Webb for VP in '08?

I am not just mentioning this to get you to jump out of your chair and do cartwheels -- although you can at your own risk. 

Polls indicate that foreign policy will be the number one issue during the '08 general election.  No one other than Wesley Clark has better national security credentials than Jim Webb.

The News Virginian noted this morning why both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are looking at the rookie Senator from Virginia as a possible VP choice:

Webb’simage beyond his home state as a no-nonsense ex-Marine and former Navysecretary in the Reagan administration is generating talk about him asa possible running mate for Democratic presidential frontrunnersHillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

“The only [Democratic] candidates with defense credence are Webb and Wesley Clark,’’ Roberts said.

Lessthan a year after toppling Republican incumbent George Allen, Webb hasemerged as one of the Democratic Party’s strongest voices on themilitary and national defense. He delivered the party’s nationallytelevised response to President Bush’s State of the Union speech inJanuary and last month made the national television rounds pushing fortroop withdrawal from Iraq.

Some observersview Webb’s military experience and credibility with voters as a potentcomplement to either Clinton or Obama, both of whom are tasked withselling Americans that they’ll be tough on terrorism.

If it was Obama-Webb '08, that may be the most populist presidential ticket in our country's history.  In the race for president, Barack Obama has refused to take money from currently registered federal lobbyists.  Jim Webb, who was elected to his first term last November, raised 90% of his money from individual donors.  Only 6% came from PAC groups.  By Senate campaign standards, that is almost unheard of.

Wouldn't that be something?  Two rookie Senators telling the establishment, "To heck with you guys, we're starting a new chapter."

Here is some Webb video:

• Webb on Meet the Press discusses economic disparity in America (11/06)
• Webb giving Democratic State of the Union Address.  Very presidential! (01/07)
• Webb debates Lindsey Graham on Meet the Press (07/07)

Comments

[George]

Obama/Webb? I'm tearing up. I may just quit my job and help them out full time.

Webb would be a great counter to someone like fear monger in chief, Guiliani.

[Nick Stump]

Bravo! I sure think you're on the right track here. Webb is a perfect choice. In fact, I'd be please to see him at any spot on the ticket, top or bottom. He certainly knows all anyone would need to know about National Security and I'd be proud to have him as President or Vice-President. Jim Webb is a great man--brilliant, well-informed and I would not feel uncomfortable seeing him a heartbeat away from the Oval Office.

There are few Americans in politcs today with Jim Webb's qualifications and like you I'm for him all the way. Go Jim!

[George]

With Webb, Obama, Gore and Richardson, you can tell me that Status Quo Clinton is going to be the nominee? someone stop this! If she gets nominated she better freakin put one of those guys on her ticket, else I vote Green Party - AGAIN!

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Amen, Nick and George. Webb is overly qualified to be president or vice president! Besides, the GOP has nothing on him except for those books he wrote about the Vietnam War -- a tactic they already tried on him last fall and it failed. He would be fantastic!! He's not a corrupt man at all.

If Obama was the nominee, as George I think was hinting at, he would be there to challenge the Republicans when they try the whole "Barack Hussein Obama Osama bin Laden" rhetorical game.

Yeah, if Hillary became president, things would sure be better than if Giuliani, McCain, Thompson or Romney got it -- but we would not see the change that we would find with Obama-Webb. What a freaking awesome combination!!

[Chief Editor: Todd]

George, if the DLC, which Hillary is part of, has a say in who Hillary picks, it will be a Republican-light politician like Tom Vilsack or Evan Bayh. :(

If it's Hillary-Vilsack, I might lean towards Bloomberg if he runs.

[George]

Why dont they ever try to pair up before the primaries end?

Clinton/Bayh/Vilsack is death. Very beatable too.

If that's what we get, Obama/Webb could probably start their own party and still win.

[Alec]

Clark is a joke, however Richardson has more foreign policy experience than anybody in the race. Will somebody please tell Gore that his time is now! Gore would win in a land slide, everybody else will have to work much harder. Obama is way to inexperieced and needs to get a better handle on policy matters.

[George]

Alec,
I saw an article yesterday from Detroit that said that Gore won a poll among Democratic candidates. He's not even trying. He's like Google - he doesn't advertise his product and he's overwhelmingly dominant despite that.

Can you imagine Gore/Obama? Forget it.

or Gore/Webb since we're on the topic.

[Alec]

Gore/Webb win at least 40 states!

[granny]

It seems to me that this statement:
" if Hillary became president, things would sure be better than if Giuliani, McCain, Thompson or Romney got it"

is damning, with such faint praise, that if we're prepared to make it, it's time to talk about the actual pros and cons of the candidate, and stop revving the hyp with comments about how likely it looks that one or another will get the nomination.

Aren't we supposed to be sorting out qualities and weaknesses, not just repeating "conventional wisdom"?

If opinion of Clinton is THAT negative, we need more discussion of content.

[Alec]

I like Hillary, but the right wing has used her for red meat for so long. Does Hillary have enough power over her base to mobilize them any time she needs them. No she doesnt and that is the big negative with her now. She is a very middle of the road politician just like her husband but I don't think she will have the sway to convince moderate repubs to vote for her, like her husband could do.
Just my thoughts.

[Chief Editor: Todd]

Strategically speaking, I agree Alec. Personally, I don't have a huge problem with Hillary the philosopher, I have a problem with those that influence her. I really don't think she has the back-bone to say, "Hey, I'm done taking lobbyist money, and I will give back all of the lobbyist money that was given to me during this campaign cycle."

Granny, maybe I wrote that wrong in the post. Instead of saying I think Hillary would be better than Romney, I should have said she would be "less worse" than him.

George, and Alec, you're right about Gore. The former vice president could throw his hat into the race today, and he could easily compete in every early primary state.