╌>

Harris VP Pick: Tim Walz Is the Best Choice - Bloomberg

  

Category:  News & Politics

Via:  george  •  5 months ago  •  143 comments

By:   Patricia Lopez (Bloomberg. com)

Harris VP Pick: Tim Walz Is the Best Choice - Bloomberg
The Minnesota Governor has the small town story and political skills the Democrats need.

Harris pick Walz to be her running mate, 


S E E D E D   C O N T E N T


The Minnesota Governor has the small town story and political skills the Democrats need.

July 26, 2024 at 6:30 AM EDTBy Patricia LopezPatricia Lopez is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. She is a former member of the editorial board at the Minneapolis Star Tribune, where she also worked as a senior political editor and reporter.GiftExpand

Minnesota Governor Tim Walz brings attributes few others have.

Photographer: Yuri Gripas/Abaca/Bloomberg

GiftGift this articleBefore it's here, it's on the Bloomberg TerminalBloomberg Terminal LEARN MOREGiftBookmarkSave

An unlikely — and mostly unfamiliar — name catapulted onto the short list of potential Democratic running mates this week: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Walz seems to be everywhere lately, with a rapid-fire, folksy style that brings the heat to Republicans, articulates what matters to Democrats and corks off on GOP nominee Donald Trump and his new running mate, Senator JD Vance, without turning nasty.

Before it's here, it's on the Bloomberg TerminalBloomberg Terminal LEARN MORE


Red Box Rules

No MAGA

No Fascist BS


 
Article is LOCKED by author/seeder
[]
 
George
Junior Expert
1  seeder  George    5 months ago

The HAMAS wing of the party will approve of this pick after Harris was crowned queen of the DNC without receiving a single vote.

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
1.1  Jeremy Retired in NC  replied to  George @1    5 months ago
without receiving a single vote.

So much for "preserving democracy".  

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
1.1.1  Tacos!  replied to  Jeremy Retired in NC @1.1    5 months ago

See 1.2. Same goes for you.

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
1.2  Tacos!  replied to  George @1    5 months ago

Yes, I’m sure you’re very worried about the democratic process in the Democratic Party. Please spare us. 

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Guide
1.3  MrFrost  replied to  George @1    5 months ago

[]

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
2  Sean Treacy    5 months ago

Walz’s Defining characteristic:  not Jewish.

trump has to be very happy,  Shapiro might have been the  difference in Pennsylvania.  

 
 
 
Jeremy Retired in NC
Professor Expert
2.1  Jeremy Retired in NC  replied to  Sean Treacy @2    5 months ago
Walz’s Defining characteristic:  not Jewish.

Is that the new block the Democrats have to check?

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
2.1.1  seeder  George  replied to  Jeremy Retired in NC @2.1    5 months ago

If they are pandering to the Hamas wing of the party.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
3  Vic Eldred    5 months ago

He was the only choice right from the beginning

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
3.1  Sean Treacy  replied to  Vic Eldred @3    5 months ago

They do have a working relationship. Walz let Minneapolis burn and Harris got the terrorists who did it out of jail.

 
 
 
Greg Jones
Professor Participates
4  Greg Jones    5 months ago

Tim who? Another old hard left white liberal? I don't think this pick is going to go over too well nationwide.

afb080424dAPR-800x0.jpg

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
4.1  JohnRussell  replied to  Greg Jones @4    5 months ago

Its going to come as a great surprise to Tig that Walz is a communist. 

Hammer and sickle

Symbol of communism

hammer and sickle - Search (bing.com)
 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.1.1  Sean Treacy  replied to  JohnRussell @4.1    5 months ago

Rather than pick Kelly or Shapiro who might make the difference for  Harris in states she has to win, she picks the darling of the online hard left know mainly for  the George Floyd riots.  Pritzker would have been the only candidate republicans wanted more.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
4.1.2  JohnRussell  replied to  Sean Treacy @4.1.1    5 months ago

LOL.  Walz is upper midwest, like Wisconsin and Michigan. He will undoubtedly help in those states, and Pennsylvania. 

The  lunatics on the right will call him socialist because that is all they ever do. 

Walz, 60, is a veteran and hunter who has spent most of his life in rural Nebraska and Minnesota — and is the first Democratic vice-presidential pick since 1964 who did not go to law school.

Walz’s foray into politics came later in life: Born and raised in  West Point, Neb. , a small rural town, after high school he enlisted in the Army National Guard, where he would serve for the next 24 years. After losing his father to lung cancer at age 19 — which he would  later say shaped his views on health care  — Walz enrolled in Chadron State College in Nebraska and graduated with a teaching degree in 1989.

Walz met his future wife, Gwen, while teaching after college, and they moved in 1996 to her home state of Minnesota. He would stay at Mankato West High School as a teacher and football coach for the next decade or so, until he decided to run for public office  —  reportedly motivated to do so  after he and some students were denied entry to a 2004 George W. Bush campaign event because organizers found out they were Democrats.

Who is Tim Walz? From teacher, high school football coach to VP candidate - The Washington Post

Good luck trying to describe that person as a communist or socialist.   Not that the RWNJ wont try. 

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.3  TᵢG  replied to  JohnRussell @4.1    5 months ago
Its going to come as a great surprise to Tig that Walz is a communist. 

I was just scanning through the comments.

It really is sick.   The Trump supporters are simply spewing negatives about Walz.

Tim Walz, as you know, has been the guy I have suggested as the D nominee rather than Biden.    He is a smart, affable, down-to-Earth, experienced, well-rounded, moderate patriot.   But all Trump supporters can do is bad mouth the man.

Partisanship poisons everything.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
4.1.4  JohnRussell  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.3    5 months ago

They are scared. Reality is closing in on them. 

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
4.1.5  evilone  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.3    5 months ago

Unless Walz has a Howard Dean moment he's a guy well suited to keep the enthusiasm going. 

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.6  seeder  George  replied to  evilone @4.1.5    5 months ago

I absolutely do not see him keeping the enthusiasm going, there is nothing about him that screams YEAH!!!

