Virginia Senator Jim Webb has always had a flair for the dramatic.

So it should come as no surprise that the modern military man's rendition of the late General William Tecumseh Sherman's greatest political line, while not letter-perfect in its repetition of the general's actual language, was as effective as the original.

Sherman, a hero of the Civil War, retired from the military in 1884 and was immediately boomed as a contender for the Republican nomination for president -- a title the popular military man might well have secured, along with the presidency.

But Sherman did not want to be commander-in-chief. And when his initial disavowals of interests were taken as signs that he was playing a political game of hard-to-get, the general notified the Grand Old Party that: "If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve."

This was the original "Shermanesque statement," the emphatic declaration of non-candidacy that really is a declaration of non-candidacy.

Webb, the Vietnam War Marine hero who served as Ronald Reagan's Secretary of Navy before switching parties and winning his Senate seat in 2006, has been boomed almost enthusiastically as Sherman once was for a place on the national political stage. Democrats who believe (rightly or wrongly) that presumptive presidential nominee Barack Obama could use some military muscle on his ticket, have been enthusiastic about the prospect of a run by Webb for the vice presidency -- and about the prospect that the popular senator might help to secure the swing state of Virginia and blue-collar regions of neighboring states.

Webb had stoked the speculation about himself as a contender, with several over-the-top statements of support for Obama and a high-profile book tour that happened to launch right as attention turned to Obama's ticket tailoring.

But the senator, whose life has been a more colorful one than those of most contemporary pols, was not pleased with the Obama campaign's demand of a detailed personal history as part of the background check being conducted on all vice presidential prospects.

So, on Monday, Webb made an emphatic exit from the veepstakes:

"Last week I communicated to Senator Obama and his presidential campaign my firm intention to remain in the United States Senate, where I believe I am best equipped to serve the people of Virginia and this country. Under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President.

"A year and a half ago, the people of Virginia honored me with election to the U.S. Senate. I entered elective politics because of my commitment to strengthen America's national security posture, to promote economic fairness, and to increase government accountability. I have worked hard to deliver upon that commitment, and I am convinced that my efforts and talents toward those ends are best served in the Senate.

"In this regard, the bipartisan legislative template we were able to put into effect through 18 months of work in order to enact the new, landmark GI Bill will serve as a prototype for my future endeavors in government. This process, wherein we brought 58 Senators from both parties to the table as co-sponsors, along with more than 300 members of the House, gives me renewed confidence that the Congress can indeed work effectively across party lines and address the concerns of our citizens.

"At this time I am also renewing my commitment to work hard to make sure that Senator Obama wins both Virginia and the presidency this November. He is a man who speaks eloquently about our national goals and calls for the practical solutions that must be put into place to obtain them. I will proudly campaign for him."

No, it's not: "If drafted, I will not run; if nominated, I will not accept; if elected, I will not serve."

But "under no circumstances will I be a candidate for Vice President" is suitably Shermanesque.

Comments (47)

1. Okay, Webb's out. That's no big deal for me; I think his populism has come on rather lately and acutely, more like a fever than a well-developed conviction.

   I believe Obama should pick either Bill Richardson or Winona LaDuke.

   Posted by JakobFabian at 07/07/2008 @ 11:20pm

2. He was being vetted and obviously couldn't handle the scrutiny. I never thought he was the best VP candidate in any case, and especially didn't like his reason for quiting under Reagan that "he objected to REDUCING the size of the Navy".

   Party switchers with very little record are always suspect, as it is hard to know how he would govern with such a sparse track record (18 months).

   I think Kathleen Sebelius is a much better pick than Webb. She is a Democrat from a Red state and is completely on-board with Barack's philosophy. She would energize women voters like no other candidate save Hillary, and could help pull in some of the neighboring Red states like Colorado and Missouri.

   Posted by Metteyya at 07/07/2008 @ 11:45pm

3. Joe Lieberman? hehehehe....bet he is even a vet!

   Posted by 2HAPPY

   well,

   most of his ideas are dogs.

   Posted by frosty zoom at 07/08/2008 @ 12:08am

4. First Gore, then Edwards, now Webb.

   Strike three Nichols. You're out.

