Captain Ed, this monring, wonders if we’re not dealing with someone of variable loyalty.
Given Jim Webb’s predilection for carrying weapons and the unlikelihood of Thompson’s desire to go postal on Capitol Hill, it’s reasonable to assume that Thompson did what he said — he carried his boss’ bags to drop them in the office, without knowing or remembering about the weapon. Why can’t Webb just admit that much? It doesn’t make Webb culpable in any way — as he made sure to point out, he has an alibi. It at least doesn’t make Thompson look like a liar within hours of making bail.
Thompson, says Webb, is an old friend. And a fine individual. It strikes me as interesting how quickly this old friend and find individual gets tossed under the bus.
Even assuming that all this blame manages some how to get placed on Thompson’s shoulders, we’re still dealing with the idea that the firearms in question were not registered. Says the Captain:
Webb put on quite a bizarre little show. He staunchly defended the Second Amendment, something that even some Republicans won’t do these days, and insisted that he needed to carry concealed weapons because of his stature. He noted that Presidents get Secret Service protection but not Senators or Congressmen, which is true, but not really terribly germane. Congress could create that kind of protection service for itself, or fund it through the Secret Service. Webb also refused to state whether he violates DC law, which requires registration which Webb apparently does not have for his weapons.
And while Webb waxed loquacious about his personal need for security, he never mentioned any effort on his part to allow other DC residents the right to make the same decision about their own safety, even though the GOP had offered an amendment to allow them to do just that last week.
Meanwhile, Webb’s trusted aide, who inadvertently carried Webb’s security plan into the Russell building on Monday, had to make bail just after Webb made sure to give reporters his alibi and refused to state whether the gun was his. So much for loyalty.
Speaking of loyalty, would it be gauche to question whether not Webb’s fellow Democrats will, given his overt support for the second amendment (not typically a Democrat party trait) show Webb the same kind of loyalty? Such ability… throwing people under the bus at need, does seem to be the way of things on the left side of the isle.