I was a Tim Walz fan from day one

[malaise]

Many called him too folksy
It’s the folksy peeps who are the best neighbors - the real down home loving folks.
And go Springsteen - you’ll drive him mad.
Streets of Minneapolis will be #1 by weekend.

[marble falls]

1. Truly one of the most "one of us" candidates. What you see is what you get. About as open as President Obama.

[a kennedy]

2. and like Al Franken, he quits because of shit against him. DAMN.

[IbogaProject]

32. He was already considering retirement

He said he was only running for a single term as VP during the campaign. So I wouldn't read too much into his decision not to run for a third term with out more information than speculation.

[2naSalit]

3. He's doing a live interview...

With Chris Hayes and Jacob Soborof (v?) during Hayes' hour.

[malaise]

9. Will be watching

Thanks😀

[Kid Berwyn]

4. Top Sergeant

A leader of men and women in combat.

ETA: Tim Walz also is qualified to lead the United States of America as President and Commander-in-Chief.

[MichMan]

5. Governor Walz was never in combat

He served many years in the Army National Guard, but not in combat

[Kid Berwyn]

7. Thanks! He's standing up to trump, though.

trump and his NAZI hordes are making war on Democrats, liberals, free thinkers, independents and anyone standing in their way as they work to destroy America.

Walz is opposing them. That's combat.

But, yes, Walz was never in combat while serving in the National Guard. But he was ready to answer the call, then, too.

[orangecrush]

15. True

He was a Sergeant Major of the Army, if I'm not mistaken?

[TomSlick]

19. Not quite.

He was an acting first sergeant. There is only one Sergeant Major of the Army, the senior enlisted soldier in the Army.

[orangecrush]

24. Thanks

[orangecrush]

25. I looked it up

And got this...

Tim Walz served in the Army National Guard for 24 years, retiring in 2005 as a Master Sergeant (E-8).
While he did not retire at that rank, he had achieved the rank of Command Sergeant Major (E-9) in 2004 and served in that position before his retirement.
Key details regarding his military rank and service:
Highest Rank Held: Command Sergeant Major (CSM). He was appointed to this role in April 2005.
Rank at Retirement: Master Sergeant. He was reverted to this rank for retirement purposes because he did not complete the required coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy

[TomSlick]

29. I've never understood the reports that he was a CSM (E-9) but retired as a master sergeant (E-8)

because he did not complete the Sergeants Major Academy.

If completion is a prerequisite to promotion to sergeant major, then he as an acting CSM - doing a E-9 job and wearing E-9 rank but paid as an E-8. If completion is not a prerequisite to promotion, then he was an E-9 and there is no reason he was retired at E-8, unless he had not held E-9 long enough at retirement to retire at that rank.

It doesn't much matter. A master sergeant is a senior NCO and reaching that rank is a significant accomplishment.

[orangecrush]

31. Thanks again

I lived with my brother and his wife summers from 68 - 73 when he was in the Old Guard in DC after returning from Vietnam.

They lived off base in Alexandria.

IIRC, he was a Spec 4 with a CIB.

My big brother was born angry.

Vietnam did not help.

[TomSlick]

44. A Combat Infantry Badge (CIB) is a big deal. It causes instant respect.

Your brother has seen the elephant.

[orangecrush]

45. He never talked about it

I knew he was in the Army.

I found out he was in Vietnam from my Mom.

He was on the firing squad for Ike's funeral in 68.

One day I was watching a movie about the war and my Mom said "Your brother went through hell over there."

Was visiting him in Alexandria in 68, and one night the news was reporting on a battle.

He started shaking, got up and left the room.

[TomSlick]

46. It's not unusual for combat veterans to not talk about their experience.

My father's experience in Korea was relatively calm. He didn't talk about it until the last couple years of his life.

It sounds like your brother has PTSD. He can get treatment at the VA.

[orangecrush]

47. He did go to therapy

Did quite well in life after that.

[TomSlick]

48. Good to hear!

It took courage to ask for help.

[orangecrush]

49. Thankx

[orangecrush]

26. More....

"A Command Sergeant Major (CSM) is the highest enlisted rank (E-9) in the U.S. Army and Marine Corps, serving as the senior enlisted advisor to commanders at the battalion level or higher. They are the "standard bearer" for discipline, training, and morale, acting as the primary link between the commander and enlisted soldiers."

I gave never served in the military, so it's Greek to me.

[TomSlick]

33. Here's where it really gets confusing.

Command Sergeant Major is a rank. E-9 is a pay grade.

All command sergeants major are E-9s but not all E-9s are command sergeants major. Some E-9s are sergeants major - they have the wreath but not the star on their rank insignia. A command sergeant major is the senior enlisted soldier on battalion or higher level staff. The senior enlisted soldier in a staff section on a general staff is a sergeant major but not a command sergeant major.

The Sergeant Major of the Army, is the senior enlisted soldier in the Army. They advise the Army Chief of Staff on enlisted soldiers' issues.

[orangecrush]

30. So I take it

He was a command Sgt. Major, but not the Sgt. Major of the Army.

I think I get it now.

Thanks!

