Well in developing news....re Jim Webb

[nadinbrzezinski]

I think Jim Webb will make it official and throw his hat in the ring.

Here, Email that just came to my box...for those of us following the games and not endorsing anybody, the more the merrier.

+++++++++++++++++++++

In recent weeks Jim has traveled to Florida, Iowa, New Hampshire, New York, and South Carolina. At each stop, he spoke about leadership and listened as others shared their concerns for our nation.

Whether it was student veterans attending college on the Post 9/11 GI Bill, a room full of Democratic activists, or a small gathering at a diner on Main Street, Jim's message of "Leadership you can trust," resonates with voters.

As Jim continues to criss-cross the country engaging with voters, we need your support.

Not only do we need your financial help, we need you to help us spread the word.



That is why we are asking you to "stick" with Jim. You can do that by proudly displaying our new bumper sticker and sharing Jim's message of leadership and integrity in your community. A small donation to offset the expense of the sticker and mailing will be greatly appreciated.

These 9.25" x2.5" vinyl stickers are a cinch to apply and remove with ease.

[msongs]

1. seems like enough republicans running already nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

2. Hey, the only one that will get my endorsement in this is big money

that is the big winner here.

Yes, I am that cynical anymore.

[Raine1967]

3. Interesting. I have been watching him and wondering if he was indeed going to toss his hat in.

Glad you got an email, was right now I am seeing very very articles out there about him recently nor am I seeing him being interviewed very much.

I have no problems with him running. He was my senator here in Virginia. I remember this article when he announced he wasn't going to seek a second term as Senator:

Webb appeared likely to face a rematch with former Senator George Allen, whom he beat in a bruising 2006 contest. He had expressed ambivalence about the prospect of another run, and has said he never planned a life in politics.

Keeping Webb -- a Vietnam veteran, former Reagan defense official, and author -- in the Senate had been a top priority for the Democratic leadership, with no Democrat of Webb's prominence, and his centrist politics, openly exploring the race. Senate Democratic leaders view Democratic National Committee Chairman Tim Kaine, the former Virginia governor, as a top prospect to replace him, despite Kaine's disavowals that he's looking at the race. Kaine, the source said, hasn't shut the door on the possibility. Former Congressman Tom Perriello, who is close to the White House, could also be a candidate.

Webb's departure isn't entirely a surprise. He recalled in a recent interview that he'd told President Obama in the fall of 2009 that his push for health care legislation would end in "disaster."

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0211/Source_Webb_wont_seek_reelection.html?showall



I would like to know where he stands no regarding the ACA (and I admittedly haven't looked that deep into the weeds) —

Personally, I have found Webb to be quite conservative. I think that worked well for a state like Virgina — I don't know how it will work, should he declare, nationwide as a Democratic Nominee. He is to the right of Hillary Clinton — with the possible exception of legalizing pot as part of criminalization reform.

Since he left office, what has he been up to?

I looked over here, and I am not sure I feel really comfortable with some of his stances.

I also have to say, I take serious issue that he Endorsed George *Maqaqa* Allen in 2000. I know he defeated him a few years later, but that always left a sour taste in my mouth.

[nadinbrzezinski]

4. A lot of politics is local

so a conservative democrat in VA does not surprise me. Some of his politics are going to be explained by that alone.

But when all is said and done, those of us who will endorse money in the end... the big winner in this race, really think the more clowns the better, but in the end... I don't think it will make too much of a difference.

(My level of cynicism really has gone to the roof, and I do not believe any of this is more than just the greatest show on earth)

That said, silly season is getting annoyingly familiar.



What you said though, regarding his views is worrisome, he is to the right of HRC (this week).

[sabrina 1]

5. Well, I haven't reached that level of cynicism yet. Big money is what was running until the

announcement of Bernie Sanders who is running AGAINST that money. And if everyone who has been complaining about the corrosive effects of money on politics were to support the one who is running against it, he will win.

Making that an issue now is something that has not happened before with a major race.

So, we now have a chance to put our support behind someone who is willing to take on that money and prove that the people still do have the power to overcome, if they want to.

[nadinbrzezinski]

7. I have had a few conversations with former staffers

that if I drank I would have reached for the Jim Beam, trust me. They were rather depressing. Ah the sausage making and how it really works...

[sabrina 1]

10. So have I, with staff members of several politicians. I prefer to listen to the candidate as I have

found more often than not, that only s/he can effectively speak for themselves.

Eg, very often I found, that staff members have actually misrepresented the politicians they work for and that it is far better to get directly to the candidate, which we have on occasion, where we found that even a top staff member did not consider something to be important, until the candidate told them it was.

