Joe Walsh is an Inexplicable Choice for NeverTrumpers

 

With a New York Times op-ed and appearances on the Bulwark podcast, in addition to media reports tying former Congressman and radio host Joe Walsh to Bill Kristol, it seems the NeverTrump Establishment is attempting to, yet again, offer a viable challenger to President Trump (the last one, Evan McMullin, didn’t turn out so well).

Walsh is a truly inexplicable choice if your main criticism of Trump is his birtherism, racism, etc.

On what basis could Walsh possibly divert support among conservatives for Trump? If they want a progressive, they can go for the Democratic nominee instead of “woke” Joe Walsh. And if they are okay with someone with Walsh’s history, they’ll be fine with Trump too.

Imagine being so blinded by Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) that you think any random jerk (and by all appearances, Walsh is indeed a jerk) with a similarly checkered past could stand a chance and would be preferable.

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  1. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    Well based on his interview on the Bulwark Podcast Mr. Walsh at least feels sorry for his past jerkyness (though maybe he is faking it like the Mooch). Which demonstrates a level of human growth and maturity that Trump does not possess, and one that Trump supporters clearly do not value. 

     

    • #1
  2. Penfold Member
    Penfold
    @Penfold

    Dang nabbit.  I was so hoping Joe Walsh of Eagles fame had jumped into the race.

    • #2
  3. Kozak Member
    Kozak
    @Kozak

     

    • #3
  4. Sabrdance Member
    Sabrdance
    @Sabrdance

    Sheesh.  Was Kristol always this incompetent?

    • #4
  5. Patrick McClure Coolidge
    Patrick McClure
    @Patrickb63

    Valiuth (View Comment):

    Well based on his interview on the Bulwark Podcast Mr. Walsh at least feels sorry for his past jerkyness (though maybe he is faking it like the Mooch). Which demonstrates a level of human growth and maturity that Trump does not possess, and one that Trump supporters clearly do not value.

     

    Thanks for telling me what I value and do not value.  Care to tell me what my favorite color is, or what food I like?  Clearly you know more about me than I do.

    • #5
  6. Hang On Member
    Hang On
    @HangOn

    Sabrdance (View Comment):

    Sheesh. Was Kristol always this incompetent?

    After Iraq you have to ask?

    • #6
  7. Terry Mott Member
    Terry Mott
    @TerryMott

    Penfold (View Comment):

    Dang nabbit. I was so hoping Joe Walsh of Eagles fame had jumped into the race.

    He really should jump in.  Life’s been good to him so far.

    • #7
  8. Goldgeller Member
    Goldgeller
    @Goldgeller

    Valiuth (View Comment):

    Well based on his interview on the Bulwark Podcast Mr. Walsh at least feels sorry for his past jerkyness (though maybe he is faking it like the Mooch). Which demonstrates a level of human growth and maturity that Trump does not possess, and one that Trump supporters clearly do not value.

     

    I didn’t listen to the podcast, and if he has grown and matured then sure. It would be wrong to not be willing to let people change. But from what I see in the opening post this must have been some hyper radical change and I’m not sure how/why this happened. What did Trump do since being elected that caused Walsh to say “wow, I really misjudged this guy since 2014!” If anything, I’m surprised that Trump has actually been, policy-wise, a fairly traditional Republican president. I think he is in some sense a liberal but he has been reasonably Republican.

    Walsh is running? Might run? Why would he do this? Is there money in it for him? He isn’t going to win.

    • #8
  9. Bill Nelson Inactive
    Bill Nelson
    @BillNelson

    Man, I saw “Joe Walsh” and got excited. A great guitar player.

    Imagine my disappointment when it was some other Joe Walsh I had never heard of.

     

    • #9
  10. ToryWarWriter Coolidge
    ToryWarWriter
    @ToryWarWriter

    Someone who is making the Bill Weld challenge look real.

    • #10
  11. Shauna Hunt Inactive
    Shauna Hunt
    @ShaunaHunt

    Bill Nelson (View Comment):

    Man, I saw “Joe Walsh” and got excited. A great guitar player.

    Imagine my disappointment when it was some other Joe Walsh I had never heard of.

     

    I am a big fan of the Eagles’ Joe Walsh! It’s hard to leave when you can’t find the door.

    • #11
  12. DrewInWisconsin, Influencer Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Sabrdance (View Comment):

    Sheesh. Was Kristol always this incompetent?

    Yes.