   Posted by Benchrest at 07/08/2008 @ 12:12am

5. Obama needs someone with foreign policy/national security credentials; that's why I liked Webb, or at least one reason. Richardson, Biden, Clark - someone like that. Sebelius doesn't have that, neither does Edwards though he'd be good for AG. Zinni, Dodd. Or how about Feingold, running against Lieberman - that would be another first, a Jewish VP.

   Posted by ramara at 07/08/2008 @ 12:45am

6. Posted by ramara at 07/08/2008 @ 12:45am

   I think it would be a bold move for Obama to announce his Secretary of Defense, State, Treasury and Energy when he announces his VP pick, as this would instill confidence in his government in a variety of key areas and totally take away experience concerns regarding himself.

   This would also take the pressure off of having a VP with national security credentials, and allow Obama to pick the best candidate to help him maximize turn out with a key demographic group and/or win a state or region that was formerly Red states.

   Posted by Metteyya at 07/08/2008 @ 02:17am

7. I say, "Praise the Lord!" in great Southern style!

   Posted by kdelphi95 at 07/08/2008 @ 04:46am

8. Remember West Virginia. It's everywhere.

   Red, white, Blue:

   Obama VP has to appeal to rednecks, look and sound like one = born poor, lots of military experience

   Has to be white male

   Has to have blue collar cred

   Posted by winyahn at 07/08/2008 @ 08:48am

9. happy-Lieberman is,yet,another pro war non veteran who got a deferment in order to avoid Nam.You guys admire many pro war cowards.

   Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2008 @ 09:46am

10. happy-Don't be so filled with doom and gloom.Hope can be a very good thing.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2008 @ 11:35am

11. funny.....my thoughts exactly on your side.....I am enjoying being the underdog and watching your side squirm to fit withing Magic's endless Re-definitions of CHANGE.....even as he redefines CHANGE on the fly......aren't you just full of HOPE? LOL!!! Posted by 2HAPPY at 07/08/2008 @ 11:31am

    We must have a decent candidate. So far he is only increasing the gap between himself and your amazing piece of work over there.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 12:14pm

12. Your obsession with me is even more bizaar. Who in their right mind saves someone's old posts. I believe that if you knew where I lived, you be a stalker. Also you didn't answer my question. Are you gay? Posted by frankgrits at 07/08/2008 @ 1:08pm

    Wow your ego is massive. Frank he saves EVERYONES old posts. Not just you.

    Jesus, can we fly in a pin to pop Franks massive head?

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 1:14pm

13. Translation- "PLEASE OH PLEASE...so that I can get my girlfriend the Presidency in 2012!!!" LOL Posted by Maskbeta at 07/08/2008 @ 12:41pm

    You love how Frank completely ignores the fact that gap is only getting bigger between McCain and Obama? McCain is slowly slipping himself further and further away.

    Barack Obama - 300 John McCain - 238

    That's the electoral votes as they stand now. Hmm. Now yes this will change. We have no clue where it could go. But as of now Obama is winning in what I would call a modest landslide. Yet this is completely ignored. He keeps repeating his motto "Barack is going down" however Barack shows not sign in the polls other than going up. I think that if Jom and Happ can admit it, why can't Frank? I guess you're right Mask. He is just repeating this credo in order for the hope that Hillary will one day be President to stay alive. Never acknowledging that if things continue to go the way they are right now, which there is every sign they will continue, that Barack will be President and Hillary's chances will disappear as age sets in.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 1:20pm

14. Sorry kid but you haven't been around long enough to know about this guy. If he saves EVERYONE'S old posts, that's even MORE bizaar. He's definitely stalker material. I think we are dealing with a pretty sick individual here. Either that or he truly is an employee of the Nation. Posted by frankgrits at 07/08/2008 @ 1:17pm

    He DOES save everyones posts Frank. I haven't been around as long as you yet I know that.

    Hey Mask. Give him a demonstration. Post something from lets MarkCanyon, LVL and Frank.

    This will prove that he is not obsessed with you. I haven't been around as long as you yet I have figured out that it's not an IF he saves but a he DOES save. So either you are blind or you just don't pay attention to anyone but your own ranting. That's not stalker material by the way.

    stalker |ˈstôkər| noun a person who stealthily hunts or pursues an animal or another person.

    I don't think he is stealthily hunting or pursuing you or anyone else. Plus if you had a rudimentary understand of the internet Frank you would know that what he does is not very hard. Watch the magic.

