solid GOP stronghold (with the exception of Arlington County) to solidly Blue. I expect Webb will spend a lot of time in the Norfolk area trying to get crossover military votes.