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My Maserati does 185…
Friday, Aug 19, 2011 - Posted by Rich Miller * I lost my license, but I still drive…
He got his license back last month, according to the article. The must-read Tribune piece also looked at several lawsuits filed against Walsh, as well as his somewhat odd work history and, of course, the allegations that he owes a hundred grand in back child support. I’ve believed for a long while that we as a state and a nation elect far too many dweebs who’ve never been in any kind of trouble. Such a “zero tolerance” attitude by the media and the public leaves us with an overwhelming number of overly cautious (and probably hiding something) vanilla leaders who don’t know what real life is all about. I have to admit, however, that Walsh is kinda testing my theory’s limits. * By the way, Walsh also asked for taxpayer financing of a trip to Israel, which included attending Glenn Beck’s big to-do over there. You can watch a video of Walsh and Beck discussing the denial of funding by the Ethics Committee here.
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- TwoFeetThick - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 2:23 pm:
I firmly believe that holding politicians up to an impossible set of standards doesn’t make for better leaders; it makes for better liars. I don’t much care if someone running for office used to smoke bags of weed when they were in college. Heck, I don’t really care if they still do, as long as they aren’t so incapacitated that they can’t do their job (and, really, would anyone argue that our leaders are doing a great job now? Maybe they should smoke up. Might help).
There is a line, however, between electing someone in spite of a few past indiscretions, and electing someone who appears to have complete disregard for the law. Mr. Walsh, I think, has crossed this line.
- OneMan - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 2:24 pm:
Cue the ‘They are doing a hatchet job on Walsh in 3..2..1′
- 47th Ward - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 2:31 pm:
Walsh describes himself as the tip of the spear. I’d suggest the Tribune story is the tip of the iceberg.
And to your point Rich, we aren’t trying to elect saints since sinners are more representative of the population at large. But nobody likes the holier than thou candidate, which is how Walsh has presented himself.
- Jimmy CrackCorn - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 3:02 pm:
A politician inherently has some narcissistic personality traits… its pretty much a prerequisite.
But, Walsh’s pattern of behavior suggests Illinois sent a narcissistic sociopath to Congress.
- Tom B. - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 3:21 pm:
This is my favorite part of the story.
“Walsh made his first bid for Congress in 1996.
Challenging longtime Democratic Rep. Sidney Yates in a left-of-center district, Walsh positioned himself as a socially liberal Republican who favored abortion rights and gun control measures — sharp contrasts to the staunchly conservative stances he now holds.”
I love it when charlatans are exposed for what they are.
- Only Child of A Single Mother - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 3:23 pm:
Joe Walsh better enjoy his time in Washington as an elected official, because he most certainly isn’t going back for a second term. The only people’s opinion I’m concerned about regarding The Child Support Issue are his kids, and I guarantee they have one.
- Dirt Digger - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 3:27 pm:
Every theory has its exceptions. And I don’t even know if this is one.
If you say the nature of elected office drives more capable but personally flawed candidates from the field the entrance of people who are personally flawed, incapable and crazy does not really speak to that theory.
- Wensicia - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 3:29 pm:
I find Walsh’s record to be disturbing, his blatant disregard of rules and obligations unacceptable, his personal history of opportunism erratic. His response is to angrily attack the media, rather than explain his actions. He’s starting to make Scott Lee Cohan look good.
Why can’t voters get this kind of information before these types get elected? Let us weigh the bad against the good.
- surge voter - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 3:40 pm:
Rich, since nobody else mentioned it…clever intro to this item using the Joe Walsh song…Lifes Been Good to Me
- Rich Miller - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 3:41 pm:
Thanks. It seemed like the obvious thing to do. lol
- Confused - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 3:46 pm:
Well, it seems like he paid the road taxes (a.k.a. tickets). So what’s the deal? I pretty much count on getting a speeding ticket once every year or two. I consider the couple of hundred bucks a cheap price to pay for getting pretty much everywhere a bit sooner. And gee, public safety was sure compromised when he drove on a license that was suspended due to a matter totally unrelated to his driving abilities. Whatever.
Total sociopath for sure.
- One of the 35 - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 3:55 pm:
I can understand a few speeding tickets. We all get in a hurry sometimes. The failure to maintain insurance is a little more disturbing as it relates to his judgement. Does he feel the rules don’t apply to him?
- Loop Lady - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:00 pm:
This guy Walsh is past his expiration date…he just makes my skin crwal….
- davidh60010 - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:00 pm:
The article is an interesting expose, and suggests that Walsh’s follow-through is not quite the equal of his salesmanship. I also found it to be a bit lazy in some respects (or just the victim of bad editing). Walsh’s victory was presented as a reversion to form in a conservative district, when in fact his margin of victory over Bean was a fraction of the number of votes that went to a third candidate, from the Green Party. There is no mention of the speculation that he failed to disclose the child support issue, in possible violation of ethics rules. And the only two constituents interviewed were quoted only speaking about this baggage, not his increasingly strident political positions.
- A Springfield Veteran - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:01 pm:
Walsh again exposes the limits if liberal democracy. The ‘people’ elected this person to make decisions that influence how we live, our present and future. He was the majority choice. You can only hope the voters will take a second look but if campaign rhetoric, emotion, dissatisfaction and money throuwn into campaigns can be a barometer of future events, the uneducated public may very well send him back to Washington. Our nation and state are experiencing a rapid decline and the quality and performance of our public officials is a major cause. We have elected and tolerated clowns since our begining but society has become too complex to continue to elect public office holders who display the judgment of Congressman Walsh.
- Dan Bureaucrat - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:07 pm:
I agree with surge voter. I had a strong silent laugh when I saw that title.
- Dooley Dudright - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:08 pm:
If you’re feeling low, no
And your world comes tumbling down
If you see how time stops
Better take a look around
Good things must end
They never last
Look to tomorrow
Forget the past.
— Joe Walsh, “Take a Look Around”
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:09 pm:
At events I have covered for McHenry County Blog, Walsh had a driver.
- Small Town Liberal - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:09 pm:
- And gee, public safety was sure compromised when he drove on a license that was suspended due to a matter totally unrelated to his driving abilities. Whatever. -
So, failing to show up in court for traffic violations doesn’t have anything to do with his driving abilities? Not to mention, I at least have to question his eyesight if he can’t manage to spot a few cop cars once in a while, this is ridiculous.
That said, I cannot wait for the campaign ads, going to be fun.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:32 pm:
He should run for Lt. Governor. He’s overqualified.
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:35 pm:
He had a driver at an event I was at, too.
- Chester J. Lampwick - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:43 pm:
In light of the child support and driver’s license stories, who wants to be Rep. Walsh’s new communications director? Anybody like a challenge?
http://craigrobertsjobslist.blogspot.com/2011/08/republican-study-committee-jobs-list_05.html
- Justice - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:46 pm:
Honest, Integrity, Trust, Diligent, Open, Forthright: Name six words that you may not want to apply to Joe Walsh.
- wordslinger - Monday, Aug 22, 11 @ 4:52 am:
“It’s hard to handle this fortune and fame, everybody’s so different, I haven’t changed.”
- Pleading the Fifth - Monday, Aug 22, 11 @ 11:59 am:
- Anonymous - Friday, Aug 19, 11 @ 4:09 pm:
At events I have covered for McHenry County Blog, Walsh had a driver.
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Many Congressman and Senator’s have someone from their staff drive them to their events. I’ve never seen one that is actually driving their car to an event.