Jim Webb

[MADem]

156. And Webb didn't do likewise? (Hint: Oh yes he DID.)

RR swiftly married his barely pregnant bride. Number One, Jane Wyman divorced HIM. She found him dull, uninspiring, too much of a stick in the mud, and too interested in politics. Saint Ronnie was portrayed (true, or not, doesn't matter--perception is everything) as "the man scorned." Jane Wyman never corrected any (mis?) impressions--her only comment was NO COMMENT.


And anyone who knows anything about life knows this: The first one comes anytime, the 2nd one takes nine months.

By the time Raygun was crowned King, errrm, nominated for the presidency, their marriage was well established, she had been his doting wife for decades, had served as his First Lady in California, and they were --BOTH of them--senior citizens.

Nancy, no fool she, knew how to disguise a baby bump behind a cake or a floral bouquet, while giving all appearances, through her clothing choice, of being slim/trim and not at all thick in the middle. Everyone knows how those suits are supposed to fit, after all, and one's eye fills in the blanks:







She hid that kid better than Elaine of Seinfeld fame did (she used large handbags, sofas, kitchen counters, etc.).


You can try to pretend it is the same thing, but it isn't. And anyone with a soupçon of perceptive ability knows this full well.

Webb has a reputation as a discarder of spouses. Every time he remarries, it's to someone younger. His oldest child in in her mid forties--his latest wife is about the same age. There's something a bit Hefner-esque about that, and it doesn't go down well amongst a fair segment of the population--even if it's just fine-and-dandy with you.

Amy Webb Hogan, Webb's eldest daughter, who is now 44, on the left:

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Then-Senator and Mrs. Webb (she is now 46):



Both photos were taken within a year of one another.

It's important to take note of the optics. Even if something is "no biggie" to you, or to me, or to all your friends and acquaintances, that doesn't mean that these things won't resonate in a visceral and negative with others who also vote. The "It doesn't bother MEEEEE" test is not an indicator of validity. What do the gossip magazines/spapers, and TV shows cover? You know, the ones that have sales/ratings that beat every policy magazine, serious newspaper, and Sunday morning political talk show? They don't cover economic policy--they trade on fidelity or lack thereof, temperance or lack thereof, impulsivity, political correctness, etc. Human frailties, if you will. All that is manna from heaven for them.

Comparing Saint Ronnie of Raygun to Webb, at least in terms of their wives' reproductive lives, is a non-starter. Ronnie married his "Mommy" (Ewwww) in March of 1952, till death they did part. The bun in the oven was born in October of the same year--seven months later. Jim Webb married Number 3 in October 2006 and she gave birth to their child in December 2006--so if you're going to throw the "pregnant at the altar" charge at anyone, you might want to hit the most obvious target first (not that I'd recommend that approach, certainly, but you brought that aspect up). Webb might earn points from the ( emphasis on and /antiquated) "honest woman" contingent, but those points likely won't make up for the "She's too young for you" and "younger and younger each wedding" demerits.

And speaking of age, everyone carps that "Hillary is too old" and "Bernie is too old" but no one is saying anything about the henna-haired Webb, who was born in 1946--a year and eight months EARLIER than Clinton and only five years after Bernie. So, there's that "age card" to be played along with everything else...?