Webb/Bush exchange words.

[Redleg]

Today I was reading the editorial page in the Dallas Morning news and came across some letter's to the editor about a recent exchange between Senator Elect Webb and President Bush. Now it struck me as interesting when I began a quick search on the web on how the issue is getting report. For starters of relative articles then one seems to contain most of the issues around the reporting - to include the actual "testy" exchange between the two men.

http://mediamatters.org/items/200612040002

[Seamus Fermanagh]

Webb was rude to respond to the initial personal question with a campaign slogan.

Bush was rude back to him with the snippy re-direct.

Webb was cold in return.


US politics is currently in a very uncivilized -- as in lacking civility -- mode. This detracts from our ability to do things.

[Lemur]

According to some versions, El Presidente was warned in advance to be "extra sensitive" about Webb's son. I'm having a hard time working up much outrage in any direction on this one. It's not exactly a yawn, but maybe a shuffle and a stretch and a quick check of the watch.

I'm a little surprised at George Will, skewing a story in such an easy-to-trace manner, but even there I can't work up much outrage. Will has written so much and so well, I'm perfectly willing to hand him a pass.

[Major Robert Dump]

Yes, but Webb has no credibility because he wrote teh acclaimed book on teh vietnam where da man kissed his sons wanker! I'm suprised Bush didn't have him arrested!!111

[Aenlic]

I wonder if the positions were reversed and Bush had a child actually in harm's way (yeah, like that would ever happen), how he might have responded when the person responsible for placing the child in harm's way for no good reason then asked an insipid question like that? Frankly I think that Webb's answer to Bush's vapid "How's your boy?" was dead on target.

Bush is clueless. I mean actually, undeniably, childishly clueless. And he's proving it more and more every day. Prior to the election he was all, "stay the course" and let's wait for the Iraq Study Group report. Now that the ISG report has come out, Bush is now all for waiting for the Pentagon study and the State department study. What happens when those reports turn out like the ISG? Bush will be waiting for the study done by Cheney and perhaps after that the report by Barney the dog. Absolutely clueless. Webb was restrained in his answer.

[Lord Condormanius]

I wonder if the positions were reversed and Bush had a child actually in harm's way (yeah, like that would ever happen), how he might have responded when the person responsible for placing the child in harm's way for no good reason then asked an insipid question like that? Frankly I think that Webb's answer to Bush's vapid "How's your boy?" was dead on target.

I think think that this is the real issue at heart here. The President asked that question because he knew it was a senstive issue with Webb. I think that Webb showed quite a bit of restraint in his resopnse, although I still think he should have shaken his hand.

Bush is clueless. I mean actually, undeniably, childishly clueless. And he's proving it more and more every day. Prior to the election he was all, "stay the course" and let's wait for the Iraq Study Group report. Now that the ISG report has come out, Bush is now all for waiting for the Pentagon study and the State department study. What happens when those reports turn out like the ISG? Bush will be waiting for the study done by Cheney and perhaps after that the report by Barney the dog. Absolutely clueless. Webb was restrained in his answer.

[Major Robert Dump]

Maybe, just maybe, Webb is a little irrritated that he, along with the other 30% of Americans who thought prior to the Iraqi war it was a bad move, was subsequently labeled a traitor, a saddam sympathizer, weak on national defense, a coward, unpatriotic, and not supporting the troops.

And when the war started, he got behind the troops and hoped for a quick and decisive victory, but that didn't come despite the administrations child-like naivette on post invasion Iraq.

Webb and imbedded pro-war journalists (yes there is such a thing) were calling them "insurgents" when the administration was calling them baath loyalists, and the administration called the insurgent label defeatist and counterproductive (shiite bath loyalists, i still laugh at that one).

Webb was calling it a civil war a year ago, meanwhile people are still splitting hairs over what civil war means (I'll give you a hint faction vs faction vs faction vs government is a good indication).

And if good things never do materialize in iraq, it will not be the fault of the Administration or of the Congress, it will be the fault of the Iraqi people for not developing a taste for a 5-way war, and it will be the fault of people like Jack Webb for "losing the war at home."

Webb has been a vocal critic of our handling of Afghanistan since the Iraqi war started and feels we are not fulfilling our obligation there, and unless some people pull their heads out of their butts we are going to see a coalition bloodbath come the big spring 07 poppy harvest, thanks to an impenetrable hot spot of tribals, terrorists and Taliban who reside along the Pakistani border, a hornets nest Pakistan not even dare touch. But don't mention that to the administration, you will be called defeatist

Oh, and maybe he's still a little pissed about that last minute George Allen Webb-is-a-pervert-scandal. He should get a copy of "Sisters", written by Mary Cheney with a graphic lesbian love scene to boot, and try to get ole Dick to autograph it for him. Good luck finding it, though, as they were all bought up and currently reside in an undisclosed location.