    "Obama will be taking his ball and going home pretty soon. Got to admit though, I didn't realize that the difference in the experience of the two candidates was so stark. Hillary scored big in that regard last night. Obama was like a cub scout standing next to a ranger. Posted by frankgrits at 02/01/2008 @ 3:47pm"

    I can even go farther back.

    "Both smart and experienced and both with warm personalities. Find me any two Fascists who fit that profile.

    Posted by frankgrits at 11/15/2007 @ 10:57pm |"

    "I would like to clearify something for all thos of you who think that I am a Hillary fanatic just because I'm backing her. I have nothing against Barack Obama. But I have done the math. I don't see Obama carrying any southern states and if Rudy is the Fascist Party nominee, you can kiss New York and New Jersey good-by. Now can anyone show me an electoral map where Obama wins without any southern states and without NY and NJ? I didn't think so.

    Hillary will be the nominee and she will be the crap out of Guiliani in NY and NJ and she will also carry parts of the south. The smart money is on Hillary.

    Posted by frankgrits at 11/27/2007 @ 4:29pm"

    With nothing but a rudimentary knowledge of how to use the beautifully designed search engine "Google" I have managed to produce the magic of Mask. Just to prove it wasn't me archiving also I have pulled quotes from before I started truely posting here. Give me a name and I can find quotes from them.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 1:50pm

15. Whoever wins the nomination for President will be dealing with an economic collapse by following a "Free Trade" policy. Who wants to be first mate on a sinking boat?

    Posted by P. J. Casey at 07/08/2008 @ 1:53pm

16. FrankGrits-Asking Mask out for a date?That's the only reason that I can think of that would get someone,on here,to inquire about another persons sexual orientation.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2008 @ 2:37pm

17. Hey hey hey, it's MaskbetathanFreta, new and possibly even improved.

    j/k

    I may be off by just a little on this one...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2008 @ 2:40pm

18. Don't listen to FRANK......MASK isn't employed by TN, he's working for some 527 whose bigggest client is abortion clinics......convict first...I like it! Posted by 2HAPPY at 07/08/2008 @ 3:25pm

    I am pretty sure he is still vastly different than McCain. He has yet to call for 100 years in Iraq. Or tax cuts to the rich only.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 3:31pm

19. As for VP's, for me it's still either: Al Gore although he make a better president, Richardson although he's not a very good debater and will look worse next to Obama, Biden although he tends to make habitual major semantical gaffs, and of course there's Feingold, Clark or even Powell if one is talking Hagel.

    But Al Gore would be the best VP and most make Barack Obama look presidential. As well with as much power as the VP can have in the modern exec model and that Al Gore expanded upon while there, as did cHeney, Al Gore could be practically a coPresident...

    Like in what world could a McCave /Romeny/ Huckleberibee /Eliz. Drole, even compete? Well er ok, repub new cons do exist in their very own world, so that's basically an unfair question.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2008 @ 3:33pm

20. Posted by Maskbeta at 07/08/2008 @ 2:18pm

    Thank you mask. Once again helping me to prove Franks ravenous ego and insane conspiracy theories.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 3:35pm

21. Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 3:35pm

    Don't always depend on that wonderful search engine provided by the oh so generous Nation. Some pathetic little twit took it upon themselves to delete every post Mask ever made, and others as well. Just a little censorship at the Nation.

    Posted by Benchrest at 07/08/2008 @ 3:59pm

22. Posted by Maskbeta at 07/08/2008 @ 3:48pm

    Yeah-- when I called you a girl it was to elevate your standing not to be derogatory. Plus you said at one point it bugged you when Will kept calling you a girl. See I knew it'd improve you as a person. Now you're beta...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2008 @ 4:00pm

23. Oh, HSUB, you know I like you more than my folks...... of course, they've never met you, so maybe that's a not fair compliment.

    Posted by Maskbeta at 07/08/2008 @ 3:57pm

    So what does 'your' not liking your own parents more than me, have to do with whether 'they' know me or not? You think if I influence them some you'll like them better?

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2008 @ 4:10pm

24. Try not logging in and see if they pop up.

    Posted by Maskbeta at 07/08/2008 @ 4:01pm

    I got nothing, as far back as 2002, no matter what door I tried, logged in or not.

