Where is Joe Wilson?

[dougkeenan]

He was posting regularly during the primaries. Hope he's OK with how it turned out.

[Condem]

1. Who gives a shit, dougkeenan?

I doubt will here much from him or Geraldine in the future. Good riddance.

[movonne]

3. I give a shit...they both were hero's ... they stood up to this administration..

just because they endorsed hillary does not mean they are not worth the time of day..

[ShortnFiery]

10. They spoke out and Valerie Plame Wilson got burned - but she kept her pay grade and is working

in New Mexico.

I don't consider either of them HEROS. Joe Wilson should have known - and the trip was "a set up." That's precisely why the Country did not buy it. The CIA would have been better off sending someone less "caustic to Cheney" on that Niger trip. It was a dumb-ass plan that blew up in their face. :(

[H2O Man]

16. She's retired.

Your interpretation of Ambassador Wilson's trip seems incorrect. Keep in mind that he had done the same thing for the CIA while Bill Clinton was president. It wasn't a "set up."

[DemocratSinceBirth]

22. Also, Joe Wilson Was The Last American To Leave Iraq Prior To Gulf War One

He made sure every American hostage was released first...

[H2O Man]

29. Sure.

He had a long history of diplomatic and intelligence service. As his book and numerous court documents from the Libby trial show, he had a substantial work history in the part of Africa where Niger is located. The CIA often uses people from embassies for assignments, because their employment with the State Department provides them with "official cover" (unlike Valerie, who worked without "official cover").

In the later years of the Clinton administration, Wilson was tasked by the CIA with examining reports having to do with yellow cake in that region. He did the investigation, and reported his findings. There is zero evidence that anyone disagreed with anything from that report.

When VP Cheney requested the CIA look into a new report indicating a possible attempt by an Iraqi official to discuss the sale of Niger's yellow cake, the CIA selected the person they considered most qualified. Wilson had a work history in several local countries, was on good terms with key people in Niger, and had previously made an acceptable report.

Dick Cheney was certainly aware of Wilson's previous report. There is no evidence -- none -- that he had any disagreement with that report, or any problem with Joseph Wilson. The problems did not begin until two things took place: Wilson told people that the administration was misrepresenting his findings, and the OVP made the connection between Wilson and the specific work that Valerie Plame was involved in.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

30. Some Folks Go Into Public Service Because They Love Their Country

He has said he was apolitical until his wife was outed...

[Garbo 2004]

39. You aren't accurately informed on what happened, the timeline or Valerie's career status.

Wilson went to Niger in February 2002. This was well before the Bush administration was publically marketing the case for war to the public and also long before Wilson had made any public statements critical of the Administration's position/actions on Iraq.

Bush didn't publically cite Niger yellowcake claims until Jan 2003's State of the Union speech. It was March 2003 when Joe Wilson first publically mentioned (and it was only a brief mention on CNN) that the Bush Admin had previous info that Niger yellocake claims were false. While he was the background anon source for a May 2003 newspaper article, Wilson didn't publically come out about the bogus Niger yellowcake claims and his role until his July 6, 2003 NYT Op Ed. (Scooter Libby had already spoken to Judy Miller about Valerie Wilson's CIA employment on June 23, well before Wilson's Op Ed.)

So much for your "set up" theory. Wilson's Niger trip was over a year before the war and long before Wilson's public opposition to the Bush Administration's position on Iraq.

And Valerie Wilson's career at the CIA did not flourish after the leak of her CIA identity. She took a year's leave after the leak story hit big, then returned to the CIA and shortly thereafter retired.

[H2O Man]

15. I care, too.

Ms. Plame appeared on stage with Michelle Obama a while back. She made clear that while they were endorsing Senator Clinton, that she would fully back Obama if he were the nominee.

Hillary Clinton provided Joseph and Valerie far more support than most people are aware of. It is one of the things that we should all respect.

[dougkeenan]

18. Thank you n/t

[ShortnFiery]

2. Count me in the "I could care less category." For all his diplomatic skill, Joe Wilson

proved be a SHAMELESS HRC shill throughout this primary. Along with Wes Clark and Gerry, I hope they completely fade into political obscurity.

