How many of you, if able, would support Academy grad Jim Webb in his quest to unseat George Allen in the now hotly contested Virginia Senate race?
Not me. I remember James Webb from back in the late 80's when, unable to do what he wanted as SECNAV, he whined like a baby and quit. He had ZERO respect among the members of the Brigade and no one was sad to see him go. I find it hysterical that the party that alleges to be the great defenders of women's rights everywhere (except Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Oval Office, of course) could put up a man who was so vocal (even in my day) of how women had no place in the military. Being an Academy grad is not a license for others to turn off their beliefs and follow blindly. I learned that the hard way during the first Perot flap. Webb is an untrustable jerk. There are others on this site who know him better than I do, and their descriptions are even harsher than mine.
Living in NOVA, I get a lot of the lovely attack ads. We are residents of FL. From what I have seen/read/heard neither are a prize. We have a man who grew up in Cali running around talking about how things are down in Virginia wearing a cowboy hat and boots. I just look at him and think rhinestone cowboy. If you listen to him speak there isn't a lot of thought up there. Think jock trying to look and talk smart. Then there is the other guy, who talked about women at the USNA like they were going to take the place down. Webb Changed parties, some feel for other than the reason stated. On the plus side he does have a kid in Iraq, so he will fight like h*^^ to get them what they need. I have friends here that are just peeved at the course that the congress has taken. The national debit is out of control, the government is in the bedroom and the hospital room too (Teri Schiavo). They have passed fewer pieces of legislation than any congress in 50 years. I won't even go into the other scandals. As the spouse of a military officer, I can not believe that in a time of war the american people are not asked to sacrifice any way to help the nation pay for it. During WWI and WWII, people would buy war bonds and save and recycle. We now are running the debit through the roof, my grandkids will be paying for this war. The equipment is wearing out and needs to be replaced. Our people are wearing down too.
justawife, I think you are saying the election is a lesser of two evils. People who switch parties bother me. I wonder at their true reasons. Webb did resign as SecNav because he disagreed with Reagan's Navy strenght cuts. He is still in favor of a strong military and thinks we have cut too much which is a plus. His 1979 comments about women in combat DID cause undue harm to the female midshipmen at the Academy and, as head of Veterans Affairs, they were not those of a private citizen. Had he been a private citizen, I could possibly see where he was coming from. Carter had just decreed women equal to men in the military, outside in, no input from his military leaders. Webb was probably 33 years old, a writer, knowing the power of words. He had been a platoon leader and company commander in Vietnam. Vietnam is hard to explain to those who haven't been there. It was a vile, filthy jungle. Conditions were beyond horrible. In many cases, it was survival, pure and simple. I myself would not want my sister or daughter to experience those conditions. As a private citizen, Webb had the right to make those observations. However, the Washington Post did not post his editorial because he was a private citizen. They publsihed it because he was the head of Veterans Affairs and an accomplished author. He should have been more responsible. Kind of like Kerry in CA the other day, open mouth-insert foot. In his defense, when he was SecNav he opened up many career paths for women. Prior to his term, women were not allowed to deploy on combatants, could not fly tactical aircraft, and many other restrictions. He changed all that. So maybe his overall actions have redeemed him from his initial gaff.
If he keeps this up, he'll give Kerry a run for his money for the "Flip-Flop King" title. Like Murtha and Kerry? I think everyone else does, too. The thing is that in general a persons beliefs fall into either one camp or the other. Not entirely, mind you, but in general it's true. Sorry, but I disagree. What we are missing is people of character. I wouldn't mind the liberals if they would stand up and actually say what they believe. The thing is, they know they will LOSE if they do (hence the complete absence of the Democratic leadership during the past several days). As for the Republicans, too many of them love to talk the talk, but then ditch the Conservative mantle when they get to Washington, either because they didn't mean it or because they want to be popular among the beltway illuminati. Another thing that is different now than in the past (or at least as far back as mid-Vietnam) is that politics USED TO end at the water's edge. If America went to war or even threatened to, the country stood mostly united. Nowadays we have too many traitors and scumbags who are willing to sell the entire country down the river just to get their precious asses back into power. It's utterly pathetic, and if you think I don't hold the GOP responsible for not getting into their faces about it rather than cowering in the shadows, you are grossly mistaken. We don't need moderates in Congress. I won't even say we need more Conservatives (which I'd be ecstatic with if they actually governed that way). No, what we need is people of CHARACTER. Sadly, one side has practically none, and the other doesn't have nearly as many as it should. Until THAT is rectified, we're screwed. ETA: I have no earthly idea why the post I quoted now appears AFTER this one.
Webb was a Dem, then a Pubby and then a Dem again. I agree with the cutting has gone too far, the AF is going straight back to post Vietnam days. I really believe we need more people who are vets in congress, people who have been to war know what it really means to go to war. I am a Independent voter. I look to what a person stands for not if they have a R or D after their name. The really problem that I see with congress these days is that all the moderates are gone-- Dole and Bradley come to mind they work hard to bridge partisan ideology and get things done. As to the women at academies, it reminds me of LCWB at AFA. The edodo had a really funny barb at those men who were totally against women at the zoo, who now encourage their daughters to go there now.
