* Melissa Rakestraw, who was one of the people loudly berated by Congressman Joe Walsh a week ago at a constituent event, sent me an e-mail over the weekend…
You recently posted about Joe Walsh’s screaming tirade. Unfortunately this tirade occurred in my face. I am extremely displeased to see you publish Walsh’s press release about my “feelings” on the encounter as if he speaks for me. From Walsh’s release:
“The woman I had the heated exchange with was great and she appreciated how open and unusual these events are. I apologized to her for getting a bit to passionate and she smiled and didn’t mind at all.”
I am that woman and I did in fact mind. You can clearly see in the video that when he gets in my face and is yelling I say, “stop screaming at me, I’m not screaming at you.” I thought that was a clear indication and communication that I did mind. Of course anyone that would behave the way Mr. Walsh does, wouldn’t be concerned with my true feelings on the matter. Mr. Walsh had no respect whatsoever for my boundaries and my direct request to stop screaming at me. There was a reason that I had placed the bar stool between myself and Mr. Walsh before he even went on the tirade, I did not want him in my space.
I have no recollection whatsoever of Mr. Walsh apologizing to me. I know for a fact he never said, “I’m sorry.”
Several times throughout the day I smiled at him, usually because I thought that what he was saying was laughable. I’m really disappointed that because I conducted myself with dignity in the face of ignorance that I’m being seen as someone who tolerates being berated by a nonsensical fool. I had no intention of lowering myself to his level and responding with obnoxious behavior. At the end of the discussion he did approach me and thanked me for being there. I’m sure he appreciated having someone there to disagree with him so he could grandstand and put on a show for the camera. I just can’t believe that any journalist would take any statement of Walsh’s as if it had credibility.
She sounds ever so pleasant, no? And asking a duly elected congressman why he blew up at his constituents for a blog post about how the tea party is losing support in Illinois violates ethical canons? News to me.
* Ms. Rakestraw was on the Ed Schultz show recently and it’s obvious she has little in common with Congressman Walsh…
Schultz asked her if she was intimidated by the congressman, to which she replied, “No. Actually, I wasn’t. You know, the only thing that scares me about Joe Walsh is his anti-worker ideologies, and his total disregard for facts.”
Ms. Rakestraw went on to explain, once again, the reason you can’t simply replace the USPS with private carriers like UPS, zinging Walsh’s constitution-loving bona fides in the process.
“The Post Office, first of all, was established by the Constitution,” she said, adding “I know Joe claims to be a big fan of the Constitution. and because of our charter, we are obligated to serve all the citizens of the United States. and Fedex and UPS don’t do this. 25% of their deliveries are finished by the postal service.”
Not to be nitpicky, but since Rakestraw apparently considers herself an expert on the US Constitution, she might actually want to read it…
The Congress shall have power… To establish Post Offices and post Roads
The Constitution empowered Congress to establish Post Offices. Post Offices are not protected by the Constitution from closure. What Congress can establish, it can also disestablish. Also, the Postal Service predates the Constitution. Ben Franklin was appointed the nation’s first Postmaster General in 1775.
* Meanwhile, Walsh held another event on Saturday and tried to take it all in stride…
Forgoing a formal introduction, Republican Congressman Joe Walsh, 8th District, brought the room to order by addressing the proverbial 800-pound gorilla in it.
“Alright, please pay attention; I don’t want to lose my temper,” quipped Walsh, whose recent heated exchange with a constituent has gone viral on the web.
Walsh’s remarks drew laughs from the capacity crowd that had gathered Saturday in a small banquet room in the Village Inn in Huntley for a coffee-and-pie, meet-and-greet with the freshman legislator. Among those in attendance was Frank Briguglio, who, at age 80, was attending his first-ever political gathering.
“I came here because of the way (Walsh) talks,” the Huntley resident said. “He says it like it is.”
* Related…
* Joe Walsh Saves Christmas: As with most of Walsh’s statements, this one is short on facts and long on hyperbole. The Christmas Tree Promotion Board was not conceived by the Obama Administration, it was conceived by growers, who requested the tax to reverse the declining sales of pines and spruces. The Department of Agriculture approved the tax this week, comparing it the dairy industry’s “Got Milk” campaign. But when it appeared in the Federal Register, so many conservatives complained so vociferously that the administration decided to “delay implementation and revisit this action,” in the words of a spokesman.
* FreedomWorks picks Walsh over Hultgren in IL’s 14th CD
* Politicians Win If No Saturday Mail
- so... - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 7:57 am:
While Joe Walsh’s conduct was inexcusable, and hardly the only reason to hope Hultgren prevails in the coming primary, I don’t have a whole lot of sympathy now for Ms. Rakestraw based on her conduct and the fact that she claims with a straight face that something doesn’t need to be done about the inefficient mess that is the U.S. Postal Service.
