Posted on 11/04/2006 8:08:18 AM PST by tomzz
Of all the things the MSM owed the voting public but refused to do, I think the one that stands out the most is its failure to find out why Webb had such a short tenure at both the Naval Academy (one semester) and as Navy Secretary (10 months). Leaving such positions after such a short time is basically unheard of.
For twenty years Webb has succeeded in convincing the world that he resigned as Navy Secretary to protest budget cuts. I and others here didn't buy that--the way he delivered his resigation by leaving a letter on someone's desk rather in person suggested it was a hostile departure.
Well, what should I trip across the other day but this article, in which one of his close friends states in no uncertain terms that the reason was his inability to get along with Frank Carlucci, the Secretary of Defense.
http://www.nationalreview.com/owens/owens200602130816.asp
This--as well as the duplicity of the budget cut cover story--is certainly relevant to Virginia voters.
Until then, I can only go on faith as well as historical evidence that all polls are slanted to the left.
I absolutely agree with you! Just hoping that I'd missed something like..."Webb Caught Stealing Elderly Woman's Purse". You know, something like that.
Your source of information is wrong. Jim Webb not only graduated in 1968 from the U.S. Naval Academy, but he had an enormously successful four years there, finishing high academically, and holding a high rank as a Midshipman officer. Tha latter ranking was based on his overall military and leadership aptitude, which also included his academic performance, and peer evaluations. In addition, he was a distinguished varsity athlete, advancing every one of his four years to the Academy's Brigade Boxing finals.
This having been said, the problem with his candidacy is that, even if he is not the cookie cutter liberal democrat, there is little chance he would be able to impose nominally conservative views on the existing liberal cadre led by ruling dinosaurs like Boxer, Kennedy, Kerry, Leahy, and the doofus from Iowa, Harkin. Like Lieberman, he would have to either evolve or be exterminated by his own party. That's where his resignation from the Reagan administration does not provide a very encouraging history of his ability to prevail under political pressure.
...and the vote-rich military area around Norfolk (largest Naval Station in the world I think--and he's a former Navy secretary).
I live in the area - Newport News. I have yet to meet any Marine, GI, Airman or Sailor who gave a rat’s butt about a service secretary, former or current. For all but some flag officers and wannabes that would be reason enough not to vote for him.
Good grief! I was not referring to his student days. I was referring to his time as a professor. He started teaching English at the Naval Academy and left after a single sememester.
Good grief! I was not referring to his student days. I was referring to his time as a professor. He started teaching English at the Naval Academy and left after a single sememester.
That makes a lot of sense without a reference, huh?
I have seen some poll results showing him ahead in that area but am not sure they are reliable. When you start with a poll of 400-500 people and divide it into four regions, I am just not sure that you end up with decent sets of data.
I'm sorry. I misunderstood. I also didn't realize he taught there, but I'm guessing it would have been as a guest lecturer rather than as a professor, and maybe even limited to discussion of his own novels. Might that explain why his term was so short?
Here's my reasoning. I look back to three elections in particular in which the Democrat won - Chuck Robb, Mark Warner, and Tim Kaine. Each of these Democrats ran as a hardline conservative. It is because of this that each was elected, although each showed his true colors shortly after taking office. So far, Webb has not pretended to be a conservative. Based upon that, I do not think he has a chance of getting elected just as Mary Sue Terry didn't back in '93.
It is a tight contest, but my comment was directed particularly at the idea expressed that he has the military vote wrapped up because he was Secretary of the Navy.
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