I'm so angry I'm getting sick to my stomach....

[senseandsensibility]

This Joe Walsh person dissing Tammy Duckworth, a vet who gave both of her legs in service to this country, is so low, even for a republican, that I am literally almost in tears as I write this. As for the lowlifes in the audience
during his remarks who laughed at her, they are disgusting, too.

This situation is giving me flashbacks to another reprehensible smear job done by far rightwing nut jobs against a real hero, Max Cleland, a triple amputee.

Really, on July 4th, have they no shame?

[lpbk2713]

1. I'm in full agreement with you.

This is stooping low even for rethuglicans. It's on a level with Limbaugh mocking Michael J Fox.

[rhett o rick]

94. Please take a minute to send Rep Walsh an email at the below link:

https://walshforms.house.gov/contact-form

I make up an address in Fox Lake, Ill, 60020 to help ensure it gets read.

[yoyossarian]

105. LOVE that Limbaugh gif!

It's PERFECT!!!

[Glorfindel]

2. Yes, Walsh is just as despicable as Saxby Chambliss

the draft dodger from Georgia who said that Max Cleland wasn't patriotic enough and didn't support the military.

[senseandsensibility]

12. And didn't he put some ad up likening Max to Osama Bin Laden?

I think that was the end of any respect I had ever had for repubicans. That's when I realized they have no core. And no, it's not just that creep Chambliss. If the entire republican party didn't kick him out of their party after that, they are no better. And then the republicans in his district reelected him, so obviously they were fine with it.

[calimary]

27. Yes. He had the GALL to accuse Max Cleland of being unpatriotic. When he himself was a chickenhawk.

saxby chambliss is shit. Absolute reeking lice-covered worm-infested shit. And I can't help it but it's tainted the way I view Georgia voters. They're subhuman idiots if they prefer a coward like saxby chambliss to a real honest-to-God war hero who sacrificed three limbs for his country. What did that stupid GOP fat-ass ever sacrifice for anything?

[klook]

53. I live in Georgia.

There are a lot of us who detest Chambliss. Don't assume we're all idiots. Unfortunately there are enough idiots scattered throughout the state to elect him to the U.S. Senate.

[OnyxCollie]

70. Diebold et al. helped, too.

[klook]

73. Unfortunately, yes they did.

And that's still how they "count" our votes here.

[calimary]

77. You guys really do need to get rid of him. Don't want these berzerkos to make you all look bad!

Him and newt gingrich and phil gingrey and ralph reed (thank GOD voters had the wisdom NOT to elect him lieutenant governor awhile back!!!!!!!!!).

I apologize, klook. You and other people in Georgia have to suffer these nutcases - you have all our sympathies. I just wish you guys had the majority.

[klook]

87. Thank you.

At least the "Blue Dot" districts have good representation in Congress (John Lewis, for example). And some local city governments are progressive. Statewide, though, and in most counties & cities throughout Georgia, it's Troglodyte Tyme. Having a corrupt idiot like Nathan Deal as our governor is just pathetic.

Many progressives I know have moved to other states (and a couple of them to other countries). It's a challenging political environment here, but there are those of us doing what we can to make it better.

[AnnieK401]

79. Yes, I'm from GA and remember it well

I voted for Cleland and was shocked.

[coalition_unwilling]

3. Reminds me of a different era when decency was still the norm:

Last edited Tue Jul 3, 2012, 06:52 PM - Edit history (1)

"Until this moment, Senator, I think I have never really gauged your cruelty or your recklessness. . . . If it were in my power to forgive you for your reckless cruelty I would do so. I like to think I am a gentle man but your forgiveness will have to come from someone other than me. ... You've done enough. Have you no sense of decency, sir? At long last, have you left no sense of decency?"

Joseph Welch during the Army-McCarthy hearings.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_N._Welch

[senseandsensibility]

4. Thanks for the great quote.

You expressed what I'm feeling so well. I'm afraid my anger made it difficult for me to express my feelings clearly.

[SusanaMontana41]

72. Let's put our anger into action.

Ring doorbells, make phone calls, talk to family, friends, and coworkers, donate if you can. Your post here is keeping the discussion going. Keep that up!