That being said, out of the 4, he absolutely the best choice to be President, there is nothing radical about him, he is a good moderate veteran who would probably make a good president that would represent all of America. 

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.1.7  Sean Treacy  replied to  JohnRussell @4.1.2    5 months ago
 like Wisconsin and Michigan. 

No doubt he was picked to make the Rashida Talib democrats happy. Can't have a Shapiro on the ballot in Michigan, can we? 

rying to describe that person as a communist or socialist.

 He's a real man who does manly things, how can he be a socialist is a pretty fun line of defense. 

His politics are far left mixed with incompetence. The covid snitch line, floyd riots, embrace of open borders, abortion until birth,  love of sex change operations on kids and policies that led to  declines in pretty much every standard of living possible in Minnesota make him very popular with online progressives.  Shapiro or Kelly were the "expand the base picks"  Walz was the pick to  make the progressive base happy who  won't upstage Harris. 

He doesn't add anything to the democratic ticket like Shapiro or even Kelly  and helps the Republican line of attacks against Harris.

VP picks make no difference historically outside of possibly helping in home states a little bit and for Harris to pass on two contenders from the only states that matter in an election is a win for Trump.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.8  seeder  George  replied to  JohnRussell @4.1.4    5 months ago

Nobody is scared john. 

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.9  TᵢG  replied to  JohnRussell @4.1.4    5 months ago

The blind partisanship is sickening.   

Instead of  78 year old Trump with his endless negatives and the fact that the traitorous scoundrel is far beyond being unfit for this office, coupled with JD Vance who seems to be a net negative and NOT someone one would want to see as PotUS, we now have two intelligent, patriotic, youthful, and presidential individuals to vote for.    Yes, they will have D policies and the hard core Rs will hate that, but character, intelligence, and an intent to work for the nation rather than abuse the power for oneself should be the dominant factor.

Hard to imagine what would cause an independent (one who does not vote based on party affiliation and who likes and dislikes policies from both parties) to vote for Trump.


This seed is like a truth serum.   It is obvious who is going to vote for Trump (even if they refuse to admit it).

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
4.1.10  evilone  replied to  George @4.1.6    5 months ago
I absolutely do not see him keeping the enthusiasm going,

I probably see it more than most since I live on the MN border... He's great at getting out there and talking up whatever he thinks needs to be done. 

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.1.11  Sean Treacy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.3    5 months ago
moderate 

What makes him moderate? he likes beer and football? 

He said he'd help build  ladders to aliens enter the country illegally. Is that moderate to you? 

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.12  TᵢG  replied to  Sean Treacy @4.1.11    5 months ago

Sean, it is pointless attempting to discuss this with you.   I sense no objectivity from your comments and have no interest in responding to negative invented claims and strawman arguments. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
4.1.13  JohnRussell  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.9    5 months ago

There isnt a single true right winger on this site that I would take at their word that they are not voting for Trump. 

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.1.14  Sean Treacy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.12    5 months ago
I sense no objectivity from your comments

I'm asking you for an objective case that's he's a moderate.   He supports open borders and assisting illegal aliens to break into our country. Are those the words of a moderate? 

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.1.15  Sean Treacy  replied to  JohnRussell @4.1.13    5 months ago
nt a single true right winger on this site that I would take at their word that they are not voting for Trump. 

It is hard for many to conceptualize independent thinking and an unwillingness to support unfit people despite an overlap of issues on which you agree. Witness the lying for Biden that so many engaged in. 

Personally, just because I don't like Trump, it doesn't mean I'm going to lie for Kamala or  change my stance on issues

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
4.1.16  JohnRussell  replied to  Sean Treacy @4.1.15    5 months ago

Your long , extended string of comments about this election speak for themselves.   Your weak claims to be against Trump are not believable. 

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.17  seeder  George  replied to  evilone @4.1.10    5 months ago

Good enough, the little, (very little) that i have seen of him doesn't invoke a enthusiastic response, Obama could bring it in a speech, Reagan had that quality, not sure that he has "It". I will listen as he hits the road.

 
 
 
Right Down the Center
Masters Guide
4.1.18  Right Down the Center  replied to  JohnRussell @4.1.2    5 months ago
Good luck trying to describe that person as a communist or socialist. 

I don't know him well but I did notice your post did not mention any of the policies that would cause anyone to determine how far left he is.

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
4.1.19  evilone  replied to  George @4.1.17    5 months ago
Obama could bring it in a speech, Reagan had that quality, not sure that he has "It".

He's not going to give a rousing Obama speech. He's going to be a relentless upbeat speaker that know how to work the media.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.20  seeder  George  replied to  evilone @4.1.19    5 months ago

He doesn't have to work the media, he already has most of them on his side, he needs to be charismatic enough to energize the voters, he isn't energizing a demographic. So while he is a good choice for the people, he isn't going to boost the campaign beyond this slight bump of an announcement. JMO

 
 
 
evilone
Professor Guide
4.1.21  evilone  replied to  George @4.1.20    5 months ago
He doesn't have to work the media,

Everyone needs to work the media.

 ...he needs to be charismatic enough to energize the voters, he isn't energizing a demographic. So while he is a good choice for the people, he isn't going to boost the campaign beyond this slight bump of an announcement. JMO

He will be the campaign cheer leader. Something he's good at without (hopefully) turning off independents. He comes across as pragmatic and unassuming. 

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.22  seeder  George  replied to  evilone @4.1.21    5 months ago

With the top of both tickets being who they are, he absolutely needs to be charismatic and to energize people to get out and Vote. 

 
 
 
Ronin2
Professor Quiet
4.1.23  Ronin2  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.9    5 months ago

When you are touting first Biden the human vegetable; and now the hyena Harris- neither of whom are qualified to lead anything, anywhere, at any time.

Leftist comments are like a truth serum. It is obvious who is going to vote the the lump of burnt coal with a D on it (even if they refuse to admit it).

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.24  TᵢG  replied to  Ronin2 @4.1.23    5 months ago

This is so easy to understand.

