James Webb news stories on Newser

Never Mind Gitmo—the Real Prison Problem Is Here

Kevin Spak — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 09:20:00 CDT

The collective freak-out over closing Guantanamo proves that Americans do care about prisons and prisoners, but Gitmo “is a mere speck in the eye of America’s larger prison program,” writes Dahlia Lithwick in Newsweek . That’s why Sen. Jim Webb of the “lock ‘em up” state of Virginia is launching a...

Webb Joins Clark Brouhaha; McCain Camp Strikes Back

Jonas Oransky — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 18:50:04 CDT

James Webb said yesterday that John McCain should “calm down” regarding the politicizing of his military service, prompting an angry response today. McCain's campaign alleged a “coordinated attack on John McCain’s credentials.” But no Democrat—including Wesley Clark—has “demeaned” McCain’s service, Greg Sargent writes for Talking Points Memo.

Obama's VP Search Fields a General

Jonas Oransky — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 20:30:04 CDT

Barack Obama’s VP selection team had a busy couple of days on Capitol Hill, talking up possible running mates with legislators. A new name in the mix is that of retired Gen. James Jones, MSNBC reports. Joe Biden and Ohio governor Ted Strickland also came under scrutiny; Bill Richardson, Janet...

Webb's Famed Anger Is His Strength

Jonas Oransky — Mon, 09 Jun 2008 18:03:39 CDT

James Webb's legendary temper spurs worry that saps energy from the argument for a Barack Obama-Webb ticket. But it's exactly that quality that makes him an attractive possibility, Eve Fairbanks writes in the New Republic . It’s not just his “capacity to hormonally invigorate a party sick of its effete, wine-sipping...

'Wingnutty' Webb Can't Be Obama VP

Jonas Oransky — Wed, 28 May 2008 08:01:14 CDT

Many liberals are pining for James Webb to be added to a Barack Obama ticket, but the Virginia senator is “completely unacceptable”—severely lacking on affirmative action (which he has called “state-sponsored racism”), on women’s issues (he’s said females in the military “poison” the environment for men) and on temperament,...

'Bogus' McCain, Bush Oppose New GI Bill

Jonas Oransky — Tue, 06 May 2008 11:42:56 CDT

The so-called new GI bill, which would update the famed original to fund education for veterans, should be an obvious ‘Yea’ vote for any legislator, but, the New York Times ' Bob Herbert points out, John McCain and President Bush are fighting it. The bipartisan bill is “an investment” in...

Va. Senator Not the Firebrand Many Expected

Jonas Oransky — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 16:35:00 CDT

Virginia Sen. James Webb hasn’t played the part of hot-tempered agitator many expected in his freshman term, the Washington Post reports. Making friends and taking legislative strides, Webb “has vaulted to a position of influence,” said one colleague. But "the job of getting out and speaking with constituents and hearing...

The Hill Has Recess, But It's No Fun

Dustin Lushing — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 14:16:15 CST

Democrats in Congress are keeping a watchful eye on President Bush and preventing him from making any appointments during the monthlong holiday recess. The strategy requires the Senate to be in session every couple of days—even if only for a few seconds. On Friday, the Politico reports, the Senate...

Dems Fail to Bring Troop Bill to Senate Vote

Will McCahill — Wed, 19 Sep 2007 18:45:44 CDT

Senate Democrats were unable to muster enough GOP support today to bring to a vote a bill that would have given US troops more down time between overseas deployments. A late defection by Republican John Warner was the death knell for the bill, the Wall Street Journal reports, sponsored by...