than George Allen, who pretty much violates everything Jefferson stood for.

Has anyone heard about the endorsement Allen received from general assembly Lambert today?  What are your thoughts?

Allen probably jumped for joy with this news. Even though the endorsement came in a letter, rather than in a public appearance with photo op for Allen. Maybe Benjamin Lambert didn't want to be THAT visible on this.

Lambert said he endorsed Allen "especially because you have delivered on your promises to support Virginia's Historically Black Colleges and Universities." He probably felt that he owed Allen a favor in return.

I'm glad that the schools got the money, though.

This is no reason for anyone to switch over from Webb for Allen, though. Allen's history indicates racial insensitivity even though it looks like he's worked to earn bonus points while contemplating a run for the presidency by heading up the Senate apology for their historic inaction against lynching, and by voting for authorizing funds for historically black colleges and universities.

I think that Virginia Centrist answers this one pretty adroitly.

http://virginiacentr...

I think a cynical answer would be that this is a smart political gamble from a seasoned politician (actually that may apply to both Lambert and George Allen). 

At the same time it is a real gamble for Lambert.  I deeply dislike George Allen for a number of reasons (economic policy, foreign policy, character issues), so even putting questions of racial and ethnic sensitivities aside--I'm left to wonder why a smart person would support Allen.  The three main explanations that I see are: complete obliviousness to the issues, a social conservatism that places right wing social issues above economic and foreign policy, self-serving ambitions--or perhaps some combination of the three. 

Perhaps Lambert felt slighted by Jim Webb.  Or he believed that attaching himself to George Allen would further his political career.  Perhaps it was a combination of the two.

From George Allen's perspective he's obviously doing everything he can do to remove the damage caused by his remarks at the Breaks in mid August (and the botched damage control afterwards).  Maybe this is also a response to Webb's Reagan ad. 

In reference to the damage control efforts, here's an email that I just rec'd from a friend in Philly.  I didn't mention this to my friend, he picked it up on his own through his network of friends, and he's now forwarding along the news to me and 11 other people.  The message reads:

"Well it was obviously a pack of lies! Look at Senator Allen's sensitivity for and easy relation to all "ethnic" people! (scroll down the site)"--with link provided to website.

Basically the Ethnic Rally came across as an insincere effort by a politician to correct "misunderstandings".  I'm sure the picture that Allen had from Staunton on his homepage three weeks ago was in keeping with this as well (saying, no begging, "Hey look, I'm not a racist!").  Perhaps the Lambert move is in keeping with this approach.  Will these actions change anyone's opinion about Allen in reference to racial matters?

Who knows. 

Part of the problem though is that Allen's issue at the Breaks was really two-fold. 
1. Allen made himself look like a xenophobic bigot.
2. He looked like a bully.

A third issue, which arose from the first two was that Allen's response to the insult was confused, belabored, and ultimately made him look two-faced and insincere.

Unfortunately, for Allen at least two of these three items aren't just a matter of appearances (a third might be a fact as well).

What Webb is NOT doing is dressing up in a cowboy suit and chewing tobacco in the misguided belief that playing dress-up connects him to us Virginia hicks.
We don't have cowboys in Virginia, we have farmers and working men who wear WORK SHOES.  No Cowboys.  Allen is still a dude ranch kid.

The good, honest people of rural Virginia see through Allen's facade and will vote for Jim Webb as they did for Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

Bye Bye, George.  I'm sure you'll have a successful lobbying career.

Let's ask a few photographic questions about Mr. Allen's images:

If you "cut and paste" your face in front of Monticello, does that make you more Jeffersonian?  (Note: Seems like I see a coat and tie here and no Cowboy hat--wonder why???

How do you cast a shadow on a building some distance in the background?

With his mega million dollar war chest, why can't he hire a better Photoshop tech??????????

By the way, folks, the identical image that you see of Felix above is also "cut and pasted" onto numerous other scenes in the Commonwealth with the same mysterious shadow.  Check his website!! 

That is hilarious!  Oh my God, I never noticed that awful shadow!  Oh this is too good; I can see him doing it too...looking at Virginia and making a list of places his "people" tell him would make him look more southern, and then just having someone photoshop.

What an idiot.  I mean, being a racist is bad enough, but he's also incredibly stupid.

including Thomas Jefferson's home, Monticello.

I just forced myself to have to go home at lunch and shower again (bc I went to Allen's site) but I had such a good laugh.  The top of the screen is too much; the background photos just keep fading in and out, changing location, and that goofy George Allen "my shadow is bigger than me" photo just stays there...WOW.

And people said Webb's website was bad...

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!

...how perceptive you are!  Oh how I wish Jim Webb had access to the fabulous George Allen closet.  With it's cowboy gear, confederate officer uniform.  Does he also have an American Indian, fireman and hard hat costume????  My favorite is that suit he wears to impersonate a senator...LOL!!!  Maybe that's why he's bored with the senate...same damn costume everyday!!

Jim looks quite handsome in these pics.

These are mighty fine photos. Thanks for putting them on RK.

Don't you see?!?  He can't be smiling.  Photos like this are all about image-making... and the image of Jim Webb they're trying so hard to create is one of a thoughtful, intellectual, serious, dare I say - Aristotelian oligarch. 

Such people don't smile.  Cowboys smile.

I think these are better and more natural than the ones in the above gallery.

Pictures from Mary Lee Cerillo
http://allyoucanuplo...

More Pictures from Mary Lee Cerillo
http://allyoucanuplo...

dammit, Todd.  You're going to ruin everything.

I Pubic,

I see nothing wrong with a candidate for Senate pausing to *reflect* for a minute; being responsible for your constituents' future requires thought. Perhaps he's contemplating the mess he'll have to help clear up once he's unseated Allen from his Painted Bubba; that prospect would stop *anyone* from smiling... If your candidate thought more and smirked less, he wouldn't be in macaca as deeply as he is now.

As for your choice of verb -- ruminate -- with its suggestion of sheep... I think it's much more appropriate for Allen, who's been praying to Bush (via his voting record) 9 times out of 10.

phriendlyjaime,

I don't know about Webb being good looking; I don't think he is. But he sure as heck is *sexy*! Just don't tell my DH I said so :)

It's refreshing to know that my post led at least one unenlightened Webb-head to the dictionary to look up a word.  Don't you feel better now that you know more than you did before I posted?

The next challenge for you will be to use that word in casual conversation sometime soon.  Studies show that if you don't use your new knowledge, you'll lose it.

I.Pub ought to know the word "ruminate." He opines in an ovine manner, in keeping with the Grand Ovine Party.

Baaa!

I agree with Lowell -- Allen casts a shadow (a large one) over everything he touches.

I disagree with phrienddlyjaime that Allen should get someone more familiar with Photoshop to project his image to the public. *How else* would he prove that he's not a vampire? He's gotta appeal to his base, you know...