I was supporting Haley … I wanted her to be the GOP nominee and would have voted for her over Biden.

I have always been against Trump.   He should never be given political power.   The only way to deal with that is to vote against him.

Now that we are focused on the general election, as long as the Ds have a nominee superior to Trump (extremely easy to do), I will vote for their nominee.

Harris with Walz is not only a vote against Trump, but it is a team I support!   I have for over a year now noted Walz as an individual I think would make a great PotUS.

You, in contrast, continue to defend a traitor and a scoundrel.  It is people who think like you who have led to the rapid decay of the GOP which is now stuck with Trump as their pathetic nominee.

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
4.1.25  Kavika   replied to  Sean Treacy @4.1.1    5 months ago

He does quite well against Republicans in their own district.

Walz first ran for office in 2006 in a Republican-leaning congressional district, knocking off the incumbent in an upset. He kept the district until 2016, dispatching Republicans over and over. In 2018, he ran for governor and won, then defended the seat successfully in 2022.
 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
4.1.26  Sean Treacy  replied to  Kavika @4.1.25    5 months ago
es quite well against Republicans in their own district.

It's not a "Republican district."  He won his seat in the biggest democratic wave election of the century and his district voted for Obama twice.  The First District only  supported the Republican candidate once,  in 2016, during his tenure.  

 
 
 
Kavika
Professor Principal
4.1.27  Kavika   replied to  Sean Treacy @4.1.26    5 months ago
Gil Gutknecht (Rochester) Republican January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2007
Tim Walz (Mankato) Democratic (DFL) January 3, 2007 – January 3, 2019
Jim Hagedorn (Blue Earth) Republican January 3, 2019 – February 17, 2022

Before and after.

 
 
 
Greg Jones
Professor Participates
4.1.28  Greg Jones  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.3    5 months ago
"Partisanship poisons everything."
Some people claim they are not a bit partisan.  /s
Walz is the farthest thing from a moderate that he can be. Who are you trying to kid?
But all the Biden/Harris supporters can do is bad mouth Vance and Trump 24/7.

 
 
 
MrFrost
Professor Guide
4.1.29  MrFrost  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.9    5 months ago

This seed is like a truth serum.   It is obvious who is going to vote for Trump (even if they refuse to admit it).

I was thinking the same thing. 

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.30  Split Personality  replied to  Greg Jones @4.1.28    5 months ago
Some people claim they are not a bit partisan.  /s

Right back at you.

But all the Biden/Harris supporters can do is bad mouth Vance and Trump 24/7.

All Trump and Vance can do is badmouth America, over and over using lies and half truths to denigrate the country, when they aren't undermining or condemning the current administration.

 
 
 
Just Jim NC TttH
Professor Principal
4.1.31  Just Jim NC TttH  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.30    5 months ago

It’s what competitors do in a political race. Did you sleep the last 20 years or more?

and they are bad mouthing BIDEN’S America not as a whole. THAT they want to save from the bullshit that has been wrought since January 2021

 
 
 
Gazoo
Junior Silent
4.1.32  Gazoo  replied to  Greg Jones @4.1.28    5 months ago

[deleted][]

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.33  Split Personality  replied to  Just Jim NC TttH @4.1.31    5 months ago
It’s what competitors do in a political race.

Only a few asswholes. It wasn't necessary when Bush Sr won, it wasn't prevalent when Gore lost to Bush.

Did you sleep the last 20 years or more?

Nope. Right here remembering the pre Gingrich years.  Even John McCain had a sense of honor and kept people from calling Obama a muslim while social media lost it's collective mind over the temerity of a black man actually daring to run for POTUS

Trump is just a junk yard dog and has dragged all of us down into the garbage and mud. 

and they are bad mouthing BIDEN’S America not as a whole.

bullshit, this is OUR COUNTRY not Biden's or any other POTUS's

and the slogan MAGA says it all as far as Trump goes.

THAT they want to save from the bullshit that has been wrought since January 2021

And there you go with the partisan BS "oh the sky has been falling since so and so did this".

I have lived in 7 states and traveled the Caribbean and CA.  There are shit hole countries everywhere

except North America. 

 
 
 
Just Jim NC TttH
Professor Principal
4.1.34  Just Jim NC TttH  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.33    5 months ago

Your memory is short. Your opinions, read and rejected. 

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
4.1.35  JBB  replied to  Just Jim NC TttH @4.1.34    5 months ago

All your responses basically consist of a, "Nunt Uh", lately...

 
 
 
Just Jim NC TttH
Professor Principal
4.1.36  Just Jim NC TttH  replied to  JBB @4.1.35    5 months ago

256

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.37  bugsy  replied to  JohnRussell @4.1    5 months ago

I don’t think it will change any minds of the partisans

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.38  bugsy  replied to  Sean Treacy @4.1.7    5 months ago

He also falsely claimed to have retired a higher rank than he did in the Minnesota National Guard. Just another leftist claiming stolen valor.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.39  bugsy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.12    5 months ago

[]

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.40  Split Personality  replied to  bugsy @4.1.38    5 months ago
He also falsely claimed to have retired a higher rank than he did in the Minnesota National Guard.

No he didn't.  When he announced his retirement he had the rank of Command Master Sargent.

However he didn't hold that rank long enough or complete all of the training classes for E9 to retire  at E9, so the NG correctly reduced his retirement pay to that of an E8.

Just another leftist claiming stolen valor.

Just another ugly ignorant comment about a retired American Army veteran.  You are obviously biased and also don't understand the meaning of stolen valor.

Ronnie Jackson, Trump's favorite doctor, was a Rear Admiral when he retired under the cloud of a Navy investigation into his drinking and behavior toward subordinates at the White House.  He was busted down to Captain for retirement grade and pay.

Both men, one a D, the other an R, are correct to state what their rank was when they retired.

