Tangled Webb

The decision of Democratic U.S. Senator Jim Webb of Virginia not to run for another term next year made it much tougher for Democrats to maintain control of the Senate in 2012. After all, as noted, they have twice as many seats to defend as Republicans, most of the Republican seats are in solidly red states, and the GOP has their usual money advantage hyper-powered by the Citizens United decision. And, contrary to the popular wisdom of only a couple of years ago, we have not come to the end of the era of Reagan conservatism. In fact, it's probably at its height.

So, there are a lot of reasons to worry about a Republican takeover of the Senate - and possibly the Presidency - and a resetting of the clock back to the days of 2001, the Bush Odyssey. Some observers, though, believe that President Obama will have a strong advantage in 2012 in raising campaign funds and getting the progressive base out to not just carry him but save Democratic Senate seats. And at least one Republican Senate seat - Scott Brown's in Massachusetts - is ripe for a Democratic pickup. And if the Tea Party forces out Olympia Snowe in Maine in a Republican primary, that could be an advantage as well. But because the Democrats don't have enough opportunities to offset their losses, they're going to have to minimize their own. And the bad news for them is that former Republican Virginia senator George Allen is running next year to get his old seat back. The good news, though, is that former Republican Virginia senator George Allen is running next year to get his old seat back!

As for Webb, a lot of Democrats are sorry to see him go despite his lack of progressive credentials. An ex-Marine and Vietnam veteran and a former assistant defense secretary for reserve affairs and navy secretary under President Reagan, he has worked tirelessly on behalf of veterans' issues and a more responsible use of military power. He was instrumental in expanding the G.I. bill to provide more educational opportunities to Iraq and Afghanistan vets. But Webb thrives more as a bureaucrat than as an elected official, hating the need to campaign - he barely upset Allen in 2006 - and he's ready to go back to the private sector. And at 65 - his birthday was yesterday - he's probably not looking forward to spending any more time in public office.

Former Virginia governor Tim Kaine, now the Democratic party chairman, is a possibility for the campaign for Webb's Senate seat, but he's not likely to go for it and the Virginia party lacks appealing alternatives.