[PatSeg]

7. Went to 'rec' your post

Its a quote that should be repeated often these days.

[coalition_unwilling]

40. I came to rely upon that quote during the Bush Junta. It gave

me great consolation to believe that, amidst the horrors of Abu Ghraib and Katrina, at some undefined point in the future, America's fundamental decency might re-assert itself. (Senator McCarthy was censured by the U.S. Senate some time after this exchange but the exchange itself marked the beginning of the end of what we now call "McCarthyism&quot .

I'm waiting for some Repig with sufficient gravitas and military credentials (like Colin Powell or Chuck Hagel) to land on this asshole with both feet.

[Wenatchee Man]

88. Colin Powell

I used to like Colin Powell and even hoped He'd run for President, but his refusal to take a stance on issues like this just proves He's simply a republican and can't do what's right for fear of pissing off the RNC. What's John McCain's comments? Nether one of these guys is showing any guts. John McCain--Hero my ASS!

[coalition_unwilling]

92. Powell's checkered record extends back all the way to the My Lai cover-up, during

which he played an instrumental early role.

I was referring to the popular perception of him as a Repig who still has some gravitas. He (and Hagel to a lesser extent) is the only one with the influence to take out Walsh, not that he would. McCrazy by his silence in response to Palin's outright calls to violence no longer has much credibility, imho.

[calimary]

76. GREAT quote!

Off to my quote collection with you!

Thanks for posting this!

[TreasonousBastard]

98. It'll always be a great quote, but how was "decency the norm" when...

the hearings had been going on for four years already and no one was willing to take on "the nation's worst Senator"?

[coalition_unwilling]

99. Well, you do have a point. It has been awhile since I studied the McCarthy

era in detail. I do seem to remember that Eisenhower and other establishment Repigs had started working against McCarthy in private. But few were willing to take him on in public.

I suppose I meant that Welch could use a societal norm like 'decency' (as in, "Have you no sense of decency&quot as a way to shame McCarthy when appeals to more abtract principles (like the fact that National Lawyers' Guild had every constitutional right to exist or that the Senate staffer in question no longer belonged to the NLG) would not work to stop him.

But this was also a time when blacks, Latinos and other minorities were still second-class citizens, so you are absolutely right to challenge my wording.

[TreasonousBastard]

100. I hope you realize I wasn't really "attacking" you, but...

I hear so much of this "good old days" stuff and I tend to react.

(Civil discourse was never big in American politics.)

[coalition_unwilling]

102. Understood. I needed to clarify my wording for sure. The US

was definitely not a 'decent' place for Americans like Emmett Till.

[yoyossarian]

106. Wonderful quote! Thanx!

[emulatorloo]

5. I agree with you. I am so pissed.

[BumRushDaShow]

6. She was on Martin Bashir's program this afternoon

and sounded pretty comfortable with dismissing his crap. The only time I could see pain in her eyes was when Bashir noted that Walsh had come out with a half-ass walk-back of his remarks, although the retraction still ended with yet another swipe.

His ass really needs to get kicked.

[calimary]

78. Totally!

Asshole big-mouth deadbeat dad has NO business "serving" in Congress!!! What in God's name were the voters thinking??????

[whathehell]

80. I saw that too...The only problem I had with Tammy is that I thought she was too easy on Walsh

I didn't completely hear her response when Martin brought up his "dead-beat dad" status,

but it sounded as if she of denying it. For strategic purposes,

I understand that she's much smarter than Walsh and doesn't want to

overstate it, but I think, for the sake of her campaign, she should

have at least acknowledged it, with quiet regret, of course.

Tammy is running in my old district. I've volunteered in her campaign,

talked with her briefly. She's a great person, and, in my view,

makes Walsh, with his help, of course, look petty and classless.

[Pilotguy]

8. Don't just get mad...DONATE!

https://services.myngp.com/ngponlineservices/contribution.aspx?X=TguWVTvlsZ1tYoT2UWAqCy%2fiWHhsMoRsVH9IR8hR0XA%3d

[wryter2000]

37. What you said

I went right over and gave her some money. We need to teach these assholes that there are consequences for their assholery.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

47. Absolutely agree

It will be interesting to see if her donations increase after this display. I'd also like to see his ex-wife take him to the cleaners for back child support before the election. Karma, baby, karma.

