My parents live in Alexandria, off Edsall Road near I-395.  There are numerous signs for the Republican running against Jim Moran, but no Webb signs.  We really should get some Webb signs on that stretch of road. It is highly traveled, and not getting signs there is a problem.

and put them out there?

Maybe this weekend, I can take my car and put some Webb signs up around there.  In fact, I think that would probably be one of the best uses of my time.  Will the cops bug me about that?

And placing political signs in median strips is legal, as long as you comply with any other rules that a local jurisdiction might maintain on this matter.  Thanks.

Department that someone is stealing Webb and Weed signs in this area.

At one location, on private property, I had put up signs three times by Thursday night. A sheriff candidate in a neighboring county basically won the race in 2004 due to the publicity of his signs having been stolen and the resulting investigations. I can't remember if anyone got prosecuted or not.

Al Weed's signs were stolen a lot in 2004, including expensive 4x8 signs we put up on private property.

I guess this is all the Republicans have left as a campaign strategy.

I have around 175 Webb signs to distribute/put up, so if anyone in Central VA wants some, email me or leave a message here.

Ditto on the Al Weed signs, only I have fewer of them, getting more tomorrow.

Or at least so I've heard.  Stake them out late at night, and maybe try to see who's doing it.  Then get the cops, since technically that's illegal.

Dunno if the Allen people are being told to do this, or they're just doing it out of wingnut habit of crushing all dissent.  Neither would surprise me much.

we had a camcorder running on the troublesome 4x8 sign, and actually had tape of someone. I am not sure whatever became of  that whole occurence, but there are ways to safeguard them in less populous areas by lighting them, or having a camera of one kind or another pointed at the sign(s).

has been at work on Route 7.  Both Miller and Webb signs come and go; no preference observed.

Nice to see you over here. Are you in VA?

My name over at Dkos is Dems2004.

In Harrisonburg. I figured I'd better start getting more tuned in. I've had my eyes primarily on the long ball - out in Vermont from whence I came - since I've been here. In Rockingham County, activism seemed futile to me. I'm surrounded by Republicans, social conservatives, and religious fanatics, watched a superior Democratic candidate win the city but lose the county-and the race- to a Republican who basically won by putting up red white and blue signs that said "Republican", then he pulled this shit, and I kind of threw up my hands.
My attitude is beginning to change.

sign landscape is constantly changing.  While Webb appears to be getting the worst of it, Miller, Allen, and Davis (in my area) are also disappearing. 

I'm happy to report that Webb did have a couple of the big signs up on 123 in Vienna this weekend - the only big signs (that I saw).  Kudos to the people who got them up!  The big Allen and Davis signs from earlier in the week are gone.

I also noticed that some of the signs appeared to have blown over or been ripped from the wire posts - wonder how much this accounts for the loss of signs.

The wind on Saturday was a problem.  We solved that by buying 4 rolls of clear duct tape and sealed the edges of the signs.  The people, well, duct tape could work on them too. kc

The wind around here is always selective.  It seems to knock down and remove only Democrat signs.  It's amazing!  (Is this like tornadoes that destroy one house while leaving their neighbors intact?)

mine from the beginning. They wouldn't stay otherwise next to a road full of cars and trucks.

You're making it too easy for Miller's staffers.  You need to place them much further apart over a much wider area. 

Miller's staff can scoop up those signs in thirty seconds and be gone.  Make them work, make them walk.  This will slow them down and make it more likely that someone will catch them in the act.

Also, it is a good idea to use glue and staples to hold the cardstock sign to the metal frame.  This forces the thieves to pick up the frame along with the sign, and will reduce the number of signs they can jam into their trunk.

Staple the signs on so they don't slip off.

