More on Jim Webb

The distinguished senator-elect from Virginia is getting more press. It's only natural, because we don't know him as well as we should. His main quality during the campaign was that he wasn't the amazing self-sabatoging, imploding George Allen. Jim Webb was the alternative, and that was enough for the time being. But now we want more.

His recent commentary in The Wall Street Journal let us know that there's more to him than we initially expected, and today's Washington Post offers a profile that fills him out a bit more.

Webb won't be a wallflower, especially when it comes to the war in Iraq. And he won't stick to a script drafted by top Democrats.

. . .
"There are going to be times when I've got some strong ideas, but I'm not looking to simply be a renegade," he said. "I think people in the Democratic Party leadership have already begun to understand that I know how to work inside a structure."

. . .
"He's not a typical politician. He really has deep convictions," said [Senator Charles] Schumer, who headed the Senate Democrats' campaign arm. "We saw this in the campaign. We would have disagreements. But when you made a persuasive argument, he would say, 'You're right.' I am truly not worried about it. He understands the need to be part of a team."

One senior Democratic staff member on Capitol Hill, who spoke on condition that he not be identified so he could speak freely about the new senator, said that Webb's lack of political polish was part of his charm as a candidate but could be a problem as a senator.

"I think he's going to be a total pain. He is going to do things his own way. That's a good thing and a bad thing," the staff member said. But he said that Webb's personality may be just what the Senate needs. "You need a little of everything. Some element of that personality is helpful."

As is my wont, I've saved the best for last. The most quoted section of the article was right up front and related a recent encounter Webb had with the Prez a recent White House reception.

Democrat James Webb declined to stand in a presidential receiving line or to have his picture taken with the man he had often criticized on the stump this fall. But it wasn't long before Bush found him.

"How's your boy?" Bush asked, referring to Webb's son, a Marine serving in Iraq.

"I'd like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President," Webb responded, echoing a campaign theme.

"That's not what I asked you," Bush said. "How's your boy?"

"That's between me and my boy, Mr. President," Webb said coldly, ending the conversation on the State Floor of the East Wing of the White House.

Or maybe it didn't quite end there. According to The Hill (via Josh Marshall), which reported what its source had heard from Webb himself:

Webb confessed that he was so angered by this that he was tempted to slug the commander-in-chief, reported the source, but of course didn't.

Of course he didn't. Protocol wins out again!