'Democrats, wake the f--- up!' Fight Trump with outrage and disgust, ex-Congressman screams

[Wicked Blue]

By Lauren Sforza | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

Democrats should fight President Donald Trump with “outrage” and “disgust,” says former GOP Congressman Joe Walsh.

Trump has faced some criticism after he baselessly blamed Wednesday’s deadly plane crash on diversity hiring policies and the Biden administration. The mid-air collision of a passenger jet and an Army helicopter on Wednesday left no survivors, according to officials.

But Walsh suggested Friday that Democrats are not condemning Trump’s response enough.

“As bodies were still being pulled from the water, he began casting blame. As families mourned, he blamed black people & brown people for the crash. Ugly. Disgusting. Racist. Pathetic. Monstrous,” he wrote on social media platform X.

https://www.nj.com/politics/2025/01/democrats-wake-the-f-up-fight-trump-with-outrage-and-disgust-ex-congressman-screams.html

[yardwork]

1. This.

Stop sending me fundraising texts and start shouting. Don't vote to confirm any nominees. Dominate the news cycle by saying outrageous things that get media attention. Drop f bombs. Do what you have to do.

I'm disgusted with the lack of Democratic leadership.

FIGHT BACK.

[OneGrassRoot]

5. 👆👆👆👆👆 All of this. n/t

[usaf-vet]

40. 👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇👇 this from above. "stolen" from yardwork for here!

Yardwork says it best

Stop sending me fundraising texts and start shouting. Don't vote to confirm any nominees. Dominate the news cycle by saying outrageous things that get media attention. Drop f bombs. Do what you have to do.

I'm disgusted with the lack of Democratic leadership.

FIGHT BACK.

[Magoo48]

70. Show us how hard you're willing to fight for a year, then ask for money.

[Playingmantis]

83. Also USAF vet

People dont give a damn.its not the democrats .its the soul of America that says they love liberty but dont give a damn!
Thats the problem!
A serious economic downturn is what is needed..Then things will change..

[Grins]

20. ...31 Senate Democrats just voted for Republican Doug Collins

To head the Veteran’s Administration. Collins is a shit as well as a 2020 election denier. More than happy to smear Fani Willis.

Your disgust with Democrat’s “leadership” is well earned by them.

[Fullduplexxx]

33. Primary every one of them

[Shipwack]

61. But that wouldn't be cordial!

Some of them have seniority, you know.

[Cirsium]

66. Unbelievable

Tammy Baldwin (WI)
Michael Bennet (CO)
Richard Blumenthal (CT)
Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE)
Maria Cantwell (WA)
Catherine Cortez Masto (NV)
Tammy Duckworth (IL)
Dick Durbin (IL)
Ruben Gallego (AZ)
Kirsten Gillibrand (NY)
Maggie Hassan (NH)
Martin Heinrich (NM)
John Hickenlooper (CO)
Tim Kaine (VA)
Mark Kelly (AZ)
Andy Kim (NJ)
Angus King (ME, Independent, caucuses with the Democrats)
Amy Klobuchar (MN)
Ben Ray Luján (NM)
Patty Murray (WA)
Gary Peters (MI)
Jack Reed (RI)
Jacky Rosen (NV)
Bernie Sanders (VT, caucuses with the Democrats)
Adam Schiff (CA)
Jeanne Shaheen (NH)
Elissa Slotkin (MI)
Mark Warner (VA)
Raphael Warnock (GA)
Peter Welch (VT)
Sheldon Whitehouse (RI)

[ReRe]

85. You wanna know what I think?

No? Well I'll tell you anyway. Rather than do the right thing, those 31 Senators have decided
to go-along-to-get-along. Go along with confirming someone who is not qualified for the
job and who is just another "yes" man for Trump? How does this help our Veterans? It doesn't.
If this leads to a Trump edict to close all the VA Hospitals, would these 31 Senators not share some
responsibility in that event?

[Cirsium]

86. Yep

Go-along-to-get-along.

[NotHardly]

35. Traitorous trash all

[3auld6phart]

53. Gawd damn

Even the Democrats have wish , washy traitors in thre midst. As holes are everywhere.

[Magoo48]

69. It's not a good look when our Dem leaders have Appeasement oozing from every pore.

[BComplex]

90. They will not EVER know how we feel about their votes unless we call their offices!!!

I'm glad we get to complain to one another on DU, but what the whole country needs to do is call the senators AND congress critters and tell them they answer to US.