    Posted by Benchrest at 07/08/2008 @ 4:12pm

25. Wow, Dillweed has a protege. Another nut case. You people need to get lives. Heh heh. Posted by frankgrits at 07/08/2008 @ 4:01pm

    Wow so humorous. I'm not a protege. I am just savvy enough to know how to use the internet. I can search any board for anyone. I can post comments from you off of other boards as well. It doesn't take not having a life it just takes not being an idiot and thinking logically.

    Also I see you are still hoping that mask is obsessed with you. Looks like we will actually need a Tactical Nuke to knock your ego out of orbit.

    Can someone talk to Saddam? I heard he had some? Oh hell....

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 4:17pm

26. frankGrits-It's hysterical that you think that because someone exposes your hypocrisy on here by responding to you that that might mean that they're gay and interested in you.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2008 @ 4:30pm

27. Hey FrGr:

    http://tinyurl.com/6xh2kl

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2008 @ 4:32pm

28. heh heh. The butt brothers. Posted by frankgrits at 07/08/2008 @ 4:21pm

    Wow. Very amazing insult there Frank. I'm sure I said something liek that when I was 12. Jesus you call me a kid. You're insults are worthy of the elementary school yard. Using gay as an insult.... Classy.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 4:46pm

29. Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2008 @ 4:30pm

    It's ok. Frank is off his rocker.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 4:47pm

30. Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2008 @ 4:32pm

    I'm not supporting mcCain because of the sexism that was perpetrated on Hillary. ... He's got the experience and he's a genuine american Hero.

    Posted by frankgrits at 07/08/2008 @ 4:48pm

    FrGr,

    But you were voting for Billary until Barack beat her and she's no war hero, has less experience than Barack in public office and she votes 99%e closer Barack!?! So the only real visible connection between Billary and McCave is is is...

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2008 @ 5:08pm

31. FrankGrits-Everything that you say about McCain Vs Obama applies to McCain vs Hillary.Good thing for you that she lost.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2008 @ 5:29pm

32. FrankGrits-The reason that you are voting for McCain is that you are assuming that he will do badly which will kill the GOP and make way for Hillary-Of course,you assumed that Hillary would win,too.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2008 @ 5:31pm

33. Posted by frankgrits at 07/08/2008 @ 5:18pm

    So FrGr you are saying:

    1. being a war hero or being in the military has nothing to do with your choice in candidates because you were for Billary first and neither have any,

    2. experience doesn't really matter because Hillary has less than McCave, but you were voting for Hillary 1st,

    3. and/or Hillary's wifely 'experiences' while 1st lady, much like Bill's husbandly duties with 2nd ladies, were paid for by our tax money as they are somehow part of the duties of the exec office, (er, most veteran porn stars would qualify for president then?)

    4. Bill will refuse to counsel President Barack for some 'bizarre' ulterior motive beyond an ideological stand as he's opposed to most of hsuB's policies yet helps 'him' out,

    5. but scratch 1, 2 and 3 since Barack beat Billary and it has nothing to do with ideology otherwise you'd stick with a democratic candidate because the ideologies are so different.

    Thus to any well focussed observer, if sexism, experience, military, heroism and ideology are all systematically ruled out since they are obviously illusive and arbitrary concerns to you-- what other variable determiner is there? In what way is McCave and Billary different from Barack? Uhmmmm, it can't be sex, experience, military, heroism and ideology as they are all ruled out; so what else is there, uhmmm, what can it be, uhmmmm....

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2008 @ 6:19pm

34. Mask-Just like a child that is angry and destroys things.

    Posted by i'm nobody at 07/08/2008 @ 6:20pm

35. get it?

    Posted by Maskbeta at 07/08/2008 @ 5:29pm

    Oh I got it, I was just messing with you.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/08/2008 @ 6:22pm

36. Hey kid, do you think your butt brother is big enough to print the post in question. We both know he has it. Don't we? Posted by frankgrits at 07/08/2008 @ 5:01pm

    Ahh Frank. Proving over and over again that age does not equal wisdom, intelligence, maturity, tact or anything else really. Frank you realize you prove the just because McCain is old doesn't mean he has actually become more intelligent because of all that experience.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 7:00pm

37. Eh, to anyone observer paying half an iota of attention to Frank you can point at that he is full of it. Everything he applies to his reason for voting for McCain over Obama applies to voting for McCain over Hillary. McCain is more experienced than Hillary ever was, had leadership roles that Hillary didn't, was in the military which Hillary wasn't and was older than Hillary. If he was TRUELY voting for McCain because of all the reason he listed then he would have been polling for him from the beginning. Yet he wasn't.

