Jim Webb Won’t Run Again (Update: And Representative Lee Resigns When We Learn What a Classy Guy He Is)
[Guest post by Aaron Worthing; if you have tips, please send them here.]
I have been hearing rumors about this all day, but now it’s official:
Sen. Jim Webb (D., Va.) said Wednesday he won’t seek re-election after serving a single term in Congress, dealing a blow to Democrats’ efforts to hold the in 2012.
Mr. Webb, a centrist with a military background, was elected in 2006, defeating Republican Sen. George Allen. Mr. Webb’s announcement gives a big boost to Mr. Allen, who is running to reclaim his old seat.
First, Webb ran as a centrist, but voted as a partisan. His campaign was nothing less than a bait and switch. (I am a Virginian, in case you didn’t know.)
Second, November 2012 is a long way off and I am not sure how much this is a setback for them. It robs the Democrats of incumbency, but it also means that whoever runs can pretend s/he hates Obamacare. Being an incumbent Democrat is not exactly a positive right now, which is probably why Webb isn’t running. He knows he can’t win because of the votes he took.
And honestly, I was hoping the false hope of a second term might have moderated Webb. Now Webb has no incentive to do anything except for his own conscience. So… did he vote for Obamacare, to harp on an example, because he really believed in it? Or because his party wanted him to? And what happens now he is not worrying about reelection?
Anyway, thanks to DRJ to pointing me in this direction. And let me know what you think about all of this in the comments (like you needed me to ask, anyway).
Update: Unrelated, except in a general “Congressmen losing their jobs” sort of sense, Rep. Chris Lee of Buffalo, New York has resigned after apparently trying to start an affair, using, ahem, Craigslist.
Yeah, I would consider that pretty disqualifying. If not for the immorality of cheating on your wife, then for the stupidity of doing it via Craigslist.
And, um, unrelated video:
H/t: Scott Jacobs, especially for the easy link.
[Posted and authored by Aaron Worthing.]
I see it this way:
Webb had pressures to vote as Reid wanted.
He had pressures to vote more conservatively.
The latter pressures largely related to fundraising (which has been poor) and reelection (which is gone).
He’s going to vote party line until he’s out. He will build favors for a lobbyist career (which I think is damn likely for someone living near DC after their term is up).
I was sure he was going to be some kind of superstar moderate to attempt to pave the way for a very powerful segment of democrats along the likes of Bredeson and Harold Ford.
I’m still surprised this didn’t happen, as I think 95% of Obama’s talking points try to work that angle. This is all about Obamacare.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/9/2011 @ 2:53 pmAnd Rep Lee (NY-26 R) has resigned after foolishly sending shirtless pics to a craigslist gal-pal.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/2011/02/09/2011-02-09_gop_rep_christopher_lee_ny26_goes_topless_in_pic_sent_to_craigslist_gal_pal_repo.html
Scott Jacobs (d027b8) — 2/9/2011 @ 3:00 pmHoly crap, Scott.
WIN THE FUTURE was that guy thinking?
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/9/2011 @ 3:02 pmAlso…
I knew there was something smug and unlikeable about you…
😉
Scott Jacobs (d027b8) — 2/9/2011 @ 3:05 pmThat he could get himself some tail on the side, and that the gal would never know…
Here’s a tip, guys…
If you are a serving politician, don’t actively seek out people to cheat on your spouse with.
Scott Jacobs (d027b8) — 2/9/2011 @ 3:07 pmHe should open a steakhouse and call it Jimmy Webb’s Fancy Steaks and everyone could go there and have tasty steaks and he could walk around from table to table saying hey how is your steak is it tasty and people could say hey aren’t you one of those holes what voted for the third world dirty socialist health cares.
happyfeet (a55ba0) — 2/9/2011 @ 3:16 pmHe can now devote more time to writing books where people pick up young Asian boys, turn them upside down, and put their cranks in their mouth, as a greeting.
JD (d4bbf1) — 2/9/2011 @ 3:22 pmFrom Twitter: “Christopher Lee says he wants to spend more time with his family, including his boring, sexless wife & ungrateful kids.”
Scott Jacobs (d027b8) — 2/9/2011 @ 3:23 pmScott
cripes. good he resigned, if only because he was way too stupid to be a congressman.
Or let me clarify. He should be considered too stupid to be a congressman.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 2/9/2011 @ 4:06 pmHe used his real name in his craigslist response. It’s almost as if he was trying to self destruct.
