Dem Sen. Webb Says He Will Retire
- Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:00pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Freshman Democratic Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia announced Wednesday he will retire when his term ends next year, deepening the challenge to his party as it struggles to maintain a majority in the 2012 elections.
In an e-mail announcement, Webb said that after much thought and consideration, he had decided to return to the private sector. He offered no additional details about his plans but said he intends to remain involved in issues that affect the future and well-being of the country.
Webb, a former Navy secretary, was elected to the Senate in an upset in 2006, ousting Republican Sen. George Allen by about 9,000 votes.
Allen, the former governor whose campaign was riddled with embarrassments, is attempting a comeback in 2012, although he faces primary opposition. He did not immediately respond Wednesday to a request for comment on Webb’s plans.
Democrats, with a 53-47 majority, must defend 23 Senate seats next year, including two held by independents. Many are in swing states where Republicans hope to mount strong challenges.
By contrast, only 10 GOP-held seats will be on the ballot.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee said Webb’s decision makes Virginia an “even stronger pickup opportunity for Republicans in 2012.” But the chairwoman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, said the party would field a strong candidate.
Since taking office, Webb has focused much of his energy on international issues.
“Among other contributions, we have given our post- 9/11 veterans the best GI Bill since World War II,” he said in his statement. “We have taken the lead in reforming our criminal justice system. We have led the way toward stronger relations in East and Southeast Asia.”
Earlier in his career, Webb was a combat Marine in Vietnam, a lawyer, congressional aide and a published author. His appointment as Navy secretary came from President Ronald Reagan, a Republican. But when the Naval Academy graduate made his only run for public office, it was as a Democrat.
Webb is the fourth senator to announce plans to retire. The others are Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn.
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Associated Press Writer Michael Felberbaum in Richmond, Va., contributed to this report.
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Comments (46)
LP for TEA
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 4:49pmHe saw the writing on the wall and should have heard the participants from the Town Halls. Good ole Virginny just EXHALED!
Report Post »frankee47
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 4:21pmscumbag soon gone
Report Post »jacobstroubles
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:42pmSaaaaaaaaaaaaaaWeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeT!
Report Post »Justus39
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:42pmYou can bet connections in DC have promised him something bigger and better for biting the bullet for Obama. Webb thumbed his nose at his constituents in Virginia.
Report Post »vetswife
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:30pmFinally, get someone to take his place that won’et be a lap dog for Obama.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:20pmWhy not, he gets a sweet penchant and health care for life. Let’s look at that one congress.
Report Post »rdk
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:18pmGood. Webb is actually a reasonable man most of the time. I think he does not like being an Obama Democrat.
Report Post »tifosa
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:15pmInteresting to see if Jamie Radtke will still run, if George Allen stays in it… interesting…
Report Post »irish69th
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:06pmWould also like to remind you of his galant service in Vietnam, and as a person who will be taking advantage of the needed overhaul of the Montgomery GI Bill, this soldier would also like to add his thanks
Report Post »5410amh
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:05pmDon’t let the door hit you on the way out.
Report Post »TRDRMAN2003
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:57pmI actually am impressed by this decision, Go to Washington, Serve your country..Go home and live with the decisions that you had a hand in making. If I am not mistaken, this is what our founding fathers wanted, No Career Politicians!!!….If only everyone in Washington would do this!!!!!
Report Post »dadsrootbeer
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:43pmThe progressives heard the bell toll last November. Or was it a light house horn sounding just before the USSR Share the Wealth crashing into the rocks and sinks.
Report Post »Brontefan
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:40pmGood! Another Marxist ideologist leaves Congress.
Report Post »JD Carp
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:37pmFull salary retirement benefit, full medical benefit, full opportunities to almost any corporate position or lobbying all for the service of one term. Priceless.
Report Post »dancermommd
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:10pmHe will not have full salary retirement and full health care. He get’s whatever the federal civilians get which is FERS if he came in after 1986 (I think) and he will still have to pay for a portion of his health care JUST AS HE DOES NOW. I am glad to see him go but please people, stop spreading the misinformation of full salary retirement and fully paid health care. It isn’t true.
Report Post »idrathermisstotheright
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 10:08pmDomm. Check the facts. They have exempt themselves from everything but their own plan. You won’t find it in the budget.
Report Post »takemout
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:36pmWonderful!!!
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:34pmWebb was an embarrassment another lockstep lemmi and this good news for Virginia. He knows his lockstep voting record would be an anchor in Virginia one of the first states to get legislation in place to reject Obamacare.
Report Post »absolutely
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:22pmAnother one bites the dust, Love that song. Absolutely
Report Post »va_magoo
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:08pmAs a member of Sen Webb’s district I can only say “THANK YOU!”
Report Post »Salty Dog
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:56pmMe too! Guess he finally got my letter promising to spend every unemployed moment of my day campaigning for his opponent. Hope we come up with somebody more inspiring than George Allen, though.
Report Post »RobR
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:56pmApparently, Barack Obama is the secret weapon of the Republican party in 2012.
Report Post »CaptainSpaulding
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:55pmHe’s looked at the poll numbers….and they’re bad….
Report Post »missionarydad
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:52pmTea Party get busy we need strong representation in Virginia like we have in Florida with Marco Rubio. This will give us plenty of time to find the right candidate and I for one will support one who is willing to go to Washington and stand up for Constitutional principles and will be committed to taking our country back and reversing the damage that has been done. With the right strategy there is no reason that the house and senate and presidency cannot be filled with people of the stature and likemindedness of Marco Rubio, Michele Bachmann, Rand Paul, Sarah Palin, Steve Christy and Jim Demint, etc.
Report Post »BacktotheFounders
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 3:45pmThe Tea Party is already out in front on this.
The Tea Party leader running to unseat Sen. Jim Webb (D) in 2012 is already going after the centrist Virginian for siding with President Obama on the Democrats’ most high-profile — and most highly controversial — legislative successes.
Jamie Radtke, former head of the Virginia Tea Party Patriot Federation, said Webb’s support for Obama’s economic stimulus package and the new healthcare reform law — as well as the Bush administration’s Wall Street bailout — has helped grow the nation’s debt at the expense of its financial stability. With those votes, Radtke charged, Webb “helped engineer the mess that we’re in.”
http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/135501-in-virginia-tea-party-candidate-hopes-to-tie-webb-to-obama
Report Post »Xcori8r
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:51pmGood riddance.
Report Post »Blackhawk1
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:49pmMust be one of the passengers on the Obamatic seeing the iceberg coming.
Report Post »GODSAMERICA
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:46pmRUN RUN all liberal Dems and Rhinos!!!
Report Post »RightPolitically
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:42pmSo young, so fit, what’s up wit dat? He doesn’t want to go down with the ship, that’s what!
Report Post »Miguelito
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:48pmNeed more retirements!
Report Post »Kurty C Wipe
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 1:48pmWhat? Did he find out what a real cesspool smells like?
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 2:32pmIs there any way we could get him to take Obama and Pelosi with him?
Report Post »idrathermisstotheright
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 10:03pmWork 6 years and collect $160,000 plus posh medical benefits for the rest of his life. Looks like he got what he came for.
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on February 9, 2011 at 11:28pmActually his socalism started showing and the people of Va have had it with him and he knows it. As to Allen. doubtful. We already outed him once. Now Webb is a lame duck so he will throw Va to the wolves by voting what ever Reid /Obama tells him to. He should just go ahead and retire now so he can be replaced by some one that can do the job.WEBB RESIGN!
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