NOTE: As of May 2006, Jim Webb is very much IN the U.S. Senate race in Virginia. Not only that, but he's gaining tremendous support from the Democratic establishment, people like Harry Reid for instance. In other words, Webb in IN and the Rebellion is OFF!I've got very bad news: despite our best efforts to "draft" him, James Webb apparently has decided not to run for US Senate this year. I am hopeful that Mr. Webb will make a formal announcement regarding his thinking on this matter, but for now I'll just say that this is extremely discouraging news for me, and should be extremely discouraging news for all Virginians and all Americans. Unless, of course, their name happens to be "George Allen" that is.
Why do I say this? Because I strongly believe that James Webb offered the potential for a unique sort of leadership. Because I strongly believe that James Webb offered a chance to heal some giant rifts within the Democratic Party, and in the country as a whole. Because I strongly believe that James Webb offered the potential to win back the working class, the "Reagan Democrats," and the national security-minded Americans to the Democratic Party. And because I strongly believe that former Senator Bob Kerrey was 100% correct when he wrote to me (on January 7, 2007) about Webb: "He is a unique and powerful voice which could change the course of our nation's future."
More than that, I say this because I strongly believe that James Webb represented a chance to return the Democratic Party to its populist, "fighting for the little guy" roots. I strongly believe that Webb offered an opportunity to combat the cynicism which currently infests the Democratic Party, including the overreliance on and over-valuation of corporate money and insider connections. In other words, I strongly believe that Webb - with his populist, progressive and reform message - could have helped turn millions of people back onto politics who have been turned off by what they've seen in recent years from the Democratic Party. I strongly believe that Webb could have tapped into a rich vein of Teddy Roosevelt's reform and Progressivism, FDR's "New Deal" populism, JFK idealistic call to national greatness, and Lyndon Johnson's ability to connect with southern voters. And, I strongly believe, that would have been an amazing sight to behold.
Instead, without the James Webbs of the world, I strongly believe that we Democrats will continue to lose and lose and lose some more. And we will lose not just political races, but our nation's soul, its values, its constitution, its liberties as well. And, without a Democratic Party that fights tooth and nail to protect and defend the least powerful among us, the poor, the underprivileged, the vulnerable, those who are not heard or listened to in the moneyed halls of power, our relevance to the public discourse in America will approach zero. As well it should!
The only problem is that, when we Democrats lose, we hand the reins of power over to a bunch of clownish, extremist, right wing ideologues who use divisive "values" issues like the phony "gay marriage" debate (any heterosexuals out there whose marriages are truly threatened by gays? right, I didn't think so!) to tear us apart. All in order to cover up their own incompetence, authoritarianism, favoritism to the rich, corruption, and rape of the Constitution.
Meanwhile, what does Webb's decision not to run, and the annointing of a nonentity like Harris Miller, say about the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPV)? Nothing good, in my opinion. Personally speaking, I seriously wonder why on earth I should spend even ONE MORE MINUTE of my time and energy - aside from absolute hatred of everything the right-wing Republican Party stands for - fighting for the DPV at this point? Frankly, if they don't have the brains to recognize the potential of someone like James Webb and to ask him, plead with him, fucking BEG him to run, then they are not worthy of my support - or anyone else's, for that matter.
Question for Mark Warner: I respect you greatly but what on EARTH were you thinking here, man? I mean, you seriously couldn't find anyone better than your "friend" Harris Miller to take on George Allen? That's very unfortunate if true, given Miller's positions on Iraq, the Bush tax cuts, data mining and personal privacy, privatizing federal jobs, outsourcing other jobs, etc., etc. Wouldn't it have been better to just run NOBODY than this guy?
Anyway, enough of this rant. The question now is whether or not we should dutifully fall in line for Harris Miller (I, for one, will NOT do so, even if it means pissing off every Democrat in the state), or to launch a full-scale grassroots rebellion? Should we be loyal to our Democratic and Progressive ideals, or kowtow to a bunch of political hacks and "resume padding campaign monkeys?" I say it's time to say "no" to this absurdity. As far as I'm concerned, the rebellion is on! Who will join me?