The LuLac Edition #2984 July 7th, 2015

JIM WEBB IN

Former Senator Jim Webb. (Photo: bluevirginia.org).

Former Virginia Senator Jim Webb announced through a Press Release that he is indeed running for President. The announcement came last week right before the Fourth of July weekend. Talk about burying the lead.
Webb is an interesting guy. A former Republican, he served in the Reagan administration as Secretary of the Navy. Webb himself graduated from the Naval Academy in 1968. He has written ten books (not as many as former Wilkes Barre Mayoral candidate Brian Kelly) that notate him as a War Novelist. Plus he is a film producer. He has credits that will make former Lackawanna County Commissioner Bob Cordaro green with envy. In April 2000, his original story “Rules of Engagement” held the top slot in U.S. box offices for weeks .
On his website Webb says this about his candidacy: "I understand the odds, particularly in today’s political climate where fair debate is so often drowned out by huge sums of money. I know that more than one candidate in this process intends to raise at least a billion dollars – some estimates run as high as two billion dollars – in direct and indirect financial support. Highly paid political consultants are working to shape the “messaging” of every major candidate.
But our country needs a fresh approach to solving the problems that confront us and too often unnecessarily divide us. We need to shake the hold of these shadow elites on our political process. Our elected officials need to get back to the basics of good governance and to remember that their principal obligations are to protect our national interests abroad and to ensure a level playing field here at home, especially for those who otherwise have no voice in the corridors of power. And at the same time our fellow Americans need proven, experienced leadership that can be trusted to move us forward from a new President’s first days in office.
I believe I can offer both.
Webb has depth and heft on his resume. He has pedigree. Another former Secretary of Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt went on to become President. But will Webb’s conservatism fly in the aftermath of an activist progressive Presidency of Barack Obama. Webb will be well spoken, passionate and could well be the middle of the road candidate that Bill Clinton was in 1992. I believe the debates will showcase him  as a better alternative to Hillary Clinton that Lincoln Chaffee and Martin O’Malley.

BIDEN IN THE WINGS

Joe Biden. (Photo: CNN.com)

At a Fourth of July gathering my sister in law asked me who do I think will be the Democratic nominee. I said that don’t be surprised if Joe Biden gets the nod. After the guffawing around the table stopped, I made my points.
1. The more candidates in the Democratic field there are, the more wounds Hillary Clinton will get. If no one of those attackers can get a clear majority, you might have a deadlock. Not just any deadlock but a cluster of candidates with their own 20% of support.
2. The consensus candidate would be Biden. First he has 44 years experience. He has been an artful foreign policy Vice President as well as someone who can be a logical choice to carry the Progressive banner. He will also have the support of his President because Mr. Obama would want to have his legacy continued. Who better than your own Veep.
The problems are only two Vice Presidents in history that have won election on their own right are Martin Van Buren in 1836 and George H.W. Bush in 1988. The specter of an Obama Third term has been driving Republicans nuts if the nominee is Hillary Clinton. Imagine if it is Biden.
Biden needs not to jump into the fry but to make himself available while the others bloody themselves. The Democrats have a pathway in the Electoral College. They have a head start. Plus with the Immigration fiasco going on with Donald Trump they might increase that total.
It is a long shot but don’t count Biden out.

COSTELLO EVENT SET