Emerging consensus bolstered by conservative Barnett: Webb wins Meet the Press debate

By: Rob
Published On: 9/18/2006 7:20:34 PM

Even conservatives can see that Webb was the winner of Sunday's Meet the Press debate.  From Hugh Hewitt's ultra-right wing blog, Dean Barnett calls it a TKO:

If It Was a Prize Fight, It Would Have Been Stopped at the First Commercial Break

I just finished watching the George Allen +óGé¼GÇ£ Jim Webb debate on +óGé¼+ôMeet the Press.+óGé¼-¥ For conservatives wishing for Allen to retain his seat, their best hope is that Virginians were otherwise occupied this morning or that the state+óGé¼Gäós NBC outlets were having technical difficulties.

Before offering my analysis, I should confess a pre-existing fondness for Jim Webb. Like virtually everyone who has read some of his books, I respect him as an artist but even more as a man. Webb is a war hero, an outspoken and outsized intellectual, a patriot who has tirelessly served his country, and all-in-all a tremendously admirable individual. Our political system is richer when people like Jim Webb decide to enter it.


That being said, I didn+óGé¼Gäót think Webb would be a very good politician. Webb+óGé¼Gäós background didn+óGé¼Gäót suggest that he would take to the tasks that a politician must constantly assume +óGé¼GÇ£ relentless and humiliating fundraising, the endless happy tolerance of fools, and an uncanny ability to condense complex issues into 90 second sound-bites.

I should also say that given the vital partisan stakes involved this election season that Hugh and I have frequently discussed here, I squarely and unequivocally support Allen+óGé¼Gäós re-election.

Or at least I did until this morning+óGé¼Gäós debate. Now I+óGé¼Gäóm not so sure... Webb outclassed Allen in every aspect of the clash.

When it was time to talk about the candidates+óGé¼Gäó biographies, Allen really didn+óGé¼Gäót have a chance. There aren+óGé¼Gäót too many people in America who have biographies that compare with Webb+óGé¼Gäós....

There were also the notable stylistic differences between the two candidates. Allen seemed like a politician through-and through. Webb seemed like he was intellectually and spiritually slumming while exchanging barbs with Allen ....

Even if Webb weren+óGé¼Gäót so impressive, Allen might well have cost himself the election with his continuing inept efforts to defuse +óGé¼+ôMacaca-gate.+óGé¼-¥ Considering that Allen knew the issue was bound to arise in this morning+óGé¼Gäós debate, his defense of his comments was fairly shocking: He claimed that +óGé¼+ômacaca+óGé¼-¥ was a word that he just made up on the spot when he called a young Webb volunteer that name while the video-recorder whirred.

When Allen offered this latest explanation, I+óGé¼Gäóm pretty sure even in Massachusetts I heard the sound of half a million Virginia conservatives simultaneously slapping their heads and screaming, +óGé¼+ôOy vey!+óGé¼-¥

AS EVERYONE HERE KNOWS, I THINK IT+óGé¼GäóS A MATTER of considerable import that Republicans maintain control of Congress. But, I have to admit, I can imagine far worse things than having a man like James Webb in the Senate.

Read the whole thing - every word points to a Jim Webb victory.

In a country full of career politicians and empty suits, even conservatives are (begrudgingly) seeing the man of principle and common sense that might replace a talking-point spewing, rubberstamping waffler like Allen (a "politician through-and through.")

A once in a lifetime opportunity that even (former) Allen supporters are warming up to.

Comments



debate (martha - 9/18/2006 7:27:55 PM)
Somebody better tell Chris Mathews et al on Hardball.


This is the Meet the Press Debate, right? (DanG - 9/18/2006 7:30:59 PM)
This is Sunday's debate, not Monday's.  Just making sure we'll all clear on that.


I think you're right Dan. (Eric - 9/18/2006 7:44:40 PM)
Having caught parts of today's debate online I suspect the general consensus will be the same.  I missed the macaca/jewish question (that sounds like it caused quiet a stir).  But based on Allen's horrible stem cell effort and Webb's domination of military matters, along with other evenly fought or marginal Webb victories, Webb *should* come out as the clear winner two days in a row.


I DON'T THINK EITHER MAN WON (jackiehva - 9/18/2006 8:23:35 PM)
The "macaca" issue has been beaten to death.  Sure it was a really stupid thing for Allen to say, then to deny knowing its meaning....  Then the noose and Confederate flag.... Re. Webb, remarks he made in the early '80's have been beaten to death too.  (What military man didn't feel that way at that time?)  I like Jim Webb but I hate his campaign ad showing footage from decades ago--and with a Republican yet, albeit an icon of that party.  I think it was a really bad move to ignore Nancy Regan's request not to show it.  I wish Jim would hire Michael Steele's ad agency.  Steele's campaign ads are excellent--classy, humorous, entertaining, and positive.  Too bad he's not running in VA!!!  I wish both Allen and Webb would quit the negative personal slamming and tell us what each  will do for VA if he is elected.  In case they don't know, our issues are roads, education, taxes, etc., etc.  I'm an Independent voter who is sitting on the fence at this point.


I respectfully disagree. (thaddaeus toad - 9/18/2006 8:56:51 PM)
I just rewatched the debate on the big(ger) screen TV at home, and I have a much better feeling than I had from watching the 4 inch box on C-Span.  I thought this was a great debate, and I thought that although Webb had a moment of discomfort or two, Allen had a really tough day.  I urge everyone to watch the debate again, if they can; and if you didn't get to see the end bc C-Span cut to Frist, you HAVE to see it!  Webb charisma and jovial nature GOLD!  He poses for a picture with George, puts his arm aropund him, and makes a total joke about their height difference by standing on his  toes.  Webb laughs uproariously, and George looks like he wishes he were somewhere else.

Great debate, and as the press rolls in, we see that again Webb was a winner.