Chapter 58.8: Set Up?

The following is complete speculation: I can't help but wonder whether the flap about Sen. Webb's assistant being caught carrying a concealed weapon -- reportedly for the senator -- stems from someone setting Webb up. It just sounds like the old tactics of hitting a political rival; remember that Webb offered the Democrats' response to President Bush's State of the Union and was generally regarded as offering an excellent counter to the call for seemingly endless funding of the unpopular war. It's been three months, which is usually more than enough shelf life for U.S. political stories in the minds of most Americans. Somehow, I don't think this is a simple whoops.

Chapter 55.7: The State of the Senator

Boy, my first impression of Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) is that he's a no-nonsense populist. I like that. He's got an impressive speech writer, too.

Webb included the gngoing need to assist the hurricane-ravaged Gulf Coast, which President Bush never referenced in this year's State of the Union. And talk about credentials for discussing the situation with the war! Webb's family history and pride in military service can never be disputed. From what I understand, during his senatorial campaign Webb often mentioned the Andrew Jackson quote about focusing on the state of the base rather than the state of the wealthy. And I appreciated the math on how it takes the average worker more than an entire year to earn what the high-paid corporate CEOs make in one day.

I don't know whether the Eisenhower and Teddy Roosevelt references were usual campaign pitches or not, but I thought they were quite impressive ways of saying "other Republican presidents have been able to lead the country. What's wrong with you, Mr. President?"

But my personal litmus test for the effectiveness of Sen. Webb's speech: My wife stopped and took notice. She's not political and cleaves to no party. For her to listen to what this man was saying means that other people will too. I didn't realize a response speech could be so impressive. I expect great things of him.