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Reader comment on:
Dinner With Jim Webb

Submitted by JPT, Dec 1, 2006 03:19

Has conservatism been reduced to this? A critique of style and not substance?

So, Senator Elect is rough around the edges? He traffics in a bluntness that offends Mr. Tyrell's delicate sensibilities? So what.

I am willing to give Mr. Webb, the father of a Marine in a combat zone, a degree of latitude that I might not afford other politicians.

I will say that Mr Tyrell seems to be engaging in a bizarre exercise when he relates the following . . .

"All of the above are demonstrably unpleasant individuals, known for their public temper tantrums, their rudeness to staff, their slipperiness with the truth, and their occasional bizarre outbursts."

Senator Elect Webb may have a history of dealing bluntly with superiors--most notably Frank Carlucci when Jim Webb was SecNav during the Reagan administration--but as far as treatment of staff, slipperiness with truth, and bizarre outburts go these are qualities that do not accurately describe Jim Webb.

On a related note: Why is it that so-called conservatives seem to be so afraid of the Senator-Elect? This is the fourth "hit piece" that I've read about from self-identified conservative commentator about Jim Webb since the election. All have engaged, in what Mr. Tyrell terms, "slipperiness with the truth". The historical record shows willfull distortions in several of these accounts.

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Other reader comments on this article

Comment	By	Date
Can't We Wage Aggressive War, Kill Thousands of Innocent People, Destroy American Liberty And Still Be Civil? [MORE]	Mister Manners	Dec 8, 2006 16:23
I am amazed at the comments of those blaming Webb for that interchange. Bush was clearly trying to present himself... [MORE]	Stuart Ewing	Dec 6, 2006 18:57
Facial to the loser, I would have asked, "how do you think he is Mr. President?" He is getting ass... [MORE]	Paul Cunningham	Dec 5, 2006 14:17
It's curious that Tyrrell doesn't mention in his hit piece on James Webb that Senator-elect Webb is a Naval Academy... [MORE]	Michael Paladin	Dec 3, 2006 08:30
In politics, there are going to be differences of opinion. There is the dry British approach, where political discourse has a measure... [MORE]	Muggins	Dec 1, 2006 18:43
To be accurate, it was not Webb who told the news writer that he wanted to punch Bush but a... [MORE]	Carla Ward	Dec 3, 2006 14:22
Mr. Dockery and PJR need to look at what actually happened between Webb and Bush before they impugn his character.... [MORE]	Carla Ward	Dec 1, 2006 13:41
Has conservatism been reduced to this? A critique of style and not substance? So, Senator Elect is rough around the edges?...	JPT	Dec 1, 2006 03:19
As what I can tell Mr. Webb fits the mold for his elected party. A party that loves to demonstrate... [MORE]	Bill Dockery	Dec 1, 2006 09:02
It costs not a penny to be polite to someone with whom one disagrees. Leadership carries the responsibility of conducting... [MORE]	PJR	Dec 1, 2006 09:46
All conservatives want to do is to smear people and promote true hatred of any opposing party. It's one thing... [MORE]	Daniel Johnston	Dec 1, 2006 13:02
Think about how divided this country is now, and how. Its not because of crazy liberals. Extremism breeds extremism. Bush... [MORE]	Daniel Johnston	Dec 1, 2006 13:11
Read this article again, does anything here remotely remind you of politeness or dignity? You neo-conservatives are nasty. Look in... [MORE]	Daniel Johnston	Dec 1, 2006 13:17
let the smearing begin! how dare the senator-elect deign to avoid a pathologicallylyingdrydrunk, who has never seen combat! good judgement, i say!! [MORE]	ed grimley	Dec 1, 2006 16:22
Webb is an interesting fellow. I've never read any of his writings, other than the campaign excerpt wherein a boy... [MORE]	Bob Z Dylan	Dec 1, 2006 16:39
Wearing his son's boots, telling reporters he wanted to slug the president...? That's not arrogance nor rudeness. It's performance. And... [MORE]	Ojisan	Dec 1, 2006 17:04
In Webb's altercation with the President, Mr. Bush was asking about the welfare of Webb's son, which is a common... [MORE]	Frank Brander	Dec 1, 2006 17:13
Mr. Johnston: Please learn your history , most especially, the history of the democrats. They are, indeed, the party of... [MORE]	michael loehrer	Dec 1, 2006 17:39
It describes the Republicans who for the past 12 years have grown increasingly autocratic, exclusionary, and vituperative. They've been running... [MORE]	Carla Ward	Dec 3, 2006 14:39
Democrat or Republican, they are all the same. Makes no difference to me who's on top or who's on the... [MORE]	Bob Z Dylan	Dec 4, 2006 19:26