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Do we get the word “athlete” from ἆθλοι?
Webb can bring in a lot of patriotic democrats who are naturally conservative. This is an interesting opening to consider.
Webb is clearly a guy who has no home in the Democrat Party.
A Webb Sec Def gets you a guy who was a trigger puller and knows internal DOD BS when he sees it.
Yeah it’s related. The verb is athlein, “to compete for a prize.” Means, “struggles” more than labor. There’s also a religious context to this struggle. This is a cultural thing though since sports is also a religious activity.
Are you saying Trump is going to divert the Potomac or am I taking the analogy too far?
I’m saying it’s gonna take a lot more than that.
Based on the blood pressure of the denizens of the DC swamp, he has backed up some kind of flow.
Methane, you protest to much.
I think Webb would have made a great president. Had the stars aligned and he been the Democratic nominee against Trump, I would vote for him without heasitation. Probably one of the most decent men to hold public office in recent memory.
My dad agrees with you, Byron.
A man too decent for his own time I fear. Part of me thinks Webb understands this about himself, which is why he points to Trump being a valid choice.
Webb would be a hero for a more civilized age, but today is laughed out of the Democratic nomination by a red diaper baby and Madam Naptime.
He has all of the qualifications to be Trump’s VP. Political and defense experience, cross-over appeal, from an important swing state, and, most important, a Trumpian outside the box choice.
Webb had no chance to be nominated by the Democrats. To be frank I would probably take Joe Biden over Trump if that is still in the cards somehow? Right now though it looks like its between a con-man, a crook, and a socialist. No thank you. I say.
I am still mad he hung his aide out to dry on a federal firearms violation.
I think it’s more like Trump is going to get rid of the cattle but keep the manure.
Sorry fellas, Webb lost me when he violated basic firearm safety and made his aide a patsy.
Here is a link to the story.
Here is a synopsis.
My Theory:
Webb lacks basic integrity. This article <CoC Notice it is the Daily Kos> fits every element of my theory.
So do we.
Another conservative position, not.
And we want a magical solution–without stain of reality. No out out damned spot for us. We want spotless–magical thinking.
Don’t get hung up on the messenger. The important element is that this is being said on a left-wing news show.
For American government and culture to be restored, we need both political parties to be reformed. It’s okay to disagree with one’s neighbors about good governance. But when hatred and undisguised oppression become pillars of half the nation’s politics, look out.
Let me get this right – this failed presidential candidate will maybe support Trump because he doesn’t know if Trump will do more of the same or not, but he knows Hillary will? Haven’t we tried voting for a blank slate-Brack Obama in 2008-before? Why do so many people in America want to consider voting for somebody on the possibility, not the promise, that the person running will do something different? Why don’t many Americans supporting such candidates want to know what the something different actually is? In other words, why don’t positions matter, why is style and perception more important than substance? Are voters sympathetic to Obama and now Trump this impressionable and unthinking, or am I missing something?
Moral degeneracy of the country has gone too far, no turning back. Once the Pandora box was opened it can’t be shut. It doesn’t matter who is elected the deck is stacked against him. He still has 435 people to deal with who all have to answer to their donors. Webb would have been a flawed but decent man to be president, might have slowed the decent of the country into the chaos we are headed for financially and culturally. Too bad.
Yes, Webb personally is not pristine- someone who is prickly, ethnicity obsessed (in his case, it is the Scots-Irish), impossible to get along with (both in Congress and the three wives) has issues that drown the message, but the concept of an honest conservative Democrat is correct. Being such a person, e.g., Zell Miller, may not help when the lefty message machine operates, but it would be nice if there were more. Pretenders like Tim Kaine who talk the game but close ranks when the party line is threatened are just that-pretenders.
But is also ineffective because you need a whip cracker who is not perceived as the enemy. And Webb was anti-battle in every case- he opposed Iraq (and his son was deployed there) because it would be hard on soldiers. Webb or LTG HR McMaster? Pretty easy choice.
If he will make his trusted aide a patsy, he will make one of you.
Instugator, I had not heard about this. This is a huge black mark against Webb.
I’ve been predicting for a few weeks now that Trump might offer Webb SecDef. He’s a no-brainer for the job, and Trump can say “Hey, I’ve got Democrats in my cabinet too”.
I agree, not ideal. But he is also a grandstander jackass, so you back him up with people who can do the job. Politics never gives you ideal or even close.
When I was at The Zoo we were required to read Webb’s A Sense of Honor. Good book, but when I want a story about teaching a boy to be a man I prefer Starship Troopers.
The remarkable thing about LTG McMaster is that he initially wasn’t chosen for his star. It was only the backlash against that decision and the stats that the Army was passing over combat-decorated vets that led to the appointment of General Petreaus to head the promotion board to review the process. McMaster received his star in 2008.
McMaster v Webb, no contest – but why are you bringing it up?