The Next Vice President of the United States

The Democratic response to the President's State of the Union address is typically a pretty forgettable event. I can't even remember who delivered the Democratic response last year (or any of the past six years for that matter). But I have a feeling Senator Jim Webb's response to tonight's State of the Union will have a more lasting impact.

In case you missed it, MyDD has the video and the prepared text (so does C&L). Webb was forceful and compelling in his discussion of both economic and foreign policy. It was his frank description of the debacle in Iraq, however, that really stood out:

[T]his country has patiently endured a mismanaged war for nearly four years. Many, including myself, warned even before the war began that it was unnecessary, that it would take our energy and attention away from the larger war against terrorism, and that invading and occupying Iraq would leave us strategically vulnerable in the most violent and turbulent corner of the world.

Like so many other Americans, today and throughout our history, we serve and have served, not for political reasons, but because we love our country. On the political issues -- those matters of war and peace, and in some cases of life and death -- we trusted the judgment of our national leaders. We hoped that they would be right, that they would measure with accuracy the value of our lives against the enormity of the national interest that might call upon us to go into harm's way.

The president took us into this war recklessly. He disregarded warnings from the national security adviser during the first Gulf War , the chief of staff of the Army, two former commanding generals of the Central Command, whose jurisdiction includes Iraq, the director of operations on the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and many, many others with great integrity and long experience in national security affairs. We are now, as a nation, held hostage to the predictable -- and predicted -- disarray that has followed.

Financially. The damage to our reputation around the world. The lost opportunities to defeat the forces of international terrorism. And especially the precious blood of our citizens who have stepped forward to serve.

The majority of the nation no longer supports the way this war is being fought; nor does the majority of our military. We need a new direction. Not one step back from the war against international terrorism. Not a precipitous withdrawal that ignores the possibility of further chaos. But an immediate shift toward strong regionally based diplomacy, a policy that takes our soldiers off the streets of Iraq's cities, and a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq.

The speech ended with this:

As I look at Iraq, I recall the words of former general and soon-to-be President Dwight Eisenhower during the dark days of the Korean War, which had fallen into a bloody stalemate. "When comes the end?" asked the general who had commanded our forces in Europe during World War II. And as soon as he became president, he brought the Korean War to an end.

These presidents took the right kind of action, for the benefit of the American people and for the health of our relations around the world. Tonight we are calling on this president to take similar action, in both areas. If he does, we will join him. If he does not, we will be showing him the way.

Webb's delivery was measured and calm, but you could sense the urgency and conviction in his voice. As you'll see if you watch the video, he also added some personal touches that were not in the prepared text. He showed the audience a picture of his father taken during his service in World War II the Berlin Airlift, and discussed the sacrifices his parents made during that war those years; he also briefly mentioned his own military service in Vietnam and that of his son, who is currently serving in Iraq. And he did it all in a very natural and dignified way.

Overall, I thought Webb was incredibly effective, particularly given the contrast with the President's speech. Webb must scare the hell out of the GOP. He's the kind of guy who could convince a whole lot of people to reconsider the Democratic party. He's already proven he can beat a popular Republican Senator in a red state, and he seems to be getting progressively more comfortable as a politician.

I'm sure the effectiveness of Webb's speech will not go unnoticed among Democrats either, particularly among those seeking the presidency. The one thing Clinton, Obama, and Edwards all lack is foreign policy gravitas. Their Senate careers have been relatively short and none of them served in the military. Webb is a military guy who exudes foreign policy gravitas. I doubt that Webb has any intention of seeking the presidency, but I think his speech tonight might have elevated him straight to the top of every Democrat's shortlist for Vice President.