[saracat]

31. Wow. You are sick with your hatred. Oddly I'll bet you now think Pelosi and reid have redeemed

themselves by "shilling"for Obama , as you would term it.Valerie and Joe are heroes and none of your petty nasty litlle statements will ever change that. Wes Clark is also a soldier and a gentleman with more "class' in his little fingertip that one such as yourself would even recognize. And while you may not agree with Gerry she has done more for the party and the country than all the little "come lately's".

[Condem]

43. Please define a hero for us,sara.

We throw that term out anytime we see fit. You're time grows short,sara. Then off to Hillarynot44.

[saracat]

45. Someone who puts his life in danger for either a higher princple or to save anothers life? Joe and

Valerie have both done that. And I do NOT use the term lightly.

[Condem]

46. The CIA?

You sign up for that knowing full well what you're signing up for. What a crock of shit. Next!

[saracat]

50. And many of the CIA are heroes! What have you done for your country lately? Joe Wilson stood his

ground in Iraq and protected the people in his Embassy. He was the last to leave and he was the ONLY US official to throw the gauntlet down to Sadamn in Desert Storm.Joe risked everything when he stood up to Bush about Iraq publicly..Valerie was involved with WMD and also risked her life to bring the truth home.Not many can equal them in their devotion to this nation and to truth.

[Name removed]

55. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[saracat]

63. So it is now permnissable to find anyone who thinks the Wilsons are heroes a Republican?

That is absolutely juvenile and what I have come to expect from some people. Joe and Valerie are and always will be heroes.Anyone who does not admire their contributions is suspect,in my opinion.

[Condem]

51. Chirp.

The CIA. Didn't they have something to do with the assassination of John F. Kennedy? Just checkin.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

53. Wes Clark Is A Hero

Clark was assigned a position in the 1st Infantry Division and flew to Vietnam on May 21, 1969 during the U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War. He worked as a staff officer, collecting data and helping in operations planning, and was awarded the Bronze Star for his work with the staff. Clark was then given command of A Company, 1st Battalion, 16th Infantry of the 1st Infantry Division in January 1970. In February, only one month into his command, he was shot four times by a Viet Cong soldier with an AK-47. The wounded Clark shouted orders to his men, who counterattacked and defeated the Viet Cong force. Clark had injuries to his right shoulder, right hand, right hip, and right leg, and was sent to Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania to recuperate. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during the encounter

Clark was sent to Bosnia by Secretary of Defense William Perry to serve as the military advisor to a diplomatic negotiating team headed by assistant Secretary of State Richard Holbrooke. Holbrooke later described Clark's position as "complicated" because while it presented him with future possibilities it "might put him into career-endangering conflicts with more senior officers."<45> While the team was driving along a mountain road during the first week, the road gave way, and one of the vehicles fell over a cliff carrying passengers including Holbrooke's deputy, Robert Frasure, a deputy assistant Secretary of Defense, Joseph Kruzel, and Air Force Colonel Nelson Drew. Clark and Holbrooke attempted to crawl down the mountain, but were driven back by sniper fire. Once the fire ceased, Clark rappelled down the mountain to collect the bodies of two dead Americans left by Bosnian forces that had taken the wounded to a nearby hospital. After returning to Washington D.C. for funeral services, the negotiations continued and the team eventually reached the Dayton Agreement at the Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio and later signed it in Paris on December 14, 1995.<46>

[Condem]

54. No argument there, demo.

It's not about him, now is it?

[OzarkDem]

4. He was badly burned by Obama supporters

as was his wife. They did a Karl Rove on him and Valerie, so I wouldn't expect them to have much enthusiasm for getting behind Obama.

Scorched earth politics has its price.

[yourguide]

5. June 11th

[ShortnFiery]

6. More VICTIMOLOGY - Why am I not surprised?

:eyes:

[Condem]

9. I don't mind the fact that he backed who he did, Ozark

However, I distinctly remember him criticizing Obama for lack of experience, among other points. Like Ferraro, that's bullshit.

[Garbo 2004]

23. Joe was not just supportive of Hillary but also dismissive and scornful of Obama as I recall.

Valerie did not take part in that as I recall. She did say she was a Dem and would support the nominee, whether Clinton or Obama.

[saracat]

52. So? Was he obligated to support a candidate he didn't like? Get real. He had no such obligation.

Others supported O and were negative about Clinton? So what?He isn't a hero because he didn't back your choice? Wow.

