General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsJoe Wilson appreciation thread ... good chance that Val Plame will see this
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10142373399In 1991 Saddam Hussien threaten to kill some American Hostages and Joe Wilson
either told Saddam or let him know that if he wanted to kill Americans then he should
start w/me (Joe wilson). Saddam let all the Americans go w/in 48 hours.
hlthe2b
(102,247 posts)WAPO is reporting he died in hospice, so I'd guess likely cancer (he and Valerie divorced in 2017) I hope his passing was as painless as possible.
MontanaMama
(23,314 posts)I hope his passing was gentle.
rusty fender
(3,428 posts)BeyondGeography
(39,371 posts)Brother Buzz
(36,423 posts)in his honor.
Snackshack
(2,541 posts)gademocrat7
(10,656 posts)A true hero. R.I.P.
tblue37
(65,340 posts)gopiscrap
(23,758 posts)ffr
(22,669 posts)My thoughts are with Valerie Plame.
asiliveandbreathe
(8,203 posts)The Blue Flower
(5,442 posts)I was honored then to be in the audience to show my support and appreciation for his courage and patriotism. I hope he passed gently.
orangecrush
(19,547 posts)CaptainTruth
(6,589 posts)cry baby
(6,682 posts)Bigredhunk
(1,349 posts)We're such fans of Joe & Valerie. He was courageous as hell as one of the few speaking out against the bullshit run-up to war. Valerie got stabbed in the back by her own government.
We'll always remember Joe fondly (I still try to get my dad to wear his eyeglasses on a chain, telling him how cool Joe looked doing it). We're pulling for Valerie running for office (what a kickass ad that was too!).
aggiesal
(8,914 posts)not like the people that attacked Joe & Valerie.
Condolences to Valerie & family
RIP Joe
KT2000
(20,577 posts)like him. He told us why we have whistle-blower protections. RIP
lastlib
(23,224 posts)Rest In Peace, Your work is done. We can never repay our debt to you.
-- A Great American --
Chasdev
(33 posts)I've previously donated to her campaign (second time this morning before I read the sad news) and will do so again.
rurallib
(62,411 posts)Thank you for your courageous service.
gordianot
(15,237 posts)sacto95834
(393 posts)spoke truth to power.
SergeStorms
(19,201 posts)And assholes like Cheney and Trump will live seemingly forever? One of Dog's little mysteries, I guess.
struggle4progress
(118,282 posts)blm
(113,053 posts)Eliot Rosewater
(31,109 posts)For that one act he should have a statue.
Hekate
(90,674 posts)yellerpup
(12,253 posts)Never forgotten.
AJT
(5,240 posts)50 Shades Of Blue
(9,988 posts)She said they had developed an unlikely but close friendship over the years, and in his last email to her he said he only had a few weeks left but he'd see her on the other side.
That's what I consider a man.
kentuck
(111,092 posts)Granny M
(1,395 posts)I am grateful that he told the truth. Wish we had more like him.
SWBTATTReg
(22,114 posts)people who pass on, and who held principals close to their hearts vs. party...
Thanks for the heads up on his passing...
dchill
(38,485 posts)RIP.
Gelliebeans
(5,043 posts)His integrity and honesty will be sadly missed. Condolences to the family.
FakeNoose
(32,637 posts)Thank you for being a patriot when it truly mattered.
lordsummerisle
(4,651 posts)dooner
(1,217 posts)He inspired hope that an intelligent voice of reason could stop or at least slow down the march to war in Iraq.
Unfortunately, there was no stopping Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rove. And his family paid the price for his brave efforts.
It seems fitting that we remember Joe's patriotic integrity at this time in our country's history.
diva77
(7,640 posts)to speak truth to power.
warmfeet
(3,321 posts)very decent sort.
Miigwech
(3,741 posts)and it blew my mind. I knew something was wrong with the narrative coming out of the Bush White House about the successful war in Iraq and the build up to that fabricated decision. Wow, what a patriot Joe Wilson was, and is. I will never forget the pride that I felt about someone willing to step up to tell the truth to power. It was definitely one of the most historical moments in my life.
murielm99
(30,736 posts)Miigwech
(3,741 posts)Haggis for Breakfast
(6,831 posts)I had been one of those veterans who truly believed that a US president would NEVER think to lie the American people into war.
I had come of age during the Eisenhower years. I come from a rock solid military family and served a career myself. It was inconceivable to me that any administration would LIE to us and force us into war (for oil, no less) footing. I couldn't imagine this to be true. Eisenhower hated war, saying "I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity." I just could NOT wrap my head around such perfidy, on such a scale, at such a cost.
