How about Virginia's Jim Webb for Vice POTUS? He was Assistant Secretary of Defense, then Secretary of the Navy under Reagan -- Reagan! He's the Republican-turned-Democrat who squeaked past incumbent Republican Senator George "Macaca" Allen in the 2006 election to switch the Senate majority from the Republicans to the Democrats. So he's a crossover guy who slapped down a racist bully and took his job. To me, he symbolizes the message voters tried to send in 2006.
Secretary of the Navy's not enough military credibility for you? OK: he graduated from the Naval Academy and went straight to Viet Nam as a 2nd Lieutenent Marine, where he earned a Navy Cross, a Silver Star, couple of Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts. Oh, and his son served with the Marines in the occupation of Iraq.
So he's a badass moderate who's held a Cabinet position with the Department of Defense, switched parties during Bush, and represents the will of voters to move away from racist, codeword, phony cowboy guys. Also, he's technically from the south.
To all you NASCAR Dads: He's clearly not afraid to use -- and he knows how to use -- the military.
To all you Soccer Moms: He's got, very literally, skin in the game.
Downside: he has very little Congressional experience so although his resume is very long he, unlike LBJ or (hate to say it) Cheney, probably isn't a master at making deals and pushing legislation through. Joe Biden's your man for that, or Chris Dodd. Even so, I'm saying:
Obama-Webb 2008.
6 comments:
Did Keith pay you to write this? You know he's gay for Webb, right?
I was totally gay for Webb. I wanted to have a bromance. But then he voted in favor in favor of the Torture Bill. Now, I would just give him meaningless sex.
BTW, he does know how to push legislation through. He spearheaded the bill to allow soldiers an equal amount of time home between deployments.
Watch closely to see if his 21st century GI bill (S.22/ H.R. 5740).
VA Senator and legend (he did Liz Taylor REPEATEDLY, then they got married, then they divorced, then she was shot out of a circus cannon right into a brick wall) John Warner loves working alongside Webb.
Webb has long been my #1 seed for VP. A close second is Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. She could take away McCain's home state and much of the west.
Passes.
Watch closely to see if his 21st century GI bill (S.22/ H.R. 5740) PASSES.
And always proofread, kiddies.
oh ... and everybody loves this story:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/28/AR2006112801582.html
From today's Wash post:
... The politically controversial expanded G.I. Bill was expected to give momentum to the House measure. The provision, written by Sens. James Webb (D-Va.) and John W. Warner (R-Va.), would cover the costs of school at even the most expensive state universities for Iraq and Afghanistan veterans, and would encourage private universities to provide additional student aid for them. The House bill would pay for the benefit with a surtax of half a percentage point on income over $500,000 for individuals and $1 million for couples.
The measure has attracted broad bipartisan support, but it is opposed by Bush because of its cost, its tax increase and fears that its generosity could entice service members to leave the military rather than reenlist at the end of their tours. Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the presumptive Republican nominee, has put forward a less generous alternative that would save its richest benefits for service members doing multiple tours.
But McCain's efforts have run into bipartisan opposition -- from lawmakers, veterans organizations and educators. Former homeland security secretary Tom Ridge, a close McCain ally, came out for Webb's measure yesterday.
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