I read "... stock that has been here for 200 years ..." as referring to blacks given the context (perceived genetic inferiority).

I agree with James, that's how I read it, too.

But given his love of the Scots-Irish, it could be a reference to the Scots-Irish as well.

Guess Webb isn't one of those so called "closet conservatives" after all, eh?

Who'd have thunk it? No wonder he switched from the Repub. party to the Dem. party.

Remarkably, taking his points to the WSJ is a sure-fire way to stir the blaze to white hot. (And, it's amazing that they printed it).

[rolling up my sleeves]: I'm sure ready, and it appears a large part of the country is too, for some old-fashioned become new-fashioned populism/progressivism. This should have the right-conservatives shaking in their booties and wetting their diapers, real quickly.

Even the so-called solid south is really ripe for the populism if this populist theme can mute or overcome the appeals to racism, radical evangelical theoconism, fake anti-eliteism, and anti-latino immigrants, that have characterized the GOP 'platform for dominance' since the ReaGUN era.

Maybe the only way that American liberalism can be restored to political respectability is through the pursuit of a new kind of populism that shatters the DC group think that American has 'always' been conservative.

Does nobody read Marx anymore?

Dislike of the elites doesn't seem to me to be particularly at odds with conservatism, although it does have some clashes with certain brands of liberarianims (in particular Randian philosophy.)

I've been wary of Webb since reading the New Yorker piece on the Virginia race. His disdain for affirmative action, and glorification of the Scots-Irish, don't really sit well with me (a son of Northern liberal carpetbagger civil rights worker types). This is a lot more promising--maybe he's grown beyond the white resentment thing, and is ready to champion a more inclusive populism. We can only hope.

Edwards/Webb '08!

He has not only tied his populism to the Irish and Latinos, but also to African American. It's interesting, one of the crtiques of populism is that it often degrades into racism and xenophobia, and yet, he seems to be charting something new to me- but you seem to differ.

Also, re: affirmative action- he's not against affirmative action as concept, he questions how it has been implemented.

It's Herman Blume! Virginia has elected Herman Blume! I love you, Virginia!

"Does nobody read Marx anymore?"

Very few who do will admit it.

"one of the crtiques of populism is that it often degrades into racism and xenophobia, and yet, he seems to be charting something new to me"

But then...

"If it remains unchecked, this bifurcation of opportunities and advantages along class lines has the potential to bring a period of political unrest." ...JW

OTOH, Webb apparently thinks this is a bad thing, so I guess the bushwa may sleep easy.

Webb is definitely interesting, but I wonder if his WSJ piece was not explicitly calculated to reassure Democrats that he is the real deal, and not an opportunistic DINO.

no its not- he's been saying these things throughout his campaign if people would have bothered to listen. he also waas on lou dobbs aobut the same thing, and on NPR about the same issues. I would say the things that seem most important to him are the military, foreign policy and economic issues. His explanation of why he was a republican was that as a military man he for a long time thought they were better on foreign policy- the only issue he ever considered. but, on domestic policy he was alwasy in accord with democrats. when you thinka bout it- that makes sense because the military structure on economic issues are strikingly left leaning, ie, socialized medicine, educational benefits, housing, etc.

Folk Marxism ...Jon Henke at Quando reviews Webbs op-ed.

Linked because I think the comments are funny.

Does nobody read Marx anymore?

Unfortunately, not nearly enough people do.

And the conservatives fiddled and laughed while Rome burned. The more things change, the more they remain the same.

Those who've grown up among the Ulster diaspora are particularly prone to taking sides, to looking at the world as a battle of "us and them". When voting, they're not really looking at what a candidate is for, but rather who a candidate is for. Right-wingers have successfully wooed Ulsterites by characterizing "them" as San Francisco liberals. Webb is arguing that the more appropriate "them" would be Wall Street profiteers.

"Unfortunately, not nearly enough people do."

The Communist Manifestoon

Thanks to Crooked Timber and Boing-Boing

so anyone who disagrees with the present structure of capitalism is de facto communist? I want anyone who posts this sort of crap, to come out and say it. If that's what you think, I want to see the intellectual waste land of your thinking in full display.

I'm thinking that Jon Henke is not the guy we should be going to for all things Webb. Sour grapes and all that.

so anyone who disagrees with the present structure of capitalism is de facto communist?

Nope.

What I'm saying is that:

i, Marx published a work combining a critique of capitalism and a prediction of how it would evolve.

ii, The critique has a great deal of validity.

iii, The prediction has either been disproven (cf the USSR), or has not yet had a proper attempt (cf Iain Banks' The Culture). Either way, it can be ignored.

iv, The critique was incorporated into the politics of capitalist states, increasing their stability (social welfare, the New Deal). This was not communism; this was a moderation of capitalism in response to Marxist criticism.

v, Said moderation is now disappearing as Marxist criticism is deemed as relevant as Babylonian astronomy.