The Dems' Most Awkward Party Crasher

[DonViejo]

David Freedlander

Sen. Jim Webb may have been uninvited to a Democratic house party in Iowa earlier this month, but he was very well received.

Hillary or Elizabeth?

That was the question that Walt Pregler, the chairman of the Dubuque County Democratic Party of Iowa wanted to ask of roughly 60 of his fellow county chairs and committed Democratic activists at a meeting earlier this month of the First District Central Committee, which represents the most Democratic portion of this first-in-the-nation caucus state.

The vote wasn’t binding, since party leaders don’t typically endorse, but Pregler wanted to get an informal sense of where his colleagues stood as Hillary Clinton prepared to launch her campaign and organizers from an effort to draft Elizabeth Warren into the race continued to work the state.

But then, unexpectedly, Jim Webb showed up.

After a barn-burner of a speech that touched upon the strains the middle class is under, criminal justice reform and the need to get money out of politics, and that, according to four attendees, won the former Virginia senator two standing ovations, the Warren/Clinton straw poll vote was delayed until the next meeting.

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/04/21/the-dems-most-awkward-party-crasher.html

[RedstDem]

1. Biden/Webb would be tough to beat. Webb/Warren invincible.

Just dreaming, I know.
Would love to have an alternative strong candidate that gets us all as far away from Clinton as possible.
I think the middle class would benefit from either of those combo's, much more than Clinton/???.

[vi5]

2. I have many issues with Webb.

But then I also have many issues with Hillary as well. At least with Webb it seems to me his opinions and positions, even when I disagree with them are sincere and not poll tested and finger to the wind determined.

Get him in the race, let's have a primary and a good discussion of ideas and thoughts.

[deutsey]

3. "let's have a primary and a good discussion of ideas and thoughts."

[vi5]

4. Can I assume that was agreement with my sentiment?

What intrigues me about Webb was the fact that one of his big issues is prison/prisoner reform. I mean most people are just content to take a "Fuck 'em" approach to that subject so it's possibly one of the least popular, least likely to win him support issues possible. He has a lot of other positions that I think suck, but the fact that he's taken on that one wins him at least some points with me. Still wouldn't probably be likely to vote for him given the other issues, but I can respect him and think he'd be a good voice to have in the primaries.

[deutsey]

5. Yes

I know very little about Webb, but I'm interested in hearing what he and other potential candidates have to say.

Although primaries can linger on way too long, I think they're necessary in helping us learn more about the candidates.

[vi5]

6. Exactly...

My concern is that without a primary challenger, from either the left or the right flank of our party, Hillary will be able to be as vague and non-committal as she wants and as she has a tendency to be.

I realize that campaign statements aren't etched in stone (as our current prez has shown), but I'm more curious as to how she'll handle herself since my biggest concern with her isn't necessarily her positions (although some of those concern me), it's how willing she is to say and do anything that's in her best interest and her best interest alone that worries me.