[Garbo 2004]

59. Perhaps you haven't read my other posts. I haven't attacked Joe.

I was surprised, however, at Joe's apparent virulence against Obama. (It is possible to support one Dem candidate without being dismissive or scornful of the other rival Dem but I don't think Joe went that route.) It did piss some people off and led to some of the vocal partisans of GD P to dump on Joe.

Just as some here also have attacked other Dems for simply supporting Obama (and who did not trash Clinton in doing so). One example perhaps is that of Richardson, who evidently was OK when he was actually running against Hillary (perhaps since few took him seriously) but suddenly a "traitor" when he endorsed Obama.

I wasn't a cheerleader for any of the candidates in the primary---I have no starry-eyed view of any politician. My only "choice" from the beginning has been to support the party's nominee, whoever it was, and to encourage others to do so.

[Condem]

60. Garbo

She's off to another thread. Much to do, for our sara.

[OzarkDem]

26. Actions have consequences

Obama supporters lost perspective in just how far overboard they were going, especially in a primary when you're attacking your allies.

Reacting to Wilson saying Obama is inexperienced by accusing him of being a GOP right winger, a liar and making scurrilous accusations against his wife were waaay over the top , unecessary and very destructive.

Now you have to learn to live with the consequences of your actions.

Don't blame people for thinking that those who conduct a primary campaign so venomously and wrongly are not smart enough to win the GE.

[PM7nj]

28. You act like the negativity and overzealousness was only on one side.

It was definitely on both sides.

[Forkboy]

40. Actions do indeed have consequences.

As I suspect you're going to find out.

[Teaser]

44. June 11th

.

[SOS]

62. What nonsense.

Wilson launched vicious, unprovoked attacks on Obama.

For the record, here are links to Wilson's ridiculous essays:

February 13, 2008
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-wilson/battletested_b_86355.html

March 20, 2008
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/joe-wilson/obamas-shallow-credentia_b_92586.html

[ellacott]

11. Wow

[countmyvote4real]

21. See posts 2, 6, 10. And still scorching.

Let's get over it and save the matches for McS*me.

[uppityperson]

41. How was he burnt, how did they Karl Rove him? I've not been watching him

that is a serious question. I've been staying out of gdp, haven't seen what you are talking about but would like to know please. Thank you.

[Condem]

42. The standard answer, uppity

It's like the current administation. When attacked throw something out there. Nobody will check.

[uppityperson]

48. So he wasn't, just people claiming he was and hoping no one checks?

I think perhaps I will get back out of gdp until Wed.

[anonymous171]

7. He's probably supporting McCain out of a primary grudge.

:sarcasm:

[newmajority]

8. Hopefully the CIA operatives will stay the fuck out of the primaries in the future

Not that Joe Wilson or his wife are anywhere near as despicable as Larry Johnson, but still, I do not like the idea of the "defense" industry's secret police being involved in the political process.

[PeaceNikki]

12. Joe Wilson was a CIA Operative!?!? Get the fuck out of here!!

[newmajority]

13. You really didn't know that?

For one thing, I believe he's admitted that he met his wife "at work", and we all know where she worked. Besides that, Poppy Bush proclaimed Wilson a "hero" in 1990, and Poppy, for all practical purposes, IS the CIA.

And there's also the fact that not just any ordinary Joe (pardon the pun) gets sent over to Niger to search for yellowcake Uranium.

[Garbo 2004]

20. Wilson met Plame at reception at Turkish Ambassador's DC residence.

Probably both there as part of their respective jobs.

Wilson obviously wasn't an "ordinary Joe." He'd been a State Dept careerist with various postings in Africa, including Niger, as well as having been Ambassador to Gabon. Later during Clinton Admin, a political advisor to Commander of US armed forces in Europe (when he met Plame) and then as advisor on African affairs to Bill Clinton/NSC. And Wilson wasn't sent to "search" for yellowcake, since the CIA (along with State INR and the Ambassador to Niger) had already thought/determined the Niger yellowcake claims were bogus. He was asked to go to talk to his contacts as a follow up for CIA to futher confirm what State Dept had already concluded.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

25. He Was A Hero

He was the last American to leave Iraq before Gulf War One... He didn't leave before all the hostages were released...He also had the chops to deliver that ultimatum personally to Saddam...

