"Bring 'Em Home!" Obama-Webb '08

"OBAMA-WEBB SWEEP TO VICTORY, " reads the headline Wednesday, November 5th, 2008 in The New York Times.

I've seen the future and thought I'd come back and share the good news. Everyone expected a tough, close race against McCain when Obama elbowed Hillary out of the top spot. For weeks there was furious speculation as to whom he would chose as his VP but when he settled on Senator Jim Webb, former Marine, former Secretary of the Navy under Ronald Reagan, dad of a young man recently returned from Iraq and from the swing-state of Virginia, all the pieces fell into place for a rout. The Webb choice defanged the McCain advantage on militaristic experience and like Obama the one-term Senator from Virginia represented a fresh face that the electorate craved. The Democrats coasted to victory with the simple slogan: "Bring 'em Home! Obama-Webb '08."

The McCain-Kay Bailey Hutchison ticket tried to counter with their own slogan, "A HUNDRED YEARS OF MORE WAR!" but it never really caught on.

Trey Ellis is the author of Bedtime Stories: Adventures in the Land of Single-Fatherhood.

Comments

[LionEater]

I'd much prefer adiferent Virginian, Gov. Tim Kaine, on the ticket with Obama.

[LionEater]

Geez, my spelling is atrocious. That was supposed to say "a different.­" Kaine was one of Obama's earliest supporters, and I think he has a personality that is more compatible with Barack.

[CGrace]

I agree with General Zinni for the VP. Someone on MSNBC mentioned this last night, but I can't remember who said it. Also, Zinni lives in Virginia.

[KiwisCanFly]

CGrace thanks, I've been trying to recall the name I heard Tim Russert mention this morning on MSNBC as his pick for Obama's VP. Now I can go look up his credentials.

[Mystery954]

If Obama wins the nom. he should pick Tony Zinni. It would sure up any idea that an Obama administration would be weak on foreign policy. Zinni has far more national defense and foreign affairs expertise and can articulate it much better.

His selection would instantly wipe out the McCain game plan to try and exploit Obama’s lack of military service and lack of experience in foreign diplomacy.

[LAcarlito]

You and CGrace bring up Zinni. A much better choice than Wes Clark, who is in the pockets of the Clintons, and therefore, out of loyalty, would be unlikely to be a strong advocate for Obama.

As I said above, a military person or Governor is what I think is the best "mix" when you have a senator at the top of the ticket.

[KiwisCanFly]

I'm wondering is there a Hispanic, Female, General? LOL

[HearNoWeasel]

Not. Webb betrayed his constituents and the constitution yesterday. The Senate wiretapping bill is a bad Cheney wetdream. If one of the 20 Dems who voted for it ends up on the presidential ticket, we might as well hand McCain the crown. It would be such a big "Screw You" to progressive voters that they'll vote third ticket for sure.

Whatever great things Webb's done, he erased them yesterday by voting with honest-to-goodness traitors like Rockefeller and Liebermann. Here are the Dems who spit on the 4th Amendment:

Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Webb (D-VA), Yea
Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea

[FiddleDD2]

Totally agree. Webb was the biggest disappointment followed by Mikulski.

[JerfyT]

You should Clinton on that list as she couldn't be bothered to even vote, despite being in town

[shockedNawed]

From: GovTrack

Illinois
Nay IL Durbin, Richard [D]
No Vote IL Obama, Barack [D] ***

==========­==========­========

JerfyT, you know the comings and goings of Hillary? What a fan you are!

[RogerHWerner]

I think people who believe Webb betrayed his constituency don't know much about Webb. Webb was the darling of progressives because he is vehemently anti-Iraq War and anti-Bush. Good reasons to like Webb to be sure. Webb however is of the conservative side of progressivism. For almost a year, I have stated that not all progressives are liberal and Webb is a perfect example of a conservative progressive: No this is not an oxymoron. Webb is anti IRAQ war not anti-war. Anyone who expects Jim Webb to start acting like a liberal doesn't understand Virginia politics.