Also, I find it good to spread signs out as stated, putting them in places where a driver can't easily stop to yank them up is also helpful (Not next to sidewalks, or pull-off areas.) Medians at busy intersections are good. Oh yeah electrifying the metal frame helps too.!

have very little grass.  If a Miller or Allen or the Wind sweeps them away in a big bunch, well, I hope they and the wind gets caught.  The number of cars in that area is a killer in and of itself.  If folks are running through traffic and taking down signs, we can visit them in the ER for that is where they will be, diagnosis "signage buttock", and "tire marks across chest".  At least we will have a person to question, "Son, what were you doing out their dodging cars and pulling up a mess of Webb signage?"

Hey its Monday, the primary is in 8 days, and we have already captured thousands of viewers with them already. Well done gang. kc

We met at dKos, and I gave a long comment for why I was supporting Harris Miller; well, apparently I didn't have all of the facts (I found the Diebold stuff especially troubling).  Plus the Kerry endorsement of Webb was very significant because it removed a HUGE issue for me, in regards to past things Webb said about Kerry regarding Vietnam.  If Kerry can be forgiving, well than perhaps I can be, too.  Still, I'm in a place where I don't particularly care for either candidate due to all of the negativity.  Here are my questions:

1.  Will you guys stop the negativity and ONLY be positive about Webb from here on (official and nonofficial)?  Because I know people who are planning to write in Thomas Jefferson or Mark Warner.  Negativity can only get you so far.

2.  What precisely is Webb's position on Iraq NOW?  Would he be willing to support Kerry's Sen. res. #36? This calls for all combat troops to be out of Iraq by the end of the year, in addition to calling for a Dayton like summit to get all Iraqi parties together plus the U.N., NATO, and countries in the region including Syria and Iran.  Or is Webb more apt to go with Joe Biden's position which is far more vague, criticizing Bush, but essentially keeping troops in Iraq indefinitely? 

3.  Any guarantee that Webb intends to remain a Democrat?  Will he suddenly switch to Independent when he gets in the Senate or will he truly join the Democratic caucus, and compromise, which is an essential thing for a Senator to do?

4.  Will Webb improve on his knowledge of domestic issues (Miller was much stronger in the debate on this), come up with more concrete plans, and simply talk about it better?

5.  Will there be more discipline in the Webb campaign as to organization, fundraising, and the steady job of getting the message out?  Can Webb try to control his temper and not be caught saying things like "Shut your mouth", because Allen will be MUCH worse than Miller in annoying Webb, I can tell you.

Sorry, it's a lot of questions, but all of these things are bothering me.  I'm probably going to go over to Alice's blog with a similar list of grievances.  I WILL make a decision on this primary and not cop out with a write in.  Thanks for your time.

Hi beachmom, and thanks for stopping by RK! :)  Let me try to answer your questions as best I can.

1) If by "you guys" you mean me, aka "Lowell the Crazy Blogger," I can definitely say that I PERSONALLY plan to focus on Webb's positives over the next week.  I will also PERSONALLY rebut any charges against Webb that may or may not be leveled by Harris Miller or his surrogates.  As far as others who post on this site in diaries or in other forums (fora?), I can't control them.  However, I believe that the Webb mailers hitting mailboxes this week will be overwhelmingly positive.  With John Kerry's endorsement, and an almost-certain lead over Miller, I think that we can afford to talk about how great Webb is.  (of course, then we'll be attacked by some people for being "blindly pro-Webb" or whatever...such is life!)

2) Aside from opposing the invasion in the first place (Miller supported it), Webb has been very clear that "We went into Iraq precipitously; we have to get out carefully."  He has talked about a 2-year time frame. He has also said that we should state unquivocally that the United States has NO interest and NO intention of remaining in Iraq permanently.  Overall, we need to work with our allies in the region (and elswhere), and we need to get out.

3) Obviously, there are no guarantees in life. However, Jim Webb has spoken eloquently and strongly about why he has switched to the Democratic Party.  Personally, I believe that Jim Webb is one of the most sincere people I've ever met, almost too sincere for the nasty game of politics.  For instance, yesterday he was pressed by two Republican for his positions on abortion and the "marriage amendment," and he didn't back down at all from his pro-choice, anti-marriage amendment stances.  In other words, Webb doesn't just tell people what they want to hear.  Here's Webb on why he became a Democrat - and why I believe he will stay one the rest of his life:

When I started studying Andrew Jackson, I realized that I was really a Jacksonian populist Democrat. Jackson believed that you don't measure the health of a society at the apex but at the base. I believe that too, and that's why I'm a Democrat.

