And...the only thing George Allen (or Bush) ever fought for was how to keep the silver spoon he was born with in his mouth.  Webb's brave service in Vietnam entitles him to use the "Born Fighting" slogan just as Allen is entitled to use the "Watching Daddy Win on the Football Field" slogan.

I am glad Webb has embraced "Born Fighting" as his campaign theme. First it clearly distinguishes him from George Allen as you note. Second it is the title of his his book about the Scotch-Irish in America, as also noted. Third, it is what the Democratic Party needs right now.

Top Democrats refuse to fight on national security. This is why we lost in 02 and 04. Forget moral values. Bush won becuase of fear of terrorism and adds that exploited it like the "Wolves." The Democrats must be able to creditably fight Republicans on their number one strength. Already polls suggests more Americans may favor the Democrats over the Republicans on this issue, but we need to able to demolish them on it.

Enter another book, Peter Beinart's "The Good Fight." I find it difficult to forgive Beinart for his unflinching support for starting the war in Iraq, but his new book is right the mark. Democrats and liberals offer the only workable foreign policy to get us through a myriad of unfolding crises. We cannot tolerate totalitarian regimes and fundamentalist terrorists nor can we alienate our allies and go it alone.

Finally, "Born Fighting" is not just about foreign policy but is about fighting for the common man. From Jefferson to Jackson to Kennedy to Johnson to Clinton to Wellstone, the Democrats have a proud history of doing exactly that. These with the super rich becoming super richer every year, the middle class shrinking, and the numbers on poverty growing it is time to start fighting again. As the great conservative Edmund Burke once said "If you are not working (fighting) for good, then you are working for evil."

"Born Fighting" is a good read. Here's another one: "The Nightingale's Song" by Robert Timberg. It was published about eleven years ago. It describes the experiences at the Naval Academy, then the careers of five Naval Academy graduates of the 50s and 60s: John Poindexter, John McCain, Bud McFarlane, Ollie North and Jim Webb. Jim comes out looking best. NcCain looks pretty good. Incredibly brave in captivity, and you get insight in his supporting Bush's election ("election", I put it mentally) in 2000 and reelection in 2004 and speaking at Liberty University and kissing up Jerry Falwell earlier this year. McFarlane was a very good National Security Adviser until ... . For some reason he felt totally out of place socially.

Charlie

Charles,

The Nightgale's Song is a great book.  It should be required reading for anyone voting in the Virgina fall election. Readers will be delighted to meet the young Jim Webb and will come away with the sure knowledge Jim Webb has the leadership skills, brains and principles we need in the Senate.

 

My favorite quote from 'The Nightingale's Song' (I never tire of posting this quote):

... Example from the book referring to Vice Admiral Leon "Bud" Edney, former Commandant of Midshipmen at USNA and later Chief of Naval Personnel:

In his letter to Webb, Edney wrote, "I have come to respect and admire your leadership, integrity, and intellectual capacity more than any other individual I have been privileged to serve under in my 31 years."

It never ceases to amaze... Anyone taking exception to the slogan is really steeped in literalism.  Have they never heard of metaphor?

It gets tiresome.  And I must say I know some folks who get hung up on this kind of thing.  "It's not nice."  It's too "angry."  "Can't we all get along?"  Frankly, as the saying goes, if one is not angry, s/he is not paying attention.  And given the lackluster manner in which Congressional Dems fought for us, or rather failed to over the past five years, feistiness is both refreshing and necessary.

It's about time someone mustered up the very appropriate fighting spirit we need to take our country back. 

From the Washington Post on June 8 (this says it best!):

James Webb estimates that he has published more than 2 million words in his prolific life as a journalist, essayist and author, but there are two that he wrote that may best describe the man himself:

Born fighting.

Not fighting for you , as politicians always like to describe themselves. Just plain fighting.

"Born Fighting" is the title that Webb gave his somewhat romantic history of his fellow Scots-Irish and how they have fought in the United States' wars and defined its populist form of democracy. It is the slogan he has appropriated -- to the chagrin of some Democrats who don't think it sets the right tone -- for his unorthodox Democratic primary campaign for the U.S. Senate from Virginia.
...
Webb warns lobbyists and special interests -- and maybe everyone else: "If you elect me to the Senate, I guarantee you we will raise hell."

Fighting and raising hell -- that pretty much sums up his life.

When Webb was 6 years old, his daddy gave him boxing gloves and told him that, if ever drawn into a street fight, he should always leave a mark on the other guy.

As a 23-year-old Marine lieutenant, he commanded more than 150 men during one of the most brutal phases of the Vietnam War. He came home with the Navy Cross, Silver Star, two Bronze Stars, two Purple Hearts, a slight limp and some shrapnel that's still in his head.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/07/AR2006060702118.html

Born Fighting should become the slogan for the entire Democratic Party.  Some Dems make take exception to such a title, but if we look hard at our party over the last few years, we have grown timid--unwilling to step in a do what it takes to win.  When Kerry was Swiftboated, his immediate reaction was to fight back, but his advisors cautioned him to  not fight back and in the time they wasted,  the Swiftboat lies gained strength, and was a big factor in Kerry's loss to Bush. 

Democrats have to stand up and fight for what we believe, not with our fists, but with our voices, our hearts and our votes.  We rolled over in Florida, on the vote to go to war and for years have been thought of as the timid party.  And if anyone thinks Democrats are not born fighting, look who they come for when there's are real war to be fought.  Are the sons and daughters of the Republican elite in Iraq?  Were they in Vietnam?  No!  Our wars are fought by the children of coal miners, farmers, and union members.  They're fought by the children of the disinfranchised all over the country, while the children of the elite go to Yale and have lovely careers.  Make no mistake we will have to fight hard to win our country back. 

Thanks.