[shockedNawed]

Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Casey (D-PA), Yea
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Yea
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Lieberman (ID-CT), Yea
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
McCaskill (D-MO), Yea
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Yea
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
Webb (D-VA), Yea
Whitehouse (D-RI), Yea

----------­----------­----------

The whole lot of 'em should be trashed. Buncha phony cowards!

[lookingAhead]

Is this the same Webb that voted to give immunity to the telcom companies that helped Bush comment a crime. I would not be happy with that combo.

[donaldw6]

I tried to mention the same thing, but my post suffered an unfortunate accident. Couldn't be helped, I'm sure. At any rate, I second your comment.

[pinkmamba]

Edwards AG
Richadson State
Clark Defense
all need a job
See no senators loss here! just one (BO)

VP should be a woman from a swing state that can be groomed to be a president.

[PKSSK]

Agree, one acception, Zinni as Defense Sec.

[jstock]

I've also heard it suggested that Obama dig up Sam Nunn. Neither Webb nor Nunn will do. First, they are too CONSERVATIVE. Second, the Dems can never be hawkish enough for the GOP smear machine. They could nominate Rambo and Republicans would portray him as a pussy. Let's not buy into the old framing. Obama/Edwards, or Obama/Boxer would be great, though...

[donaldw6]

Webb is history as far as I'm concerned. I want an investigation of all the Dems -- and Republicans too, what the heck! -- who voted for telecomm immunity. This was a real betrayal of principle. You don't repay that with a VP nod; you repay it with exposing the corruption, and voting him out of office!

[UltraClassic]

Hillary '08

There is an interesting article in the Post by Rice/Gates as well as an op/ed supporting a more realistic approach to Iraq than what the Clinton and Obama camps propose.

You should read them.

Hillary '08

[RusStyles]

Richardson would be my first choice, in that I think it solidify the hispanic vote, wide experience; complimentary personality; exceptional diplomatic chops and other intangibles.

[Promise]

I second the idea of Richardson as VP. He would get the Hispanic vote which is badly needed. He can make up for Obama's alleged lack of experience. He has the kind of good ol' boy skills that Obama lacks, too.

[Alessan]

How about Nancy Pelosi, impeachment is off the table, very dissapointing speaker of the house.Obam­a/Pelosi.

[ptarantino]

Webb voted against going after the Telco's, which is a major no-no in my book.

[nellie]

I like the Obama/Webb idea, too. Jim Webb has been a courageous and outspoken Senator. It would be a strong ticket.

[Querent]

I must again ask for a link to any article showing that Webb has done ANYTHING to bring an end to the Iraq occupation. Anybody?

[independentrepublicrat]

Your blog is a great recipe for a loss. And wasn't Webb one of those Democrats who voted with the Bush Administration aganst 4th Amendment rights yesterday?! He obviously doesn't have the fortitude we demand.

Colin Powell would be a better VP choice than Webb. Seriously, can we get real and stop pontificating on things like Obama has won the presidency arleady...­he hasn't even secured the nomination yet.

[CaptainObvious]

That would be a yes. He's voted with bu$h on pretty much everything, in fact.

[jfor]

Powell is a liar. Is that real enough for you?

[Steamboater]

Powell is more than a liar. I remember when he was asked what he would do if Gays were allowed in the military and he said he would quit. He's an ardent homophobe.

[darcy]

Good one, Mr. Ellis!

[lisakaz]

How 'bout Dodd or Biden or that Gov from Arizona?

[Wilbur]

Of those three, the best choice would be Biden. If Dodd were chosen, his vacated Senate seat would be filled by a Republican, since CT.'s governor (Jodie Rell), who has the authority to make such appointments when seats are vacated, is a Republican. That would not be a good thing. Choosing AZ's popular female governor (Janet Napalitano) looks good initially (I had pondered that idea for a while), because it would cut into McCain's home-state advantage. However, an Obama/Napalitano ticket would have one big negative, that being little foreign policy experience, which I fear the GOP would work to their advantage.

Wilbur