To the "Webb used to be a Republican" legions.

[11 Bravo]

Can you please give us a few days to enjoy the most comprehensive ass-kicking ever delivered after a * SOTUS? Yeah, you don't agree with Jim about everything. Hell, I've known him for 20 years, and neither do I! We have argued before and will do so again. But for the time being, I'm proud of my Democratic senator from Virginia. And for the "more ideologically pure than thou" bunch, how did Nader work out for us?

[Little Wing]

1. Bravo

to rip off your user name!

[Radical Activist]

2. Yeah, it was a great speech.

The kind Democrats used to give before they got too fond of their corporate campaign cash. I hope washington doesn't change Webb too much.

[11 Bravo]

3. I promise you, he will piss you and me off more than once, but ...

if he succumbs to the DC bullshit, I will be astounded!

[shadowknows69]

4. Party lines are getting kind of blurry in places

there are two kinds of U.S. politicians IMO. Real Americans and corporate slaves.

[intheflow]

13. You got that right. n/t

[MadMaddie]

5. 11 Bravo ....well said..

It was the right speech at the right time. The fact that he is retired military...

I thought one of the most brilliant moments was to show the WWII picture of his father, talk about his service and then talk about his osn's service...and that his family understand what sacrifice is....

Simply brilliant.....

I don't care if he was a Republican in the past...as long as he walks the walk and talks the talk he can represent this American citizen any time.

[Octafish]

6. Lincoln was a Republican.

He'd be a Democrat today.

[Faryn Balyncd]

22. Does anyone believe Lincoln would we a Republican today? ... Eisenhower? .........

......Goldwater? (Hell, they nearly threw him out when he was alive over his libertarian views about gays and religion in politics, and they weren't even talking about civil liberties)

......Teddy Roosevelt?

......Robert Taft?

Does any think Tony Zinni, or Colin Powell, or Lawrence Wilkerson, or John Dean, or John Danforth would join the Republican Party today?







Actually, are there ANY Republicans from before 1980 that would be a Republican today????????

[Octafish]

33. No one in their ''right'' mind would want to be a Republican.

Ignorance rubs off a crazy monkey.

[adigal]

45. I was a Republican until almost 3 years ago

and now I am more of a rabid Democrat than most people I know.

Never underestimate the passion of a person who realizes they were wrong about everything, or played for a fool. When people see me coming, they run away because I am always preaching against the evils that are the Republican party.

[justiceischeap]

47. Yes but

Wasn't the Republican party of "olden" days more like the Democratic party of the 60's? I know I read somewhere along the way, that the two parties kind of switched places. Could be wrong and probably showing my historical political ignorance.

[Pirate Smile]

So true. Recommended. Thanks, 11 Bravo.

:toast:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

7. I loved his speech and I think he'll be a great Senator.

And I hope we can all appreciate the fact that the only thing that matters is what he's doing now. Since 2003 I've had to listen to the same sort of crap about Wes Clark (who was never even an actual Republican), one of the most progressive spokesmen we have. For some crazy reason there are those who seem to think the Democratic Party won't accept converts; that you had to have voted for Democrats in every single election since you turned 18 or you don't qualify as a "real" Democrat. To which I say, bullshit.

So here's to Webb and Clark and all the other great Democrats who are doing the job for us NOW.

:loveya: Jim Webb.

[rosesaylavee]

8. Lots of us here used to be

Republicans and are now Democrats. Like me. Will we always carry the 'mark'? :eyes:

[durrrty libby]

12. 'Will we always carry the 'mark'? '

Sounds like it. Well, just call it an old wart

:toast:

[rosesaylavee]

23. Maybe if I kiss one of these?

...during the next new moon, will the wart go away?

:toast:

[MannyGoldstein]

9. I Used To Be A Republican!

At least one Democratic candidate for the presidency still is a Republican.

[Stephanie]

10. She certainly is.

But hold your nose and pretend you don't notice.

[davidwparker]

17. When I turned voting age, I voted for Reagan myself. Ooops.

[Oldtimeralso]

29. But at one time...

wasn't raygun a Democrat, until big business money got to him.

[FogerRox]

11. ..You know what...

Webb did good.

