Was that the most fun "press conference" ever, or what? This afternoon, at around 4:30 PM, Jim Webb accepted George Allen's concession, symbolically removing his boots to mark the successful end of his run for U.S. Senate. That's right, say it with me, Jim Webb is Virginia's next U.S. Senator! Say it with the couple hundred people at Arlington's Courthouse Plaza who were as pleased as can be that there will finally be positive CHANGE in this country - in large measure thanks to Jim Webb.Senator-elect Webb's substantive remarks today weren't long, but he did say that he had received a gracious phone call from George Allen and that they would have lunch together next week. Senator-elect Webb called for a halt to the politics of divisiveness, character assassination and distraction. Webb specifically called on the President to denounce these campaign tactics that have so divided us. He promised that he would be an independent voice in Congress, one that would represent the people who have no voice in the corridors of power. He talked about never selling out his principles for anything. He reiterated his top three priorities: reorienting our foreign policy and reaching a diplomatic settlement that allows us to extricate ourselves from Iraq; fighting for economic fairness and social justice; reining in the power of the President and asserting the power of the legislative branch. Finally, Senator Webb said that he was indebted to the people who elected him and wouldn't forget them.
More photos after the "flip."
But just as it was ending, a few state troopers squeezed by to escort the Governor out. And he came right by me. Then Schumer and finally the man of the hour. I got to shake their hands and congratulate Jim - something that became impossible moments later as the cameras and press created an impenetrable cocoon around Webb.
Guess my bad spot wasn't so bad after all.
Ya know what Virginians, George Mason beat UConn again!
What a beautiful evening. It was like we only began on that exact same spot just a few moments ago. The days slipped backwards while standing there, thinking of the Shad Planking and the making of the 5,000 signs with a whole crew of new people at HQ stapling all those signs, the Clarendon Parade, the Kerry event, the Kitchen Table talks, the Take Back Virginia events, the gun shows, the Bluegrass events, the 4th Parades, the JJ Dinners and more JJ dinners, the Annandale Parade, the Fredericksburg events, the Sully Centerville Parade, the Edwards events, the CLinton event, the Robb event, the Wilder event, the Women for Webb event with Hillary, the event with Albright, and I left out 123 others.
You all have spoken to eloquently . . .