[Spino]

Ye gods, Webb may despise the President but be big enough to not spit out a sound byte when a fellow official asks you a personal question. I somehow doubt Bush takes personal pleasure knowing Webb's son is in harm's way. It's not like the President has admitted to sporting wood every time a Marine gets killed in an IED attack. Besides, given that Webb's son is a Marine there's a good chance that he might actually be for staying the course in Iraq, possibly. Who knows?

In terms of civility and public behavior it's only going to get worse from here on out. If you thought the Baby Boomers were bad...

Fast forward to 2026...

G3N-X RUL3Z teh WH1T3 H0US3...

"How's your boy doing?"

"I'd like if we enacted that defenestration bill working its way through the House."

"I didn't ask you about that. I asked you how your boy was doing."

"WTF, why you gotta be up in my face like that?"

"Bring it [derogatory term derived from the word for female canine]" (Take that mod squad!)

To follow up to my original question does anyone know how Webb's son feels about being in Iraq? Is he gung-ho, apathetic or does he mirror his father's sentiments? You have to wonder whether he wishes his father would STFU and support staying the course in Iraq or whether he's a cheerleader for his father's politics.

[AntiochusIII]

Like, you know, this is such a frickin' big deal.

[Redleg]

I actually posted it not because of what was stated but the way it was reported. Often we hear in the United States a resonding cry that the American Media was clearly baised toward the left. Hince the link was an article about the errors in the initial reporting.

The initial report for this particlur event seems to be leaning toward a baised toward the President if not the right.

[AntiochusIII]

I actually posted it not because of what was stated but the way it was reported. Often we hear in the United States a resonding cry that the American Media was clearly baised toward the left. Hince the link was an article about the errors in the initial reporting.

The initial report for this particlur event seems to be leaning toward a baised toward the President if not the right.

I know; by posting the link towards the website that nitpicks the news instead of showing the news, I can grasp your intention and very much in agreement with it. There is indeed a lot of media bias and misleading reporting out there that ought to be brought into attention once in a while.

It's just that there's an argument about Mr. Webb's and Mr. Bush's etiquette starting to develop right here too that I made the quip.

However, the report might as well be Webb-hate more than Bush-love; not that I really care.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

What I am sorry for is the lack of time "off" for our public office holders.

Nothing you have ever said, anywhere, anytime, to anyone can be assumed to have been uttered in privacy. You will read it on the internet and someone will parse it to demonstrate that you are -- as they always knew -- an unthinking disgrace to humanity.

Bush cannot try to make personal conversation and Webb can't be frosty back without it being a matter of public record and voluminous discussion.

Webb can't write an oddball sex scene in a NOVEL without being held to ridicule as a pervert who shouldn't be elected.

Allen can't be a young silly 20 something with a confederate battle flag in his dorm room without everyone "knowing" that he's a racist pig.


....and we wonder why decent individuals choose to avoid public office as though it were prison. Then again, prisoners may have a little more privacy.

[Redleg]

However, the report might as well be Webb-hate more than Bush-love; not that I really care.

To be honest they both went down a notch or three in my view with the little exchange - hince the desire to review how the media is reporting the event versus the actually exchange.

I actually had somewhat high hopes for Mr Webb when he was voted into office as Senator. Mavericks can be a kick in the pants to the establishment.

[Major Robert Dump]

I gotta admit, although i'm not a fan of all of George Will's political leanings, I really like the guys style and wit. The way he reported this did, however, disappoint me. It appears he meshed words and omitted a sentence intentionally, although sometimes copy editors do this to the unwitting writer, I'm pretty sure a guy with as much cloat as Will gets to decide how his finished editorial comes out start to finish. Also, not going through a stupid picture line like a middle school dance is not the same thing as "refusing to shake hands."

I honestly don't see what the big fuss about "civility" in Washington is all about. I actually think we need less of it in the Senate and House, with their ridiculous rules of not being able to speak directly to other members etc. The elections are the dirty part, including incumbents mixing official duty with campaigning, and they get dirtier and dirtier every year. The actual conduct in Washington by the elects, however, could stand to be a little less white washed. When Ted Stevens says something idiotic about internet tubes and emails that take three days, he should be laughed off the floor and pelted with water cups. I'd have a lot more respect for Webb if he wouldve avoided the wordplay with Bush and just said something along the lines of "*** off an go home, coke head."

Webb is going to confuse the little brains of the party toe steppers. He's already confused the Hispanic community by not supporting amnesty and for wanting back breaking fines for employers of illegals, something to which a lot of the Dems say he "just needs to be educated a little." Meanwhile, the Republicans can't use the time tested political attack of blaming a pol for all his partys previous presidents failures, because the guy was no fan of Carter or Clinton, so he's somewhat impervious to blowjob-in-the-oval-office and draft-dodger-pardons attacks.

Webb for President.
Coburn for VEEP.
Go America!!111

[KafirChobee]

Distorting reality to fit the agenda of a newsagency is a long honored tradition in America. Twisting the reality to create a nerve touching propagandic knife, however, seems to be the newest phase of our new improved media conglomerates. Maybe it is time once again to break up some of the monoplies being created, especially in the media.

Not that, that will bring us any closer to the truth when the media is in a feeding frenzy.