[senseandsensibility]

86. Great! Good idea.

What are the polls saying about the race?

[liberalhistorian]

9. Somebody really needs to hog-tie him,

put some fatigues on him, load him down with all the equipment they must wear (in 110-plus heat!) and stick a military weapon in his hands and put his worthless ass on a plane to Afghanistan. Period.

I can't stand armchair warriors who've never served a day in their lives but who feel perfectly qualified to be a military "expert" and who diss those who actually DID serve in order to serve their own purposes and further their own careers.

[JNelson6563]

41. This ^^^^^^

[mike dub]

89. Totally agree, liberalhistorian

"put some fatigues on him, load him down with all the equipment they must wear (in 110-plus heat!) and stick a military weapon in his hands and put his worthless ass on a plane to Afghanistan. Period."

And make it Parris Island, South Carolina. Rest assured it's just 'lovely' there this time of year.
Speaking of armchair warriors, they should load up Cheney and send him down there too.

[geckosfeet]

10. The ignorant hate knows no bounds.

[ohgeewhiz]

11. Agreed, but don't get so angry that you cannot

enjoy the holiday that our fore-fathers gave us with their wonderful, first in the world democratic republic.

Remember karma works, this guy will lose thousands of votes for what he said. I expect he will be complaining about how small his Congressional pension is in January, 2013.

[senseandsensibility]

13. lol

He might lose his evil gubmint healthcare.

[mckara]

14. Classy is NOT a Synonym for Republican

[nolabear]

15. Wait this out. These thugs are crossing lines that may just do them in.

Again, this is an attack on veterans and on women veterans in particular. Maybe I'm a cockeyed optimist but I think they are doing themselves a great deal of harm with the undecided.

[Doctor_J]

21. You're hallucinating

the more rabid they get, the more people vote for them. Your belief that their insanity will somehow push away voters might have been reasonable 25 years ago. Now it's just ridiculous

[Curmudgeoness]

30. I'm not sure I would bet on that. I had an experience today

that made me feel good. A Republican who I have know for over 10 years, who would agrue endlessly with me, who listened to Rush faithfully, told me today that he refuses to listen to Rush or any of the other wingnuts on talk radio because they have lied and crossed the line too many times. He totally lacks respect for them. This former Dittohead called Rush nothing more than the "mouthpiece for the far right Republicans". Now, I don't know that he would vote Democratic (yet), but this is a major step for him----and it is all because they have gone too far.

Don't give up.

[coalition_unwilling]

42. We don't need them to vote Democratic necessarily. We only need them

to sit on their hands and wallets and stay home on election day. And we need to get out and vote.

[Curmudgeoness]

49. Well, he said that he did just that for the primary, so

we can only hope he and lots of others are unmotivated. (Primary in Ohio was very late, so he didn't really have much choice by then.)

[nolabear]

44. Well thanks for the measured and dialogue fostering reply.

You sound a lot like "them". And frankly I don't agree with you. Some respond to foaming at the mouth but many don't. We won last time. It is possible to take things too far and horrify people who are swaying.

[Auntie Bush]

34. Me too! Give him enough rope and maybe he'll hang himself in the cold dark basement.

Give the disgusting creep a sneak preview of his future. HELL!

[Doctor_J]

24. We might be getting there

although from the replies to this OP it looks like Dems are willing to cry and let karma run its course.

The reason things like this keep happening is that "people" like Walsh are never held to account. Some day, soon, hopefully.

[coalition_unwilling]

43. Without asking you to violate DU's rules, exactly how do you

propose ordinary citizens hold this scumbag "to account" other than through the ballot box?

[Doctor_J]

67. Read FiveGoodMen's post

I thought it was pretty clear.

