Legal Commentary

The folks at Politico have this new piece about possible VP picks for the Democratic nominee, and I cannot help but add my two cents: I strongly favor Senator Jim Webb as the VP choice for the Dems.  Let me explain as a matter of political strategy and policy substance:

Political Strategy: As detailed in his official and wikipedia bios, Senator Webb was born in Missouri and elected to the Senate from Virginia.  If the Democrats can carry both these swing states, they have a huge advantage getting to 270.  In addition, Senator Webb has an extraordinary resume, both in terms of military and (outside-the-Beltway) achievements, which should draw support from all sorts of people from all parts of the country.  For example, during the Reagan years, Webb became the "first Naval Academy graduate in history to serve in the military and then become Secretary of the Navy."  In addition, Webb "has authored eight books, including six best-selling novels, and has worked extensively as a screenwriter and producer in Hollywood."  In addition, Webb "taught literature at the Naval Academy as their first visiting writer, has traveled worldwide as a journalist, and earned an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for his PBS coverage of the U.S. Marines in Beirut."

Policy Substance: To my knowledge, Senator Webb is the only prominent national politician who has held a congressional hearing directly addressing the problems of mass incarceration (details here and here and here).  In addition, I believe Senator Webb is an avid supporter of individual gun rights, which is sure to become a campaign issue once the Supreme Court decides Heller.  I am not deeply familiar with Webb's other policy positions, but his insightful concern about mass incarceration suggests to me that he is a thoughtful observer of national policy problems.

Listing a con for Senator Webb, the Politico piece says "Blunt and unpredictable, he might be a reluctant campaigner."  With a nation clearly tired of politics as usual, I view "blunt and unpredictable" as a pro rather than a con.  And I think Webb's military resume and anti-Iraq-war stance should make him the ideal person to attack Senator McCain on all sorts of policy issues.

Cross-posted at SL&P