[nadinbrzezinski]

11. I am talking nuts and bolts here

not what pols stand for.

Things like how we decide who will be the sacrificial lamb for a vote we know is controversial. Things like that. Some of those votes are decided not by the pol but leadership. (This is on both sides) Or how we decide how districts will shape up every re-districting, every ten years. The competitive districts in California, for example, were agreed upon by both sides with the redistricting commission.

Actual where we stand... some staffers are really good, some not so much. I tend to find that the lower the office the better they are at knowing what the boss actually means as well.

[sabrina 1]

12. If you're talking about Party politics, that's a different matter, but having worked for nine years

in a job where I dealt with the staffs of many politicians, few were able to speak for their bosses. I am also familiar with party 'operatives' the professionals who decide who to support etc, very much aware of that. However they have not yet had to deal with an overwhelming public support for a candidate NOT of their choice.

I KNOW the party will not be supporting Bernie, until they have no choice. Which is why I will be working hard to force them into that choice.

Sometimes it's better to look at the big picture rather than focus on the 'sausage making'. Iow, to have a goal, and work towards it regardless of 'conventional wisdom'.

[nadinbrzezinski]

14. Well I run a non partisan media outlet

I do not work to elect pols. I do not endorse pols I just watch.

Though on a comedic side, I think I will be endorsing big money. It really does not matter who wins, big money is the big winner here.

[sabrina 1]

15. Well, I am not obliged to be non-partison or to endorse anything I do not agree with.

So we are in a different position. I believe anything is possible, IF there is a will to make it so. Big money won't go away if Bernie wins, but a big dent will be seen in the armor and then we can go from there.

[nadinbrzezinski]

26. You misunderstand

we endorsing big money is part of our coverage of big money and it's role in politics. We no longer cover the race perse, but we cover the effects of big money in politics. Last cycle we interviewed a local expert. This year I think I will endorse big money as the obvious winner and distorter of whatever passes for democracy any more.

You see when my local congressman and his competitor spent, with the PACs, 17 million for a seat in Congress,... well what can I say? Money is the big winner there.

I expect my local congressman and his challenger to outdo each other this year, and spend at least 20, perhaps double it. that be 34 million. Have you checked how much a US Congressman gets paid a year?

[sabrina 1]

31. I did misunderstand. This issue needs as much coverage and exposure as possible.

Until that is resolved, nothing much can be done to move this country in the right direction. The frustration of watching our supposed Reps vote consistently against the interests of the people, knowing that they have been bought, their votes are for sale.

Either we just accept it and stop pretending we are a democracy, or we change it. Imo, Bernie brings that issue to the forefront, by refusing that money. He is a challenge to all the others who are accepting it. And that will highlight the issue for the first time in a Presidential election, at a time when people have become more and more aware of why their government doesn't seem to be working for them.

Keep up the good work!

[nadinbrzezinski]

34. Well we are not a democracy

whatever existed finally kicked the can in 2000. All this is theater. That said, IMO, the first step is recognizing that. After that, either people give up or want to get that back.

But U.S. Democracy....RIP 1787-2000. It had an ok life. At times a very good life.

[1939]

33. Not in politics, but

I have participated in the making of quite a few sausages. If you demand filet mignon, you are more likely to get nothing at all. You work for the best sausage you can get. ACA was a really terrible sausage, but it was probably the only thing they could get. Legislators of both parties need to get down off their high horses and start rolling the sausages out the door.

[nadinbrzezinski]

35. Alas this is no longer sausage making

it took forms very familiar for those who study oligarchies a while ago. The ACA ironically is a good example of that. The theater was amazing, the result pre determined.

[Agnosticsherbet]

6. That would mean at least four candidates on the stage.

Not crowded, but enough to make it interesting to watch.

[nadinbrzezinski]

8. 'xactly

[sabrina 1]

13. Chafee is supposed to run also, so that would make five. The more the merrier.

[Agnosticsherbet]

22. I look forward to hearing what Chafee wants to do

as my representative in the executive branch.

[cwydro]

9. The more

the merrier!

[TwilightGardener]

16. Good. Look forward to hearing more from both him and O'Malley.

[BlueStater]

17. Yuck.

No idea why this one-term, DINO mediocrity wants to run. He should piss off.

Do you think it's possible the Democratic party could get someone NOT born in the 1940s to run for them?

[nadinbrzezinski]

18. Look I am only endorsing big money

the obvious winner of this farse...

I just report in this case.

[FSogol]

21. Martin O'Malley DOB: January 18, 1963.

Just saying...

