Just tuning in to the Webb-Miller Democratic nomination race for US Senate? Not sure about who to support? Well, here are some facts on Harris Miller (and Jim Webb) to help you decide. Harris Miller...
*Supported the invasion of Iraq (in contrast, Jim Webb opposed the Iraq war since 2002)
*Said that making the Bush tax cuts permanent was a "great idea" and said "I love the idea" (in contrast, Webb thinks it's dumb to cut taxes when the country's at war; he also thinks it's a bad idea to give these breaks mainly to rich people)
*Claimed that "union membership would minimize job flexibility, reduce the ability to negotiate wages and stifle...creativity" (in contrast, Webb is pro-labor and anti-oustsourcing and has been endorsed by the Sheet Metal Workers)
*Wrote a blistering attack on unions published in Network World in which he attacked "union bosses," "collective bargaining," and "seniority systems." (Again, Webb is pro-labor)
*On WTOP radio, criticized the Democratic Party for not treating criminals like criminals. (Webb has said nothing of the sort)
*Contributed thousands of dollars to Republican members of Congress including Republican House Speaker Dennis Hastert, Senator Spencer Abraham, Senator John Sununu, and Rep. Billy Tauzin. Many of the contributions went to Republicans at the very time these members were voting to impeach Democratic President Bill Clinton. (Webb has never contributed a penny to Republicans)
*Urged swift confirmation of John Ashcroft as Attorney General, claiming Ashcroft posessed "impeccable" credentials. (In contrast, Webb opposes government intrusion into our private lives)
*Praised Republican President George W. Bush as a "new leader" who was "demonstrating his leaderhip of the new economy." (In contrast, Webb has criticized the Bush Administration's incompetence in just about every area)
*In September 2003, Miller was charged with organizing a campaign to cover up evidence that Diebold's touch-screen voting machines could be easily manipulated. (In contrast, Webb has never been a lobbyist for Diebold or corporate interests)
*Said "I disagree with a lot of what the national Democratic Party advocates because I am a businessperson." (In contrast, Mark Warner says that Jim Webb is a "great Democrat")
In other words, Harris Miller and George Allen are the problem, Jim Webb is the solution. Please vote for Webb on June 13 and let's "take back Virginia" from the neo-cons and Pat Robertson rightwingers like George "97% Rubber Stamp for Bush" Allen.
The word "shill" is probably related to "shillaber", a word of obscure early-20th century origin with the same meaning.
Shills are illegal in many circumstances and in many jurisdictions, because of the frequently fraudulent and damaging character of their actions. However, if a shill doesn't actually put uninformed parties at a risk of loss, but merely generates “buzz,†he or she may be legal. A person who is planted in an audience to laugh and applaud when appropriate, see "claque", or to participate in on-stage activities as a “random member of the audience,†is one example of a type of shill who usually operates legally."
Does the fact that Allen's people obviously want to have Miller as their opponent mean nothing to you? Do you not worry that Miller's candidacy would strengthen Allen, leaving him richer and in a better place to become President Allen? Look, we'd be lucky if Allen got no more than a 10 point lead over Miller, and you know it.
For the record, I'm sorry to say this, Lowell, but I think some of the posters here are being shrill, unreasonable, and rude. OTOH, Alice, you've allowed yourself to become a tool for the right-wing loonies, and that is a very bad thing.
That said, people, can we dial it down a notch here, please? Can we not all just get along?
I don't care if he liked Reagan then, he's a Democrat now. And his positions clearly show it. Comparing him to Zell is just really below the belt, especially since unlike Zell he certainly doesn;t believe that criticizing Bush is treasonous.
Her mistake does go to show that one must chose one's word's carefully.....the GOP biting on to this is a good example of why that is important.
We would do well to forgive her and move back to being decent to each other....even if we dispute who makes the better candidate.
GO WEBB.
If people are spreading incorrect information then we need to correct it. If people make arguments you don't believe in then you should refute them.
But to discourage people from posting, either by banning or ignoring them, sounds very much like a Dubya/Republican move. And I don't want to see this blog fall into a culture that discourages free speech.
You and many other Webb supporters have done a great job of putting the facts out there. So let's just keep it up.
