President Pissy Pants throws a hissy fit

Oh my God, I love my new Senator (thanks to Josh Marshall at TPM).

President Bush has pledged to work with the new Democratic majorities in Congress, but he has already gotten off on the wrong foot with Jim Webb, whose surprise victory over Sen. George Allen (R-Va.) tipped the Senate to the Democrats.

Webb, a decorated former Marine officer, hammered Allen and Bush over the unpopular war in Iraq while wearing his son’s old combat boots on the campaign trail. It seems the president may have some lingering resentment.

At a private reception held at the White House with newly elected lawmakers shortly after the election, Bush asked Webb how his son, a Marine lance corporal serving in Iraq, was doing.

Webb responded that he really wanted to see his son brought back home, said a person who heard about the exchange from Webb.

“I didn’t ask you that, I asked how he’s doing,” Bush retorted, according to the source.

Webb confessed that he was so angered by this that he was tempted to slug the commander-in-chief, reported the source, but of course didn’t. It’s safe to say, however, that Bush and Webb won’t be taking any overseas trips together anytime soon.

Of course hitting the POTUS would have been really bad form but, oh my, does the man deserve it. If you are going to be President, then fucking act like it. Thicker skin should be a prerequisite. Webb’s son is fighting this war because he had to guts to suit up and get in the game, just like his dad and, I might add, George Senior. GWB, however, did not inherit that gene from his war hero father.

The least Bush could have done was express some gratitude for the Webb family’s sacrifice in service of their country and graciously backed away. Instead, he got all bitchy and what not. It says quite a lot about the measure of the man. But this incident also says a lot about Web as well. “Born Fighting” was not a slogan; the guy means business.