Neither is guilty of stolen valor.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Guide
4.1.41  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.40    5 months ago
However he didn't hold that rank long enough or complete all of the training classes for E9

Because he left the Service 16 months before his enlistment ended.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.42  Split Personality  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @4.1.41    5 months ago

ergo, he says he reupped for 4 years in 2001.

Acceptance in the Program for E9 automatically added 2 years but no class time.

He put in 8 months but where was he in mandatory course participation? 

He was technically already disabled from hearing loss, already put in 24 years, served in Europe for 18 months and the Artic.  He was already talking about other jobs like Congress.

Warno's aren't written in stone and they basically a call for subordinates to get their shit together for deployment. They are also a wake up call to those who have the time in to give the chain of command a heads up if you plan to retire.  I think its insulting to the NG and the Army for those two detractors to imply that Walz was irreplaceable and let his peeps down.  The system works better than that. Two months to find a transfer from the NG or a volunteer from the Army should have been sufficient to find another E8 or E9 with L131 experience. 

He earned his E8 retirement pay.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.43  Split Personality  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.42    5 months ago

I also read where he was aware of "all of this" and requested to retire as an E8.

So the point is kind of moot.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Guide
4.1.44  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.43    5 months ago

Where did you read that?

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.45  Split Personality  replied to  Drinker of the Wry @4.1.44    5 months ago

I dunno, There are 30 plus Tim Walz links today.

I did find this though.

T he Minnesota National Guard is disputing Governor   Tim Walz 's military biography, saying that the Democratic vice presidential candidate did not hold the rank of command sergeant major at the time of his retirement.

Army Lieutenant Colonel Kristen Augé, the state public affairs officer for Minnesota National Guard, told   Just the News   on Wednesday that the governor did not retire as "Command Sergeant Major Walz" in 2005, as stated on Minnesota's official website, but as master sergeant "because he did not complete additional coursework at the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy." A soldier who does not complete the requisite coursework is automatically demoted, according to Army regulations.

National Guard Disputes Tim Walz's Military Biography (msn.com)

I know plenty of people who retired after achieving one rank who receive retirement pay at a lesser pay

and they always give themselves credit for the highest rank achieved during their service.. Its human nature.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Guide
4.1.46  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.42    5 months ago
ergo, he says he reupped for 4 years in 2001.

Others differ on that.

Acceptance in the Program for E9 automatically added 2 years but no class time.

I don’t understand what you mean.

He put in 8 months but where was he in mandatory course participation? 

Again, huh?

He was technically already disabled from hearing loss, already put in 24 years, served in Europe for 18 months and the Artic.  He was already talking about other jobs like Congress.

I think the Italian deployment was 6 months.  When was the Artic deployment?

Warno's aren't written in stone and they basically a call for subordinates to get their shit together for deployment.

What’s you point?

I think its insulting to the NG and the Army for those two detractors to imply that Walz was irreplaceable and let his peeps down. 

Not irreplaceable but the loss of the most senior NCO as the unit mobilized is significant.

He earned his E8 retirement pay.

Had someone disputed that?

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Guide
4.1.47  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.45    5 months ago
I know plenty of people who retired after achieving one rank who receive retirement pay at a lesser pay and they always give themselves credit for the highest rank achieved during their service.. Its human nature.

I don’t.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.48  Split Personality  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.45    5 months ago

and there is this.

Walz filed  paperwork  with the Federal Election Commission as a candidate for Congress on February 10, 2005.   The next month, after the guard announced a possible deployment to Iraq within two years , Walz’s campaign issued a statement saying he intended to stay in the race.

“I do not yet know if my artillery unit will be part of this mobilization and I am unable to comment further on specifics of the deployment,” Walz said in the March 2005 campaign release.

...

Walz retired from the Army National Guard in May 2005, according to the Minnesota National Guard. In a  2009 interview  for the Library of Congress, Walz said he left the guard to focus full time on running for Congress, citing concerns about trying to serve at the same time and the Hatch Act, which limits political activities for federal employees.

Tim Walz’s military record: JD Vance reopens line of attack | CNN Politics

Ironically Walz was replaced by his long time second who retired with 32 years in and has been Walz's biggest critic since 2018 accusing Walz of stolen valor and running from Iraq and being a coward who would have hidden under a desk in Iraq.

I can't find it anywhere but 20 years is apparently the magic number now.  It apparently doesn't matter if you finish your contract.  Even enlisted member being separated for cause are now being offered retirement at a lower grade. 

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.49  bugsy  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.40    5 months ago

However he didn't hold that rank long enough or complete all of the training classes for E9 to retire  at E9, so the NG correctly reduced his retirement pay to that of an E8.

he claimed in his congress campaign that he retired as an E9. Maybe not stolen valor but certainly at the very least dishonest. 

I spent 20 years, 4 months and 3 days in the Navy and retired as an E7. I have seen quite a few people claim they were what they really were not so your little failure at an attempted gotcha blew right up in your face.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.50  bugsy  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.45    5 months ago

. Its human nature.

And dishonest

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.51  TᵢG  replied to  bugsy @4.1.50    5 months ago
And dishonest

You focus on a nuance.  When he chose to retire he was indeed a command sergeant major but took a demotion because he did not complete his training before retiring.   You hold that because he did not explain the details of how provisional ranks work and the circumstances of his retirement that this is a big deal.   You claim this is an indication of dishonesty and a stain on his character.   Even though he actually did achieve the rank stated while in service.

Yet you defend and are going to vote for a traitor who never served (excused because of 'bone spurs'†), who demeans POW and KIA as losers and suckers, who is a pathological liar, con-man and the only PotUS in US history who tried to use fraud, coercion, lying, and incitement in an attempt to steal a US presidential election.

Walz did not fully explain an irrelevant detail but you are aghast at his ' dishonesty ' while you defend and intend to vote for Trump.


†  Dr. Larry Braunstein, a podiatrist who died in 2007, often told the story of providing Donald Trump with the diagnosis of bone spurs in his heels so he could be exempt from military service, his two daughters – Dr. Elysa Braunstein and Sharon Kessel – told the  New York Times .   

...