[rocktivity]

17. It's a old Republican trick popular with old Republicans

known as "turning one's strength into a weakness":

Understand something about John McCain. His political advisers, day after day, had to take him and almost throw him against a wall and hit him against the head and say, “Senator, you have to let people know you served! You have to talk about what you did!” He didn’t want to do it, wouldn’t do it. Day after day they had to convince him. Finally, he talked a little bit about it, but it was very uncomfortable for him. That’s what’s so noble about our heroes. Now I’m running against a woman who, my God, that’s all she talks about. Our true heroes, it’s the last thing in the world they talk about...
link

Walsh is trying to get Duckworth to shut up about her military record because:
1) He hasn't got one
2) He's done nothing in or out of office that can compete with it
3) Without her military record, Duckworth has less to run on than Walsh.

See how that works?


rocktivity

[senseandsensibility]

71. a la Karl Rove

I agree with you. But they only get away with it because we let them.

[spanone]

18. karma will take care of mr walsh....assholes have a rough go in life & he's a class A asshole

[RagAss]

19. Agreed. I've seen it a million times. The hate is a magnet for karma.

[Doctor_J]

22. Yeah, in the mean time he's destroying the country

Waiting for karma to overtake him is a very, very bad idea, though very popular at DU

[rocktivity]

20. This should cheer you up: An endorsment from ANOTHER Joe Walsh

Last edited Thu Apr 24, 2014, 09:34 PM - Edit history (2)

From Duckworth's official site:

Eagles' Joe Walsh sings Tammy Duckworth's praises at concert



Joe Walsh put his arm around Tammy Duckworth, the Democrat running in the 8th Congressional District race, and said she would be “a breath of fresh air” and a “voice of reason” in Washington D.C.

No, those words didn't come from U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh, Duckworth's Republican opponent. They came from legendary singer and guitarist Joe Walsh, who performed at a fundraising concert Sunday on Duckworth's behalf.

“My son is the one who first made me aware of Tammy,” Walsh said before the concert, which took place at John Barleycorn in Schaumburg. “I looked her up on the Internet, then I talked to her, and I saw that she was a person of great integrity and untapped ability...”


rocktivity

[Buns_of_Fire]

28. The REAL Joe Walsh...

The whiny, ranting, deadbeat-dad impostor had to have been originally named "Joe Slimyshitbagrepublican" before he changed it to get votes.

[Manifestor_of_Light]

107. Life's been good to me so far--newsflash from the Real Joe Walsh of the Eagles.

Great song. The real joe walsh ROCKS!!

[sabrina 1]

23. Republican Joe Walsh attacks US Veteran on the 4th of July!

This should haunt him, it should be in every discussion he is a part of, he should be asked why he so disrespects the troops.

Dems have to become relentless when going after these cowards. No more Mr. Nice Guy, it doesn't work.

He has handed Dems a winning issue if they use it effectively.

[senseandsensibility]

25. Of course it would be.

But we're too busy taking the high ground.

[tblue37]

50. Better phrasing =

"Republican Joe Walsh mocks service of double-amputee wounded US warrior on the 4th of July!"

[sabrina 1]

66. Yes, that is better!

[Politicub]

26. After witnessing the virtual crucifixion of Max Cleland in Georgia

I knew then that there was no low that was too far for the GOP to go. The people who mock and attack disabled vets are scum. It's beyond bullying and seems to be more of the behavior of sociopaths.

This behavior is sickening and has no place in a civil society.

If our media had any sense of fairness, they would call this behavior out and thoroughly denounce it.

[Initech]

29. The tea party - heartless, soulless, spiritless, whiny corporate pieces of crap.

Fuck them and fuck their representatives like Joe Walsh, Chris Cristie, and Jan Brewer.

[xchrom]

31. Remember good ol' Saxby Chambliss and it makes 'sense'. Nt

[lib2DaBone]

33. They are appealing to the low-information Fox Voters....

Don't let it give you distress. (although I am very familiar with Rolaids and Maalox)

As we get closer to the November Elections.. you will see things you can not believe.

Today, I was watching a replay of the ALEC Meetings on-line. (American Legislative Exchange Council)

Koch Bros, Tucker Carlson, Zell Miller, Stephan Moore, Newt Gingrich, Paul Ryan, .. you can't imagine a more disgusting congregation of right wing hacks and ideologs than the ALEC Conference... but there they were.. in all their glory... with massive Fox News support.