The blood lust to create dead Americans, who made the ultimate sacrifice, coming home in flag-draped caskets - always a good way to pump up citizen-patriots to clamor for death and destruction. The "collateral damage" - which is a handy little device used by arm-chair warrior-civilians who push for war, to conflate the death of innocents and the loss of their homes and countries as necessary - inflicted on countries of "other" people, deemed to be inferior due to color or religion. The naked greed of the arms merchants of the world to push out the materiel of murder. THIS is the legacy of the Bush/Cheney administration.
When Ambassador Wilson wrote his editorial, I walked around in a fog for days. How could this be true ? Colin Powell, a military man, A MILITARY GENERAL, had stood in front of the UN, and addressed an anxious nation, desperate for proof, and truth, with his vial of "yellow cake" to show us. Something was horribly wrong. How to reconcile the conflicting accounts ? I felt lost, as if the floor beneath my feet had disappeared.
Then the WH launched their counter-attack on Joe Wilson, and I slowly began to realize the truth I did not want to confront. A sitting US president had done the unthinkable, the unsupportable, the unconscionable. The entire WH was corrupted, contaminated. War crimes. I became physically ill. For days.
When the haze lifted, I obtained a back-copy of the editorial and had it framed. Joe Wilson had changed me. He made me realize that blind trust is just that - blind. And my government, my Commander-in-Chief, had lied to me and, like a lemming, I had followed them and believed every word of it.
Joe Wilson put everything on the line to tell us the truth. He had nothing to gain and everything to lose in doing so. But he knew something we did not -- the truth. And he put everything, including his life, in jeopardy to share that with us. Courage comes in many forms. I have known sailors, soldiers, airmen and marines who displayed enormous courage when called upon.
In a dangerous and chaotic time for this country, Joe Wilson was one brave sonofabitch.
Fair winds and following seas, Mr. Ambassador.
3catwoman3
(23,975 posts)I really can't think of anything else to say except thank you for posting this.
malaise
(268,980 posts)Thank you
Quixote1818
(28,930 posts)Joe Wilson, you were a true patriot.
MustLoveBeagles
(11,599 posts)rockfordfile
(8,702 posts)Skittles
(153,160 posts)yes INDEED
Dem2theMax
(9,651 posts)My deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
trof
(54,256 posts)I hope she wins.
Anon-C
(3,430 posts)greatauntoftriplets
(175,733 posts)He will be missed.
Perseus
(4,341 posts)RIP Joe Wilson, you served your country well, you are a great patriot, history will honor your name.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,342 posts)hibbing
(10,098 posts)gristy
(10,667 posts)In his memory, I've sent a donation to your campaign.
BootinUp
(47,144 posts)NanceGreggs
(27,814 posts)bucolic_frolic
(43,150 posts)in most difficult political conditions. We would be in worse shape today if you hadn't stood tall, and we thank you for your service. May we all be half as good if freedom needs us.
denvine
(800 posts)Thank you for your service and thank you for your courage to speak out when so few did. God speed!
Liberal In Texas
(13,550 posts)Stinky The Clown
(67,798 posts)Frustratedlady
(16,254 posts)Their lives were so disrupted by the exposure of Valerie and my admiration for the way they handled that grew greatly. My deepest sympathy to Valerie and the family.
colorado_ufo
(5,733 posts)orleans
(34,051 posts)i have a lot of respect for both joe and valerie.
thank you both for everything. you each made a huge difference.
heartfelt condolences to valerie and family
HoosierDebbie
(291 posts)Joe Wilson was instrumental in providing proof of the lies. He will always be a hero to me! True patriot and a very brave man who stood up for the truth! Lived a life of service to his country.
Upthevibe
(8,042 posts)today..... He was a true patriot who exhibited an incredible amount of bravery during a very dark time. I also had NO idea that he and Valerie had divorced....R.I.P. Mr. Wilson
DinahMoeHum
(21,784 posts)And thank you for your service to our nation.
Raster
(20,998 posts)...patriot and damned decent human being.
Kid Berwyn
(14,901 posts)Even after he was betrayed by his nations president, he stood for the Constitution and against tyranny.
underpants
(182,792 posts)Zoonart
(11,861 posts)For telling the truth in the face of unimaginable pressure, for being a patriot.
My deepest sympathy got out to you, Valerie.
randr
(12,412 posts)and more importantly, each other. My condolences go out to VP. Her forthcoming work will honor her man.
Response to Botany (Original post)
Chin music This message was self-deleted by its author.
wryter2000
(46,039 posts)A man of great intelligence and integrity. He will be missed
Go out and kick Republican ass in his name.
mopinko
(70,099 posts)you will be missed, sir, but your example shines on.