Dr. Braunstein rented his office in Jamaica, Queens, from Fred Trump in the 1960s, the Times reported, citing records. His two daughters told the Times that their father provided the diagnosis of bone spurs as a courtesy to the elder Trump.

 
 
 
Snuffy
Professor Participates
4.1.52  Snuffy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.51    5 months ago

I believe you are wrong here. He would have known at his retirement that he was being demoted at retirement and why. Yet he (and your defense) is still pushing that he retired as a Command Sergeant Major. His retirement papers are clear that he retired as a Master Sergeant. His official Governor of Minnesota website states he retired as a Command Sergeant Major, so he is misrepresenting the truth. He was promoted to a Command Sergeant Major but did not complete the requirements to retain that rank.

After 24 years in the Army National Guard, Command Sergeant Major Walz retired from the 1-125th Field Artillery Battalion in 2005. Governor Tim Walz / Office of Governor Tim Walz and Lt. Governor Peggy Flanagan (mn.gov)

Even CBS News disputes the issue.

Official biographies on the Minnesota government   website   and Vice President Kamala Harris'   website   describe Walz as a "retired Command Sergeant Major." However, documents reviewed by CBS News show this is not accurate; while Walz served at one point as a command sergeant major, he retired at a lower rank. 

Army veteran Anthony Anderson, who routinely obtains military records from the Defense Department using the Freedom of Information Act and has worked with CBS News on   similar   stories, provided Walz's records for review. CBS News has also requested the documents from the National Guard. 

One of the documents shows Walz reverted back to master sergeant from command sergeant major when he retired from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005. 

Tim Walz's military record under scrutiny as he joins Kamala Harris on Democratic ticket - CBS News

I will not dispute the patriotism of someone who served 24 years, but I will not defend against the accusations of stolen valor when someone incorrectly brags about rank or awards that they did not earn. The simple fact that he did not complete the requirements for the promotion clearly indicates that his bragging about that rank is wrong.

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.53  TᵢG  replied to  Snuffy @4.1.52    5 months ago
Yet he (and your defense) is still pushing that he retired as a Command Sergeant Major.

If you are going to attempt to rebut my comment then at least get it right.   I did not state that he retired as a Command Sergeant Major.   I wrote this:

TiG@4.1.51When he chose to retire he was indeed a command sergeant major but took a demotion because he did not complete his training before retiring. 

And of course my point is that this is just slimy partisan politics taking a nuance and trying to amplify it into some grand 'stolen valor'.   It is pathetic, especially since those harping on this are giving a pass to a traitor who never served (excused because of 'bone spurs'), who demeans POW and KIA as losers and suckers, who is a pathological liar, con-man and the only PotUS in US history who tried to use fraud, coercion, lying, and incitement in an attempt to steal a US presidential election.

One of the documents shows Walz reverted back to master sergeant from command sergeant major when he retired from the Minnesota National Guard in May 2005. 

Yes, Snuffy, as I noted.   

 
 
 
Snuffy
Professor Participates
4.1.54  Snuffy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.53    5 months ago
Yet he (and your defense) is still pushing that he retired as a Command Sergeant Major.
If you are going to attempt to rebut my comment then at least get it right.   I did not state that he retired as a Command Sergeant Major.   I wrote this:
TiG@4.1.51When he chose to retire he was indeed a command sergeant major but took a demotion because he did not complete his training before retiring. 

And yet you call it just a nuance. 

You focus on a nuance.

If he accepted the demotion at retirement, understood why he must take the demotion, then why does he still incorrectly state in political statements and websites that he retired as a command sergeant major? That is a false statement. That is bragging about an untruth for political gain, it cannot be explained any other way. 

As I said, I respect and will defend the patriotism of anybody who served for 24 years. But he brags for political gain about his rank and talks about how he carried 'weapons of war' in war. That is also false as he was never in a combat zone. His comments about the carrying of those weapons in war was also for political gain as he uses that when he talks about expanding gun control.

Basically, he lies for political gain. You don't accept it from Trump (and you shouldn't), why do you accept it from Walz? 

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.55  Split Personality  replied to  Snuffy @4.1.52    5 months ago

Then maybe he and Trump's favorite Doctor Ronnie Jackson should amend their websites to state that after achieving the rank of Command Master Sargeant or Rear Admiral for 2 years during their 20 plus years of service, blah blah blah, instead of retired.  

It's splitting hairs over nothing.  Walz knew he would be retired at E8 instead of E9, he had already filed with the FEC to run for Congress in February of 2005 

People do this all the time. It isn't stolen valor anymore than they stole the higher paycheck until they retired at a lower pay grade.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.56  Split Personality  replied to  Snuffy @4.1.54    5 months ago
then why does he still incorrectly state in political statements and websites that he retired as a command sergeant major?

Because he was a Command Master Seargent at the time.

Same way Ronnie Jackson was a Rear Admiral at the time but now has a lower grade retirement.

Same way some Naval drivers get drummed out of the Service for bad behavior or a boat accident

and retire as Commanders instead of Captain or Admiral.

I have never heard a shipmate or fellow officer address them as Commander

in retirement, they are always referred to as the highest rank they achieved.

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.57  TᵢG  replied to  Snuffy @4.1.54    5 months ago
And yet you call it just a nuance. 

Yes, Snuffy, because it is a nuance.   What motivates you and others to try to amplify this into some big deal?   You seem desperate to equate this with the perpetual, outrageous lies of Trump.    

But he brags for political gain about his rank and talks about how he carried 'weapons of war' in war. That is also false as he was never in a combat zone. His comments about the carrying of those weapons in war was also for political gain as he uses that when he talks about expanding gun control.

This is also more bullshit partisan smear.   He was deployed to Italy in 2003 as part of the Afghan war.   He never claimed to be in a combat situation but it is certainly reasonable that he was armed as he noted.

Basically, he lies for political gain.   You don't accept it from Trump (and you shouldn't), why do you accept it from Walz? 