- Left Out - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 8:07 am:
Many things can be said about Joe Walsh including:
1 – He is an embarrassment to the district he represents.
2 – His temperament, as shown in his now famous video, is not representative of most people who live in the district.
3 – He is long on talk and opinion but very short on facts.
- Aldyth - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 8:19 am:
Wouldn’t it be nice if Illinois could have a full set of elected officials who don’t inspire embarrassment or shame by their behavior?
- Chi - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 8:38 am:
So…
Ms. Rakestraw never said nothing needed to be done abut problems at the Postal Service (pardon the double negative). I’m sure this means you once again have sympathy for her.
- MrJM - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 8:41 am:
1) What bad conduct? Talking back? Correcting the record?
2) When did she say nothing needs to be done to improve the post office? Not at any of the links above.
– MrJM
- Shore - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:34 am:
Unless conservatives find this off putting, and I think they don’t, this only helps him in his primary. I would rather be the guy on the right in that race getting jabbed by msnbc for going after a liberal constituent in a constituent event however boorish the behavior than the opponent on the left.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 9:41 am:
Joe Walsh is a boorish loudmouth. That trait does not make him wrong about the disasterous USPS, however.
- Fed up - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:12 am:
Walsh is an idiot no doubt but one has to wonder why another Illinois congressgoof gets no coverage here. Bobby Rush makes just as many goofy statements but doesn’t get taken to the woodshed.
- chi - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:17 am:
You are correct, Anonymous, boorishness does not make him wrong about the USPS. Facts do.
It’s easy to claim the USPS is dying because of the Internet, UPS, and FedEx. But that’s not the case. A 2006 congressional mandate to prefund retiree health care funds is the reason for the USPS’s debt. The mandate is unnecessary, is the main reason for any operating losses, and was enacted with the intent to eventually kill the USPS, paving the way for privatization.
http://www.epi.org/page/-/pdf/BP268.pdf
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:24 am:
Privatizing the USPS makes about as much sense as privatizing the interstate highway system. Joe Walsh may have an excellent plan for getting re-elected, but he has no plan whatsoever to help fix this country, nor apparently the required interpersonal skills.
If he’d tried that crud where I grew up, he’d have benn knocked on his butt by a total stranger. You just don’t get in a woman’s face like that and try to physically intimidate her.
- wordslinger - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:31 am:
–Unless conservatives find this off putting, and I think they don’t, this only helps him in his primary–
Conservatives are big on men screaming at women in public places? I think you are very wrong.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 10:39 am:
As long as we keep paying attention when Walsh does something outrageous he will keep doing outrageous things. I think he loves that this went viral. He loves the attention it brings. All publicity is good publicity for him, and being over-the-top rude to a constituent gives us something to talk about beyond his child support problem.
It’s like the Simpsons episode when the advertisements attacked: if you ignore them, they’ll go away. Walsh makes it hard to ignore him, but that’s the best way to send him back to the private sector.
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:02 am:
@47th - Ignoring bullies doesnt make them go away.
To quote Kenny Rogers:
“sometimes you have to fight when your a man.”
Walsh thinks he’s tough. He’ll keep telling his voters he’s tough until someone else reframes the story.
Attacking your ex-wife and bullying people in public are not the behaviors of strong individuals.
Behind every bully beats the heart of a coward.
- Bonsaso - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:15 am:
From chi’s article link: “The Postal Service was debt-free at the end of its 2005 fiscal year, but ended the 2009 fiscal year—three years after
the pre-funding requirement began—with $10.2 billion in debt.” …USPS has money, gov mandate takes excess cash within three years and somehow this is the USPS fault?
- Shore - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:23 am:
wordslinger look at the national poll-the 2 top republican candidates are a man on his 3rd marriage, and a guy who referred to the ex female speaker of the house as a princess. The party is more bluto than bob dole right now and screaming at a liberal woman is sadly where things stand right now.
- 47th Ward - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:25 am:
Agreed YDD. But don’t you see that Walsh benefits from his behavior only when people like us on this blog and elsewhere spend an inordinate amount of time talking about him?
I don’t want to reward him for his cowardice, or his bullying or his general buffoonery. But I will help you reframe him as the gutless coward he is, and hopefully that will catch on.
- Anonymous - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:34 am:
As long as Chi is going to post the liberal talking points on USPS here is the other side of the argument:
http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2011/09/youve-got-no-mail-is-the-end-near-for-the-postal-service
My question to Chi and Bonsaso is this: given a decrease of approximately 35 percent of its business annually is it reasonable that USPS will survive in its current form? And if not, without funding the retirement benefits who will pay when it does fail?