I have personally heard Webb say that he intends to remain a Democrat the rest of his life.

That, combined with his Progressive stands on many issues, is more than good enough for me!

4) Webb is a voracious reader and a brilliant man with insatiable curiosity.  He has been studying up on issues on which he had been relatively unfamiliar, like the intricacies of "No Child Left Behind," etc.  I have heard Webb speak 3 months ago, and I have heard him speak recently, and I can definitely say that he's getting "up to speed" fast.  Of course, this is a guy who taught himself how to write while at Georgetown, and proceeded to pen one of the greatest Vietnam War novels ("Fields of Fire"), so why am I not surprised? :)

5) I can't speak with a GREAT deal of authority about the Webb campaign, but I WILL say that this has been a 100-day campaign when it should have been a 1-year campaign.  I have talked to Steve Jarding, who teaches this stuff at Harvard, and he has told me that normally you would NEVER run a campaign in this way. However, for a variety of reasons, Jim Webb was late getting  into this race, meaning that we had a lot of catching up to do.  I see definite signs of improvement, and expect a lot more after June 13.

As far as Webb's "temper," I haven't really seen it myself.  The comment to Miller was made because Webb couldn't get a word in edgewise. However, I think your point is valid about not losing one's temper against George Allen.  Of course, it works the other way around too.  I can't wait to see George Allen try to debate the issues with Jim Webb.  This should be fun! :)
*************************
Well, I hope this helped you make your decision.  Let me just close with some words from Time Magazine this week:

Webb may turn out to be a crucial figure in the recent history of the Democratic Party. For the past 25 years, the tide of political conversions has been running in the opposite direction, from Democrat to Republican, and most of the converts were people like Webb: white, Southern, middle class or poorer, patriotic and, often, with a strong family tradition of military service...Webb's conversion may be a sign that those sorts of people may now be willing to give the Democrats a second look. A standard-issue Democrat like Miller would probably be cannon fodder for a Republican incumbent like Allen, a party star and probable presidential candidate. It wouldn't be an easy race for Webb either, but his candidacy might begin to redden the Democrats' necks in the South. And with his pugilistic history—he fought a famous bout against Oliver North at Annapolis—Webb would surely give Allen a tussle.

Thanks.

Webb started life as a Democrat, and in his most recent book talks about how one female relative would not even let him into the house because he working for a Republican.  These were solid New Deal Dems, people who know the difference the FDR made.  In running as a Dem Webb is returning to his roots.  Given his exploration of those roots in writing "Born Fighting" and what he has seen of the current Republican party, both on Iraq, on how it tilts towards the wealthy and the religious right, you can be pretty darn sure he is back to stay.

He is
- pro choice
- pro gay rights
- opposed to the war in Iraq
- opposed to outsourcing
- believes in public education

I could go on and on.  The one way he is somewhat different, pro-gun, he explains clearly as connected with the first two items above -- government stops at his door unless it has a compelling reason to come in.

Let me talk about education a bit.  When Jim started this campaign, he did not know much about education policy.  He is a sponge, and those of us trying to help with policy (as I attempt to do with education, although since school is still in session and since I also have major responsibilities for Yearlykos I unfortunately do not have enough time right now, even had I not been very sick last week) have been asked for more and more specific statements that Jim wants to be sure he understands fully. 

I for one am glad he slapped back at Miller in that first debate.  I have known Harris since he ran unsuccessfully for a House nomination in 1984.  If there is one thing he is not, it is straightforward.  He does not accept responsibility for his errors -- and sometimes digs himself deeper as a result.  he still has not apologized for giving money to republicans like Hastert and Abraham in 2000, and tried to excuse it by saying his employers made him (which would have been a felony) then frantically calling the press to say he meant to say they strongly suggested.  Contrast this with Webb, who publicly acknowledges he was wrong to support Bush and Robb in 2000, and has apologized personally to Chuck and Linda.  Jim shows growth as a person, Miller shows growth in his ego and his bank account.

