Free Republic

The one thing that I have to say with respect to the current staff is that they: (1) appear tired, (2) increasingly appear inept (in Washington perception is reality), and (3) lack fresh ideas.

A shakeup wouldn't hurt. To use a baseball analogy, even the New York Yankees benefit from management restructing from time to time.

I'm not saying that all new folks need to be brought in. Nicolle Devenish, for example, is already on board. She'd be a great replacement for McClellan.

I stand correct on retirement v. resignation. That was a poor choice of words.

However, I refer to Iran Contra, not to what could be characterized as the policy initiatives that led to what was known as the "Iran Contra" scandal, but rather the series of investigations resulting in the wake therefrom.

North retired for a number of reasons. It was his choice to do so. However, he did feel some indirect heat from both SECNAV and the Commandant...ultimately leading to his decision to retire. And, yes, Webb did resign in 1988 before North retired. However, he certainly didn't help North any during that period of time.

With respect to yor comments on North's NSC application, Webb wasn't there. Webb wasn't on the NSC so I seriously doubt that he had any knowledge on that subject from his position as first Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs.

If he was so damned sure on that subject, why didn't he make a criminal referral? People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.

"Anyone who knows Webb knows that he's always been a mean, vindictive, overbearing SOB. That's why he was such an effective combat officer."

This is precisely why...notwithstanding George Allen's popularity...that he will never be elected.

So, you can see no benefit from removing Saddam Hussein from power? How is that?

Take a look at these numbers:
Virginia Senator

George Allen (R) 57%
Webb (D) 26%
Other 7%
RasmussenReports.com

Chances are, most of those 26% supporting Webb in this poll are doing so only because there is a (D) next to his name. My educated guess is that his name recognition is very low. Outside of political circles, most do not even know who he is or what he has done.

Virginia is divided into these subparts: Northern Virginia and Tidewater (called the "The Golden Cresent"), the Piedmont Region (including the Shenandoah Valley, Central Virginia (including Richmond), Southside, and Southwest Virginia.

I'll say this loudly and boldy, Webb will never draw any serious support outside of Northern Virginia or Tidewater.

As to whether he'll be able to campaign well, I seriously doubt it. He won't be up to par with Allen. Allen is formidable as a candidate. He wins in historically Democrat strongholds.

Just check out the numbers for Buena Vista, Virginia in his run for Senate or his 1993 race for Governor. He is the kind of guy who can go into blue collar areas...and talk in a manner that the average guy on the street likes.

Webb cannot do that. He is too vain.

Outside of his tenure as SecNav, Webb has no political experience. He will be untested...and the stress of the campaign will get to him.

Take a look at post #16.

Look, if you won't take my word for it, do some research. The guy has been trending left for a number of years now. There are many Reaganites who question whether he was ever truly a conservative.

I'm not going to name names but there are many bonafide movement conservatives (those who were there at the revolution)who are absolutely sick over who and what he has become.

The first big indication that he was moving left came in 1994 when he endorsed Chuck Robb over Oliver North. Yes, there was some bad blood between him and Ollie. However, he started keeping different company then at that time.

Webb has done more than critique Iraq. He was opposed to the entire operation -- and for that matter -- no longer seems to support any application of force. It's one thing to critique Iraq by stating that greater force must be applied but entirely something different to state that force should have never been applied.

Take a look at his current positions on Iraq and the war on terror.

He's not going to just waltz into the Democrat Party and secure the nomination without taking leftist positions.

I'm a Virginian...and I know from experience that he will most certainly have to appease the following groups:
A. The Teachers;
B. The Unions; and
C. Gay and Lesbian Groups.

You just watch. He'll piss away whatever proud legacy he had theretofore.

How about liberal?

Always A Marine:
My statements to the effect that he is a candy ass have absolutely nothing to do with his record in Viet Nam. I'm sick and tired of people ducking and hiding behind war records or military service anytime the heat gets turned up in the proverbial political kitchen. A war record should not be cover for policy positions that otherwise jeopardize this Republic.

When I was a cadet at the Virginia Military Institute...his book "Field of Fire" was considered required reading. Indeed, his tenure as SecNav had much to do with the ultimate selection of Gen. Gray as Commandant and the renewed efforts of the Marine Corps to improve training.

But let's face it. This is the year 2006. Not 1988 or 1968. We have a war(s) that we are fighting now...and we must win. Period.