Former repub congressman
Former repub Assist Sec Def
Former repub Navy Sec

He did good.

[davidwparker]

14. I'm here in Hampton Roads and was THRILLED about the speech. You

should check out what Jeff Cohen http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jeff-cohen/jim-webbs-democratic-res_b_39481.html">wrote about the speech at Huffington Post.

[Faryn Balyncd]

15. Did anyone read Webb's op-ed on - - - - "Class Struggle" - - - - in___the___Wall___Street___Journal?

.......(and read the responses)?


http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=23007&mesg_id=24564



Webb is not a chameleon who tells his audience what they want to hear.

Jim Webb tells them what they need to hear.

[roamer65]

16. I used to be a Rethuglican...

and I got Iran-Contra for my vote. That cured my "Rethuglican" disorder for good.

[davidwparker]

19. Watching * Sr's administration did it for me. Then, I though of myself

as an Independent.

* Jr. took care of being an Independent. After seeing this debacle, I WILL NEVER vote for an (R) again. So, continuing to call myself an Independent is pointless.

[tnlefty]

18. I'm getting tired of the "more ideoloically pure than thou" being used

to take a swipe at what some folks consider to be "leftists", etc., etc. I've had this directed my way, but I didn't vote for Nader.

I didn't like Harold Ford, Jr., but I WAS out working trying really hard to get him elected. I didn't notice that many from the more conservative wing of my local party putting in nearly as much effort as were the "leftists", "moonbats", "lunatic fringe" or insert whatever here.

I thought that your senator did a great job.

[Clark2008]

20. And I'd STILL rather have Ford than that whiny-ass idiot Corker

as our senator.

At least Ford has ideas, a brain and some speaking ability. I can't say the same for that guy who isn't MY senator.

[tnlefty]

26. Really. I watched him being sworn in and it was sickening.

I just wish he would go away, but it's his office I'll have to call and write. Just gives me the shivers.

[11 Bravo]

21. I'm sorry you're tired.

But I guess it beats being dead. I can think of 3,000 Americans who would happily trade places with you.

[tnlefty]

24. What does this post have to do with anything that I addressed in my

post! My post addressed the tendency to try to insult people who actually get out and work to get dems elected!

I made phone calls, attended rallies and marches PRIOR to the beginning of the Iraq clusterfuck in an effort to stop it before it started, so don't you dare try to pin those deaths on me.

And just in case you missed it the first go around...I voted FOR AL GORE, not Nader.

[11 Bravo]

28. You objected to my use of "more ideologically pure than thou" ...

a term which I explicitly attached to Naderites. If you perceived anything in my post as an insult to anyone who didn't vote for Ralph, well ...

[tnlefty]

34. Well..what exactly. And what was the point of the post trying to

lay the deaths of our service members on me or anyone other than George Bush and his cabal?

I didn't insult you, but you really came out swinging.

[DainBramaged]

25. Hear Hear, and what a GREAT line

And for the "more ideologically pure than thou" bunch, how did Nader work out for us?

I'd LOVE to put that in my sig line.

[Raster]

27. It's no longer republican or democrat. Saving our country and saving our planet

knows no political party. Without question BOTH are in FAR WORSE CONDITION than they were before the bush* (P)residency in every way imaginable. The state of the union is poor and failing. Last night a maverick and true patriot openly challenged the bush* machine. Instead of parroting the drivel authored by the party's Mandarins, he chose to put his own thoughts to paper with breathtaking clarity and conviction. Every word carried weight. I've now read Webb's speech many times today. It has the same impact the seventh reading as the first. Succinct and well crafted, it will stand as one of the most powerful and direct responses to the calamity that is the bush* (P)residency. In no uncertain terms, Webb drew the line in the sand, not only for bush* but also for his collaborators. Last night we witnessed the beginning of the second American Revolution.

[Faryn Balyncd]

30. The Nation: Webb for President?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3075136

[ms liberty]

31. I was as giddy as a schoolgirl getting ready for her first date after hearing his speech...

And I felt all warm and tingly all over - I thought he was awesome. When he called the corporate CEO's 'robber barons' I thought I was falling in love (LOL)! And I'm a forty-something liberal-borderline-socialist! Really...I'm farther to the left than most of America, and I know it. But I also don't expect all our Democrats to agree with me about everything, hell, I know they won't. I like to call myself a realistic idealist. Oh, and I was once registered as a Republican too, (I didn't know much about the different parties when I first registered) although I rarely voted that way.

