Jim Webb Live Blog Thursday

[UPDATE: Jim Webb's comments on the "flip."]

Iraq War Veterans (129+ / 0-)

I lived this issue after the Vietnam War, when I was the first Vietnam veteran to serve as a full committee counsel in the Congress.  On the House Veterans Affairs Committee we worked on pioneer programs related to Post Traumatic Stress, Agent Orange, veterans education, improvement of VA hospital services, etc.

I asked for and received a seat on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee.  I worked throughout the transition period between election day and the convening of the new Congress in order to write legislation that will give those who've served since 9/11 a GI Bill as good as the educational benefits that were given to our World War Two veterans.  I introduced that Bill in the first days of the Congress, and am pushing hard to get it into the system.

In short, I've lived in this particular world for a long time, and feel very strongly about the duty of those in government to live up to our obligations to those who have served.

by Jim Webb on Thu Feb 15, 2007 at 02:04:45 PM PST

Iran (97+ / 0-)

With assignments on the Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, I've spent a great deal of time over the past six weeks in hearings and other forums related to the future of the Middle East.  I do believe that the momentum among elected officials is heavily in the direction of the positions that I and others have been taking for several years.

Re: Iran, the first place to look in order to understand the possibilities inherent with this Administration is the "Presidential Signing Statement" that accompanied the 2002 Authorization to use force against Iraq.  Those who participate in Daily Kos should get a copy of this signing statement.  Its language is very troubling.  Basically, the President asserts his authority to use force as Commander in Chief in almost any situation that he deems is a threat to American "interests" around the world. 

Because of the vagueness of this language, and because of the many statements by this Administration, I am considering legislation that would clarify the authority of the Congress.  The best clarification would be to say, simply, that no past legislation or policy gives the President the authority to conduct unilateral military attacks against Iran, without the consent of Congress.

by Jim Webb on Thu Feb 15, 2007 at 02:19:18 PM PST

Economic Fairness. (44+ / 0-)

You're not going to believe this but I just wrote a 300 word response that was clicked off by an unfamiliar "mouse." 

Bottom line = the policies that emanated out of globalization, particularly as they affect the responsibility of corporate America to take care of its workers, and government policies to "equalize" the conditions in the international work place, are the starting points for analyzing this problem.  When we moved to the WTO, there were no protections for American workers (and no fairness provisions for workers that matched all of the "free trade" emphasis).  This impacts the US differently than virtually every other "first world" economy. 

We need to bring fairness back into the corporate tax structure, and we need to bring equality of working conditions into the formula for international agreements.

by Jim Webb on Thu Feb 15, 2007 at 02:34:39 PM PST

Sec Rice / Iran Question (38+ / 0-)

Sec Rice responded to my question through an Assistant Sec of State.  I asked the same question of Dep Sec Negroponte during his confirmation hearing and received a long answer to a question that could be answered with one word. 

After the most recent hearing, Sec Rice asked to meet with me in her office.  I took that meeting.  A good part of it included a discussion re: this issue.  We are obviously not in full agreement, although from our discussion I do sense some movement from this Administration in other areas relating to the Middle East.  Too soon to predict.  I still have the same concerns re: possible unilateral action against Iran, and am considering the legislative options.

by Jim Webb on Thu Feb 15, 2007 at 02:41:18 PM PST

Presidential candidate endorsements (54+ / 0-)

I have a great regard for Tim Kaine, and I also have a great regard for Barack Obama.  At the same time, I believe it would be inappropriate for me to be endorsing any candidate for quite a while.  The Democratic Party has a very strong field this year, and it's a long way to 08. 

by Jim Webb on Thu Feb 15, 2007 at 02:47:00 PM PST

Individual Rights (28+ / 0-)

I would have to expand this concern a bit. 

This Administration has put into motion a series of actions that run the risk of affecting individual freedoms in this country, in a manner that we have not before.  One of the benefits of the recent election is that the Democratic Party's leadership is taking on the Administration on such issues as warrantless wire-tapping and invasions of privacy.

Many Americans don't fully appreciate the implications if centralized power goes unchecked. People like Senator Pat Leahy, who chairs the Judiciary Committee, are willing to stand up to these abuses.  This is something of a "quiet fight" for the way of life we all cherish -- but it is an essential one.

by Jim Webb on Thu Feb 15, 2007 at 02:54:33 PM PST

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