He does have a temper; that's easy enough to see, but he's actually only combative when there's some benefit to be gained or when he's witnessing something so stupid, callous, or outrageous that he can't keep his tongue.  He strikes me rather as a person who is very self-disciplined and thinks before he acts, although at times his actions are based on intuition more than on conscious thought; however, his intuition is based on his knowledge and understanding of things gleaned from years of constant study, observation, and reflection.  In other words, unlike our Dear Leader who gazes into Putin's eyes and thinks he's glimpsed his soul, Webb is more likely to say he's looked into Putin's eyes, sized him up, observed his actions, observed how other people who know him relate to him, and then made a judgment call about him which is subject to revision should circumstances indicate the judgment call is off.  This is not to say that Webb cannot at times be set off by some statement or action which sparks his ire (or gets his Irish up.  Being Irish I like to think it's the Irish in him that gives him a temper, but maybe I'm being parochial), but a little temper tantrum is good for clearing the air from time to time. 

As for the "how's your boy" incident, not only was Webb not rude in responding to a very rude demand for information, but he may have had a sense of the trap into which he was being maneuvered if he had consented to say anything one way or the other about his son.

As Peggy Noonan relayed it:

"Fair enough, everyone feels silly on a picture line. Mr. Bush approached him later and asked after his son, a Marine. Mr. Webb said he'd like his son back from Iraq. Mr. Bush then, according to the Washington Post, said: "That's not what I asked you. How's your son?" Mr. Webb replied that's between him and his son.

"For this Mr. Webb has been roundly criticized. And on reading the exchange I thought it had the sound of the rattling little aggressions of our day, but not on Mr. Webb's side. Imagine Lincoln saying, in such circumstances, "That's not what I asked you." Or JFK. Or Gerald Ford!"

By asking the same question the second time with the same wording, Bush tried to "territorialize" Webb; to establish dominance over him; to put him into the "submissive" position while he, the President, achieve "dominance." These are innate maneuverings - animals do this, children do, even tiny infants. Bullies inately understand it and so do the bullied: It is what dogs do when the one puts its head above the other's. What is astonishing is that all the others over the years have so willingly submitted to dominance in these natural imperitives until Jim Webb came along. Given the stakes - given the fact that Jim's son was in danger's path serving in Iraq; given the very real possibility that the President had perhaps irresponsibly and perhaps maliciously taken advantage of the organic sense of allegiance and loyalty which comes native to the Scotch-Irish common culture of Virginia; a loyalty which demands absolute honor and utter integrity in its officer class and higher administration (without which it would be slavery) - the President is lucky Jim didn't slap him.

Nice of Peggy Noonan to comment (after she called Jim "Nancy Pelosi with medals" - last year). She has character and understands. I hope she follows Jim back to the Democrats.

Thanks, Catzmaw and BQ!  As a native southwest Virginian of Scots-Irish descent, I can certainly appreciate your observations about how Webb might "...get his Irish up..." and to note "...the organic sense of allegiance and loyalty which comes native to the Scotch-Irish common culture of Virginia..."

Therefore, as Dave "Mudcat" Saunders explained to CNN's Tucker Carlson last year - prior to Webb's election - when Carlson pressed Saunders to compare and contrast Webb to Hillary Clinton, Mudcat finally responded, "Tucker, it was because of people like Jim Webb that Hadrian had to build the wall!"

Others may want to keep that in mind when attempting to put Webb in a corner or force him to defend himself or his principles.  Jim Webb has a long history or being able to take care of himself, both physically and mentally.

I see no good purpose in "testing" him further.

Steve

That's it in a nutshell.  The thing is, Webb's a very sophisticated fighter.  He stands fast when he has to and dodges and weaves but doesn't retreat, just as a good boxer should.  In reading the transcript I think Chris Wallace kept finding himself coming up holding nothing every time he thought he'd pinned Webb down.  Just speaking as someone who argues for a living I can't tell you how impressed I am with Webb's increasingly deft touch in media situations.  The man is a very fast study.

And, having known him for so many years, I know that it is not an affectation but rather how he really thinks and talks.  Some people may doubt that, but I know it to be true.

Also, I have an off-list question I need to ask of you, so would you please contact me at cycle12@adelphia.net?

Thanks!

Steve

Also, I caught the video of the Webb interview on Faux News.  Wallace clearly looked frustrated because he was getting nowhere with his little jabs and attempts to corner Webb. 

What's the link to the Webb interview on FOX, please?

Thanks again!

Steve

We all worked very hard to elect this fine gentleman to the Senate, when so many establishment Dems were backing the other guy. I am very proud of him, and very proud of all of us. Jim Webb is very smart, and very cool under pressure, even pressure from the likes of baiters like Wallace.  I believe Wallace learned a few things today, and one thing he learned is you cannot trap Jim Webb--he'll hold his own and then some.

Karen

"Did you call me combative, punk?" followed by a left jab to Wallace's face.

"I'm not combative, you jerk."

OK, Webb's response was probably better.  He pretty much knocked it out of the park.  Good work Senator!

is simply a preview of what everyone will be seeing in Disney/ABC's TV movie version of the event.  A verbal deflation won't get you points during sweeps week.

I watched the interview with Chris Wallace.  It was obvious whose side Wallace was on.  He was bound and determine to trip Webb up.  No such luck.  Our new Senator is intelligent, knows his stuff and made Chris Wallace look like a total idiot.  What I loved was the way Chris Wallace did his usual trying to interrupt the interviewee and got nowhere fast!! 

Chris Wallace might think that Webb has a reputation of being Combative but at least he doesn't have the reputation of being on FOX NEWS representing the Bush Administration.  Webb isn't combative his gut can tell him when someone is coming at him.  He was right on about Bush at that reception at the White House. 

Makes me proud that all of us rag tag volunteers worked so hard to get him into office.  I get phone calls from friends on a daily basis telling me how much they respect him and how glad they are that Senator Webb speaks his mind.

I don't think that Webb would've chosen the unusual slogan "Born Fighting" for his campaign were he not willing to be "combative" for the causes he believes in.

My impression (partly based on Webb's autobiographical observations in his book "Born Fighting") is that he has had a lot of anger in his life, but that the man is older now and mature, and has learned how to sublimate that anger to apply it in positive and productive ways.

And tough, smart and sophisticated fighters like him are exactly what the Democrats need right now.

If Webb is combative, what the heck do you call Cheney?  (Okay, okay, my personal nickname for him is Rasputin.)  Cheney tells people on the Senate floor to f-off and tells people they are out of line for asking about his pregnant gay daughter.  Mrs. Rasputin says it was a "dirty trick" for the Kerry/Edwards camp to bring up their gay daughter.  And it's only to be expected that the spawn of Rasputin (Mary Cheney) is equally sharp-tongued.

NONE of the Cheneys are half as courteous when upset. The right can dish it out but they can't take it.  Go Webb go!