General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJoe Wilson appreciation thread ... good chance that Val Plame will see this
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142373399In 1991 Saddam Hussien threaten to kill some American Hostages and Joe Wilson
either told Saddam or let him know that if he wanted to kill Americans then he should
start w/me (Joe wilson). Saddam let all the Americans go w/in 48 hours.
hlthe2b
(113,201 posts)WAPO is reporting he died in hospice, so I'd guess likely cancer (he and Valerie divorced in 2017) I hope his passing was as painless as possible.
MontanaMama
(24,644 posts)I hope his passing was gentle.
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)BeyondGeography
(40,937 posts)Brother Buzz
(39,702 posts)in his honor.
Snackshack
(2,576 posts)gademocrat7
(11,841 posts)A true hero. R.I.P.
tblue37
(68,341 posts)gopiscrap
(24,593 posts)ffr
(23,335 posts)My thoughts are with Valerie Plame.
asiliveandbreathe
(8,203 posts)The Blue Flower
(6,407 posts)I was honored then to be in the audience to show my support and appreciation for his courage and patriotism. I hope he passed gently.
orangecrush
(29,363 posts)CaptainTruth
(8,079 posts)cry baby
(6,876 posts)Bigredhunk
(1,579 posts)We're such fans of Joe & Valerie. He was courageous as hell as one of the few speaking out against the bullshit run-up to war. Valerie got stabbed in the back by her own government.
We'll always remember Joe fondly (I still try to get my dad to wear his eyeglasses on a chain, telling him how cool Joe looked doing it). We're pulling for Valerie running for office (what a kickass ad that was too!).
aggiesal
(10,641 posts)not like the people that attacked Joe & Valerie.
Condolences to Valerie & family
RIP Joe
KT2000
(22,037 posts)like him. He told us why we have whistle-blower protections. RIP
lastlib
(27,790 posts)Rest In Peace, Your work is done. We can never repay our debt to you.
-- A Great American --
Chasdev
(34 posts)I've previously donated to her campaign (second time this morning before I read the sad news) and will do so again.
rurallib
(64,607 posts)Thank you for your courageous service.
gordianot
(15,757 posts)sacto95834
(393 posts)spoke truth to power.
SergeStorms
(20,200 posts)And assholes like Cheney and Trump will live seemingly forever? One of Dog's little mysteries, I guess.
struggle4progress
(125,682 posts)blm
(114,465 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(34,282 posts)For that one act he should have a statue.
Hekate
(100,133 posts)yellerpup
(12,263 posts)Never forgotten.
AJT
(5,240 posts)50 Shades Of Blue
(11,345 posts)She said they had developed an unlikely but close friendship over the years, and in his last email to her he said he only had a few weeks left but he'd see her on the other side.
That's what I consider a man.
kentuck
(115,279 posts)Granny M
(1,398 posts)I am grateful that he told the truth. Wish we had more like him.
SWBTATTReg
(26,145 posts)people who pass on, and who held principals close to their hearts vs. party...
Thanks for the heads up on his passing...
dchill
(42,660 posts)RIP.
Gelliebeans
(5,043 posts)His integrity and honesty will be sadly missed. Condolences to the family.
FakeNoose
(40,730 posts)
Thank you for being a patriot when it truly mattered.
lordsummerisle
(4,653 posts)dooner
(1,226 posts)He inspired hope that an intelligent voice of reason could stop or at least slow down the march to war in Iraq.
Unfortunately, there was no stopping Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rove. And his family paid the price for his brave efforts.
It seems fitting that we remember Joe's patriotic integrity at this time in our country's history.
diva77
(7,880 posts)to speak truth to power.
warmfeet
(3,321 posts)very decent sort.
Miigwech
(3,741 posts)and it blew my mind. I knew something was wrong with the narrative coming out of the Bush White House about the successful war in Iraq and the build up to that fabricated decision. Wow, what a patriot Joe Wilson was, and is. I will never forget the pride that I felt about someone willing to step up to tell the truth to power. It was definitely one of the most historical moments in my life.
murielm99
(32,822 posts)Miigwech
(3,741 posts)Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)I had been one of those veterans who truly believed that a US president would NEVER think to lie the American people into war.
I had come of age during the Eisenhower years. I come from a rock solid military family and served a career myself. It was inconceivable to me that any administration would LIE to us and force us into war (for oil, no less) footing. I couldn't imagine this to be true. Eisenhower hated war, saying "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." I just could NOT wrap my head around such perfidy, on such a scale, at such a cost.