First of all, anyone who is a politician is going to stretch the truth (some more than others).   It is an unfortunate reality of modern politics.   And that is what makes these attacks by you and others so pathetic.   You are forced to reach into nuances and then dishonestly amplify and distort in an attempt to impugn Walz' character.   Even more pathetic is the attempt to equate this to the abysmal character of Trump.

It is truly sickening watching these slimy partisan attacks ensue.   Expected, of course, but still sickening.

 
 
 
Snuffy
Professor Participates
4.1.58  Snuffy  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.56    5 months ago
in retirement, they are always referred to as the highest rank they achieved.

Do you accept a republican who lies for political gain? I've not seen that behavior yet you accept and defend this lie because he's a Democrat?

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.59  TᵢG  replied to  Snuffy @4.1.58    5 months ago
Do you accept a republican who lies for political gain?

This is truly amazing.   You act as though stretching the truth and even outrageous lies are uncommon among politicians.   

Here is reality:  during the course of a campaign it would be amazing if a politician did not stretch the truth or at least present themselves in the best possible light.   That has been reality for as long as I can remember.   What is not common, however, is outrageous and continuous lying.   Trying to equate a normal politician with the extreme in order to normalize the extreme is itself incredibly dishonest.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.60  Split Personality  replied to  Snuffy @4.1.58    5 months ago
Do you accept a republican who lies for political gain?

Name one who hasn't. I voted for Arlen Specter for over 20 years. I am certain he lied sometimes.

I voted for and worked for and loved George H W Bush, "Read my lips: no new taxes".  That turned out to be a lie.

I loved that man none the less, so the answer is yes.

 
 
 
Snuffy
Professor Participates
4.1.61  Snuffy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.57    5 months ago

LOL. I dislike you attempting to defend his action by calling it just a nuance. You don't accept Trump's lies when he lies for political gain but what I find truly sickening is watching this partisan defense of hypocrisy. Bragging about his rank and bragging about carrying a 'weapon of war' IN WAR when he was only in Italy. I think the accusation of Stolen Valor is accurate here because he is using it for gain. 

"Stolen Valor" is a term applied to the phenomenon of people falsely claiming military awards or medals they did not earn, service they did not perform, Prisoner of War experiences that never happened, and other tales of military actions that exist only in their minds. In the United States, thousands of cases have been documented in recent years in which judges, politicians, celebrities, veterans' group officials, antiwar activists, prominent people, and average citizens have been exposed for lying about their military record. This issue has become increasingly more prominent in the United States in recent years. As a result, new legislations have been passed, with the goal being to completely eliminate the term "Stolen Valor" and "military imposter". Stolen Valor - Home of Heroes

As I said elsewhere, I will not attack his patriotism after serving for 24 years. That is honest and true service. But I will not defend his lying about his service. That you are willing to defend it shows your partisanship.

I will no longer comment on this back to you as you will only defend your comments. You can have your last word if you want it.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.62  Split Personality  replied to  bugsy @4.1.49    5 months ago
I spent 20 years, 4 months and 3 days in the Navy and retired as an E7.

Thank you for your service.

I have seen quite a few people claim they were what they really were not so your little failure at an attempted gotcha blew right up in your face.

I have no idea what you are talking about, carry on Chief.  ( punctuation might help )

"Once a Chief, always a Chief".

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.63  TᵢG  replied to  Snuffy @4.1.61    5 months ago
I dislike you attempting to defend his action by calling it just a nuance.

Get used to it.   This is nothing.   These pathetic little hyperbolic spin games will go nowhere.

I will no longer comment on this back to you as you will only defend your comments. 

Yeah, Snuffy, I will absolutely defend my comments since I have a solid argument against your ridiculous attempts to impugn the character of a patriot by equating him with a traitor and a scoundrel.

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
4.1.64  Tacos!  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.60    5 months ago
I voted for and worked for and loved George H W Bush, "Read my lips: no new taxes".  That turned out to be a lie.

In fairness, I do think he meant it when he said it. Unfortunately, conditions change and we have to respond.

 
 
 
Dismayed Patriot
Professor Quiet
4.1.65  Dismayed Patriot  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.63    5 months ago
These pathetic little hyperbolic spin games will go nowhere.

It's funny how many Trump nut lickers are so desperate to disparage anyone that doesn't align with them ideologically that they have to immediately attempt to cancel out the over two decades of service to our country that this clearly qualified American gave for our nation, likely FAR more than any of these sniveling pieces of shit gave. Instead, they're trying to nitpick some stupid childish narrative that conservatives now have to cling to because they are clearly scared shitless that their Dear Leader Trump is no longer running against Biden who they all assumed was going to be an easy hurdle to clear in order to install their favorite Dick-tater as President. Now in their panic they have to downplay and take issue with semantics to try and sabotage the competition because they know their choice of candidate is overwhelmingly outclassed. All they can do now is gargle the crotch sweat of a draft dodging felon.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.66  Split Personality  replied to  Snuffy @4.1.54    5 months ago

So just for shits and giggles I attempted to reach Quintin Fulks an official associate deputy director of the Harris campaign to complain about the effect that Walz's bio was having on people with virtually no intent on voting for him because of the way they presented Walz's military retirement.  I called, left messages and got an email address to direct complaints to.

To my surprise I received a response that this had already been addressed and lo and behold the Harris campaign changed Walz's bio to reflect this "nuance".

On its website, the Harris campaign axed a reference to Walz as a “retired command sergeant major” and now says that he once served at the command sergeant major rank — a small change that nonetheless reflects his true rank at retirement from the Army National Guard. Walz, the governor of Minnesota, served for 24 years in the National Guard before retiring in 2005 from the military to run for the U.S. House, where he became the most senior enlisted soldier to serve in Congress. Harris campaign tweaks Walz biography amid scrutiny of military credentials (msn.com)

I hope we can all move on now, now that this terrible injustice has been corrected jrSmiley_80_smiley_image.gif .

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.67  seeder  George  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.66    5 months ago
where he became the most senior enlisted soldier to serve in Congress.

