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**Dagnabit** · 02-09-2011, 11:28 AM

Quote:Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., says he won't run for re-election in 2012.

"I have decided to return to the private sector, where I have spent most of my professional life, and will not seek re-election in 2012," he said in a statement.

I am not sure how I feel about this. Can another Dem retain his seat there or are we going to see the return of maccaca?

**RoyGBiv** · 02-09-2011, 05:48 PM

Webb is under assault from the left and the right, which in my mind pretty much assured he wasn't going to be reelected anyway.

I am left wondering if he was talked into not running in an attempt to save the seat.

**Born_A_Truman** · 02-09-2011, 11:28 AM

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/...te-2012-/1

Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., says he won't run for re-election in 2012.

"I have decided to return to the private sector, where I have spent most of my professional life, and will not seek re-election in 2012," he said in a statement.

Webb won one of the closest Senate races of 2006, defeating incumbent Republican George Allen. The GOP senator made one of the more memorable gaffes of that campaign season, calling a Webb campaign volunteer "macaca" -- a derogatory term that means monkey in some countries.

Allen and Virginia Tea Party leader Jamie Radtke have already announced their intention to run for the Virginia Senate seat. The National Republican Senatorial Committee said Webb's decision to retire "makes Virginia an even stronger pickup opportunity" in 2012.

Rest of article at the link ...

**Dagnabit** · 02-09-2011, 11:29 AM

I beat you by seconds!

**Born_A_Truman** · 02-09-2011, 11:37 AM

LOL! I checked and didn't see it posted. GMTA Dagnabit!

***NJMaverick*** · 02-09-2011, 11:47 AM

I'm going to leave this for now as they were both Tweeted. If I delete the post people following the Tweet will get a bad link.

**Born_A_Truman** · 02-09-2011, 01:50 PM

Ok thanks. I checked three forums before posting here but Dagnabit and I posted pretty much at the same minute.

***NJMaverick*** · 02-09-2011, 02:02 PM

Maybe what you can do Pat, is edit your original post to provide a link back to the other post on this topic.

***NJMaverick*** · 02-09-2011, 11:37 AM

It's going to be a lot harder for the Democrats to hold the seat now. Webb was an incumbent and I suspect reasonably well respected in Virginia. I would have been much happier if he ran again.

**Born_A_Truman** · 02-09-2011, 11:38 AM

Mav, if you want to delete my thread in Elections 2012 go ahead.

**Willinois** · 02-09-2011, 01:11 PM

The good news is that the seat will be open in a Presidential election year. Obama won VA in '08 and he'll surely fight to win it again. That will give the Democratic nominee a big boost.

This would be a good year to pursue a strategy of picking a candidate who can excite and boost turnout among the Democratic base. We need a candidate the Obama voters will feel confident supporting so that they don't skip the Senate line on their ballot.

**Julie** · 02-09-2011, 01:41 PM

Willinois makes a very valid point. If it had to happen it's best that it's in a Presidential election year.

Julie

**Cha** · 02-09-2011, 01:43 PM

(02-09-2011 01:11 PM)Willinois Wrote: The good news is that the seat will be open in a Presidential election year. Obama won VA in '08 and he'll surely fight to win it again. That will give the Democratic nominee a big boost.

This would be a good year to pursue a strategy of picking a candidate who can excite and boost turnout among the Democratic base. We need a candidate the Obama voters will feel confident supporting so that they don't skip the Senate line on their ballot.

Exactly what I was thinking..it depends on the Democratic Candidate..if they can only get someone with those qualifications you describe. It could happen.

**Dagnabit** · 02-09-2011, 01:44 PM

I agree being a presidential year will be helpful I hope they can fond someone the voters will respond to to run on the dem side. I would sincerely hate to see maccaca in office again. It was a great day when that idiot was run out of office.

***NJMaverick*** · 02-09-2011, 01:44 PM

Maybe Kaine step down as DNC Chair and run for the seat.

**Willinois** · (This post was last modified: 02-09-2011 02:00 PM by Willinois.)

(02-09-2011 01:44 PM)NJMaverick Wrote: Maybe Kaine step down as DNC Chair and run for the seat.

That makes sense although I'm not sure if he's a candidate to excite the base. VA has a good backbench of credible candidates. Bobby Scott looks appealing but I don't know much about him.

**Arkana** · 02-09-2011, 03:03 PM

Why the heck not? Why is he cutting and running?

Great, another seat for us to defend. Good thing Obama's on the ballot.

***There Is No Spoon*** · 02-09-2011, 03:13 PM

That sucks. He was a lot like the Republicans (probably more conservative) that I grew up disliking, though at least you could respect your adversaries then. I despise Republicans now. I hope we can find a good candidate to run for this open seat. Uggh.

**sandnsea** · 02-09-2011, 03:25 PM

(02-09-2011 01:44 PM)NJMaverick Wrote: Maybe Kaine step down as DNC Chair and run for the seat.

Well at least Kaine wouldn't run on a bash Obama platform. That would be one good for Virginia and the country.

**DFW** · (This post was last modified: 02-09-2011 03:47 PM by DFW.)

Kaine is well-known and liked but is dull as dishwater. On the other hand, progressives would prefer someone like Tom Periello who inspires, but would run into a wall of Koch money to get Macaca back in, or maybe someone even worse. All the Kochs have to do is outspend Macaca ten to one in the primary, and he's history.

**Hekate** · 02-09-2011, 05:02 PM

I'm sorry to see Webb go. Not only does it mean the Dems have to find and promote someone new, but I actually got to respect Webb quite a bit for his depth and intelligence after hearing him interviewed on NPR about one of his books. I learned more from that one interview about the Scots-Irish in the South than I had ever known before.

But as folks are saying, at least the vacancy will occur in a Presidential election year.

Anybody know why he's decided to go just now?

**Willinois** · 02-09-2011, 05:18 PM

(02-09-2011 05:02 PM)Hekate Wrote: I'm sorry to see Webb go. Not only does it mean the Dems have to find and promote someone new, but I actually got to respect Webb quite a bit for his depth and intelligence after hearing him interviewed on NPR about one of his books.

I'm disappoitned too. He's the kind of aggressive populist we need more of.