Rep. Derrick Van Orden leaves D.C. for fact-finding mission in Israel as House remains paralyzed

[riversedge]

Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel




Lawrence Andrea Updated 8:32 a.m. CT Oct 20, 2020

WASHINGTON – ...........
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“After retiring from the military in 2014, I made a solemn promise to the Jewish people that if anything like what took place on October 7, 2023 were to ever happen, that I would help them and their nation to the best of my ability," Van Orden, who served as a Navy SEAL for 26 years, wrote in a lengthy statement obtained by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I am keeping that promise.”

The intent of the trip, Van Orden said, is primarily "to witness what has and is taking place so that I can speak from an informed position" about the violence on the ground in Israel. He arrived in Israel Friday morning and planned to visit medical facilities and meet with citizens and military and government officials to get "a holistic understanding of the current and future" needs.

..............Van Orden, for his part, suggested his fact-finding mission was necessary in part because he does "not trust the Biden administration" to listen and respond to the needs of Israel. Last week, Van Orden became confrontational toward Biden administration officials during a classified briefing on the conflict. He wasn't satisfied with the information provided during the briefing, he told reporters, and noted Hamas took American hostages.
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“As a retired Navy SEAL and combat medic," Van Orden wrote, "I am uniquely qualified to objectively ascertain the ground truth and bring that information back to Congress where I can hopefully increase the sense of urgency for my colleagues of both parties to put aside their petty personal and significant political differences and act in the best interest of America and our beleaguered allies."

Read more: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/10/20/rep-derrick-van-orden-leaves-d-c-for-fact-finding-mission-in-israel/71243868007/

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The article does not say other congress members went him. No mention of anyone accompanying him.
Van Orden has always been a bossy, pushy sort of person. I do not think the Israel Gov. has time to protect him over there at this time but undoubtedly they will have.

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Van Orden wrote a lengthy statement on his trip. He said in part:

"There is no path for a new Speaker, and Congress remains rudderless and in disarray. There is no sense of urgency to elect a Speaker despite the many challenges we face at home..."

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Fairly recent articles about Van O..:

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**I do not know what this is about!

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[Marthe48]

1. Don't let the door hit your ass on the way out

This guy is uniquely qualified to scream at children, swear at his coworkers, and comes across as a peerless dick.

[jimfields33]

4. I'd imagine as a SEAL for 26 years, he's seen it all.

Israel would be foolish not to listen to some of his tactical advice.

[moniss]

6. I wouldn't listen to a drunk about tactics

no matter how long he served.

[jimfields33]

11. I didn't know he was a drunk.

[muriel_volestrangler]

17. It's the charitable explanation for his behaviour

He could just be a raging asshole for the whole of his existence, instead:

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02) released the following statement after he reviewed the security footage showing Representative Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) accosting and verbally harassing teenage Senate pages while they were enjoying the U.S. Capitol rotunda this past summer:

“This video was bad and unbecoming of a Member of Congress. There is no way to prove Derrick was drunk, but this is not behavior a sober or sane person would do. He looked unbalanced and had belligerent hand gestures when he was threatening these teenagers. He towered over many of them and then followed them when they got up to leave. This was abusive behavior intended to frighten these pages.

“It’s odd enough to have a raging party in your office until midnight. But even more concerning is taking a large group of people to tour the Capitol at midnight and pushing others around to show off, including a bow to his guests afterward. Representative Van Orden’s behavior does not reflect Wisconsin values and he owes each of the pages and his constituents an apology.”

There are privacy and safety concerns of the young Senate pages and their families about releasing the video footage for fear of retribution from MAGA activists. Due to these concerns, the video will not be released.

https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-reacts-to-van-orden-senate-page-harassment-footage

And his behavior in the briefing, which is covered by tweets in the OP. But yeah, he's in no position to advise anyone about anything.

[moniss]

22. Yes unfortunately he has a history and

was recently partying in his office and then went out into the Rotunda and was screaming at some of the Senate Pages.

[Marthe48]

9. Had he bothered to look

He strikes me as a person who has gone through life with his mind made up that he knows best, does best and no experience will alter his ego.

[obamanut2012]

20. lol wut

He is a drunk and has insane anger issues. And is a wingnut.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Excerpts and commentary in OP does not mention Orden is Republican

He's in a tight district: lost 2020 by about 3%, won 2022 by about 3%. Wants to abstain without officially abstaining.


Shouts at pages.

Tries to carry loaded guns on planes.

Was on Capitol grounds during Jan 6 attempted insurrection.

[Marthe48]

10. He's the one who screamed at the pages last summer

and swore at other reps in a recent meeting.

[Rebl2]

3. Maybe

he will decide to stay and join Israeli army and fight.

[moniss]

5. A logical question for the MJS to have asked

would be "Are you going to get drunk in Israel and go around screaming at people?" But the MJS lost their journalistic integrity a very long time ago. Even before the USA Today involvement.

[sybylla]

7. From the Xitter comments:

that feeling you get when you'd rather run head first into a war zone and risk death than vote for/against your party's designee.

[patphil]

8. Well, that's one less vote for Jordan.

I guess Rep. Orden has decided Jordan's nomination is dead, so he's off to find "the truth" in Israel.
Good excuse to takes so time off from the congressional shit show.

[Polly Hennessey]

12. A former Seal, really?

And a medic at that. Looking at him, I would never peg him as a former Seal. Maybe, a drill sergeant.

[SpankMe]

13. Dude's an asshole

He says that only he can get to the truth about what's happening on the ground over there, and that the administration is bungling it. Neither of these is true.

I hope he gets food poisoning in the plane on his way back.

[Grins]

14. "Fact-finding" you say?

Does that mean he will be objective and get "facts" in Gaza, too? Will the violent REPUBLICAN drunk prick who cursed out teen pages in the U.S. Capitol go there, too? You know, for the "facts"?

You can't just go on a trip like this. Someone had to authorize it. So who...? Especially now.

[niyad]

15. "no sense of urgency to elect speaker"??? F'n ruzzian asset.

[CanonRay]

16. This is the same shouty jerk who yelled at the pages

resting in the hall.

[obamanut2012]

21. He is also a J6er

And has tried to sneak a loaded gun on airplanes.

[maxsolomon]

18. He's not going to find any facts. He's going to posture.

The IDF doesn't need his advice.

[obamanut2012]

19. Maybe he can get drunk and yell and curse at Bibi's interns this time

He is also a J6er.

[LiberalFighter]

23. Uniquely qualified? Being a Navy Seal doesn't mean diddly crap!

He hasn't served at a level that would give him the right insight of what is happening in Israel.

[LiberalFighter]

24. I would strongly encourage him to go into Gaza. The northern part.