James Webb is a candy ass...not for his war record...but because he is the political equivalent of cross-dresser. He's come out of the closet now...and I'll call him a candy ass any day of the week.

I entirely disagree. George Allen is formidable. He outperforms most other Republicans. In addition, he runs very well in traditional Democrat strongholds.

Just a little background.

James Webb and Ollie North -- both who served in the Reagan Administration. There has a been a longstanding feud between the two of them dating all the way back to their days at the Naval Academy in the 1960s.

In 1967, North and Webb fought in a boxing match for the Bridge Championship (which is a big deal at the Naval Academy). Webb had been considered to be the better boxer but North won that fight on that day. Webb has held a grudge since that time.

During Iran Contra, Webb was the U.S. Secretary of the Navy. He issued various broadsides at North -- eventually forcing North to resign from the Marine Corps.

Fast forward to 1994. Oliver North ran for the U.S. Senate seat in Virginia against Chuck Robb. To the chagrin of many Republicans and former Reagan Administration officials, Webb endorsed Robb. The press had a field day with it.

In recent times, Webb has been a strong critic against the war in Iraq and to an extent on the war against terror. He does not favor an aggressive use of force in the Middle East. He has gone soft.

I have no idea where he stands on the broad array of issues. However, I sense that he is becoming a lot like Wes Clark -- a sellout on his earlier held beliefs.

In the past, there were quite a few former Reagan Administration alumni had respect for Webb -- despite his straying off the reservation.

Now that he has announced his intention to seek office as a Democrat....the fit will hit the sham. This is an affront to Reagan himself.

I've said it here all along that Webb is a candy ass and now he is a traitor to the conservative cause.

On the contrary, I support John McCain because he is the only candidate really talking about the need to kill the terrorists.

"I first met Allen back in 92 when he was running for governor and nobody thought he had a chance against Mary Sue Terry, but he won easily."

Like you, my support for him goes all the way back to 1992...well before the 1993 election. In fact, I was one of the original members of his steering committee. I don't say this lightly...but he's not ready to be the #1 on the ticket.

The reason that I like McCain is simple. He's the only potential candidate who has consistently supported a robust posture with respect to Iraq, the war in Afghanistan, and the overall war on terror. By this, I do not mean that he supports the status quo...but rather an expanded force posture.

As to social issues, if we don't win this war on terror the rest of it won't matter so much.

Finally, with regard to your comment that no one thought that Bush could win the nomination in 2000, I don't remember that at all. In fact, I remember that going back as far as 1998 he was regarded as the putative front runner.

"A McCain nomination would just about snuff out conservatism... another Clinton in the White House would snuff out America."

But, it just might go a long way towards snuffing out Islamafacism. That ain't all bad in my book.

I love George Allen. He's my senator and my support for him goes back to the earliest days of his campaign for Governor in the 1993 race. However, his numbers are in the single digits right now when matched up against McCain and others.

Realistically, my guess is that he will be VP candidate.

I have not been a big fan of McCain in the past but I will support him now for the simple reason that he has the most robust posture with respect to the Islamafacists.

To date, he has been the most consistent and outspoken supporter of the war on terror.

"The way a justice votes on a stay request does not necessarily signal how the justice will rule on the merits of a death penalty case. The court earlier this week granted a similar stay of execution to another death row inmate from Florida."

Right now, it is too early to tell. This involves procedural aspects rather than merits of the case. Clarence Thomas has voted this way in the past only to later rule against the petitioner on the merits.

"It ain't gonna be Mccain. A solid conservative will beat him in the primary."

My primary question is who then? I'd support Allen in a minute but his numbers are in the low single digits.

"I have nothing but contempt for the man."

You display a complete ignorance of Lee and the great affinity which people from the 18th and 19th centuries had for their native states. During that era, the "United States" was often written as a plural subject in sentences rather than in the singular. This, of course, was decided on the field of battle. However, you are judging Lee with your 21st century frame of mind.

And, unless you have somehow transported yourself across time to speak with Washington, I see no basis for your statement that Washington would be ashamed of Lee. Washington shared Lee's passion for Virginia. For that matter, so did Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, James Madison to name only a few.

The early Virginians are greatly responsible for formation of the Nation we know today. And, that success was built upon the traditions of the Commonwealth of Virginia.

As a graduate of VMI (where Stonewall Jackson taught physics) and Washington and Lee University School of Law, I can assuredly say that your daughter will be in good hands should she be accepted.

Good luck to the both of you.