it just occurred to me RE: Allen / Webb book flap...

[pepperbear]

I can't imagine they had this in a drawer. It seems as if they researched it at the 11th hour so they could shove demsex down the electorate's throat. I can imagine the meeting:

"Ok,this Foley thing is really whooping us, George, and your Macaca isn't helping. But wait til you see what we just found out....when we finally decided to read the book."

At press time Allen refuses to confirm or deny that he has even read any of the books, meaning some aide brought it to his narra' ass' attention.

I am sick of George Allen. I so want him to go home & "spend more time with his family."

[LA lady]

1. The story wasn't new

The Webb book and it's contents had been floating on the right wing blogs for several weeks.

[babylonsister]

3. And written in 1978? Not sure on that, but not recently. nt

[eleny]

5. I got my husband a copy of Fields of Fire when it first came out

Just took a look at it and it's copyrighted 1978. Is this the one you mean? Hi!

[babylonsister]

9. Wow, slapping myself on the back, but I heard it was fairly old and

taken from his experiences in VN and living elsewhere. Webb has so much more experience, knowledge, and authenticity than
Allen, who's been there forever. His foreverness is probably a comfort zone to many, i.e., vote the incumbent in. Sigh. I hope that doesn't happen!

[eleny]

11. Did you see the two part video of Webb tonight?

It's here http://www.raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5502 But I bet you saw it. Webb was speaking to supporters at a rally and does the smackdown on Allen about all this. Webb read a number of the book reviews. I can just see Allen's campaign staff running for cover. Allen must be incredibly pissed. I bet he'd really like to kick some ass.

[EvangelOphileBlican]

4. George maKKKaca Allen? n/t

[babylonsister]

2. Pure deflection from real issues. But let's talk about that

'lurid' book Webb wrote that was praised by McCain. Allen hopefully will wish he could write anything for some income when he loses.

[Beetwasher]

6. Yes, Pathetic Flailing

That has gone nowhere, and may even backfire since Webb is using it effectively now to highlight Allen's lack of service and general dishonor, while highlighting his own heroic service.

[eleny]

7. Interesting that chickenhawks didn't consider what military said about the book

It seemed like a no brainer that the military would have a strong and positive opinion about the book. Webb served in Vietnam and he was a Republican. Did no one in the Allen campaign ever figure "Hmmmm.... let's look at some of the reviews of the novel to be sure we don't make complete asses of ourselves and piss off those who served."? Doesn't look like they did.

So I think your question is well taken. As has been pointed out up-thread, talk of the book was in the right wing blogs for several weeks. And not one person thought to research how his work(s) were received or what was being said on that in the blogs? Says a lot about the right wing. Leaping to conclusions as they grab at straws.

Allen doesn't deserve to serve in the Senate if this is how numbly he and his staff function.

[Lex]

8. Didn't I read that McCain praised Webb's book?

[babylonsister]

12. Yes, you did. And while I haven't heard that mentioned,

my dad has (on some program, he couldn't remember which one).

[magnolia]

10. "Fields of Fire"

"According to the Marine Corps, "Fields of Fire" is one of the books that are "required to be read by all Marines while serving in the grade shown."

http://raisingkaine.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=5508