George Will – Jim Webb is a “pompous poseur”

George Will does not pull any punches with this piece. He addresses the recent:

"Webb certainly has conveyed what he is: a boor. Never mind the patent disrespect for the presidency. Webb's more gross offense was calculated rudeness toward another human being -- one who, disregarding many hard things Webb had said about him during the campaign, asked a civil and caring question, as one parent to another. When -- if ever -- Webb grows weary of admiring his new grandeur as a ``leader'' who carefully calibrates the ``symbolic things'' he does to convey messages, he might consider this: In a republic, people decline to be led by leaders who are insufferably full of themselves."

Will also takes on Webb the writer saying:

"In his novels and his political commentary, Webb has been a writer of genuine distinction, using language with care and precision. But just days after winning an election, he was turning out slapdash prose that would be rejected by a reasonably demanding high school teacher."

While the frequent commenter's on Virginia blogs display hero worship for Webb, most reasonable people are turned off by his recent behavior. This story is all over the MSM and the blogs because it concretes what has been said about Webb's ego, temper, and his character. I look in the future and see Webb storming out of the senate because others will not agree with him. When he introduces legislation and others take the stand to support or disagree in civil debate will Webb want to slug them also? This is embarrassing for Virginia. Webb would have served us better by just staying home.

Update- NLS says there is more to the story. Jerry From on High does not buy it. Jerry also throws Megalomania into the mix. The Mason Conservative has his thoughts on Will's article here. Alton tells Webb the campaign is over. The Red Stater has his take here.

Technorati : George Bush, George Will, Jim Webb, Politics