General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsHell has frozen over in Illinois. Joe Walsh, far right one term former congressman...
...has joined the Democratic Party!
Talk about a 180. More like a 540.
generalbetrayus
(1,449 posts)3catwoman3
(28,383 posts)fantase56
(487 posts)Silent Type
(12,285 posts)"Three words I never thought Id ever utter: Im a Democrat. This former Republican Congressman, former Republican candidate for President, this former TEA Party champion is formally joining the Democratic Party. The stakes are simply too high to NOT become a Democrat, Walsh wrote in his Substack post, before outlining his reasoning.
"Lets start with the obviousa tyrant sits in the White House. The very thing our Founders feared most is here. Throw in the fact that one of our two major political parties is a real and direct threat to democracy and the rule of law. These are unprecedented, dangerous times in America. I know it. You know it. There are even Republicans who know it, he continued."
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/5330476-joe-walsh-says-hes-becoming-a-democrat/
PatSeg
(51,722 posts)but still I take anything he says with a grain of salt. He tends to be an opportunist and I'm never sure if he really believes the things he says or if he's looking for media attention.
Bluetus
(2,071 posts)Having said that, Walsh has been highly critical of many aspects of MAGA world. I would put him loosely in the same space as David Jolly and Adam Kinsinger, although I trust the latter two a bit more.
Personally I don't have a big problem with honest conservatives. The issue is there aren't many of them left. Perhaps Mitt Romney would count, but he didn't show much of that integrity when he was a sitting Senator who could have done something about the course we are on.
I suspect that Walsh will try to get elected to office as a Democrat. That is not necessarily a bad thing. We all need the latitude to evolve in our views, and we should give him a chance to prove that. Maybe he will become an example others will follow.
PatSeg
(51,722 posts)I may disagree with them, but I believe they are sincere in their beliefs and they have some integrity.
That said, I don't see Walsh anywhere close to David Jolly or Adam Kinzinger. Walsh was a showboater when he first entered politics (probably long before) and he seems to always be looking for an angle, changing his stripes whenever it benefits him.
Of course if he DOES run for office as a Democrat, that would be a good thing, but I would always be leery of his motives.
Iggo
(49,517 posts)Basso8vb
(1,230 posts)I'll watch what he does. That's what I do.
MIButterfly
(1,774 posts)Talk is cheap.
BoRaGard
(7,591 posts)even a blind squirrel finds an acorn once in a while.
welcome aboard oe
Irish_Dem
(78,705 posts)Tommy Carcetti
(44,351 posts)At least for 5-6 years now.
Irish_Dem
(78,705 posts)I love what he is saying.
Fight like hell.
He is 100% correct.
J-9
(113 posts)more than I ever thought I would.
Strange times.
malaise
(291,743 posts)He still makes me puke
Pisces
(6,149 posts)to fall for this BS
ProfessorGAC
(75,552 posts)The red areas of Illinois would no longer vote for him.the blue areas will either know or be informed he was a Tea Party darling.
He still lives in Illinois (about 80 or 90 miles from here).
He's not going to be able to run as a dem here.
3catwoman3
(28,383 posts)Last edited Tue Jun 3, 2025, 07:35 PM - Edit history (1)
I used to pretend I had a hair in my mouth when I left so I could spit on the sidewalk.
Wiz Imp
(8,469 posts)Walsh announced his formal affiliation with the Democratic Party in a Tuesday Substack post, saying he made the decision because he views the Republican Party as a threat to democracy and the rule of law and thinks defeating the GOP requires a broad coalition of moderates, progressives, and, yes, even conservatives.
Three words I never thought Id ever utter: Im a Democrat. This former Republican Congressman, former Republican candidate for President, this former TEA Party champion is formally joining the Democratic Party. The stakes are simply too high to NOT become a Democrat, Walsh wrote in his Substack post, before outlining his reasoning.
Lets start with the obviousa tyrant sits in the White House. The very thing our Founders feared most is here. Throw in the fact that one of our two major political parties is a real and direct threat to democracy and the rule of law. These are unprecedented, dangerous times in America. I know it. You know it. There are even Republicans who know it, he continued.
AllaN01Bear
(28,280 posts)pinkstarburst
(1,847 posts)Is he a straight white christian male? And from the midwest no less? Sorry to be a cynic, but I have to wonder given the timing if he's thinking maybe he would dip his toe into the primary for 2028, and present himself as the ultimate candidate, a "democrat" republicans would actually stomach voting for.
We may say barf, democrats would never vote for him, but then again, every other post on DU seems to be about how great democrats stand no chance in 2028 because they aren't straight white christian males, so this strategy may not be too far off...