[yellow dahlia]

27. Hear! Hear!

[bigtree]

2. he needs to do all of this screaming at his fellow republicans

...as for his bull about Democrats, there are reams of video and other messaging of Democrats speaking up and out for him or anyone else to amplify in these virtue-signaling responses.

Why are you using a republican to criticize Democrats here?

[Autumn]

13. Because he's speaking the truth and he's right. Too many Democrats are

going along with Donald Fucking Trump's agenda.

[CaptainTruth]

17. He has been screaming at Republicans, daily, for years.

I follow him on social media, first Twitter/X & now Bluesky, & he's been one of the harshest & most outspoken critics of Trump & GOP Trumpism/MAGA for years.

Edit to add...
Walsh posted this yesterday on Bluesky:
I used to be a political asshole. And divisive politicians like me helped usher in Trump. But then I woke up. And for the past 6yrs, I’ve done all I can to defeat Trump/Trumpism. My journey has lessons for all. I explain in today’s Substack.
https://socialcontractwithjoewalsh.substack.com/p/from-maga-to-resistance

Bluesky post:

I used to be a political asshole. And divisive politicians like me helped usher in Trump. But then I woke up. And for the past 6yrs, I’ve done all I can to defeat Trump/Trumpism. My journey has lessons for all. I explain in today’s Substack.👇 socialcontractwithjoewalsh.substack.com/p/from-maga-...

— Joe Walsh (@walshfreedom.bsky.social) 2025-01-31T00:42:19.923Z

[bigtree]

50. so he's an opportunist, playing both sides

...trying to get ratings for his show.

What a stupid thing to bring his bullshit here for people to take seriously.

[yellow dahlia]

31. Joe Walsh used to be one of the leaders of the Tea Party, which (to me) makes his words

more powerful. He recognizes that he was a part of the problem that got us here.

He now calls the Republican Party a radicalized authoritarian cult.

He has been screaming for years about the grifter.

If he is encouraging the Dems to fight back, it is because he is on the same side as us - he is on the side of democracy.

[soldierant]

73. Just the fact that he admits he was wrong

("Then I woke up.&quot proves he's no longer a Republican. Republicans are incapable of admitting error, even the tiniest of errors.

[Autumn]

3. Democrats need to be hammering him on every fucking front. Whiners can

shut the fuck up and sit down.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. But but but muh party!

All the way to the detention camps…

[Autumn]

6. Leadership should inform them their asses will be primaried if they continue to

fluff Trumps bullshit.

[claudette]

7. And yet

some of them are voting yes to some of Dumpy’s nominees. WHY????

[Rebl2]

9. My question

As well.

[yellow dahlia]

32. Good question.

[Historic NY]

8. Republicans would be all over news sites blaring away...everyday

meanwhile we get milk toast and requests for money.

WTF are the Democrats.

[Rebl2]

11. I got

a request for money by Kamala this morning. I have continued to get requests from democrats since the election was over. It’s getting annoying and have unsubscribe to some.

[Evolve Dammit]

45. same. Not responding until they show some fight. Confirmations are looking terrible for our country. NONE are qualified

[Rebl2]

64. So agree

with you. What happened to democrats saying they would not help Trump in anyway. I thought that would include not voting for his nominees.

[Evolve Dammit]

74. Very good point. Same as first term. The "candidates" just want to destroy the agency they were picked for by Orange

Child. And yet 35 or so voted to confirm one yesterday. Burgham is an oil and gas plant now in charge of all public lands to exploit. EPA chief the same.
Truly just raping and pillaging 24/7. Hate these cretins.

[Lucky Luciano]

87. The milquetoastiest group in modern politics.

?si=9tubfsNQcEdhSK03

[kansasobama]

10. Dems are gutless and have a bad strategy

Their strategy, let us pick our fights and give in on the rest, Trump won, is against the country. Stupid Dems are strategizing for 2026. 2026 will be rigged against them. Fetterman. Slotkin. and Gallego will destroy us. Yes, there needs to be a daily press conferences with F bombs. Have we seen anyone really calling out after his accusation of DEI and Dems for the aircraft disaster? Is anyone calling out against using Gitmo?

[yellow dahlia]

37. Yes to everything you said.

And what the Democratic Senators did yesterday on the Budget Committee was exactly what is needed. They refused to vote at all on Russell Vought for Director of OBM. He passed through committee 11 - 0. No nays because Dems didn't show up.