So is that line still correct? when he entered Congress he had been demoted to Sergeant Major for failure to complete his training commitment. Towers out of Texas was a Master Chief, that is the equivalent, so technically he is one of two, of the highest-ranking enlisted soldiers to serve in Congress,

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.68  Split Personality  replied to  George @4.1.67    5 months ago

I am guessing they meant among the living in 2005. 

John Tower died in 1991, Walz wasn't elected until 2005.

John Tower spent 33 months serving in WWII then 43 years as a reservist who reached and retired as E8

as opposed to Walz's 24 years of active duty with E9 being the highest rank achieved.

So is that line still correct? 

I believe it is, as it doesn't mention retired dates or pay.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.69  seeder  George  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.68    5 months ago
retired as E8

Nope, A Master Chief is an E9 not an E8, the same rank that Walz was when entering Congress.

Master chief petty officer  ( MCPO ) is the ninth (just below the rank of MCPON)  enlisted rank  (with  pay grade  E-9) in the  United States Navy

From everyones favorite source...WIKI

I need to make a correction here, according to Walz page he retired as a Master Sergeant which is only a E8 so technically Tower is the highest enlisted soldier to have served in congress.

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.70  Split Personality  replied to  George @4.1.69    5 months ago

You seem to be hung up on what Walz's retired rank was when he entered Congress after 24 years of active duty with E9 being the highest rank achieved as opposed to the rank Towers "achieved" in the Reserves over 39 plus years.

What rank was Towers when he entered Congress in 1961?

Technically speaking, and military pay is an inexact science, Towers would have been placed in a status known as "retired awaiting pay" around 1966 until age 60 (1985) when he could begin collecting about 60% of what Walz could collect at age 41.

So two questions; what was Towers rank in 1966? and was he allowed to keep accumulating rank over the next 19 years?

I don't know.

Active duty pay is complicated choice of three retirement plans based on a full time job for a minimum of 20 years (special circumstances not withstanding)

Reservists earn points for their mandatory weekends and two weeks a year and any call up like overseas for a year.  Once they have enough points to retire, they can't collect their reduced pay until they are 60.

I have a hard time equating the two for a talking point about which man deserves more credit and I highly doubt that it matters much to Walz,

or Tower./s

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.71  seeder  George  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.70    5 months ago

I’m not hung up, you are the one bound and determined to defend a liar who abandoned his men when they needed him the most.

The absolute fact is Walz is a retired E8 and Tower was a E9 period!!!

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.72  bugsy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.51    5 months ago

The article is about Waltz and his lying about his rank and his service.

Must you always deflect to Trump when you can’t defend your position?

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.73  bugsy  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.55    5 months ago

If people “do it all the time”, then you should be able to cite quite a few instances of these “ all the time” occurences.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.74  bugsy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.57    5 months ago

What motivates you and others to try to amplify this into some big deal? 

I’ll tell you why it is a big deal. If you have ever defended this country, you would be honest about your positions, and be proud at what you were either retired as or were discharged as when you completed your contract.

By stating you retired at a higher rank than you were is a slap in the face to those who did not puss out on the responsibilities it would take to achieve that higher rank. 

We know you are a huge Waltz supporter but you should be just as pissed as those of us that did not lie about our retirement rank and demand he apologize to his fellow unit mates for disappointing them when they needed him the most.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.75  bugsy  replied to  George @4.1.67    5 months ago

Actually, Master Chief is an E9. Master Sergeant is an E8. Towers retired at a real higher rank.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.76  bugsy  replied to  George @4.1.69    5 months ago

Sorry i just saw this comment. Forgive my one above

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.77  seeder  George  replied to  bugsy @4.1.76    5 months ago

All good, I thought Walz only took one step down and not 2 steps. 

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
4.1.78  JBB  replied to  bugsy @4.1.75    5 months ago

The hair splitting about whether Walz retired an E8 or an E9 is coming off as pickaune, as lousy nebulous bullshit by the voters. Nitpicking Governor Walz makes the gop look really dumb...

Please keep it up!

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.79  bugsy  replied to  JBB @4.1.78    5 months ago

I highly suggest you read 4.1.74 because it could pertain to you too.

We are all sure you would also dismiss this if it were a candidate with an R after their name s/

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
4.1.80  Split Personality  replied to  George @4.1.71    5 months ago
I’m not hung up, you are the one bound and determined to defend a liar who abandoned his men when they needed him the most

In February of 2005 Tim Walz filed his paperwork with the FEC to run for Congress, that is apparently public record. 

2 months later the Unit received a WARNO stating that they could deploy some time in the next 24 months.

Walz turned in whatever paperwork he needed to start the retirement process.  His slot passed to his longtime #2 Behrman (sic) 

2 months later the unit was ordered to deploy.

Walz didn't run and he didn't leave them leaderless. Walz was as replaceable as any other service member, not a superman.

Behrman went on to lead the 125th and retired as an E9.

In 2018 he and another E9 started a similar hate campaign against Walz because they held him responsible for several deaths of friends in Iraq.  Wals was still elected Governor.

Yes both men retired at different ranks. I know Walz deserved his.  I know he retired at a lower rank than his highest rank achieved.  I don't know that Senator Tower deserved his retired rank but I suspect that because he has been dead for 33 years it is immaterial now.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Guide
4.1.81  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  Split Personality @4.1.70    5 months ago
seem to be hung up on what Walz's retired rank was when he entered Congress after 24 years of active duty

Active duty?

Reservists earn points for their mandatory weekends and two months a year

Two months a year?

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.82  TᵢG  replied to  bugsy @4.1.72    5 months ago

My post starts with my argument.    Right here, read it this time:

TiG@4.151 ☞ You focus on a nuance.  When he chose to retire he was indeed a command sergeant major but took a demotion because he did not complete his training before retiring.   You hold that because he did not explain the details of how provisional ranks work and the circumstances of his retirement that this is a big deal.   You claim this is an indication of dishonesty and a stain on his character.   Even though he actually did achieve the rank stated while in service.