And the sad part is.. ALEC is dictating policy at every level of Congress and Senate. ALEC is controlling every aspect of life in America.

All we can do is keep posting on DU and get involved in our local voting process.. but it seems the Republicans are even attacking the right-to-vote with increasing success.

I don't know the answer.. I just go day to day. Hang in there.

[demosincebirth]

35. They have no shame. The lowest of the low -- by far.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

36. I'm going to repeat an observation I've made as it's appropriate here

There's a REASON Republicans use an elephant for their symbol.
Elephants grab the tail of the one ahead of them and follow blindly behind an asshole.

That's also why so many Republicans are assholes.
They think that's what it takes to be a leader.

The cheers of the Republican crowd only confirm this.

The bigger an asshole you are, the more they cheer and love you.

[xfundy]

104. +1,000,000,000!

That sums it up very nicely. Thanks!

[LynneSin]

38. Nope there is no bottom line to how disgusting these people can get

shameful

[progdog]

39. You are correct.

The bottom feeders keep making the line lower and lower.

[stevenleser]

48. Yes, they constantly find ways to set new lows.

[Aerows]

45. He's a real piece of work.

How dare she appear in public with a reminder that she lost both legs in combat. I mean, surely she should try harder to hide that.

It takes a real asshole to criticize someone who lost both legs in combat for talking about their service. As far as I'm concerned, Tammy Duckworth has a right to talk about her service as much as she damn well pleases.

[lib2DaBone]

51. ..it is unbelievable.

.. they wave the flag.. (rah-rah)... get young Americans to go fight their wars.. and then.. when they come home.... they forget their names.

It is very sad the way the United States Government treats its veterans.

"We love you when you are fighting for Exxon-Mobil... but come home with your leg blown off.. and we don't know you..."

This has been going on since Viet Nam.. nothing new.

[politicasista]

46. These are the people who deserve our scorn

not the POTUS or his Dem allies.

[WillyT]

52. K & R !!! - And No... They Have No Shame...

They have become... sociopaths.

[Dawson Leery]

54. Military service is only honorable (regardless of terms) if one is a Republican.

[raouldukelives]

65. It really is true.

Speaking from someone who has family who is very pro-military and Christian Conservative. The respect and honor the service of veterans. As long as they are republican.
They respect and honor other Christians, as long as they haven't read the NT either.
They respect and honor the earth, as long as they can destroy it for money.
They respect and honor animals, as long as they can kill them to extinction.
They respect and honor me until I am out of earshot, then I don't give a fuck.

[klook]

55. The scum also rises

to quote Hunter S. Thompson on Nixon.

Walsh is another gutless chicken hawk. Reminds me of the losers sporting the Purple Heart band-aids at the 2004 Rethug convention. Thoroughly disgusting.

[senseandsensibility]

97. The purple heart bandaids.....

another low point. They really have no shame.

[alfredo]

56. He's a Chickenhawk. He's a coward. He's a Republican.

[TomClash]

57. Well, ya gotta do somethin'

When your opponent is more of a woman - and man - than you.

One candidate serves the Tea Party - the other serves the People of the United States.

[Life Long Dem]

58. K & R

President-elect Obama hugs Iraq war veteran Tammy Duckworth following a wreath laying ceremony at the Bronze Soldiers Memorial in honor of Veteran’s Day, Tuesday, Nov. 11, 2008, in Chicago

[senseandsensibility]

60. I don't really know how to explain my feelings when I see those photos.

They're a jumble of shame, pride, guilt, compassion, fear, anger, gratitude,and horror. I don't believe in the war that caused her injuries, but I identify so strongly with her. ANYONE who can see those photos and still think of smearing her is a loser in every way.

[Art_from_Ark]

74. +1

Very nice post. You have summed up my sentiments as well

[senseandsensibility]

109. Thanks!

Glad I'm making sense to someone. I usually avoid posting when I'm emotional, but this time I couldn't help it.

[Odin2005]

59. These fuckers have no shame.

No shame at all!