[claudette]

47. Haven't heard

one word from them regarding Gitmo

[kansasobama]

65. Yep absolutely nothing

[lame54]

12. He cut the staff and a plane crashed...

MAKE HIM OWN THIS!!!

Make this his Benghazi

[Evolve Dammit]

46. EXACTLY. Rec

[tishaLA]

14. My feeling is that we completely ignored the DEI stuff

And instead just go out there and blame him for it happening. If reporters ask about his DEI criticism, just point out his election lies and his lies about COVID and get back to talking about how his failures caused the tragedy.

[yellow dahlia]

39. Right - ignore the DEI stuff. It is bait.

Share the letter he sent to FAA employees demoralizing them about their jobs.

Share the memos on the hiring freeze, and other actions.

Should we remind people that the Air Traffic Controllers were first slashed under Reagan? And that lack of funding from Repugs in Congress is one of the problems.

[atreides1]

15. He's right.

I was listening to WTOP yesterday and new Maryland Senator Alsobrook gave a weak ass milquetoast answer when she was asked about Trump putting the blame on DEI!

It's like they've re-adopted the "keep our powder dry" idea that Harry Reid always supported!

[Owens]

16. Democrats need to follow Walz and Buttigieg

Use Walz and Buttigieg response as talking points and blame Trump and Elon at every moment!

[Aepps22]

18. I'm Ok With What's Happening

Running around and screaming without a plan doesn’t work for us. Candidly many people need to feel the consequences of this administration before they vote better or vote at all just like last time. I want our leaders to do their best but unfortunately things have to get really bad for the average American voter to wake the F up.

[yellow dahlia]

41. I want to say how can they get much worse? But they will.

If someone doesn't do something there will be nothing left in 2026.

Screaming and resisting is what we have right now.

[Cirsium]

67. You are OK?

You are OK with what's happening? Wow. Who is advocating "running around and screaming without a plan?" No one.

You say "things have to get really bad for the average American voter to wake the F up."

That is not how things work in the real world, and it is just an excuse for inaction. It is lazy and irresponsible.

You think MAGA voters will wake up and regret supporting Trump?

I say, look to history.

Read what William Shirer discovered when interviewing everyday Germans after WWII. Every German city lay in smoking ruins and tens of millions had been tortured, maimed, and killed.

"There was so much that was true that did not make sense: the monumental apathy of the German people and their deep regret, not that they had started the war, but merely that they had lost it; their whining complaints at the lack of food and fuel and their total lack of sympathy or even interest in the worse plight of the occupied peoples, for which they bore so much responsibility; their boredom at the very mention of the Nuremberg trial, which they were convinced was only an Allied propaganda stunt; their striking unreadiness for, or interest in, democracy, which we, with typical Anglo-Saxon fervor and blindness, were trying to shove down their throats."

― William L. Shirer, End of a Berlin Diary

Their deep regret, not that they had started the war, but merely that they had lost it.

[AllaN01Bear]

19. I AM NOT GOING TO STOOP BELOW THEIR LEVEL, IF I DO THIS THEN I AM JUST AS BAD AS THEY R

[durablend]

43. When they put a gun to your head

And pull the trigger at least your last words will be "Hey, at least I didn't stoop to your level"

[AllaN01Bear]

59. if you dra a gun youd better be prepaired to use it and that is the only reason do do so, otherwise ill take it from u

and i know how

[electric_blue68]

78. Some people -are- like that

[OneGrassRoot]

68. That attitude is a big part of the problem. You can't fight a Nazi death cult with good manners and "stern words." n/t

[calimary]

75. This!!!

NO MORE “Mr/Ms Nice-Guy”!!!

NO MORE!!!

[hadEnuf]

79. You might want to consider at least getting down to their level to fight them.

They may be below your level, but right now they are punching upwards.

[andym]

23. Fight with clear warnings that Trump will send the economy into a tailspin

hurt the government, not help it and make America weak. He is MAW "Making America Weak"

Then at the same time propose some big idea solutions.

[bronxiteforever]

28. This! I agree with this!

[Justice matters.]

29. MAD

The convicted felonious fraud, rapist, and traitor is MAD "Making America Disappear" for Putin, Xi, and Kim.

[andym]

54. Trump making the US MAD could also be "Making America Disabled"

A term that would echo with Trump's anti-DEI agenda, as he is disabling the US government.