And couldn’t he just hire skanky employees? I have to give team D credit, because their scumbags are much more sophisticated than hours. Foley, Sanford, Lee… it’s amazing they got married in the first place.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/9/2011 @ 4:10 pmMaybe in honor of Mr. Lee the House leadership needs to call a special non partison Saturday training session covering the rather public nature of the internets — along with helpful tips and suggestions on how to avoid embarrasing yourself and having to resign the seat you just won.
elissa (720dcb) — 2/9/2011 @ 4:15 pmI can’t believe the typos I make sometimes.
Anyway, Elissa, perhaps we should be glad idiots who can’t be discrete online are weeded out before they are blackmailed or given sensitive intel for some reason.
There’s something to be said for keeping fools out of power. I’d rather have LBJ in my foxhole than Ted Kennedy.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/9/2011 @ 4:21 pmCompare and contrast to Rangel, Hastings, Waters, Murtha, etal.
JD (2da347) — 2/9/2011 @ 4:34 pmAny post about Sen Webb should contain excerpts from the fiction book he authored.
Don’t make me start quoting from it 😉
JD (d56362) — 2/9/2011 @ 4:41 pmDustin– I think that if I had been someone who contributed hard earned dollars to Mr. Lee’s just completed and successful campaign I might be pretty ticked off right now that the guy couldn’t keep his shirt on. On no basis whatsoever other than a hunch, I am betting he has done this before and knows it will come out. Hence the quick and unhesitating resignation.
elissa (720dcb) — 2/9/2011 @ 4:50 pmProbably a safe hunch, elissa.
You’re right. He let down a lot of people who were counting on him to have a little responsibility.
I think the most betrayed is Chris’s father, inventor and philanthropist Patrick Lee. Another entitled brat is my hunch about Chris.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/9/2011 @ 5:00 pm_____________________________________________
First, Webb ran as a centrist, but voted as a partisan.
When the mid-point of the political spectrum was further to the right over 40 to 50 years ago, I could see people aligning themselves with the Democrat Party and believing (or claiming) they were moderate or centrist. But not today. Not after decades of socioeconomic liberalism has woven its nonsensical, phony tentacles throughout society.
True centrists in the 21st century are either affiliated with Republicans or independents, and not Democrats. Even more so when the latter group in today’s era can be symbolized by Obama’s former preacher spouting “goddamn America!,” and most Democrats/liberals chuckling, shrugging things like that off, and whistling a happy little tune.
Mark (411533) — 2/9/2011 @ 5:01 pmGay marriage claims another scalp.
savoirfaire (c7540f) — 2/9/2011 @ 5:12 pmMacaca!
daleyrocks (479a30) — 2/9/2011 @ 5:36 pmHow so?
Michael Ejercito (64388b) — 2/9/2011 @ 5:38 pmBy ruining this traditional marriage. DC allows gay marriage.
savoirfaire (e64787) — 2/9/2011 @ 5:40 pmIamadimwit is on another bender.
JD (6e25b4) — 2/9/2011 @ 5:47 pmI’m not surprised Webb tired of the Senate and its games but I suspect the challenges of his re-election campaign helped him make this decision.
As for former Republican Congressman Lee, I can’t imagine how he thought this would work. Then again, a lot of people act like what they do on the internet can’t impact their real lives.
DRJ (fdd243) — 2/9/2011 @ 6:02 pmThere i added an update to cover the Lee scandal. bugs bunny has commentary.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 2/9/2011 @ 6:37 pmIt is always particularly stunning when politicians don’t think they’ll be found out, as if their own arrogance and self-importance will protect them.
Had there just been emails involved, possibly he wouldn’t have been discovered – but posting a full-faced photo of himself? Tell me again, how do so many of these aging frat boys get elected?
Dana (8ba2fb) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:00 pmDo chicks really dig those muscle poses? Or do they think it looks dorky?
gp (355bc2) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:06 pmsavoirfaire isn’t anywhere.
Icy Texan (85e8f9) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:10 pmgp–speaking only for myself: an in-person muscle pose after he’s just come in from snowblowing the driveway or mowing the lawn is actually quite good. A muscle pose picture of a stranger posted on the internet? Not so much.
elissa (720dcb) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:18 pmIs the spam filter considered “somewhere”?
Patterico (c218bd) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:25 pmA
JD (d4bbf1) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:35 pmshirtless man walked toward them along a mud pathway. His muscles were
young and hard, but his face was devastated with wrinkles. His eyes
were so red that they appeared to be burned by fire. A naked boy ran
happily toward him from the little plot of dirt. The man grabbed his
young son in his arms, turned him upside down and put the boy’s penis]
in his mouth.”
Gee, thanks JD.
SPQR (26be8b) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:37 pmgp
> Do chicks really dig those muscle poses?
