The race is on in Virginia—victory is ours
The Right likes to call Bloggers extreme leftists
by Tom Rinaldo, A Wes Clark Democrat
They do it all the time. It is their automatic spin, "wild eyed and Anti-American," they say. But, you know, bloggers and the netroots embraced Howard Dean—a centrist Governor, and Wes Clark—a Four Star General who once voted for Reagan, and we embraced all the fighting Dems, and now Reagan's Secretary of the Navy, Jim Webb, is running for Senate as a Democrat in Virginia, in no small part due to our efforts.
We honor men and women of integrity and courage and commitment to all that is best about America. We respect honesty, and those willing to do what needs to be done to really restore our republic to its foundation. We embrace true patriots wherever we find them, and I have not the slightest doubt that it is driving Republican strategists absolutely nuts to watch us do this.
And it's scaring the shit out of them to boot.
this victory belongs to the netroots
Webb Wins Democratic Nomination In Virginia: Ex-Republican to Face Allen for U.S. Senate
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Democrats first turned to Miller after Mark R. Warner (D) decided to build on his popularity upon leaving the governor's office to pursue the White House rather than to oppose Allen. Warner urged Miller, a longtime friend, to run.
But what initially seemed like a clear path to the nomination became muddied for Miller in February, when Webb indicated that he would take a break from his lucrative writing career to seek the nomination.
"I don't wake up in the morning wanting to be a U.S. senator," Webb said at the time. "I wake up every morning very concerned about the country. We need to put some focus back in our foreign policy, a different focus."
His decision sparked a brief but fierce fight within Virginia's Democratic Party. For three months, party traditionalists who backed Miller clashed with young and passionately antiwar bloggers, who had helped to persuade Webb to jump into the Senate race.
The contest also divided many of the state's power brokers and political leaders -- who backed Miller early -- from their counterparts at the national level, who saw in Webb a war hero with an antiwar message that would be the perfect challenge to Allen's support for Bush.
The Webb-roots: A victory for the Virginia netroots
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Remember back when Jim Webb's candidacy was nothing but a throw away final question in some random interview across the country?
Are you interested in running for political office?I have been talking to people about running for the Senate next year against George Allen, as a Democrat from Virginia. I have a very good life. I'm not sure that I'm going to do that or not but I have been talking to people. Thinking about it.
From that small exchange, the Virginia blogosphere activated, built the Webb-roots even before he declared and turned him into both the choice of the bloggers and the establishment. Webb received endorsements from all over the nation and Virginia, from Senate Minority Leader to local board members. His fundraising and campaigning were energized by small donors and everyday Virginians. As with Tim Kaine's victory last year, the candidate of Virginia's progressive blogosphere's has won.
General Wesley Clark Endorses Jim Webb in Virginia, 3/29/06
I am in Virginia to formally endorse Jim Webb, a good friend, true patriot, and fellow veteran who is challenging Republican George Allen for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
Today, I'm asking you to join me in pledging Jim our full support in this important race.
I first met Jim Webb back in 1982, when a West Point classmate of mine brought us together to discuss the idea of building a memorial for our Vietnam veterans on the National Mall. From our first meeting over two decades ago, and ever since, I've come to know Jim as a smart, tough, and principled patriot.
Like me, Jim Webb was drafted into politics. Thousands of Virginians, in search of a real leader to represent them in the Senate, created a grassroots movement to encourage him to jump into the race. On March 7th, Jim answered their call to serve our country once again -- and now he has just three months to introduce himself to Virginia Democrats before the June 13th primary.
I remember well your support of me when I was drafted into the Presidential race. To this very day, I'm humbled and gratified by your faith in me.
In 2003, your financial support allowed our campaign to hit the ground running. Now, I am asking you to do the same for Jim.
Jim Webb is a real leader Virginians can count on. He will put the interests of the people of this great state first and will take his fight to the floor of the Senate. He won't back down from any challenge, and he will focus on the job he is elected to do.
Jim is a decorated Marine, winner of the Navy Cross, and former Secretary of the Navy. As a soldier, Jim was a legendary fighter. As a citizen, Jim has been a principled and persuasive leader. Now, as a Senate candidate, Jim is the only candidate with the experience and skills to broaden our party and win in November.
Jim opposed the Iraq War from the beginning. He understood that Iraq did not represent an imminent threat and knew that going to war in Iraq would cause us to lose our focus on the global war on terrorism.
We need Jim to fight to reshape our defense and foreign policy to better reflect the strategic priorities of the country, to rebuild national infrastructure and secure our borders, to work hard to bring true economic and social fairness to our society, and to restore the Constitutional role of the Congress as an equal partner, reining in the unbridled power of the Presidency.
We need Jim's voice of wisdom and reason in the United States Senate. But he needs our help to get there.
