From a Washington Post editorial, 10/18/06:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/17/AR2006101701477.html
Virginia's Senate Race
James Webb mounts an independent-minded challenge.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006; Page A20
THE U.S. SENATE race in Virginia pits a novice politician, Democrat
James Webb, against a much more experienced one, incumbent Republican
George Allen, who spent much of the early fall obliterating his
reputation for amiable charm and political deftness.
As Mr. Allen has partially admitted, his wounds in the close race have
been mostly self-inflicted and have left a sour taste in the mouths of
many Virginians.
Still, there is an even better reason to vote against Mr. Allen:
Quite simply, he is a mediocre senator whose six years of
undistinguished service do not justify rehiring.
His opponent -- former Navy secretary, former assistant defense
secretary, former Marine Corps officer and former Republican -- is
admirably independent-minded.
He was prescient in warning, back in 2002, that the war in Iraq risked
stranding the United States in a long-term occupation without an exit
strategy.
An intelligent man with a record of integrity, he has resisted the
packaging of political consultants, which can only be a good thing.
Those assets, as well as his deep familiarity with military and
national security affairs, offer the promise that he would make an
able, if unorthodox, U.S. senator.
And the fact that his youngest son is deployed as a marine in Iraq
gives him a perspective that is rare in today's Congress.
__________________________________________________
Harry
.
|