[oldmanlynn]

24. Are the leaders of the Democratic Party scared?

Or is it because they don’t have enough money to do this? I just don’t understand.

It seems like our model of messaging is let the news do the messaging for us instead of us, grabbing the ball by the horns and pushing the narrative outrage and I don’t care if you even over blow it but get out there and over blow it all the time get a big bullhorn shout

[crimycarny]

25. WRONG!!!

This is exactly why Trump makes these outrageous comments, it gets everyone talking about DEI and nothing else.

Trump is a moron at pretty much everything but he is an absolute genius at manipulating the message. Trump makes an outrageous statement and we're off the the races! The media gleefully stoaks the controversy of Trump blaming DEI (controversy is better for ratings after all). MAGA and GOP have a message the line up behind that they repeat over and over and over and over, taking control of the message and somehow Dems are back on defense.

Now we're not talking about the real issues behind the crash, we're screaming about how outrageous Trump's comments were and defending DEI, which falls right into the hands of Trump and his followers. He just gave his party and followers raw meat, and they love it!! Meanwhile, everyone else is getting drowned out, including our own outrage screaming.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

[yellow dahlia]

42. Absolutely spot on.

People need to be talking about how he is hollowing out the systems and hijacking the departments.

They are doing it out in the open. And the WAPO is even covering it.

[bronxiteforever]

48. Respectfully disagree.

I know he does this on a regular occasion but this was different. Dishonoring the dead when their corpses were just recovered from the Potomac should be treated harshly. Service members dies in view of Arlington National Cemetery. If you can’t fight back about honoring the dead what point is there?

Suckers and loser! Bring this up. Won’t go to national cemetery because it’s raining bring that up. Call him Demented Don, the president doesn’t even stand normally. Is he impaired? Call him KKK Don. His father was arrested at a KKK rally.

We need wartime consiglieres. Treat him exactly as he has treated us in this instance.

[Bengus81]

55. Damn right....I was so pissed after later watching Trump at that presser a brick almost hit the TV

Did any Dems in Congress come out and SCREAM at the top of their lungs about that shit?? Or just pass it off as Trump being Trump and the Country will automatically be outraged? Bullshit they will!

Dems in Congress need to be on the floor screaming and outside on the Capitol steps screaming. I will say something about that presser,those media types were actually going after his ass for a change.

[happy feet]

63. Yes, some did

Chris Murphy was piping angry and called a spade a spade right after. But the media never brings on Dems to respond right away...never gives
Dems the airtime the Repubs get...even during Democratic administrations.

[crimycarny]

56. I don't mean don't say anything, I mean change the method

Somehow, and I'm the first to say I'm not sure "how", we need to try a different tactic to stay on message and not allow the dialogue to disintegrate into constant outrage. Over 90% of the articles on the horrible crash are now about DEI, for example.

Should DEI be defended, absolutely! But we're playing right into Trump's hands if we allow the blind alley of him blaming the crash on DEI to become the main point of discussion.

Pete Buttigieg was so good at this, going on Fox News and calmly turning "gotch" questions into making the question itself look ridiculous. Maybe he can consult on Dem messaging as there is no one better.

[bronxiteforever]

57. I agree with your point that he shifted

this to be about DEI. He made the crash about that instead of decent human behavior and waiting for an investigation like decent people do. And I agree with you that we should not fall into this trap.

His behavior in this instance is like the Westboro Baptist Church protesting soldiers’ funerals. I think it is so disgusting and dishonoring deceased service members just as they are declared dead is so enraging. And the symbolism of our honored dead resting in Arlington a stones throw from this creature and his henchmen makes my blood literally boil.

[crimycarny]

58. Agree, I'm still enraged at the Arlington Ceremony event

And, in many ways, I'm angrier at the military's non-response. JFC, if they can't even stand up to Trump when he is desecrating the most sacred area for their fallen, who paid the ultimate sacrifice, shame on them. How that was swept under the rug like it was I'll never understand. I particularly felt for the mother of the soldier whose tomb was visible in the picture of those morons holding a thumbs up.

I do not understand how Trump gets away with what he does. I'll never understand. I thought for sure that the Arlington Cemetary event would be his doom, surely the military would speak up and defend their own against such an egregious act of the ultimate dishonoring of a fallen soldier. But, no.

