I have not commented on the now infamous exchange between President George Bush and Virginia Senator-elect Webb, mainly because it seems that all of what I have read about the incident has come via partisan sources. To my knowledge, no one who observed the incident has commented so I’ve been content to let the rest of the blogsphere talk amongst themselves about it.
But today, Bryan J. Scrafford alerts us to some additional information he ran across on the Daily Kos. I know, partisan site, but stay with me for a minute. In the diary, the writer talks about an encounter he had with Congressman Jim Moran. In the conversation, Moran says that Bush knew about the incident in which Webb’s son was almost killed. Think Progress contacted Moran’s office and confirmed the conversation.
Now if this is the case, Bush’s behavior is absolutely despicable and Webb did the right thing in response.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
JPTERP,
Unfortunately, we don’t get to make up the protocol rules. Whether you agree with them or not, and whether you think he was justified or not, Webb displayed a disregard for manners and for protocol.
That said, this could be an endless circle. We’re not going to agree. Those who have said this falls pretty much along partisan lines are right. And we’ve all got better things to discuss.
As for Mr. Shugart, I’m fuzzy on the details of that incident. But if it was during the ceremony for the presentation of the medal, I think he was wrong too.
Ward claimed:
Really, Ward? It was *my* snarkiness that kept you from almost agreeing? Then let me revise – stupid and/or dishonest.
I think everyone else has pretty much taken down your points, with ease.
~
And as to Mr. Shugart, if he really believed that Clinton was responsible for the death of his son, I don’t think him wrong or blame him for a moment.
From NLS:
“Webb confessed that he was so angered by this that he was tempted to slug the commander-in-chief.”
I know some of you might not see this as a threat, but to even suggest laying a hand on the President, whether George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, or any other, is something that most Secret Service agents (if no one else) would find rather troublesome.
In other words, there was no threat, and CR just made it up in an effort to score some imaginary political point.
And people are expected to engage crap like this with respect and civility? The sooner that those that create and inhabit this imaginary world are no longer part of the political conversation, the sooner we’ll be able to have a productive conversation about how to work our way out of this mess.
If the president threw the first punch, then the Senator-Elect could claim self-defense in striking back. The president is protected from attacks of violence against his person; although the legality is not so clear cut if the president provokes the act. In this instance this is a nil point since no punches were thrown.
Hello?! Somebody’s precious son came damn close to himself being killed. What was the reaction supposed to be from the father of that precious son when approached by the little man that calously caused that situation to begin with?
BUSH caused that situation?! WHO had WMD? Hussein. WHO had the capability to launch MRBMs? Hussien. WHO threatened the U.S. and Israel? Hussein. WHO was trying to get nuclear weapons? Hussein. Who voted to go to war with Iraq? Congress.
Yup, on his watch it did.
Ah, so Bush is responsible for the actions of Hussein, and the votes of the Congress?
“WHO had WMD? Hussein”
Unless I don’t get the same news, there were no WMDs found.
“WHO threatened the U.S. and Israel?”
Who hasn’t threatened the US and Israel at some point? Hussein didn’t have the capability to go after Israel or he would have done it before the invasion.
“WHO was trying to get nuclear weapons? Hussein”
Not at the time of the invasion and some of the evidence gathered was doctored.
“Who voted to go to war with Iraq? Congress.”
Yeah, you’re right Bush and his advisors had no hand in showing evidence that was at best faulty to prop up their war drive.
You are NOT keeping up with the news. Some WMD were found, but most were trucked to Syria during our build-up.
Hussein did have the ability to go after Israel. Only the fact that Israel would have destroyed him kept him from doing it.
Hussein WAS trying to get nuclear weapons. It was WILSON who doctored his report.
Congress had access to EXACTLY the same intel that Bush did.
See? There’s just no point in arguing with someone like this, Kevin. No sense of reality or shame about lying. Nothing is accomplished by engaging people like that.
I’m surprised they let you have internet access in the institution.
No MB, everyone else has not taken down my points “with ease.”
It’s the first rule children learn when going to birthday parties.
“Don’t throw cake and be sure to thank your host/hostess.”
I guess Mr. Webb, and apparently a whole bunch of y’all never learned that lesson.
No, Ward, it’s just that the rest of us are operating in the world of adults, and not children. That you seem to think otherwise would explain much.