Steve

webb is also my choice...however, we need to mobilize and quickly against every attack on webb there will be and there will be a lot of them, including from "friendlies".

we can not take for granted that even democrats, and most likely more democrats will be uneasy about webb as obama's running mate... it's important that if webb is the VP choice, that everyone learn as much about webb as possible and fight every blog/comment/diary/post that brings up the talking points that will be used against him.

Synergy on the Democratic ticket is key to winning this election.

The election is going to be won in the middle, that great white hump of voters that range from moderate Republicans to independents to conservative Democrats.  And it's going to be won among that demographic in the key swing states of Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The key element of Senator McCain's persona, the overriding positive most voters immediately identify with him, is war hero.

Senator Obama, though having many, many great and good attributes, has zero experience of and apparently zero interest in things military.

When he substituted for Senator Kennedy at the Wesleyan commencement, he called on the graduates to serve their country.

"It's because you have an obligation to yourself, because our individual salvation depends on our collective salvation," Mr. Obama said. "Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential ..."

He never once mentioned or referenced military service.

And it was Memorial Day weekend.

Obama/Webb '08

if Jim Webb is Obama's running mate.

I think the state is still in play.  The primary fiasco has REALLY hurt us.  Had the DNC had any sense they would have just penalized us with half our votes counted from the beginning.

Even though the National party really hurt us Florida Dems, I think the state is still in play.  I don't think McCain will inspire.  

An Obama/Webb ticket puts Florida in play.  Don't give up on our state.

Your local expertise trumps my somewhat negatively realistic opinion, but ...

Thanks to Reverend Wright, it's reasonable to assume that even with Webb, Virginia would be the only Southern state to go Democratic this cycle.

The Jewish voters in South Florida traditionally have counterbalanced Florida's Southern inclination, but given that they are elderly Jewish voters, it's reasonable to anticipate a lack of enthusiasm on their part for Senator Obama.  The GOP is going to play their Israel card hard.

It is way too early in the election cycle to predict, IMHO, the impact of Wright.

My guess is that this won't be the issue we are discussing in August or beyond.

I think that this is one of those issues early in the race that will be forgotten later in the race.  I could care less what each wacko who gets up on the pulpit of Obama's former church has to say.  Personally, I look forward to the day when preachers and pastors stick with the Bible and other religious fundementals.

I think the liberal preachers are just as out to lunch as the right wing zealots, and that our founding fathers had these types of people in mind when they decided that it would be wise to have a separation of church and state.  If the media would focus on important issues, this wouldn't be a story.  It is such a distraction from real issues.

There's no way the seniors in Florida will ever vote for Obama.  (BTW - why couldn't Florida just follow the rules like everyone else??  I can't say that I'm that sympathetic.)  The only thing Obama can do is to force McCain to spend time and money in Florida.

and when the seniors in Florida hear of the differences between Obama and McCain on issues like Social Security, Medicare, and other issues a lot of them will see past their initial opposition.

would love Webb

Thanks!

Steve

From the same sources, one day later, it's a 180.

This ringing endorsement of Jim Webb pretty much swamps the anti-Webb backlash of the last few days that seems to have originated from somewhere along the fervent feminist wing of the Clintonista movement.

Obama/Webb is the roar of populist insurrection.      

Two excerpts:

CBS News
May 31, 2008

Obama Caught In The Webb?

The Nation: Virginia Senator Able To Awaken Folks To The New Progressive Potential Of Their Country

... Webb has rapidly emerged as one of the Democrats' strongest voices from the left on the two great issues of the day: Iraq and economic fairness. He spent most of his 2006 campaign railing against the treachery of corporate America and trickle-down economics. Even more boldly than Obama, Webb spoke out against invading Iraq -- in fact, he began arguing against it in the late 1980s, when the neocons were first beating those drums. In the Senate -- as a freshman -- he has been the single most clever and relentless Democrat in challenging Bush's Iraq policy, most recently steering through the new GI Bill. While his voting record is short, it's thus far pro-choice, pro-labor and pro-environment. For what it's worth, Webb got an A in 2007 from the progressive Drum Major Institute; perfect scores from NARAL, the National Education Association and the AFL-CIO; a 90 from the Children's Defense Fund; and an 85 from Americans for Democratic Action.

The late 1980's as a date for Webb arguing against getting involved in Iraq doesn't sound right.  They're likely confusing it with him successfully resisting pressure to send Navy SEAL teams to attack Iranian oil platforms.  

Of all the various forms of inspiration Obama's campaign has delivered, few have been more welcome than his promise to erase the red-blue divide. Obama has worked out most of the formula for a long-term national progressive majority: he's revived the hopes of black voters long overlooked by the party, honed a promising message for Latino workers and preached a fresh political gospel to younger voters of all races -- people for whom Republicanism will forever be associated with Bush, Iraq, the religious right and subprime America. But for the new majority to emerge, the Democrats must also tap into the antiwar, populist energy that has swelled up among working-class and middle-class whites in formerly Republican territory. Webb would bring some much-needed fire and brimstone on the economic populist issues that captured red-state Senate seats for insurgent Democrats in 2006 -- not just in Virginia but in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Montana, Missouri and Minnesota.

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories...

Good work - thanks again!

Steve

First off if Jim Webb is on the Ticket and Obama recasts his message pumping up the volume .... then turn all 50 states BLUE!!!  You get that ticket in front of the American people with some positive affirmative action plans and it's a SWEEP!!

The CBS Commentary is interesting and on the mark .... from the rest of the internet the Webb bashing certainly seems to be coming from pissed off Clinton people and Ditto-heads (now there's a coalition!!).

Obama Webb 08 .... for a Progressive FUTURE!!