I like Senator Webb. I think he's an asset to the Democratic Party, and I'm glad we've got him. I could care less that he used to be a Republican...after all, most of the smart Republicans ARE Democrats now, aren't they? I'm sure I'll disagree with some of his positions, but he seems to be a person who thinks for himself and pays attention to facts. He seems to speak his mind in an honest and forthright way; he appears to listen and be open-minded.

I thought his response was one of the best I've ever heard. I sent him an email of thanks right after the speech...in between posting "he called them robber barons!" here at DU on 10 different threads!!!

[CrispyQ]

44. I think if more dems would speak out like this,

we could get a number of the non-voting party back in the process.

I liked the robber baron comment too! And this part is so spot on:

"In the early days of our republic, President Andrew Jackson established an important principle of American-style democracy that we should measure the health of our society not at its apex, but at its base. Not with the numbers that come out of Wall Street, but with the living conditions that exist on Main Street. We must recapture that spirit today."

[Scout1071]

32. Ronald Reagan was once a Democrat.

Look what he turned into....a Republican diety.

[mzmolly]

35. You know Webb! Wow,

I'll never wash my keyboard again! ;)

In all seriousness, the Senator was amazing and I'm so glad to have him on our "team."

[Taverner]

36. I like Webb

And thought he did an ass kicking job last night

[valerief]

37. Webb kicked arse. He was a brilliant choice to give the response

and he did a brilliant job.

[aaronbees]

38. It was a great, rousing speech ...

and truly a populist one, plus some forthright honesty to boot. I think Webb is a good example of why we shouldn't stand around and daydream that politicians must have pure and pristine records. I'm very hopeful seeing him as a new Senator, even if he has some warts in his past and even if I end up disagreeing with him at some points in the future. I felt he spoke for me last night and thank him for it.

[johnaries]

39. Sometimes, the Greatest Voices are the ones who have "seen the light"

we have a lot to learn from Webb. He may not be the Champion of Liberal Causes that many are looking for, but he converted for a reason. We should listen to his reasons.

He sounds like a very clear headed and practical man to me. I may disagree with him on some issues, but I haven't heard his stance on those issues as yet. I do know that he stood up and spoke "Truth to Power", and he has my undying respect for that.

As for the other issues, he has my attention. I'll listen to what he has to say. I'll probably disagree with many of them, but I'll still listen to his opinions.

[kdpeters]

40. If you ask yourself, "What has he done for us lately?" then why care what he used to be?

[autorank]

41. KR. I'm with you. He's a real democrat - for the people, against concentrated wealth, anti war

when the war is totally insane managed by a bunch of incompetents.

How utterly poetic (and ironic for a man of letters) to throw away the speech provided
by "the leadership." I would have paid a couple of Franklins to be in that room when
he did that.

He's real Democrat unencumbered by the "gentleman's club" nonsense of Senate protocol.
Webb's bright, he knows a great deal, and he has things to contribute right now. Why wait.

I don't know him but those who do tell me he's a great guy. He sure thinks that way.
Although I get the impression that he doesn't suffer fools gladly.

I'm proud of my Senator and I have not been able to say that for a long time.

Go Webb!

On edit: His campaign press person, the one who wrote those incendiary releases, is to be
commended highly. He is a GENIUS! Met one of the press guys briefly at my precinct and said
thanks so much. If Webb ever becomes president, not a bad idea, the press guy needs to be there
but must be kept away from nuclear weapons;), well maybe tactical but not strategic;)

[tom_paine]

42. I am with you, pal. Jim Webb kicks ass!

Wish he was my Senator. Does my jealousy show?

[sendero]

43. He used to be an infant..

... also. So fucking what?

I used to be a Republican. Want to make something of it?

The arguments some people use here are really no better than a bleeting freeper's illogical swill.

[Lone_Star_Dem]

46. I missed that whole argument

As far as I'm concerned he did a wonderful job and I was very pleased with his speech.

That he used to be a republican means nothing more to me than he saw the light.