My wife says “yes.” heh.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:37 pmHey, people can use Patterico’s Amazon link to buy Jim Webb’s book!
elissa (720dcb) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:39 pmI warned you guys …. Apparently AW did not believe me. 😉
JD (d4bbf1) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:43 pmKlondike Cat, Mr. Frey. But yes, the spam filter IS somewhere . . . where he belongs.
Icy Texan (85e8f9) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:43 pmThere’s something to be said for keeping fools out of power. I’d rather have LBJ in my foxhole than Ted Kennedy.
Comment by Dustin — 2/9/2011 @ 4:21 pm
–The fact that you want anyone in your “foxhole” gives most of us the creeps.
Jim (ad29d8) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:46 pmDo guys really dig those pics of women in swimsuits?
DRJ (fdd243) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:51 pmtouche, DRJ
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/9/2011 @ 7:57 pmDRJ-
Some say women are the civilizing influence men need. Often men think women are smart enough to know better than to judge a man by his looks, at least we think they ought to be smart enough.
If that is not true at least some wish to keep that idea alive, as I don’t think I’ve ever seen an issue of “Women’s Day” or “Good Housekeeping”, etc., advertising the yearly “musclebound hunk” issue. Sports Illustrated? There’s probably a good reason they do what they do.
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:01 pmNope.
I much prefer NO swimsuit…
…
What? You asked…
Scott Jacobs (d027b8) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:02 pmJD, oh, jeez, not i remember where that passage came from. webb’s dumb books.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:03 pmre: swimsuits, doesn’t it really depend on the woman.
like if its nancy pelosi…
yike, i freaked myself out, there.
Aaron Worthing (73a7ea) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:04 pm‘palomino,’ AW, palomino.
narciso (e888ae) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:05 pmHere’s a question for you. I’ve never seen a televised game of men’s beach volleyball, does it exist as a sport?
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:06 pmNeed bleach for my mind’s eye. Ewwwwwwwwww
JD (d4bbf1) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:07 pm“Had there just been emails involved, possibly he wouldn’t have been discovered – but posting a full-faced photo of himself? Tell me again, how do so many of these aging frat boys get elected?”
Dana – Would it have been better if he just included a picture of his dick, like Brett Favre?
[Runs out of room ducking]
daleyrocks (479a30) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:08 pmDaley,
Favre was miles past pathetic loser status with his behavior. He knows next to nothing about women and will forever be the poster boy for a male midlife crisis run amok.
Do chicks really dig those muscle poses?
Not when those muscles are on a married pol elected by the people to represent them and is instead whoring himself out to, well, anyone who will pay attention.
Dana (8ba2fb) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:20 pmDRJ-
Click on the video. When it finishes, click on the video in the R upper corner. When it finishes, click on “Bugs Bunny Funny Moments 2”
MD in Philly (3d3f72) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:20 pmDana – Not that I would know, but I think part of the mentality is if you don’t get caught, nothing happened. Favre and Lee were incredible boneheads and predictably got caught. D’oh!
daleyrocks (479a30) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:27 pmWell, let it be a comfort to know that however bad your day today might have been—it was probably not as bad as the day Chris Lee had. So there’s that.
elissa (720dcb) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:32 pmQuestion: if Lee were a democrat, would he have resigned today?
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:35 pmelissa – There is a special place in Hell for people like Chris Lee who probably did not eat enough broccoli, which is the root cause of his character defects.
daleyrocks (479a30) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:36 pmDustin – no.
I blame Bush, and Palin, for Lee’s faults.
JD (d4bbf1) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:39 pmNot that I would know, but I think part of the mentality is if you don’t get caught, nothing happened.
Bill Clinton’s personal bread of life.
Dana (8ba2fb) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:43 pmI do not know about how his character may have been affected by lack of broccoli, daley, as I have not seen scientific studies about it. But eating broccoli would most certainly have given Chris Lee stronger bones on which those picturesque muscles could attach and ripple.
Incidentally, your comment at 8:36 had an eerily happyfoot quality of logic to it, so please watch that.
elissa (720dcb) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:50 pmMD,
It took me awhile to find the Bugs Bunny 2 video. I really enjoyed it because I grew up watching Bugs, and that last scene was a perfect fit. Thanks for an enjoyable few minutes.
As for whether women are less likely than men to judge others based on appearances, I know this: It’s not that genteel women don’t look, but you probably won’t see us look.
DRJ (fdd243) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:51 pmDana, that’s assuming those muscles are real.