[BlueStater]

29. I already know about him.

I was just being sarcastic about how incredibly old the Democratic bench is, O'Malley aside. It's beyond ridiculous the party can only attract one candidate under 65 to run for them*.

*Or two if Lincoln Chafee runs. At 62, he's not exactly young but he's a fountain of youth compared to Sanders and Webb.

[Agnosticsherbet]

23. I don't see him as the best person for the job, but I look

forward to hearing what he has to say.

[CharlotteVale]

39. +1

[onenote]

19. I think Jim is really running for VP

Anyway, I'm going to be watching this closely, since he lives down the street from me.

[nadinbrzezinski]

20. I think a few will run for VEEP on both sides

actually.

[Agnosticsherbet]

24. Or he is running to get exposure for 2020 or 2024.

Also, I am not sure what he brings to the table as a VP. Is he so popular in his state that he could deliver it to the winner?

Is it his relative youth beside a more maure winner?

I do'nt remember seeing a lot of loosing contenders from primaries makeing the leap to VP. Biden did it, of course. Sounds like an interesting thing to google.

[Joe the Revelator]

25. Webb is already 69. I think this is his one shot.

Assuming a democratic win, he'd be 77 in 24.

[Agnosticsherbet]

27. I did not realize he was that old, but being 60 myself

he does't seem old to me.

[Joe the Revelator]

28. He looks 20 years younger. He's like Dick Clark, he never ages apparently.

[demtenjeep]

30. I actually think that the D should rally behind one overwhelming candidate from the start

let the idiots in the republican clown short bus take each other out while our candidate gets stronger and doesn't have to spend "BIG MONEY" battling.




wouldn't endorsing "big money" be a farce in itself?

[JDPriestly]

60. That's risky. There is no such thing as an "overwhelming" candidate.

All candidates are vulnerable. That's why we have elections.

[Agnosticsherbet]

61. I don't see a feasible way to convince all D's to rally behind one person.

The Democratic Party is not a monolithic organization. We have the Progressive left, Liberals, Centrist Democrats, Unions, Hispanics, Black, and a number other cadres each with their own view of what they want in a candidate.

I don't se anything wrong with a number of candidates competing for the job of chief representative of the Executive Branch.

[Warren DeMontague]

32. I'd like to hear each candidate articulate clear, direct policy positions

and non-evasive answers to media questions.

I'm sure for all our potential candidates, that will be no problem, right?

[nadinbrzezinski]

36. Well your first problem is actually with the media

they blew their chance the other day with HRC. I don't want to hear about the Iraq war. I know the answers already. Same thing with the Emails. Now...how about no child left behind and poor to marginal education in inner cities? Or for that matter how to deal with jobs and opportunities like my own South East San Diego? I am betting none in the MSM will ask those questions.

Let me add, how the hell would president (insert name here, don't care who) will deal with changing police culture across 18,000 departments from a warrior ethos to a guardian ethos? This is like a top recommendation in the Policing in the 21st century report. So I am not pulling that one out of thin air but an actual report released Monday.

[Warren DeMontague]

38. I agree on most of that, although I think the Iraq War is still a legitimate question.

Just as it is with Jeb Bush.

The emails... I consider a non-issue, although her performance in that regard was decidedly amateurish (surely she understands government transparency requirements by now, doesn't she?) and also displayed a sort of reflexive aversion to disclosure which is disconcerting.

But you are absolutely right. If the media's "questions" are all Blowjobs and Benghazi, so to speak, then she is absolutely justified in blowing them off.

[nadinbrzezinski]

40. Oh it is

And it is a gimme. She was ready, Jen was not. But there is a slew of questions not asked

Of course Iraq, my question to these clowns is...how do you plan to deal with the present consequences of the war. I think we all know we made a huge strategic mistake. But asking about the vote and not the present is a huge problem

[betterdemsonly]

37. I think he has the strongest foreign policy creds of any dem

and I think he will develop a huge following among the marginalized antiwar movement. I think he will shred Hillary's largely mythological foreign policy reputation to pieces.

She and her neocon/liberal interventionist advisors played a huge role in the Syrian and Libya mess and she deserves to be called out over it.

[KamaAina]

41. "Hillary's largely mythological foreign policy reputation"?

Wasn't she Secretary of State? I'm no Hillary fan, as you can see, but I'm pretty sure that qualifies.

[betterdemsonly]

42. Being Secretary of State doesn't mean your good at it

As Secretary of State, she agitated for destabilizing Libya and Syria. Now we have Isis insurgencies in both places.