[TomSlick]

34. Correct. He was a battalion command sergeant major.

[orangecrush]

35. This guy

?si=wPqJ-8poKwHuF2eW

[TomSlick]

40. Roger.

Here's the real CSM Plumley.



At the time "We were soldiers" was set, the rank insignia for command sergeants major did not include the wreath around the star. The wreath was added in 1968.

[orangecrush]

42. Thanks

[2naSalit]

6. Highly disciplined...

Yet still a relatable human with compassion and grace.

[Kid Berwyn]

8. Excellent description of a Minnesotan

Believes all people are equal under law and we should do all we can to make life better for all. A real Democrat.

Down-to-earth while reaching for the stars.

[2naSalit]

10. Totally...

Walks his talk.

[Nanjeanne]

11. As was I. The excitement I felt and the energy surrounding his being chosen as VP gave me so much hope.

Last edited Wed Jan 28, 2026, 06:46 PM - Edit history (1)

[ananda]

12. Kick and recommend!

Right on, girl!

[orangecrush]

14. First time hearing thanks to your post

?si=hpqeKujmzMqAnJIA

[malaise]

16. Want to hear everyone singing this by weekend

Mad the mad king😀😂😀

I saw it on two DU threads and Nicole played part of it. Ari is about to have a segment on it.

[orangecrush]

27. Thanks

[SheilaAnn]

17. All I can think of is how wonderful, powerful and joyous Kamala and Tim would have made our lives. It's not fair God..nt

[Bluetus]

18. He needs to press on, and I hope he will.

There is a good argument that he has played his cards pretty well so far. But for the good of the nation -- even the world, he cannot -- WE cannot be satisfied just to have ICE mostly forced out of Minnesota. When he and Pritzker talk about collecting evidence with the intention of prosecuting in the distant future, that rings hollow. I realize that the Supremacy Clause gives the Feds (Trump loyalists) the decision whether to allow the charges to be tried in state court or Federal court. The timid people in this loop would say, "let's collect evidence and then wait until 2029 when we might prosecute without Fed interference."

But that is just not sufficient. By 2029 we may have completely lost our democracy. And even if we can force the Trump regime out, nobody is going to want to prosecute 3-year-old cases.

What would be a lot more effective, IMHO, would be a more open show of force. While they might believe that cases can't make it into court until 2029, we can make a very visible show of the evidence that is being prepared. For starters, they can identify the dozen-or-so people who should be standing for murder charges because they aided and abetted these two executions. They could open a widely publicized tip line for people to report details about the two executions, as well as other crimes the ICE goons have committed.

I don't know about the legal process, but I bet there is a way to empanel a Grand Jury to receive this evidence, and Ellison/Walz could report regularly on the progress, to the extent that is legally ethical. They don't need to tell everything. They just need to say enough that 1000 ICE thugs have to wonder seriously if they are being named in an indictment before that GJ.

In other words, I am suggesting some psych ops. I doubt that the Feds could stop BJ proceedings. I bet they cannot intervene until the charges are actually brought. I bet there is a way to move this forward in a visible way, without giving Bondi a chance to sabotage it.

[FakeNoose]

20. Malaise, I'm with you - Tim Walz is one of us

I don't know about you, but I grew up in the Midwest. I was born in Saint Louis MO.

Yeah I know, I talk about Pittsburgh a lot - but I came to Pittsburgh from Saint Louis and that's where all my folks are from. The Midwest is everything from Western Pennsylvania to Eastern Colorado - that's a lot of territory. People in New York and California call us the "fly over states" and that's really NOT FAIR! We're the REAL America.

Tim Walz is one of us, and I relate to him and his family totally. He's an awesome Governor, and he would have been a wonderful Vice President. Maybe it's not too late. This horrible mess in Minnesota has catapulted Tim Walz into national recognition once again.

[yliza]

21. He doesn't look imposing so the MAGAts vastly underestimated him

He doesn’t swagger, he respects women, his family loves him rather than fears him, he’s intelligent…he’s nothing like what the christofascist right wing deems “manly”, but he’s a bigger man than any of them.

I wish he’d reconsider not running for another term as governor. We need more like him.

[malaise]

22. A teacher and a coach

Good enough for me

[LisaM]

23. I like him, too.

He sure gives the lie to MAGA saying all liberals are out of touch with middle America.

[InAbLuEsTaTe]

28. Me too... would've made an phenomenal VP!!

[Srkdqltr]

36. Walz is wise. He's savvy. Not fooled easily.

[indigovalley]

37. Gov Walz told MSNOW that he is not running for elective office again...

He just gave an interview and at the end said he's not running for elective office again but that there are other ways to serve. He talked about being a lightning rod for attacks so I wonder if that is a major reason for his decision. Its too bad as he is really the type of leader we need right now-especially in this current political environment.

Other ways to serve--he likely knows he would be considered for a cabinet position (or ambassador) if a Democrat is elected President. In the past he has said he would campaign for the 2028 Democratic nominee.

[malaise]

38. I said nothing about him and elections

It is public knowledge that he’s not running again.

[indigovalley]

39. I was just posting something he said tonight--I did not know this earlier. n/t

[malaise]

41. Cool

[3auld6phart]

43. Also

:hattipHarriss Walz team. I wanted to jump the border . 2.5 miles from here and vote for them :