The blood lust to create dead Americans, who made the ultimate sacrifice, coming home in flag-draped caskets - always a good way to pump up citizen-patriots to clamor for death and destruction. The "collateral damage" - which is a handy little device used by arm-chair warrior-civilians who push for war, to conflate the death of innocents and the loss of their homes and countries as necessary - inflicted on countries of "other" people, deemed to be inferior due to color or religion. The naked greed of the arms merchants of the world to push out the materiel of murder. THIS is the legacy of the Bush/Cheney administration.
When Ambassador Wilson wrote his editorial, I walked around in a fog for days. How could this be true ? Colin Powell, a military man, A MILITARY GENERAL, had stood in front of the UN, and addressed an anxious nation, desperate for proof, and truth, with his vial of "yellow cake" to show us. Something was horribly wrong. How to reconcile the conflicting accounts ? I felt lost, as if the floor beneath my feet had disappeared.
Then the WH launched their counter-attack on Joe Wilson, and I slowly began to realize the truth I did not want to confront. A sitting US president had done the unthinkable, the unsupportable, the unconscionable. The entire WH was corrupted, contaminated. War crimes. I became physically ill. For days.
When the haze lifted, I obtained a back-copy of the editorial and had it framed. Joe Wilson had changed me. He made me realize that blind trust is just that - blind. And my government, my Commander-in-Chief, had lied to me and, like a lemming, I had followed them and believed every word of it.
Joe Wilson put everything on the line to tell us the truth. He had nothing to gain and everything to lose in doing so. But he knew something we did not -- the truth. And he put everything, including his life, in jeopardy to share that with us. Courage comes in many forms. I have known sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines who displayed enormous courage when called upon.
In a dangerous and chaotic time for this country, Joe Wilson was one brave sonofabitch.
Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Ambassador.
3catwoman3
(28,898 posts)I really can't think of anything else to say except thank you for posting this.
malaise
(294,171 posts)Thank you
Quixote1818
(31,147 posts)Joe Wilson, you were a true patriot.
MustLoveBeagles
(15,197 posts)rockfordfile
(8,742 posts)Skittles
(170,204 posts)yes INDEED
Dem2theMax
(11,005 posts)My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
trof
(54,274 posts)I hope she wins.
Anon-C
(3,440 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(178,701 posts)He will be missed.
Perseus
(4,341 posts)RIP Joe Wilson, you served your country well, you are a great patriot, history will honor your name.
Hermit-The-Prog
(36,631 posts)hibbing
(10,545 posts)gristy
(10,733 posts)In his memory, I've sent a donation to your campaign.
BootinUp
(51,035 posts)NanceGreggs
(27,835 posts)bucolic_frolic
(54,490 posts)in most difficult political conditions. We would be in worse shape today if you hadn't stood tall, and we thank you for your service. May we all be half as good if freedom needs us.
denvine
(848 posts)Thank you for your service and thank you for your courage to speak out when so few did. God speed!
Liberal In Texas
(16,089 posts)Stinky The Clown
(68,937 posts)Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)Their lives were so disrupted by the exposure of Valerie and my admiration for the way they handled that grew greatly. My deepest sympathy to Valerie and the family.
colorado_ufo
(6,208 posts)orleans
(36,736 posts)i have a lot of respect for both joe and valerie.
thank you both for everything. you each made a huge difference.
heartfelt condolences to valerie and family
HoosierDebbie
(448 posts)Joe Wilson was instrumental in providing proof of the lies. He will always be a hero to me! True patriot and a very brave man who stood up for the truth! Lived a life of service to his country.
Upthevibe
(10,108 posts)today.....
He was a true patriot who exhibited an incredible amount of bravery during a very dark time. I also had NO idea that he and Valerie had divorced....R.I.P. Mr. Wilson
DinahMoeHum
(23,439 posts)And thank you for your service to our nation.
Raster
(21,010 posts)...patriot and damned decent human being.
Kid Berwyn
(23,641 posts)Even after he was betrayed by his nations president, he stood for the Constitution and against tyranny.
underpants
(195,571 posts)Zoonart
(14,276 posts)For telling the truth in the face of unimaginable pressure, for being a patriot.
My deepest sympathy got out to you, Valerie.
randr
(12,633 posts)and more importantly, each other. My condolences go out to VP. Her forthcoming work will honor her man.
Response to Botany (Original post)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
wryter2000
(47,940 posts)A man of great intelligence and integrity. He will be missed
Go out and kick Republican ass in his name.
mopinko
(73,421 posts)you will be missed, sir, but your example shines on.