[Bluenorthwest]

44. If this Party nominated a Reagan official they would lose my vote on every line of the ticket for

good. The fact that straight white conservative Democrats drool over Reagan/Bush Republicans is bad enough. Nominate one and it's bye bye to millions of voters. Count on it.

[betterdemsonly]

45. Assistant Sec of Reserve Affairs isn't exactly a politicized position.

Except in your head. He has never ran for office as anything other than a dem. Obama has tons of republicans serving in very politicized positions. Victoria Nuland and Ben Barnanke come to mind.

[TBF]

43. Another republican - yay! nt

[MaggieD]

46. "These 9.25" x2.5" vinyl stickers are a cinch to apply and remove with ease"

Because you WILL want to take it off when he bites the dust in short order. LOL!

[nadinbrzezinski]

47. Maggie Maggie, maggie, all these announcents now have these things

regardless of who.

Pro tip try to not make fun of SOP by politicians... you will not look foolish.

I s'pose now you will accuse me of supporting Webb... par for the course though with you.

[MaggieD]

48. You puretopians take things WAY too seriously!

Try to smile and laugh a little. It's good for you!

[nadinbrzezinski]

49. More insults from you

look my candidate is going to win, regardless of who takes it in the end. My candidate is BIG MONEY. I assure you, my candidate is taking this by a landslide. Oh and my candidate is not a D or an R, or an I, he\she just is. And my candidate will get whoever wins to dance to whatever tune he\she\it sets up.

But when all you have is insults you really look foolish.

What you got the afternoon shift?

[MaggieD]

50. Encouraging you to smile and laugh a little is an insult?

Who knew? Seriously - do you ever try to just enjoy life and not be so angry 24/7? You're not hurting those you rail against, you know. You're hurting yourself.

Is the weather going to be nice in CA this memorial day weekend? It's supposed to be nice here in Seattle! I'm going to try to enjoy it. Hope you do too!

[nadinbrzezinski]

54. On top of everthing you must be psychic

trust me, your mind reading skills are quite broken.



Now seriously, I got a story to write about some of those idealist fools trying to convince their congressman (happens to be mine too but that is another story) NOT TO VOTE FOR TPA and TTP. When I left they were peacefully occupying the office... and phone banking.

Now those people actually get off their assess and live what they believe in. Hey, one or more are willing to get arrested for their believes.

First, need to see the pictures. Let's see if I managed to get any of the balloons as they burst. The timing for that has to be absolutely PPUUURRRFFECCTT.

[MaggieD]

57. Okay - enjoy your misery if that is your choice

[nadinbrzezinski]

58. You truly need to recalibrate this hat

Last edited Thu May 21, 2015, 10:25 PM - Edit history (1)

Now trying to find if I need to get back to the field though.

[Johonny]

51. Seems like a mix of Obama/Hillary

Like Obama he has a better anti-Iraq war feel while having military gravitas, but Democrats in the primary care more about social issues/economic issues than a persons capacity to have war gravitas. He doesn't seem likely to talk rings around Hillary on actual social issues. Feels like a VP pick to give Hillary "military experience" memos. Feels like the platform is still open for more liberals posturing for 2020-2024... where are they? It would be nice for Hillary to have a VP that could actually run post-Clinton rather than a Biden/Kerry end of the string partner. Webb feels like a dead end VP pick if he was chosen.

[JDPriestly]

52. He will challenge Hillary and Bernie from the right.

The corporate-owned press will love him. Booooo.

Probably Hillary's pick for VP. Again, Boooooooooo.

[JDPriestly]

53. Is there a link or is this your article?

[nadinbrzezinski]

55. As the OP stated I got that over email

I subscribe to so many of the email lists of all these clowns it is not even funny. And some I did not subscribe but I still got their email (michelle Bachman, she crossed lines when she asked for money in a news release. Those two lists shall never cross).

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

56. Webb is too conservative for my taste, but

I think we can safely say that our declared candidates are at least sane and well-qualified - so we're waaaaay ahead of the GOPers already. So far there's Clinton, Sanders, O'Malley and now Webb. You might have a favorite - so far I'm leaning toward Sanders - but even those who are not "favorites" are normal, respectable people and not criminally insane.

[nadinbrzezinski]

59. I just posted it as a point of information

I know some here might be interested. I particularly don't give two shits about it. (About the whole race mind you)

[Atman]

62. "Leadership you can trust."

Bumper stickers that say the same old bullshit.

[BlueStater]

63. Well, if you're going to have a boring candidate, might as well give him a boring slogan.

Jimmy probably came up with that generic bit of blandness in about a second.