[Turbineguy]

61. Take it easy.

If you get sick, they win. Joe Walsh is a repub, a particularly vile strain.

[nadinbrzezinski]

62. Joe "chicken hawk" child support

avoiding, is only one thing... a coward. Remember this, he is a coward. If things get down and personal, and ammo is flying he will pee his pants and run, while people like Duckworth with stay there and fight.

Remember this, he has a yellow stripe running down his back.

[maddiemom]

63. This is not the Republican party of my parents' generation:

Something was lost after Nixon, who, while much despised by liberals, including myself, had more personal than political issues. Actually (EPA,etc.) did some good. Today's Republicans truly seem to lack the compromise gene our founders expected, which existed for many years. LBJ, a much experienced politician, was the last hard-ass Democrat, but was still destroyed by holding the line and basically killed himself. Carter, Clinton, Obama--very different Presidents, but all sabotaged in different ways by the no longer "loyal opposition." Working against any Democratic president, rather than governing seems to define today's Republican party.

[Historic NY]

64. I like to send him a few tweets its cathartic.

@Rep_JoeWalsh Hey Joe your a zero Tammy's a hero.

[Bluzmann57]

82. I sent king an email last week

Steve King of Iowa's fourth district that is. Him and walsh are cut out of the same cloth, both cowardly punks who talk a lot but never really say anything. First line of the email-"You just need to shutup.". I'd send one to walsh except they won't take out of state addresses.

[Lifelong Protester]

91. Find the zipcode for his area

Most of the Congress people's websites, once the inbox gets full, start limiting stuff to only constituents. Usually they do that by zipcode. I have gone online, found the area they represent, google it for zipcode, and once I find it, I'm in. I use the town and zipcode provided in my search as I fill in the 'city' and 'zipcode' required.

These nitwits need to hear from EVERYONE. So I feel like whatever I want to do to get an email to 'em, I do.

I recall once I wanted to get an email through to the Chairman of the CBC. I did the above, and got through. I was urging something about the ACA, if I recall.

[CanonRay]

68. They have no shame; doesn't matter what day it is.

[awoke_in_2003]

69. No, they have no shame...

never have, never will

[pacalo]

75. K&R.

[Bluzmann57]

81. I just tried calling his office

Surprise surprise! The mailbox is full. Hopefully it's full of messages expressing disgust and revulsion at what the bastard said. I know that's the type of message I was going to leave.

[Dash87]

83. I love how none of these Republicans ever served,

but they're self-proclaimed military experts.

They seem to know even more than people who actually did fight in wars!

Edit: Including, Bill "I've seen war. I was there" O'Reilly, Loud-mouth asshole Hannity, Limbaugh, etc. Stop telling veterans what they should feel and what their experiences should be you knobs.

[Beacool]

84. I'm sorry, I must have missed it.

What did Walsh say about Duckworth?

[ohgeewhiz]

85. He claims she's not a true hero

Though he never joined the military himself, Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) disparaged his Democratic opponent’s military service at a town hall on Sunday, saying that she’s not a “true hero.”

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/03/joe-walsh-tammy-duckworth_n_1646345.html

[Beacool]

108. That's despicable!!!!

What a pig!!!!

[Dustlawyer]

90. +1! He is attacking her strength as he sees it. They have no shame, no empathy, no decency and

no professionalism! Every year it gets worse and worse as they create new norms of what is acceptable behavior. They get away with it because there is rarely a sustained outcry!

[derby378]

93. I hear you...

...and I do hope Tammy pastes him into the ground.

[bvar22]

95. This is so far over the line that I don't have words to express my feelings,

....something that doesn't happen often on DU.

They did this to John Kerry too in 2004.

I salute the real heroes today.

[Gman]

96. Believe it or not,

There's a thread over at FR where they actually say Walsh should tone it down and thank Duckworth for her service, though they add they would not vote for her.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

101. Even a blind monkey can hit the target with his poo once in a while.

[yoyossarian]

103. Disgusting beyond belief!

Pitch black is the new red, white and blue.

And we're supposed to get used to it.
The orcs have taken off their Nice-Guy masks completely. We are seeing them as they really are.


K&R!