Harris could no longer match Jim in raising money from other people, so he dumped 500,000 of his own in, in direct violation of his previous public commitment to put in only 1 dollar for every 2 he raised from others.

Yes, Jim loaned his campaign 100,000 up front -- he had to have cash to operate and had to get going immediately.  Please note  LOANED.  Miller to daty has GIVEN about 600,000 of his own money.  In otherwords, more than half of his funds have come from his own pocket.

Draw your own conclusions, but I have a hard time believing that any thinking person who looks at all the information in the public domain about the two men could conceivably choose Miller over Webb except that one has an icnreibly stiff litmus test s/he expects a candidate to meet. 

And let's put it simply  -- Miller would lose to Allen by at least 15 points, and the national party knows it, and would put no money in.  If Webb is the candidate, the national party will pour in millions to help take down Allen.

use your best judgment.

Peace

Just two follow up questions:

1.  The Alito filibuster -- I forgot to ask you this.  What would Webb's position have been?  I'll give you Miller's answer -- standard red state Dem.  Yes on cloture and No on Alito -- essentially a vote for Alito.  But perhaps this is a position more realistic for Virginia, I don't know.  Has Webb answered this question?

2.  Miller on Iraq -- Alice at GOTV said Miller had no public position because he was still at the ITAA.  Do you have a link to where Miller supports the invasion?  I realize Webb is stronger on this issue because he came out against the war a year beforehand, but I'm just trying to fine tune Miller's position, since there obviously is a conflict in info.  Alice mentioned that Miller worked on the Dean campaign which was extremely anti-war in rhetoric anyway. 

Thanks so much!! 

1) Webb said that "I probably would have gone with the Democratic leadership on Alito."

2) No link.  In a 2 1/2-hour meeting back in late December 2005, Miller told Josh Chernila and me a whole bunch of things, including:

*He would "flip the switch himself" on the electric chair
*He wouldn't commit to rolling back the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans
*He strongly supported the US invasion of Iraq because Saddam was a threat to US interests in the region, Israel, etc.
*He was responsible for "Forward Together" and other aspects of Mark Warner's success as a politician
*He was a "genius" and a "visionary"
*(Patting his wallet), that "right there, that's the ITAA"

Since then, much of this stuff has come out in public.  However, Miller has always managed to dance around the issue of Iraq, focusing mainly on how badly it was executed but not on his original support for the invasion. Gee, I wonder why THAT is?

I could go on and on, but maybe this is enough to give you an idea why I ended up opposing Miller so strongly.  In contrast, when I met Webb around the same time, I was blown away by his intelligence - without him telling me that he was a "genius" - and also his remarkably progressive views on issues like gay rights.  Not to mention the man's integrity, down-to-earth likeability, etc. Needless to say, I was sold...as most people who meet Jim are.  I know this sounds like idol worship, and I am NOT saying that Jim Webb's a god or something, but I DO greatly admire him...what can I say?

I first got to know Harrisin 1984 because he was exaggerating.  He was claiming all over that he had been the youngest delegat in 1972 DEM convention, and then there was a newspaper story on the person who actually was.  I had started point the story out to people -- although relatively new to Arlington(Oct 1982) I already knew a number of players - John Milliken my college classmate was on the County board and by this point I had helped get Frank O'Leary elected as Treasurer.  My words were having an impact, so Harris called me up and ofered to buy me lunch to talk.

I did switch from John Flannery to Harris because I had been out campaigning with John and some of things I saw him do I kinew meant he would get blown out.  I had had dinner with him and his then (3rd) wife Bettina Gregory of ABC News, and she tried to get John to listen to me, but he did not.

