Jim Webb: "Master of the Senate"; Barack Obama's VP?

Gotta love the headline, gotta love this:

...there is another reason the Virginia Senator would make an excellent vice presidential nominee. As he's demonstrated this week, Webb can be a masterful legislative tactician.

[...]

...there is no denying that the Virginia Senator has successfully maneuvered the presumptive Republican nominee into the profoundly unpopular position of being against a measure designed to honor the service and the sacrifice of veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. Can Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius say the same thing? Or Ohio Governor Ted Strickland? Former Georgia Senator Sam Nunn has been praised for his national security expertise. But did he resign from the Reagan-era Pentagon, as Webb did, after resisting orders to downsize the Navy?

The question is no longer whether Barack Obama should select Jim Webb as his nominee. It is whether he can justify not doing so. Even if Webb murdered someone in an alleyway in a fit of pique or been paid vast sums by the Chinese Politburo for detailed intelligence about American naval vessels, he would still be a far stronger and more appealing vice presidential nominee than Hillary Clinton.

If you agree with The Atlantic, please sign the petition urging an Obama-Webb ticket. A few reasons?

Of course, Jim Webb brings to the table tremendous national security, military and foreign policy experience.  All of those would make Webb not just an excellent complement to Barack Obama as running mate, but also as Vice President. Let's see Republicans try to "Swift Boat" Jim Webb (Navy Cross, Silver Star, Ronald Reagan's Navy Secretary) -- good luck!

Just as importantly, Webb brings a focus on economic fairness and social justice, somewhat similar to what John Edwards talks about except Webb calls it the "Three Americas" (the rich getting richer, the poor getting poorer, the middle class getting squeezed out of existence).

Webb would almost lock Virginia in as a major battleground this November. In addition, Webb could go into other Appalachian areas -- West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, etc. -- and speak with great credibility to people there.

Finally, it was Jim Webb who said, "The greatest realignment in modern politics would take place rather quickly if the right national leader found a way to bring the Scots-Irish and African Americans to the same table." Barack Obama and Jim Webb? African Americans and Scots-Irish?  Now, that's the ticket!

Thanks for signing the petition, and go Obama/Webb! :)