    • #12
  13. rgbact Inactive
    rgbact
    @romanblichar

    Oh noes, another “wokester” is rebelling. Bethany is out to insult them again, as Trump’s polls decline further and he sets himself on fire yet again. 

    Walsh sounded good on Bulwark. Tough on borders, but thinks Trump is a xenophobe. Also big on deficits and willing to apologize for stupid things he’s said before. I’d prefer Mark Sanford, but Walsh will do. All we need now is another 1000 pts off the Dow and its game on.

    • #13
  14. DrewInWisconsin, Influencer Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Kind of gives Kristol’s game away, doesn’t it? What he really wants is power and influence, and he doesn’t care how he gets it or whose star he hitches his wagon to. Joe Walsh? A man whose Tweets make the President’s look absolutely “woke” by comparison?

    Kristol is still upset that he and his fellow fakeCons weren’t needed in 2016. He’s no longer part of the inner circle, and that appears to be eating him up inside.

    But he’s your typical Washington mercenary — a man with no principles allying with whoever fills his pockets. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him working for whoever wins the Democrat nomination, no matter how left-wing.

     

    • #14
  15. DrewInWisconsin, Influencer Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer
    @DrewInWisconsin

    rgbact (View Comment):

    Oh noes, another “wokester” is rebelling. Bethany is out to insult them again, as Trump’s polls decline further and he sets himself on fire yet again.

    Walsh sounded good on Bulwark. Tough on borders, but thinks Trump is a xenophobe. Also big on deficits and willing to apologize for stupid things he’s said before. I’d prefer Mark Sanford, but Walsh will do. All we need now is another 1000 pts off the Dow and its game on.

    What is it you like about Walsh? His racism? His Islamophobia? His calls for armed insurrection?

    • #15
  16. Roosevelt Guck Inactive
    Roosevelt Guck
    @RooseveltGuck

    Who is Joe Walsh?

    • #16
  17. DrewInWisconsin, Influencer Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Roosevelt Guck (View Comment):

    Who is Joe Walsh?

    Another Washington mercenary with no set principles. Willing to say or do whatever his paymasters want.

    • #17
  18. rgbact Inactive
    rgbact
    @romanblichar

    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer (View Comment):

    rgbact (View Comment):

     I’d prefer Mark Sanford, but Walsh will do. All we need now is another 1000 pts off the Dow and its game on.

    What is it you like about Walsh? His racism? His Islamophobia? His calls for armed insurrection?

    I know you’re desperate to deflect and all, but try to up your game from “you must like that candidate because you like hate”. Thats gross rhetoric, especially coming from a Trumper.

     

    Walsh has Tea Party creds in Congress and has had multiple radio shows since. He has a record and has seen the light on his more hateful ideas, because of Trump. People can change, except Trump.

    • #18
  19. DrewInWisconsin, Influencer Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer
    @DrewInWisconsin

    rgbact (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer (View Comment):

    rgbact (View Comment):

    I’d prefer Mark Sanford, but Walsh will do. All we need now is another 1000 pts off the Dow and its game on.

    What is it you like about Walsh? His racism? His Islamophobia? His calls for armed insurrection?

    I know you’re desperate to deflect and all, but try to up your game from “you must like that candidate because you like hate”. Thats gross rhetoric, especially coming from a Trumper.

    Speaking of gross, I also find it reprehensible that you’re cheering for a recession because you want to hurt the President.

    • #19
  20. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    Joe Walsh’s radio program has been on the air in our area for over a year now, and I gotta say that he is the worst conservative pundit that I have heard on the airwaves.  He constantly brags about being a former congressman (one-term, but he never mentions that) and then he always follows it up by claiming martyr status by being ousted “because the Democrats couldn’t stand me.”  He wastes a lot of time by talking about himself instead of real issues.   I found myself at total odds with several of his stances and found him to be lacking in some of the most basic factual information.    Needless to say, it wasn’t long before I stopped listening, even though he is the only one on the radio  in a narrow time slot.

    On a related subject, is anybody out there familiar with “Red Eye Radio” that broadcasts out of Texas between Midnight and 5:00 in the morning Eastern Standard Time?

    • #20
  21. DrewInWisconsin, Influencer Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Just 18 months ago this is the kind of stuff he was still saying.

    • #21
  22. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    Let’s be clear, the issue is not if Walsh is good.  The issue is that Trump is so toxic that he will destroy the Republican Party for a generation.  