In that first luncheon, I asked Harris where he was on export controls of computers.  He said he actually backed the Reagan administration on this.  I then pointed out to him that his position could potentially cost jobs in the Congressional district because of the number of people involved in technology for whom exporting hardware and software meant jobs.  He seemed surprised.  I have often wondered if this conversation was the genesis of his interest in such matters that eventually drew him ITAA.

I had seen Jim Webb on various tv shows over the years.  I was quite struck in watching him on book tv on cspan with respect to "Born Fighting" how much he had matured, lost some of the raw edges from when he was younger.  I remembered that he had come to the defense of Chuck Robb in 1994 versus Ollie North.  I had filed that away and when Don Beyer made it clear that he was not interested in getting into the race, I became interested in the possibility of Jim.  I actually sent him a email, which I do not know if he ever read, laying out why I thougt Allen was a paper tiger.

Jim gets in the race.  One of his early appearances was at DFA Arlington-Alexandria.  He was still finding his legs as a candidate.  I saw him learning on the spot.  He was challenged in that meeting on his position on DADT.  I went outside as he was leaving and engaged him in a conversation.  I found he listened, was willing to at least intimate that some of his positions on things in the past might not be as he thought now, something that began to become quite clear in the next two weeks.  I began leaning his way.

If I'd had any doubt when I saw Miller at a succeeding DFA it would have disappeared.  Miller was far smoother than he had been 22 years before, but I experienced someone unwilling to listen, when called on a misstatement either attacked the person (me) or told someone he preferred his version. 

You cannot win statewide in Virginia running a television only campaign.  You have to get out and meet people, be seen.  And my sense is that on a human level Miller simply does not connect with many people around Virginia.

As to Iraq -- besides what Lowell has recounted, Miller has more than once - as he may have done with Lowell, offered the justification that he supported Iraq based on the words of Colin Powell.  He offers no further explanation as if that explains it all.

If you have not figured out by now that (a) Miller makes claims that cannot be substantiated or are simply flat out wrong; (b) never admits a mistake, but instead slides away from it and pretents he never said or did it.  Sorry, there are far too many like that already in public office.

People challenge whether or not Webb would stay a Democrat.  I would ask how much like Joe Lieberman Miller would turn out to be.  I would not compare him with Zell Miller, because that Georgian figure had an actual history of racism, and Lieberman did have a record of civil rights (which Harris cannot claim, btw, although I could).

I hope all of this is of some use.  I have taken the time because every serious voter is entitled to have their concerns addressed.  I also sense that you carry some influence with others, even if you might not claim so, because you don't jump to conclusion and are willing to listen to serious information.

Perhaps Lowell and I have been of some use.  If we have, we hope that you will take the next tape, and convince a couple of your friends.  That's how Jim got into the race in the first place.  It started with a few people, who persuaded others.  Then more found out and jumped on board.

Come along for the ride.

Everything was addressed above, but a couple personal notes.

1. I know it may sound like a third-grade fight of "he did it first, no she did it," but I truly believe that Webb started the campaign on a very positive note, but it when negative fast due to Miller's attacks. I know it sounds like a campaign shill, but here are my reasons:

(A) Webb had enough problems trying to explain to people why he had switched parties. In that environment, a negative campaign would have made no sense. A Republican turned Democrat attacking a Democrat in hopes that Democratic primary voters would turn on the Democrat? That is insane!

(B) The first attack I can remember was Miller (truth be told I have only been following since February) trying to unify the black caucus for him in Richmond by highlighting Webb's supposed position against affirmative action because he believes non-14th Amendment diversity programs should include poor-whites. Furthermore, if you watch the WVEC-TV debate, they are both Allen bashing for awhile, but then all of a sudden Miller goes off-topic and asks Webb why he endorsed Allen and Bush in 2000. It's on the web somewhere, so you can see for yourself. Finally, look at his campaign literature. Lots of smears. Miller is a smart guy. He knew what he was doing. He knew people would gloss over the substantive part of the debate and focus on those statements, or that people would get so pissed off at both that they would just default to the "longer-serving" Democrat. Again, smart campaigning, but destructive to the party.

