Webb Could Be Problem For Gates Confirmation

I've heard some rumblings that all wasn't well as regards Jim Webb and the Reagan administration. He is alleged to have resigned over plans to reduce the size of the Navy. But  given some statements of others in the Reagan administration, that may have not been the only reason for his only lasting ten months as Secretary of the Navy. Now it seems he has a problem with Robert Gates, too.

One reason for hurrying Senate confirmation of Robert Gates as secretary of defense through the lame-duck session of Congress is to avoid confrontation with an old enemy: James Webb, who will be a Democratic senator from Virginia in the new Congress starting in January.

During President Reagan's second term, Gates and Webb clashed as colleagues. Webb as secretary of the Navy objected to plans by Gates, then deputy national security adviser, for U.S. warships to protect oil platforms in the Persian Gulf. The hot-tempered Webb made clear his irritation with the soft-spoken Gates.

Considering his background, Webb is likely to go on the Senate Armed Services Committee. The White House wants to confirm Gates before Webb is sworn in.

And it seems as though the Congressional Black Caucus is making itself heard in more ways than one. Maybe it'll be easier for Pelosi to pass over Alcee Hastings for the Chair of the Intelligence Committee - it looks like Rahm Emmanuel isn't going to get the Whip's position out of deference to the CBC.

Ambitions of Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois to be majority whip, third-ranking in the House Democratic hierarchy, were torpedoed by Congressional Black Caucus insistence on the post going to Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina as an African-American.

Emanuel, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairman, is celebrated as architect of his party's return to House control. But there has been no African-American in a top congressional leadership position in more than 14 years, though five blacks are in line to be committee chairmen.

Emanuel agreed to succeed Clyburn in the lesser post of House Democratic Caucus chairman. Clyburn is a popular figure serving his seventh term. Emanuel, while only in his second term and too abrasive to be well liked by colleagues, has emerged as a political superstar.

And here's more about Webb via the WaPo. I have a feeling Webb is going to be a pain in the ass for everyone before he's done, especially the Democrats.

James Webb walked into the Fish Market restaurant in Alexandria in December and wanted longtime Democratic strategist Steve Jarding to answer just one question: What were his chances of defeating Sen. George Allen (R), one of Virginia's most popular politicians?

"I have my own views, and I have a lot of experiences, and I think I can bring the experiences I had to issues rather than having to read off a party briefing sheet," Webb said Friday in an interview.

The guy strikes me as a real ass and I don't see his personality blending into the Senate very well.

Comments

[Stormy70]

This will be fun to watch. The CBC will get shafted again, and they will still fall in line like good little democrats. Nothing will change, but the process will be highly entertaining.

Alcee Hastings?! We can dine out on that for years if Pelosi actually tries to put him in charge of Intelligence.

[Terry Gain]

My impression of Webb is that he may be a loose cannon. If so, better to let him expose himself than have him filtered through the MSM.

[Phoenix]

Have Politics - Will Change

'Jim'Webb Paladin

[Nick Stump]

Webb is a great choice. He's no party go-along, but he has integrity, intelligence and he loves this country. I know you're not used to seeing such qualities in a politician, but you might want to get used to it. Jim Webb will be around for a while.

[Carla Ward]

Webb states plainly that he's not a party hack reading off a briefing sheet and that makes him an "ass" in your opinion? In my opinion it makes him an independent thinker who won't kiss ass to get ahead. As for his relationship with Gates, it seems to me he's been willing to let bygones be bygones with other people with whom he's had problems in the past. I believe he'll give Gates a fair hearing if it comes to that, but what worries me about Gates is I can't see much evidence of Defense Dept. experience (was he even ever in the military?), he was involved with Iran/Contra, and he was well known even within the CIA for an unseemly obsession with the Russians. He even believed they were faking perestroika. This last came from people I've talked to who knew him when he was at the CIA. I gathered he wasn't the most popular guy there, and "soft-spoken" doesn't describe this man who obsessed about the Russians to the exclusion of everything else. I can well believe he clashed with Webb, who believes we need to worry about the Chinese, too, and not just the Russians.