    Trump is losing against Biden in TEN states that he won in 2016, and we are headed to a.blow-out of epic (1964) proportions where we lose the Senate and more Governorships, House seats, and legislative seats.  Even if Walsh doesn’t win, it would benefit the party long term to say that not all Republicans have drunk the Trump Kool-Aid.

    • #22
  23. Steven Seward Member
    Steven Seward
    @StevenSeward

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Let’s be clear, the issue is not if Walsh is good. The issue is that Trump is so toxic that he will destroy the Republican Party for a generation.

    Trump is losing against Biden in TEN states that he won in 2016, and we are headed to a.blow-out of epic (1964) proportions where we lose the Senate and more Governorships, House seats, and legislative seats. Even if Walsh doesn’t win, it would benefit the party long term to say that not all Republicans have drunk the Trump Kool-Aid.

    Don’t forget that more than a year before the 2016 election Trump wasn’t given the squeakiest chance of even wining the primary let alone beating Hillary.  In fact no Republican was deemed capable of beating Her Highness.  It was considered a fait accompli, pardon my French.

    • #23
  24. DrewInWisconsin, Influencer Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Let’s be clear, the issue is not if Walsh is good. The issue is that Trump is so toxic that he will destroy the Republican Party for a generation.

    Trump is losing against Biden in TEN states that he won in 2016, and we are headed to a.blow-out of epic (1964) proportions where we lose the Senate and more Governorships, House seats, and legislative seats. Even if Walsh doesn’t win, it would benefit the party long term to say that not all Republicans have drunk the Trump Kool-Aid.

    If you want to own Walsh, be my guest. But if you think the President doesn’t comport himself well, you should spend some time listening to Walsh.

    Here’s your magical unicorn, Gary! Please tell me how this is going to detoxify the party.

    • #24
  25. Gary Robbins Member
    Gary Robbins
    @GaryRobbins

    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Let’s be clear, the issue is not if Walsh is good. The issue is that Trump is so toxic that he will destroy the Republican Party for a generation.

    Trump is losing against Biden in TEN states that he won in 2016, and we are headed to a.blow-out of epic (1964) proportions where we lose the Senate and more Governorships, House seats, and legislative seats. Even if Walsh doesn’t win, it would benefit the party long term to say that not all Republicans have drunk the Trump Kool-Aid.

    If you want to own Walsh, be my guest. But if you think the President doesn’t comport himself well, you should spend some time listening to Walsh.

    Here’s your magical unicorn, Gary! Please tell me how this is going to detoxify the party.

    My magical unicorns would be Romney, Haley, Hogan, Kasich, Rubio or John McCain if he were to rise from the dead.

    But you can’t beat someone with no one.  I want to be able to vote against Trump in the primary.

    • #25
  26. DrewInWisconsin, Influencer Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer
    @DrewInWisconsin

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    Let’s be clear, the issue is not if Walsh is good. The issue is that Trump is so toxic that he will destroy the Republican Party for a generation.

    Trump is losing against Biden in TEN states that he won in 2016, and we are headed to a.blow-out of epic (1964) proportions where we lose the Senate and more Governorships, House seats, and legislative seats. Even if Walsh doesn’t win, it would benefit the party long term to say that not all Republicans have drunk the Trump Kool-Aid.

    If you want to own Walsh, be my guest. But if you think the President doesn’t comport himself well, you should spend some time listening to Walsh.

    Here’s your magical unicorn, Gary! Please tell me how this is going to detoxify the party.

    My magical unicorns would be Romney, Haley, Hogan, Kasich, Rubio or John McCain if he were to rise from the dead.

    But you can’t beat someone with no one. I want to be able to vote against Trump in the primary.

    So you’ll vote for a racist piece of garbage like Joe Walsh. Uh huh. Tell me again about your principled opposition.

     

     

    • #26
  27. DrewInWisconsin, Influencer Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer
    @DrewInWisconsin

    The ridiculousness of a Joe Walsh candidacy — and the NeverTrumpers’ embrace of him — is well laid out in this piece at Human Events.

    Excerpt:

    In Walsh, Bill Kristol has at least found a candidate who has held elected office: Walsh served a single term in the House of Representatives, from 2011 to 2013. But in every other respect, Walsh is a worse candidate and man than either of Kristol’s previous no-chance candidates. At this point, Kristol might consider posting a Craigslist ad for President, then choosing someone at random; he would still likely end up with a more suitable candidate.

    The push for Joe Walsh represents more than the last gasp of the #NeverTrump movement. It is a manifestation of their desperation — and their contempt — for Trump, and the Americans that put him in power.