    Frank is so obvious anyone could figure him out. He thinks of course that he is a master of deception. That if he repeats his lie enough that people here will believe him. Too bad.

    Posted by Cccomfo1 at 07/08/2008 @ 7:08pm

38. I see that our resident racist franco is also a homophobe- why not include a lil misogyny for the troika of bigotry? I have really never encountered a more intellectually flacid individual with such grandiose delusions of self importance. The funniest thing about this otherwise insipid clown is that he actually believes that people thought of him as some sort of hero for "opposing" Operation Iraqi Genocide while his "son" was supposedly there. "butt brothers" sounds like something an eight year old with a learning disability would call someone franco. Not that anyone takes your howling lunacy seriously to begin with, but comments like that wipe any semblance of legitimacy from your posts. Try posting again about how blacks just want to cheat the welfare system- that was a real winner for you.

    Posted by entropy at 07/08/2008 @ 7:23pm

39. mask, originally i would have concurred with your "cult of personality" assessment regarding franco's irrationality, but given his recent history of overtly racist statements, I think obama's hue plays a significant role in his pathology. The man is a racist swine, and a self serving coward. I bet his "son" is a loathesome, racist coward as well.

    Posted by entropy at 07/08/2008 @ 7:36pm

40. Frank's remark that McCain "deserves" to be president is telling. Frank rarely if ever talks about his candidate's (Hillary or McCain) ability to lead the country in the right direction. His arguments for his candidate are who deserves the presidency, or in the case of Hillary, who can win the general election.

    The rest of us are looking for someone who will lead the country in the right direction. Noone "deserves" to be president at the cost of good leadership for the country. Frank if you want to have any chance at all of swaying people to your side you need to stop making the argument that your candidate "deserves" anything and tell us why you believe your candidate is right for the country. Its about what is best for the country, not what is best for your candidate.

    Posted by Guiles at 07/08/2008 @ 8:55pm

41. Ok FrGr see if you can follow this. I'll prove that you were never really for Billary. Why, how? Well because, even though Billary was originally running against both Obama and McCave, she was more ideologically against McCave than Obama-- because if she won the primary she'd be running against McCave in the general. And Obama has an almost identical voting record to Billary's since they are both dems after all. Ergo Billary has been telling her followers, which you count yourself as, to join in party unity to beat McCave; beat new con repubs. But instead of respecting Billary's ideological pronouncements and wish to beat the new con repubs, you defy her and her party to swing over to the other side against dem unity and even against Billary themselves. Now you'll say that Billary doesn't really want Obama to win even though that's what she's been saying. You'll say that she's lying; that she lied. Now the question that proves my point is simply put-- 'when' did you allow yourself to accept the fact that you knew all along that you never believed in Billery or their dems?

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/09/2008 @ 03:21am

42. Come on FrGr-- when 'did' you stop believing in what Billary says?

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/09/2008 @ 09:59am

43. Hey FrGr-- why don't you trust Billary?

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/09/2008 @ 12:40pm

44. Are you gay?

    Posted by frankgrits at 07/08/2008 @ 1:08pm

    What else should I be

    All apologies

    What else could I say

    Everyone is gay

    What else could I write

    I don't have the right

    What else should I be

    All apologies

    Posted by frosty zoom at 07/09/2008 @ 1:25pm

45. Why can't we all just learn to love one anotha?

    Posted by frankgrits at 07/08/2008 @ 11:03pm

    ebonics? frank?

    frank YOU are black.

    we all are.

    Posted by frosty zoom at 07/09/2008 @ 1:27pm

46. I read somewhere that one can easily tell the most angriest-- by the email/post with the most misspellings...

    FrGr is obviously in denial.

    Posted by hsuBfools at 07/09/2008 @ 1:44pm

47. i demand a key to the executive loo!

    Posted by frosty zoom at 07/09/2008 @ 3:21pm