I am so proud of Sen. Webb.  In every thing he has done since the November election I am more sure he was and is the perfect choice to lead Virginians in the Senate. And, he's a great national leader as well.

Webb really does have everything he needs to be the Teddy Roosevelt of the 21st Century.  He's a trust-bustin', people protecting, environment championing, book-writing, fearless, warrior.

As someone who has had ringside seats as he's gone from relative obscurity to a real national spotlight, I'm most satisfied with the way he's matured and gotten much more comfortable speaking in public.  His strenght always shines through, and his overwhelming decency, but the tightness is starting to fade.  It's a good thing.  Americans need our national leaders to be warm.

when Roosevelt became president.  That is a key difference. 

If Webb were 20 years younger, he could be our senator for a lot longer than he could starting at age 61.

Another option is for Gov. Kaine to go to the public with his bill.  I know he is doing this, and planning to do more.  Let the citizens know how it should be done.  And then bring the Delegates and Senators back into session.

This way, Kaine would probably deliver more immediate positives than the approach I mentioned above.  However, I am not really optimistic that the public will give the needed push to get the GOP to break ranks.  It (the public) seems unwilling to put itself on the line for even more important things right now.

Indeed, I was trying to post a second comment under the transportation thread.  Sorry! :-(

While it was very entertaining and made us all proud,  the gravity of the situation remains.  Jim Webb may have placed himself in the position of standing between the citizens of this country and World War III.

Thanks so much for this link, Josh; without question, Jim Webb continues to hit homeruns on "Hardball" and elsewhere.  During the interview, I was particularly impressed with Webb's declination of the opening provided by Chris Matthews to discuss how and why Webb was awarded the Navy Cross in Vietnam.

Some of you may recall my account of a few months ago here on RK under the diary heading "Three Musketeers" about how, at Mudcat's insistence while Jim Webb was campaigning here in SW Virginia one weekend evening last summer, a group of us (Jim, Mac McGarvey, Phillip Thompson, Fred Hutchins, Mudcat Saunders and I) drove and then hiked up to the Audie Murphy monument at the mountaintop site of Murphy's death in a plane crash so many years ago.

Our trek up the mountain occurred after a long day of campaigning and driving and target practicing and prior to dinner, and there was some quiet complaining and muttering about having to make this trip until we arrived at the monument. 

Until that very moment, there had been much good-natured ribbing and joke-telling, and then we all fell silent, simultaneously, as Jim walked up to the monument and began to read to himself the words inscribed upon it.

The gravity of the moment settled upon all of us at the exact same time - one decorated war hero reading silently about another one on a peaceful, quiet mountaintop far from any such recent conflicts.

I turned to look at Mudcat, and he was sitting on a small wooden bench across from the monument, smoking a cigarette and smiling all-knowingly while he watched Jim.

Audie Murphy and Jim Webb:  Two true American heroes who never needed to - and never would - brag about anything to do with the horrors of war. 

Their actions in defense of our country, and to its absolute benefit, speak volumes about them, and nothing more needs to be said.  I doubt seriously that Chris Matthews will ever convince Jim Webb to discuss on-air how Webb won the Navy Cross.

Webb's heroic actions, and his obvious love of country and willingness to continue making sacrifices for it, remain prevalent and strong in the U. S. Senate, a most appropriate setting for those badly needed qualities, these days in particular.

May Senator Jim Webb continue to serve us all in good health, and for many years to come...

Thanks again.

Steve
 

Thanks for your ratings of my comment above.  In it, I probably should have explained that, unless you watch the "Hardball" video, you won't know that Chris Matthews made the Audie Murphy/Jim Webb comparison as a lead-up to ask Jim to talk about his Navy Cross, and Jim politely declined to do so.

Here on RK at this so-called "Jim Webb love fest" (see comments under a later RK diary by Lowell entitled "RK/NLS Talk Radio with Jim Webb"), there are many good reasons why we adamantly support our junior U. S. Senator of Virginia, little things like humble leadership, strong character, undaunted courage and indefatigable persistence, to name but a few.

Little things like that...

Steve

Anyone else doing MORE to prevent war with Iran? Anyone?

in my book.  If not for the efforts of these two gentlemen I think this nation would be a lot closer to war with Iran. As it is now, they've given the Bushies pause and disrupted their game plan.

And two leaders - especially the likes of Jim Webb and Wes Clark - can make an even more amazing difference.  As we add our efforts and voices to their leadership, we all can make a profound, significant difference.

Slowly, slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, the battleship begins to turn in the ocean, changing its course...

It's working, and let's just hope that the course corrections were initiated soon enough.

Thanks!

Steve

I just about burst with pride each time I hear or see our Senator speaking out on vital, urgent matters that have been swept under the rug by "others".  The fact that he's taking on the issue of war with Iran shows his belief that the situation is dire, much more so than most Americans would even give thought to. 

Through his voice and his pen, and the introduction of this new bill, Webb is working in tandem with another man who knows the urgengy of bringing attention to Iran.  Wes Clark, through his behind the scenes work and his very public campaign with VoteVets to StopIranWar, is devoting his time to this as well.  We should be doing our part by writing our letters to the editor across the state encouraging support of Webb's bill, by signing the petition at www.stopIranWar.com, and by bringing the subject of Iran to the attention of everyone we know.