    Joe Walsh’s Twitter history is replete with crass, racist, and bigoted tweets.

    In 2014 Walsh tweeted about a seeming double-standard, complaining that he was not allowed to use the n-word in polite company — while using the n-word. In 2016, Walsh tweeted — after 5 police officers were slain in Dallas — that “real America” was “coming after” the “black lives matter punks” and that they should “watch out.” And as recently as February 2018, fourteen months after Trump was elected, Walsh tweeted about his belief that former President Obama was, in fact, a stealth Muslim.

    Muslims and African-Americans weren’t the only regular targets of Walsh’s ire. Walsh once described the LGBT community as “constitutional terrorists,” and appears to have the same longing to use homophobic slurs as he does the n-word.

    Mr. Walsh, in a mea culpa published in the New York Times on August 14th, admitted to, “on more than one occasion,” questioning President Obama’s “truthfulness about his religion.” This is perhaps the understatement of the year; as of publication, Mr. Walsh has dozens of tweets about former President Obama and Islam still up on Twitter.

    Walsh now says that there “is no place in our politics for personal attacks like that, and I regret making them.” It’s hard to take Mr. Walsh’s “regret” seriously, given that after a mere one week of repentance, he’s on the verge of announcing his candidacy for the highest office in the land.

    That last line is key. After years of spewing out racist, bigoted nonsense, his new “regret” — coming just last week! — is self-evidently self-serving.

    I don’t call people racist or bigots for nothing. That’s the left’s game. I reserve such terms for people who have clearly demonstrated that they actually deserve the label. Walsh is a racist and a bigot. No question about it.

    So please tell us how the Republican party is served well with this idiot being pushed as a standard-bearer.

     

    • #27
  28. DrewInWisconsin, Influencer Member
    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer
    @DrewInWisconsin

    The #NeverTrump crowd might, confronted with Joe Walsh’s past racism and bigotry, retreat to the facile argument that he is more “fit” for the Presidency than Donald Trump. Walsh is notorious as a deadbeat dad, and Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington once named him one of the “most corrupt” politicians in Washington. One wonders what would make a candidate unfit in Bill Kristol’s eyes — beyond, of course, having the surname “Trump.”

    Beyond corruption — and a seeming inability to comply with child support law — Joe Walsh is also notable for his complete lack of composure. In 2011, while in Congress, he took the opportunity to scream at some of his constituents for wondering whether big banks might bear some of the blame for the financial crisis:

    It’s not just that Joe Walsh shouldn’t be in public office; he shouldn’t be allowed within one thousand feet of one.

    The #NeverTrump clique’s willingness to support Joe Walsh demonstrates that their commitment to “principles” is paper-thin. They argue, frivolously, that Trump is a racist and unfit to be President; to replace him, they offer an actual racist and a deadbeat dad. There is nothing holding the #NeverTrump ideology together, no principles or values — only resentment.

    • #28
  29. rgbact Inactive
    rgbact
    @romanblichar

    Looks like none of the tweets that the Trumpers are collecting against Walsh are much less than 3 years old. Charlie Sykes even went thru about 4 of them on his show. Walsh didn’t excuse them, and said Trump’s nastiness made him reflect on how nasty he’d become, so he’s tried to change his ways.

    Anyway, Bill Weld, Mark Sanford, Joe Walsh are all way more fiscally conservative than Trump, and can figure out how to nominate decent judges. We may be headed for Trump vs Warren…..the most fiscally insane election in US history. Some Trumpers are actually begging for massive spending next year to save Trump’s reelection. A solid primary challenge from the Right may prevent a massive Trumpian spending program, at least.

    • #29
  30. rgbact Inactive
    rgbact
    @romanblichar

    DrewInWisconsin, Influencer (View Comment):

    Gary Robbins (View Comment):

    But you can’t beat someone with no one. I want to be able to vote against Trump in the primary.

    So you’ll vote for a racist piece of garbage like Joe Walsh. Uh huh. Tell me again about your principled opposition.

    Coming close to questioning motives again, fella. I’d recommend for all your future anti-Walsh posts, ask yourself “would I like it if an NT was writing this exact same thing to me and my Trumper pals”

    Walsh dumped his nasty ways. Thats the main reason he’s running. I won’t excuse any of his old stuff, and he doesn’t. You’ll apologize for Trump and every nasty thing he says.  And like Bethany, call conservatives “woke” if they don’t fall in line.

    • #30
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