No Tangled Webb on Rose

Last night, Senator James Webb was on the Charlie Rose Show for a FULL HOUR! Awesome! I know only bits and pieces about him, but from what I do know, it's enough to put him at #2 on my list of current favourite Senators (Barbara Boxer of California has been my favourite since my internship in 2000 because her views come closest to mine). What I like about Senator Webb is that he has a military background, a son serving in Iraq, served as Secretary of the Navy in the Reagan Administration, and has experience as a journalist and a novelist (I still have to read his novels someday). With his background, you'd automatically think that he was a Republican, but then again, Republicans tend to be chickenhawk about actually serving in the military (all talk, no action). Many of the most decorated military members in Congress are Democrats...so that should tell people something.

What I liked about the interview is that Senator Webb explained that he has always been a Democrat, even though he served in the Reagan Administration. He considers himself a "Reagan Democrat." The Republican Party of Virginia tried to recruit him to run against Senator Chuck Robb (another Marine) TWICE but he declined. Though he had interest in serving public office, it was the incompetent handling of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath that lit a fire under him to run. He ran against a popular Senator who had presidential aspirations and through pure happenstance, a video posted on YouTube pretty much sealed the previous Senator's fate (the infamous "Macaca" comment).

When I left my previous job in Atlanta back in April 2006, a part of me considered moving back to D.C. Had I known about James Webb's campaign for the U.S. Senate then, I might've moved up there to be a part of it. He is one Senator that I'd love to work for because I like his views regarding the military, foreign policy, and on the economy. But, Oregon has a chance to elect a great Senator this November, so there's always going to be interesting candidates to support and help win elected office.

On Charlie Rose Show, Webb talked about the interesting phenomenon about corporate executives having no problem with exorbitant executive pay and benefits when their companies profit...but whenever the company needs to be bailed out, all of a sudden, they want everyone to shoulder the blame and pick up the tab. That's outrageous and wrong. I think it should be the opposite: when a company profits, all the employees should benefit, but when it falters, the government should not bail them out...especially if the company utilized tax shelters and such to get out of paying their fair share. Senator Webb said that if companies want government to bail them out in times of trouble, then they have to agree to stricter regulations. It's only fair.

Senator Webb talked about his reasons for why he took his name out of contention for the Vice Presidency. Basically, he loves the Senate. He said that he has a great staff (oh to be a part of it!) and there's a lot he can do as Senator that he wouldn't be able to do as Vice President. I agree. Although I still think he'd make an excellent V.P., he's right. The Senate needs his leadership and I expect a lot of great things to happen while he remains in that legislative body.

If you missed the interview, it was a great one. I'm glad Charlie Rose spoke to him for an hour. Webb's latest book ("A Time to Fight") is on my shortlist to buy and read this year (along with John Kroger's book). After I watched the interview, I am further impressed and now envy the people of Virginia for having a great Senator. Man, what I would do with a time machine! Virginia is my second favourite state and I wouldn't mind settling there. However, I made my choice and intend to stick with it. Besides, Oregon has a chance to elect the next great Senator in November and I plan to help out as often as I'm able to (my main priority is to help elect Charles Lewis to City Council).