[poli-junkie]

26. It's malpractice; a disservice to its voters.

I guess they’re complacent cuz they like their cushy jobs. Disgusting.

[spanone]

30. I have to agree with this.

[Fullduplexxx]

34. It's all a big club and youre not in it

[TheBadWolf]

36. The only way forward is with younger, angrier voices in the party.

The establishment Dems that have twiddled their thumbs while it falls apart around them are long past due to be put out to pasture. The Pelosis and Schumers of the old guard don't have the courage for the fight we all need.

[Think. Again.]

38. THANK YOU Joe Walsh!!!

[Butterflylady]

44. I agree

And a lot here on DU agree also. Democrats should engage and shout it from the roof tops. If they don't more will DIE.

[Evolve Dammit]

49. Walsh is one of the few who broke their fever and saw the fraud for what it was. A fraud. Cohen and Scaramucci too

[bigtree]

51. we're just shooting ourselves in the foot when we're bringing republicans here to lecture us about our party.

...instead of bringing what Democrats are saying and doing to this board.

An absolute disgrage to have this here, and a fucking surrender. He's a fucking troll, and this is just trolling Democrats with absolute bullshit about what our party is saying and doing.

What the fuck does he know or care abou6t the Democratic party?

[Cirsium]

71. Go argue with him

You are just using him as a proxy to malign Democrats you don't agree with.

Urging a stronger fight against MAGA is "a fucking surrender?"

Defend the conformation votes for Trump nominees. Make the case honestly and openly rather than just making insinuations about people's loyalty.

[tanyev]

52. OK, but why isn't Walsh addressing Democrats AND Republicans?

ALL members of Congress should be fighting Trump with outrage and disgust.

And sure, Walsh knows that Republicans won’t because they’re either complicit or terrified, but that’s even more reason to call them out.

[Paladin]

60. Profound thanks to Joe Walsh.

Democrats need to register sustained fury over trump's hateful racist treatment of this tragedy. Absolutely disgusting---even by trump standards.

[red dog 1]

62. K&R....Joe Walsh is right.

Resist VonShitzInPantz!

[betsuni]

72. People just like to scream at Democrats to "wake the fuck up" and so on. Psychological thing I think.

[calimary]

76. Maybe if our Dems DID start waking up and start screaming then WE wouldn't have to!

[doc03]

77. Before reading this I thought I bet he is a Republican. nt

[Historic NY]

80. I guess posting stuff like that here is now considered right wing

at least that the message I received from DU.

[RussBLib]

91. I don't see it that way

...anything that helps the cause seems fine to me, no matter where it comes from.

what message did you receive from DU about that?

https://russblib.blogspot.com

[quakerboy]

81. Good Ol "you lie" Walsh

mmhmm.

[Sugarcoated]

82. That was a different Walsh

[lees1975]

84. K & R

Absolutely. Wondering where many of our fellow Democrats are right now, they are certainly silent.

[Tweedy]

88. What else was the GOP's big boss-man going to do?

He had already forced FAA head Michael Whitaker to resign. Mr. Whitaker was the most qualified choice for the job as confirmed by the 98! Senators who voted for confirm him.

The GOP’s dear leader had already broken the bipartisan 2024! FAA reauthorization act by sending every Air traffic controller a resignation threat letter. Once more, their dear leader cleans his feet on GOP faces and spits on their laws.

The GOP’s big boss-man needed to blame somebody fast before anybody noticed the chaos he unleashed on our skies. He did these absurdly dim things because his shadow president was big mad the FAA tried to keep people living on Earth safe from his need to not take safety seriously for anybody not inside one of his rockets.

But…. At least, the Washington press corps is not bored.

May goodness and decency of their neighbors and friends help the families of those we lost get through this. Our president will be, unfortunately, absent screaming at a mirror for daring to show him reality.

[EllisWhy]

89. No one likes wimpy leadership...

...and nearly all of the Democrats reek of weakness (as do all the silent non-MAGA Republicans). Bill Maher summed it up best: "You're supposed to be my lawyer! The Democrats need to be like the lawyers you see on the billboards: You hurt? We fight!"

This cartoon also sadly sums up most of the party...


https://www.reddit.com/r/collapse/comments/1g49d7y/comment/ls2tqt3/

[happy feet]

92. Waking up and shouting is one thing

The Dems control nothing. The Repubs control everthing-judicial, executive and congress. Dems need to shout at Repubs to stop their tyrant.