shooting out of the gate

Jim Webb, freshman senator from Virginia, is off to a good start. (from WaPo:)

"How's your boy?" Bush asked, referring to Webb's son, a Marine serving in Iraq.
"I'd like to get them out of Iraq, Mr. President," Webb responded, echoing a campaign theme.
"That's not what I asked you," Bush said. "How's your boy?"
"That's between me and my boy, Mr. President," Webb said coldly, ending the conversation on the State Floor of the East Wing of the White House.

Balls-allicious.

Much will be said, I'm sure, as already happened this morning when a coworker tried to undercut this, about how it's only a shrewd political move to appear disdainful of political niceities and a man who's polling in the single digits, or how it's just rude not to acknowledge a polite request from The President of the United States, blah blah blah. While either may be true, it doesn't matter, because speaking truth to power takes priority, regardless of motivation, (which in this case I believe is not the above but is more attributable to putting a stake in the ground and good old-fashioned aggression). This is why Colbert's speech at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, albeit exceedingly uncomfortable and impolite, was spot-on. By not perpetuating with a wink and a nudge what they railed against once they were invited behind the curtain, people like Colbert and Webb stand up for what they say they believe in the clear light of day, and that's the only way to know whether they actually do.