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Dinner With Jim Webb

Submitted by Stuart Ewing, Dec 6, 2006 18:57

I am amazed at the comments of those blaming Webb for that interchange. Bush was clearly trying to present himself as a man concerned and reaching out to the Senator-Elect -- in other words, indulging a show of false unity. But the manifest record of the Administration is that bipartisanship means doing it Bush's way. That's how he operated as Governor in Texas too, and it was easier 'cause the problems there weren't national and the milieu was all-Texas. So when Bush adopted false intimacy -- "my boy" -- Webb was too smart to get drawn in to Bush's ploy. Webb's response uncovered Bush's real motives -- "that's not what I asked?" -- a response which amounts to "I'll pretend that I am concerned for your son, but any constructive discussion about ending his predicament is out." I have an extremely hard time believing anybody who is complaining about Webb's behavior castigated Cheney for telling Senator Lahey from Vermont to F*** Off on the Senate Floor. Frankly, furthermore, the school marms such as Tyrell or George Will who are so concerned with decorum would do better to ask about a decorum that was revoked -- the open mourning of flag-draped coffins of American soldiers as their remains were repatriated. This Administration is all about Secrets, Lies, and Misplaced Decorum.

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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...	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 discoursehas 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?... [MORE]	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

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