Joking, of course. This one’s too sad to be fiction. I will say: boys who eat broccoli probably were taught to obey their moms at some point. I think Chris was the fortunate son of an incredibly successful entrepreneur, and may have not heard the word ‘no’ enough.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:56 pmoops, that was meant for Elissa rather than Dana.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:56 pm“Do guys really dig those pics of women in swimsuits?” Women doing bicep flex poses? Not I.
gp (355bc2) — 2/9/2011 @ 8:57 pmelissa – Mr. Feets and I have been amiably sharing blog comment space in a few places for a number of years. You might be right.
daleyrocks (479a30) — 2/9/2011 @ 9:04 pmDustin–I was not aware of Christopher Lee’s background until you mentioned it earlier today. Makes one wonder if the dream to be a congressman was his father’s dream for him, rather than Chris’ own goal for himself. His actions on Craig’s List sure smack of self-sabotage, don’t they?
elissa (720dcb) — 2/9/2011 @ 9:05 pm“Do guys really dig those pics of women in swimsuits?”
No, I usually relegate them to the bathroom.
daleyrocks (479a30) — 2/9/2011 @ 9:05 pmThey really do. It’s very difficult to understand how he could expect this to work. He knows enough to post an add on craigslist, but doesn’t know his name will be googled by his email recipient? Either he wanted to ruin his career, or he didn’t care if he ruined his career. Or he’s very dumb.
I wonder how much Gawker paid for the story (not that I mind that the woman spilled the beans).
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/9/2011 @ 9:21 pmIn Lee’s situation, it’s the stupidity that gets me. And not the infidelity so much.
I kind of wish that we lived in a country where a politician didn’t have to resign for marital infidelity. I don’t condone that sort of thing of course, but I don’t think it should necessarily end up in resignation (which it almost always seems to). Many, if not most, marriages have difficulties from time to time — but I don’t think this alone makes a person unqualified to serve their country. After all, if we held our founding fathers to these puritanical standards….
So for me, unless the perpetrator is a hypocrite (i.e., they rallied for “family values” and then cheated), or shows serious stupidity (the category in which I place Rep. Lee), or they prove themselves to be repeat offenders, I would prefer that the “default” position be that we give these politicians a pass.
But I recognize I’m in the minority on this, even in my own party.
Kman (d30fc3) — 2/10/2011 @ 10:50 amIt’s pretty common for some to hold the right to a harsher standard than the left on this ‘family values hypocrisy’ double standard. I guess I don’t even mind this much.
But, at any rate, he entered into a contract with his wife, and broke it. No one is perfect, but I think it’s fair to say this man, and anyone cheating on their spouse, is extremely untrustworthy and selfish.
It does make him unqualified to hold great power. Cheaters will also perjure themselves, or vilify the innocent. Clinton’s a great example of what happens when someone has no integrity.
it’s not really ‘family’ values, IMO. Just values.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/10/2011 @ 10:57 amUnless she broke it first. Or they have an open marriage.
Not that it forgives his stupidity about the WAY he went about this attempted affair (Craiglist? A photo? Really?!?).
But the rush to judgment bothered me a little yesterday, to be honest.
Kman (d30fc3) — 2/10/2011 @ 11:14 amLOL
I’m so sorry we judged him too quickly for you, Mr 9 year stalker creep.
He lied about whether or not he was married, so yeah, he’s dishonest. You just want to distort what happened, for the millionth time, to grind your tired old axe about how awful we are.
You wouldn’t trust him either, but a Kman comment is never about the reality of an issue. It’s just about Kman trying to smear people. In this case, we rushed to judge a guy who resigned for what he called disgraceful behavior.
Dustin (b54cdc) — 2/10/2011 @ 11:18 amWell he didn’t do it from Adirondack Trail, so he has that going for him.
narciso (e888ae) — 2/10/2011 @ 11:21 amDustin, chill out and hold back the tears if you can. My “rush to judgment” comment wasn’t directed at you, or anybody here. It was directed at society-at-large, myself included.
Kman (d30fc3) — 2/10/2011 @ 11:30 amWhomever ends up representing the Commonwealth of Virginia ought to address the creeping advance of jihadism, especially in the educational system.
Case in point:
What To Do about Enemy Propaganda at VMI
1389AD (a946ae) — 2/10/2011 @ 5:32 pmAt lunch today, a fine looking cowboy walked into the restaurant. I looked, as well as the other two ladies at the table. He didn’t see us look but I’m sure he knew he stood out. I am old but I’m not blind.
Kman, as someone has previously pointed out, only Democrats can get away with doing wrong and not resigning.
PatAZ (3f81c9) — 2/10/2011 @ 5:44 pm