[H2O Man]

49. Wilson was officially

employed by the State Department; their embassies provide the mmost "official cover" for shared staff. Many State Department workers are, of course, actually CIA employees; if they are caught the have "official" or diplomayic immunity. Likewise, other countries use their embassies for similar cover.

As Carl Bernstein has noted, the corporate media is also a resource for the CIA. In the 1970s, Nernstein wrote that a large number of noted journalists were CIA assets.

Most colleges/universities in the US also have agency representatives on their staff.

The CIA provides extensive trainings for large numbers of state and municipal police departments, too.

Wilson's trips to Africa in 1998 and 2002 were both for the CIA, rather than the State Department. The Libby trial documented that, beyond question.

[Autumn]

35. Joe Wilson is not

CIA.

[davidwparker]

14. He's in New Mexico, the last I heard.

[SeattleGirl]

17. Haven't seen anything from him lately.

It never bothered me at ALL that he and Valerie supported Clinton; like us, they had a choice also.

I've admired both of them, and I still do. I know that Joe was pretty critical of Obama, but that's part of the nature of the game.

[gaiilonfong]

19. He is kissing Larry Johnsons butt

Joe Wilson is a loser.....and a USER

[DemocratSinceBirth]

24. Who Did He Use

And he did a lot more to bring the Bush* administration into disrepute than some clown on a message board...

Thank God, Skinner is going to start banning the hatas on June 11th...

It wasn't nice knowing ya...

[Saturday]

34. I hear your Mother calling you. nt.

[rosesaylavee]

27. Joe Wilson

is a true American Hero. That he supported Senator Clinton over Senator Obama does not in any way diminish that FACT. Last I looked we hadn't completely gone over to a fascist state and we were and are each at liberty to choose who we support with our time and money.

Some of the comments on this thread are very silly and childish. Come on people, pull yourselves together. Where are we, in middle school?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

32. What You Said

~

[newmajority]

37. So you say we haven't gone over to a fascist state, yet corporate secret police are your heroes?

I think you contradict yourself.

The CIA do NOT represent the best interests of the American people, and they are NOT heroes. As I said, the Wilsons don't sicken me like that asshat Larry Johnson does, but that's the best I can do.

They are still tools of the Wall Street/"defense" industry cabal that has corrupted this nation since the 1940's.

[rosesaylavee]

61. We disagree ... but only to degree.

I do not have much use for the work of the CIA currently. I recognize the damage incurred from the secrecy of some of their missions around the world and fault them directly for much of the foreign relation and domestic crises of the last 4 decades. But,from what I understand, there is much concern within the CIA about their mission and what it should be. Am hopeful that it will be resolved with the next administration.

And yes, I still maintain that Joe Wilson is a hero. He has risked his life to save lives and that qualifies as a hero in my book. As he saved American lives, that makes him an American hero.

[Elidor]

33. I disagreed strongly with his choice of Hillary, but

He is a brave person with a lot of good qualities. I don't have to like someone's political opinions to respect them. Perhaps if I actually knew him I might think otherwise, but he and his wife served their country admirably and got shat on for their troubles. I am over any antagonism I may have felt toward him, and I wish them both the best.

I'm sure it's a disappointment for him, because he could have had a good job with Hillary. And I hope Obama will consider him on his merits should he seek a position.

This is the guy who, threatened with execution by Saddam, showed up at a press conference with a rope around his neck and said, "If the choice is to allow American citizens to be taken hostage or to be executed, I will bring my own fucking rope."

:patriot:

[ZinZen]

36. According to a DKOS poster

Joe Wilson was at a So. California fundraiser for D-Ron Shepston around May 21st.

[berni_mccoy]

38. Joe Wilson is a True Hero. I respected his decision to Support Clinton, even though I did not like

his bashing of Obama. As Obama would say, that's just politics.

[JI7]

47. his wife said they will support Obama if he wins the nomination

it's undnerstandable if he might want to take a break .

[Sparkly]

56. He's a grownup. I'm sure he's fine. nt

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

57. With Valerie if he's not an idiot.

:shrug:

[Name removed]

58. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.