Come on Alice, I respect you and know you're not a shill but the Virginia Democratic Party does not have a history of being pro-labor. Unless you count wanting labor's money and sweat equity without having to deliver on any actual pro-worker legislation that would help working people.
The Democratic Party is by far the better of the two parties, especially in Virginia; but between the last remnants of the Byrd Machine legacy and the nouveau Democrats from the DLC, who decided that they could actually appeal to the Republican base by being pro NAFTA, pro globalisation, pro outsourcing and anti labor, our party has sold it's soul and lost elections anyway.
So called "value voters' aren't voting for Republicans because of pro-business economic issues. In fact, even the Republican Party is barely holding together that uneasy coalition between Wall Street and the values voters with spit and duck tape.
Democrats will win when they stop fighting the quixotic culture wars and starting sounding like "bread and butter issues" Democrats again. And when they start appealing to working men and women who are losing their jobs, their pensions and their ground.
And Harris Miller is exactly what's wrong with the yuppified quiche eating Democrats in Northern Virginia. As Will Rogers once said, "given a choice between a Republican and a Republican, voters will pick a Republican every time."
Miller could be in the Democratic Party for 30 more years and not be a Will Rogers type Democratic. And when we get those Democrats back, we'll win again.
Democrats make phone calls for Democrats, Democrats knock on doors for Democrats, Democrats put up yard signs for Democrats, Democrats put links on their websites for Democrats.
When running for office, Democrats invoke the names of Democrats, NOT Repubicans (except Lincoln)
It is not a question of supporting some 10 point plan if I had one, it is just a question of deeds not words, though I have never cared much for James Webb's words.
If we vote/campaign only according to party then we are forfeiting one key piece of representative democracy, the ability to choose the best candidate to represent us.
I have never voted or campaigned along party lines for that sake alone. I always look at the candidate. I research all of them and act accordingly. This time I will campaign and vote for Webb. If Miller wins, I will campaign....for Judy Feder. Miller is a stinker.
(Though I voted Dean in 2004, I still campaigned for Kerry-he was a decent default candidate. Miller is not. I still may vote for him, but only with my nose pinched......That I and many others feel this way does not bode well for Miller or the democratic Senate run if Miller gets the nod.)
To me the Democratic party is a set of shared values, not an exclusive club where one is judged by length of tenure. I prefer to judge those I would support by the "content of their character" as Dr. King so eloquently stated.
I support James Webb because he is, by far, the best candidate for America, Virginia, and the traditional Democratic constituencies of labor, the working class, and those who have no political voice. I have studied and read all I can about the lives and experiences of all three candidates for Senate and only one has consistently stood for integrity and honor.
Do I agree with Jim Webb on every issue? No, but I am with him on all of the issues that I feel are important and I know that he has arrived at his position through careful consideration of the problem and not through a sense of opportunism. I know viscerally that James Webb will stand and fight for what is right for me, my family, my community, my commonwealth, my country, and my planet.
We Virginia Democrats should count ourself blessed that Jim Webb has answered our call to service, he is not running out of some misguided sense of vanity but rather he is doing so out of his sense of duty and obligation to the spirit that America has repeatedly shown throughout our history.
James Webb is the right man at the right time.
I honestly can't believe all these folks have "sold out" their principles by supporting Webb.
I see it as following their principles by supporting Webb.
I just watched the debate and Miller sounded OK.... until he interupted Webb and started his non-sense. Civility is lacking in government more than ever, and it was sorely lacking in Miller. He really helps no one but Allen with such attacks. He comes off as an unpleasent, rude, and unworthy. Also, he divides the party thereby weakening Webb too. Sometimes I really wonder, is this guy "blind" or is he just a DINO/GOP guy?
(And I have heard he is a friendly guy....Go figure.)
Dear Mrs. Harris Miller and family,
I know you don't like hearing critiques about your husband/father. Some people can be down right ugly, but I am sure he is a loving guy to you. Can you please tell him he's the greatest. Tell him how much you love him. Then ask him pull out of the Senate race "to spend more time with the family." No one will criticize those motives. I have tried to suggest it to him, but he has not listened. Perhaps your loving suggestion will have more effect.
Sincerely,
KG