but from where I was there were a number of people of color, people with disabilities, and people of widely divergent backgrounds in the crowd.  Some people were being very pushy and forced themselves to the front and clearly were not there for the music.  That sort will always show up for the freebies but we can't count on them for real grassroots work and shouldn't waste our time worrying about it.  I can understand your impatience with the brown-nose contingent, but this was a party and it was supposed to be about just enjoying the moment. Several people I talked to discussed issues also, but it's not necessary to be ON all the time.  Sometimes it's okay to share a few minutes of satisfaction, friendship, and good old free beer. 

Hopefully after the dust settles the people who really are about change and not in gathering glory unto themselves will continue with their efforts and support legislation which will effectuate the changes we seek.  We need to keep on top of things like the New GI Bill, the minimum wage, and the demand for accountability for the missteps of the last few years.  The Jim Webb I saw last night looked rested, relaxed, and ready to take on the world.  His enthusiasm is contagious and I think a lot of people left that ballroom last night with a renewed sense of purpose and energy.

I saw a lot of divided people.  Not enough love in the room.  I noted animosities that had grown between people.  My point is that we need to drown out the sycophants and the pride-pushers.  There were a few people of color, that is true.  However, my point is that the grassroots element seemed absent.  I have to think about it more to fully respond.

was present, maybe not in the same percentages as in the population, but a helluva lot more diversity than, say, in republican shindigs. I met and talked with plenty of Oriental Americans (every flavor), Indians, Arabs, blacks, Latinos... and people from out of state who had supported Webb long distance with money and phone banking on cell phones. I arrived off the Metro with a young man coming  from college in Bristol, England and saw firemen, police officers, union members, and on and on. As for brown-nosing, it occurs everywhere. Why not? It's human to want to be with a winner, and what's wrong with that? Webb has been around the track a few times in government and on the Hill, and his novels show he has a keen sense of character, so I suspect he can pick out the sycophants and useless campfollowers instantly. Not to worry.

True, but I just wish there was more love in the room.  I don't see a lot of good friends being made in the politics game.  Maybe its just me, but it sure seems like a pattern.

A lot of the people volunteering for the campaign did not have much interaction with many others.  I was a fairly recent addition to the campaign, and an awful lot of my time was spent either phonebanking, blogging, or doing LTEs.  I made it to only two campaign gatherings the whole election.  Even an outgoing, comfortable around strangers person such as I found it a little hard to connect at first with people at the party last night.  I probably knew or at least was familiar with about eight of the people there last night.  All the rest were complete strangers, and I suspect that for them a lot of the people they were encountering were total strangers, too.  I'm  hoping the love will come into the room after the crowds of hangers-on have dwindled and what remains are the ones truly committed to helping make change happen.  Don't think I know you, Dan, but if we should happen to run into each other I'd be glad to talk to you about the important things.

I know a lot of those people.  I started with this effort in February, and found that a number of Webb volunteers were not friendly.  Some were downright arrogant jerks without respect for those who started this effort.  I find that politics in general attracts shallow people.  I thought the Democrats in 2006 wouldn't do this because of the importance of the effort.  None of my good friends are involved in politics besides myself, although the vast majority vote for Democrats.  My post is a cautionary tale.  Maybe somebody reading this is a sychophant and needs to think about it.  Anyway, thanks for your comment.

I'm not there to "touch the gown", but what I notice is Webb always mentions the rag tag guerrilla army back in Feb./Mar.
every time, so I have a strong feeling none of this worship the winner crap will go to his head. 

Ya know, lighten up, this is a celebration.

I think you need to lighten up. 

Wishing away fawning sycophants from the Federal City is like wishing away death and taxes.  It comes with the territory.

I also think it's important to distinguish between the enthusiasm of supporters--who in many cases have every right to enjoy free food and free beer after a good victory--and those who are going to try to foist free junkets on legislators in an effort to win favorable legislation.

The lesson here is for the Senator.  If he forgets his loyalties in six years, as his predecessor did, he will pay the price in 2012.  I'm not too worried about Jim Webb--every indication so far suggests that we chose well and wisely.  But in a very real way the verdict is still out.  I am sure we will all be paying close attention . . .

I missed out on the get together, but from what I've read here it sounds like it was a fun event for most of the attendees.

I also wouldn't dismiss your efforts out of hand.  Obviously no one person, or group can take full credit (or blame) for this victory, every little bit of help made a difference in this close race.  In many cases the voters were also volunteers who gave time and money generously to the cause. 

Especially if you happen to like bluegrass.  Me, I love the stuff and you don't get much of it in Arlington.  That band's terrific.  I talked to Steve Carper, Jr., the banjo player, and he told me they were hopelessly lost in Arlington and finally asked a cop how to get to the Ballroom.  They ended up with a police escort and he was grateful.  The place was packed and hundreds of people waited out on the sidewalk just for the chance to get in.  The food went in about 10 minutes, but the beer flowed to the end.  I thought Webb looked terrific and really pleased to be there.  The baby's adorable, and Hong Le's daughter is just a really cute kid.  At one point Webb wisecracked about the size of the crowd that "as we know, it's all about the beer." 

I was wrapped up with a mezmorizing Washington Wizards basketball game and a not so mezmorizing Notre Dame loss last night.  Otherwise I would have made a cross town trek to catch the event.  The free beer in particular would have been a huge selling point!

Maybe I'll have another shot in 2012 . . . Glad that I was able to catch the victory speech in Clarendon almost two months ago.  How time flies . . .
 

Perhaps

You did your part.  So enjoy the moment a little bit. 

I'm sure we'll all have plenty of time to worry the GWB legacy over the next few decades.

The fun starts in 2007 when we have a mess to clean up in Iraq...AND...it will likely be the warmest year ever in the modern age.

I'd like to do a write-in vote for Jim Webb.  We obviously couldn't have knocked George Allen off without him.

I thought the event on January 3rd was terrific.  In a way it was a reunion of everyone that worked so hard to elect Webb to the Senate.  My husband and I had been involved with many groups of people, veterans, grassroots, women for Webb, FCDC people and a ton of others.  I didn't sense any division in the room, quite the opposite.  I was there to revel in the celebration not for free beer. (I don't happen to drink).  I see nothing wrong with a celebration when people have worked and worked and worked to elect a candidate.  A ton of us met for dinner afterwards in a nearby restaurant and continued to meet and talk and make connections.  I've made many new friends and contacts. 

I was up in front at the event having arrived there at 4:00 PM.  I enjoyed the band, got to speak to all of the band members.  There were people there from all over the state.
I met a couple who had gotten up at 5:00 AM to drive from
Danville.  There were people from Richmond, Charlottesville and Roanoke.  There were people there from all different ethnic groups.  There were disabled people in wheelchairs.
These were Virginians from all walks of life and they were all united.

I didn't notice the brown nosing.  I'm not into that.  I volunteer with no strings attached because I believe in a candidate and have no ulterior motives.  Yes, this does go on but what I saw was a bunch of thrilled people who saw Webb go down in history.  I get tired sometimes of the divisions in politics but frankly try to keep my eye on the ball and that's getting Democrats elected to office.