(C) Unfortunately negative campaigns work. Do we remember any domestic proposal from Dukakis. No. We only remember the Hands Ad. Bill Clinton? Pot smoking and Gennifer Flowers. Al Gore. Stiff. Kerry? Flip-flop. The only effective counters to such attacks are equal attacks. I hate it too, but that is just the political reality.

3. This was a legitimate concern of mine as well. I was dissuaded otherwise. I saw him at a very early meeting. This guy is a Marine tooth and nail. He is loyal to the bone, and you could see in his face that it pained him to switch parties, but that he could not in good conscience be a Republican anymore. He is also loyal to his volunteers. He had extreme concerns going in that people would not look past his Republican past, and was touched by the Draft James Webb movement, and specifically the comments left by hundreds of Democrats across the state. He has constantly said how he is amazed by the number of people who are willing to dedicate a good portion of their free time, at no pay, for his cause. I think he would rupture a spleen if he turned and disappointed them. He was also very non-polished back then. Right now, I would say he is passable. You can see right through non-polished people if they are lying, and I got none of that. Finally, he has come out as pro-choice, pro-gay rights, and pro-labor. No self-respecting social conservative would vote for him, and no old-school corporation would give him money. He has no home in the Republican Party even if he wanted to.

5. I think you will see the Webb machine in action this weekend and on election day. I have always said that I am actually grateful Miller is running because it forced the campaign to ramp up their ground game as a "test-run" for November, should he win. Let's face it, if he doesn't beat Miller, Allen would crush him. As for his temper, I personally like it, but it is a valid point. He is more polished now, but he still has fight in him, which I think more (D)s need today. If Allen fights dirty, we need to respond in kind.

I witnessed a man in a grey ford pick up ripping Webb signs our of the ground in arlington about two weeks ago I was trying to get his plate numbers but he drove off.

with the make, color and a partial police can identify.  If he did it once he is likely to do it again.

One reason to always have pen and paper handy in cars -- never know when you need to write down a plate #

Many Virginia counties and cities require campaign signs to bear permits issued by the local governmental body.  Signs with no permits are fair game for removal.

I do noy favor ever removing any candidates signs, so don't flame me. But volunteers of all the campaigns may want to make sure that each of the signs they erect bear the appropriate permit and permit number.

Furthermore, many municipalities and, I believe, VDOT, do not allow signs in the media strip, period, even with a valid permit.  Those communities only allow signs on private property.

So my advice is to make sure you have permits, if required in the community where you are erecting signs, and avoid the media strips whenever possible.

Also, I think it is cheap shot to suggest that Miller staff is responsible for removing your signs.  Like you, they are busy working to elect their candidate and they don't have time for such shennanigans.

If you want to blame someone, blame the Republicans.  They regularly use sign hit squads of young men to travel around the countryside removing Democratic signs.

Also realize that in some cases, the signs may be removed by citizens who think they are illegal and an eyesore.

I can only (unofficialy from my experience) speak for the NoVA part of the campaign, but as an attorney (not one for the campaign, only a volunteer), I can assure you people in the campaign took every precaution to make sure we were within the four corners of the law for all NoVA jurisdictions. Aside from wanting to be "right," we also had a limited number of signs and wanted to make sure we did not waste any.

Basically, the only jurisdiction we needed a permit was Fairfax County, and we actually delayed sign posting for a couple extra days to make sure all the paperwork was signed, sealed, and delivered to the proper authorities. Arlington and Alexandria are actually very permissive of signs as long as it is less than 30 days before the election and is free-standing on public medians - i.e. no telephone poles (there is some controversy about the 2 sign per median strip limit after a suit brought by the Republicans that went all the way to the Supreme Court back in the day, but in general, we kept it 2 signs per grassy knoll). Miller signs were actually up before then, and Allen signs are up now as well, even though there is no Republican primary.

Hope this assuages your concerns.