- Yellow Dog Democrat - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 11:59 am:
47th Ward - I’m reminded of the end of Platoon, when the quiet Sgt lays down his life on the battlfield while the bullying loudmouth hides.
Guys like Joe Walsh are the last ones you want in your foxhole.
- wordslinger - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:20 pm:
–wordslinger look at the national poll-the 2 top republican candidates are a man on his 3rd marriage, and a guy who referred to the ex female speaker of the house as a princess.–
Shore, don’t blame Newt, the dude’s so patriotic he just can’t help himself.
Still, I don’t think any man screaming at a woman gets votes from anyone.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:28 pm:
Congress has always been full of Walshes.
Fortunately their terms are short.
We have all seen BS artists think their BS never grows stale. Walsh is the flavor of the month.
Alan Grayson was the buffoon during last Congress.
- Responsa - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:35 pm:
Aw–that’s just Rickey being Rickey.
- VanillaMan - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:38 pm:
The sooner Walsh is out of the news, the better for everything he claims to represent. I suppose it is hard to find a humble elected official who sees that his infamy harms more than helps.
- TwoFeetThick - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:45 pm:
As Chi points out, the problems the USPS currently has were not caused by mismanagement on the part of the USPS, or by the USPS at all. They were caused by the Congress. Just another attempt by Republicans to stir up a crisis to privatize a public agency, as if that big lie ever results in better service for less cost. It doesn’t.
The USPS does a great job. How many times in your life have you put something in the mail (or expected something) and it didn’t arrive? I can count twice in my life. Once, about 15 years ago, a check I sent took three weeks to arrive when it should have taken two days. Another time, I received a mangled letter in a baggie. There was a letter from the USPS included with it apologizing that sometimes mail gets caught in their sorters and destroyed. How they got the shredded thing to me is amazing: a small part of my name and address was visible, but not much. Still, it got to me. They do a fine job with mind-boggling volume.
- Fed up - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 12:54 pm:
wordslinger look at the national poll-the 2 top republican candidates are a man on his 3rd marriage, and a guy who referred to the ex female speaker of the house as a princess. The party is more bluto than bob dole right now and screaming at a liberal woman is sadly where things stand right now.
As opposed to the current president who believes he campaigned in all 57 states or the ex speaker of the house who believes you have to vote on a bill to see what’s in a bill.
- Wensicia - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 1:25 pm:
Walsh doesn’t have a chance, and the Republican Party is backing away from hysterical members of the far right. What sane Republican will want to stand next to or support him in the future?
- mokenavince - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 1:56 pm:
Joe Walsh,we hardly knew you and good riddance.It’s
hard to believe that people in his District would re-elect him for another term.
- Say WHAT? - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 2:50 pm:
There is a way to speak to another human being, and the way he was speaking to that woman was no where close to respectful. It spoke volumes of his character. I know what it is like to be intimidated by a man, who is by nature physically stronger than a woman. There was no excuse for his behavior. Passionate? Lacking control is more like it.
- cover - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 3:49 pm:
Shore @ 11:23 am says the GOP “is more Bluto than Bob Dole right now”. In the end, though, doesn’t Bluto become Senator Blutarsky? Guess those 7 years of college didn’t go down the drain after all.
Seriously, though, the Tea Party generally has lost popularity because they are essntially telling people to eat their spinach. (Sorry, had to tie in to the other Bluto somehow…) It’s likely that many of the departing General Assembly members are tired of having to deliver that same message to their constituents. Since the same hard choices are happening in DC as well, it might also explain why Dems are having a hard time finding willing candidates for Congress, even when the Dems drew their own map.
- Anthony Look - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 7:09 pm:
Melissa Rakestraw should take helm and run agaisnt Congressman Walsh in the 14th district. She has national recognition now and more importantly regional and national support to defeat this man. She speaks exceedingly knowledgeable, and speaks the truth as a and for middle class Americans. Congressman Joe Walsh needs to be defeated, he is a bought and paid for Wall Street Republican taking point puppet. Citizens of the 14th district, please encourage her to do the right thing for her district, for her fellow American middle calls workers and for America. Prayers and admiration from California.
- walkinfool - Monday, Nov 14, 11 @ 7:25 pm:
The last time I sent a letter via FedEx (2d bus. day) to California, it cost me $14.95 — and we worry about 44 cents.
The USPS does an outstanding job, on the cheap. I have no problem with making it reasonably better and more effecient in a stagnant market, but this wholesale attack and desire to privatize it, is blind, stupid ideology.
With Walsh, what made it even worse: he was yelling at his audience about a completely false rewrite of recent history. I wonder what trash he was telling his students, when he supposedly taught them history.