Okay, Ebonius, I may have erroneously ascribed a novel to James Webb that was made into some God-awful John Travolta movie about a female servicemember who was into kinky sex or S&M or something. If I was wrong, then I am willing to downgrade Webb from mysogynist to either "chauvinist" or "sexist," take your pick. But that's as far as it goes, and I would encourage you to find his 1979 article in the Washingtonian explaining how women were going to ruin the service academies. Or, just read this:

http://www.examiner.com/a-203456~James_Webb__the_new_face_of_the_Democrats_.html

On the basis of this article, I'll also betcha a dollar that Webb walks off the job before the November elections.

Now it is definitely your turn, Ebonius.

OK Captain Lara, you put me on the spot. But this old combat vet ain't walking into your kill zone that easy.

What does Jim Webb stand for as a candidate? First and foremost, Jim Webb's stand on National Security and the current war in Iraq: He has put out a position paper clearly stating his goal to end our occupation of Iraq and to stop the Bush Neocon Machine from building the permanent bases and Fortress Baghdad Embassy I have written about recently here.

Other things I like about Webb is that he was an advocate for better treatment of our nation's veterans. He will lend his expertise in military matters as issues come before Congress concerning the welfare of our disabled vets and those who served honorably, only to face indifference at home in terms of unfair financial burdens and racial discrimination.

You say just because he served in combat doesn't mean he's going to keep his promises once he's in Congress. Well, I'd sure believe him over somebody who never wore the uniform. (George Allen never served and failed candidate Harris Miller, was a K-Street Ranger, a former Washington Lobbyist.)

"I'm a business guy," Miller said. "I spent my whole life as a business guy. I did work on Capitol Hill for about 10 years." He also describes himself as a "policy wonk." Guess what? I don't want any more goddamn "policy wonks" fucking up our country.

The reason why Jim Webb won the primary is because the people of Virginia see him as a charismatic, qualified candidate to beat George Allen. In a poll taken in January of this year Allen was viewed favorably by 70% of Virginia voters and unfavorably by 25%. For Miller, those numbers are 38% favorable, 31% unfavorable, and 31% not sure. It's that big "not sure" number that tells Miller's story. He's an outsider, a nobody.

And apparently he didn't resonate with Virginia Democrats.

But let's move on, shall we. Captain Lara, you should really vet your authors and writers more carefully before you start throwing around newspaper clippings that you presume to show up Jim Webb. The URL you posted leads to a column written by none other than GEORGE ALLEN'S PAID BIOGRAPHER, and Clinton-hater Kathleen Antrim.

No wonder she did a hatchet job in her right wing column about Jim Webb. She's currently on leave and traveling with Allen's entourage gathering material for the swell biography due to come out in 2007. I wonder why it's coming out then? Hmmm?

I don't care if you "get excited" about Webb, but unless the thought of looking at that Skol-dipping baboon Allen grinning down at you from Washington, you better just hold your nose and vote for Webb.

Finally, I think you have some deep personal reasons for going off on the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and the disgusting homophobia still rampant in our military. I too, have a personal story about a good soldier who took his share of dangerous missions, but had to hide his sexual orientation in Vietnam or risk getting killed by his own comrades. He was a kind friend to me and an inspiration in courage. He is now dead from AIDS. Sad to say but not much has changed in 36 years in the military.

But you go way too far when you cite a litany of wrongs and heap all that on Jim Webb because he made statements (in 1979 for Christ's Sake!) that he didn't think it was a good idea to have gays bunking with straights and that putting women in combat teams might lead to men being distracted from the mission. To date he has not issued an apology. If he did, would that satisfy you? Somehow I doubt it. But to damn him as a homophobe is stretching credulity.

So we're down to negotiating terms like chauvinist and sexist. Well Captain Lara, there was only one guy who ever walked on water and they crucified him. So let's focus on taking the country back from these goddamned fascists and we'll work on the politically correct stuff as we go along. OK Captain?

George Allen is just another bigoted southerner and Republican. His kind of thinking is rampant in the Repub party.

The bums must be thrown out of office.

Even the radical right wing religious theocrats wholeheartedly endorse and support this kind of thinking. The confederacy is still alive and well and full of hate and intolerance as it has always been.

EWTN (the Catholic cable channel) and Mother Angelica should not be endorsing and supporting this kind of thinking. I am terribly upset to know that my religion is part of this conspiracy of hate and intolerance.

It's of little wonder that EWTN is headquartered in Alabama, that is just so appropriate.

Pope John Paul II started this and the enforcer Benedict XVI is continuing it to this very day.

Shame on all of you.

Yes George is a bully from along time ago. I experienced his bullying in that tony high school we both attended. I was/am a liberal and he was/is a confederate flag waving conservative racist. He flew the battle flag of the army of northern Virginia from his car antenna in those days. I have watched with some trepidation the last couple years as he has gained in popularity in the Republican party, wondering if his past will ever catch up with him and reveal what an nasty person he really is. Bush is stupid but Allen is mean.