Then, after establishing my position I note the absurdity of any Trump supporter dishonestly criticizing anyone based on refusing to understand the details and exaggerating the superficial:

TiG@4.151 ☞ Yet you defend and are going to vote for a traitor who never served (excused because of 'bone spurs'†), who demeans POW and KIA as losers and suckers, who is a pathological liar, con-man and the only PotUS in US history who tried to use fraud, coercion, lying, and incitement in an attempt to steal a US presidential election.

Walz did not fully explain an irrelevant detail but you are aghast at his ' dishonesty ' while you defend and intend to vote for Trump.

†  Dr. Larry Braunstein, a podiatrist who died in 2007, often told the story of providing Donald Trump with the diagnosis of bone spurs in his heels so he could be exempt from military service, his two daughters – Dr. Elysa Braunstein and Sharon Kessel – told the  New York Times .    ... Dr. Braunstein rented his office in Jamaica, Queens, from Fred Trump in the 1960s, the Times reported, citing records. His two daughters told the Times that their father provided the diagnosis of bone spurs as a courtesy to the elder Trump.

I made my argument and then pointed out the blatant hypocrisy of your pathetic criticism of Walz.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.83  bugsy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.82    5 months ago

Walz was never active duty. He was a National Guardsman in Minnesota, much like the reserves. 
They are required to serve one weekend a month and one two week period during the year and can be called to active duty at any time. 

I believe they are also similar with retirement pay as the reserves are. They are not eligible for retirement pay until the age of 60, not when they retire.

My son was in the reserves for 16 years and active for 8 and will not receive retirement pay until he turns 60z

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.84  TᵢG  replied to  bugsy @4.1.74    5 months ago
We know you are a huge Waltz[sic] supporter but you should be just as pissed as those of us that did not lie about our retirement rank and demand he apologize to his fellow unit mates for disappointing them when they needed him the most.

You get the facts wrong and apparently do not even know how to spell the man's name.

Walz did achieve the rank of Command Master Sergeant.   That is not a lie.   He took a demotion when he retired because he did not complete his required three years at that rank.     You act as though he inflated his rank.   It is a pathetic partisan attempt to make something out of nothing.

If he had never achieved his stated rank then you would have a point, but the fact is that he did achieve his rank.   So all you have is partisan hyperbole ... you have nothing better than to literally try to make a mountain out of molehill. 

And Walz submitted his retirement a month before a notice of a potential deployment was even made.   He was retiring to run for Congress.   You act as though he retired after receiving deployment orders.   Another pathetic lie.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.85  bugsy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.82    5 months ago

Again, the seed is about Walz and his dishonesty. Anything about Trump in a seed about Walz is nothing more than deflection. 

You yourself have called out posters where the seed is about Trump but someone deflects to Biden. 

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.86  bugsy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.84    5 months ago

Again, if you had ever served this country, you would be understandably upset that someone tried to pass himself off as retiring at a rank he did not. Those of us that did serve and are honest about and are proud of what we achieved would never try to make ourselves look like someone else. 

And if spelling the name of someone is what some are whining about, then maybe looking for something else to occupy their time may be a better solution.

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.87  bugsy  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.84    5 months ago

You act as though he retired after receiving deployment orders.   Another pathetic lie

Opinions do vary. Greatly in this case

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
4.1.88  JBB  replied to  bugsy @4.1.85    5 months ago

He never mentioned He Who Must Not Be Named directly...

He pointed out the rank hypocrisy of Trump's supporters!

 
 
 
bugsy
Professor Participates
4.1.89  bugsy  replied to  bugsy @4.1.83    5 months ago

This comment was meant for 4.1.70

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
4.1.90  JBB  replied to  bugsy @4.1.89    5 months ago

original

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.91  TᵢG  replied to  bugsy @4.1.83    5 months ago
Walz was never active duty.

In 2003 he was deployed to Italy and served 9 months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom providing force protection and security.   This was part of the war effort and I strongly suspect he did indeed carry a gun.

He was a National Guardsman in Minnesota, much like the reserves. They are required to serve one weekend a month and one two week period during the year and can be called to active duty at any time. 

Yeah, we know.   And in 2003 he was deployed.

So what is your point this time?   Are you now going to claim that he was never deployed to Italy?

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.92  TᵢG  replied to  bugsy @4.1.87    5 months ago

I suggest you start basing your opinions in fact rather than partisan talking points.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.93  seeder  George  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.84    5 months ago
He took a demotion when he retired because he did not complete his required three years at that rank.

And??? He failed to complete the course work at U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.

He never completed the course work to earn his rank.

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.94  TᵢG  replied to  bugsy @4.1.86    5 months ago
Again

You have no rebuttal.  And you have no case.

This pathetic attack on a patriot has no legs.   And it is disgusting to support a traitor while trying desperately to discredit someone who actually cares about this nation and served in the National Guard for 24 years.

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
4.1.95  JBB  replied to  George @4.1.93    5 months ago

Well Alrighty Then...

original

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.96  TᵢG  replied to  George @4.1.93    5 months ago
He failed to complete the course work at U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy.

How many times do I have to type that he did not complete the program and that is why he took a demotion upon retirement before it registers with you that I have made this point?

He achieved the rank of Command Sergeant Major.   This is a fact; nobody disputes it.   It was provisional, but he achieved the rank.   His rank was reduced for benefits purposes a few months after retirement because he did not continue for the full three years and complete the program.  

Just grab those feeble, dishonest Trump talking points and keep trying to discredit a veteran just because he is a D.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
4.1.97  seeder  George  replied to  TᵢG @4.1.96    5 months ago

You don’t earn the rank if you don’t complete the work, it really is that simple. Now I will give you the last word before I lock this article.

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
4.1.98  JBB  replied to  George @4.1.97    5 months ago

Again, please keep being so pickaune about Walz's service!

 
 
 
TᵢG
Professor Principal
4.1.99  TᵢG  replied to  George @4.1.97    5 months ago

Your opinion contradicts many sources (e.g. ).   I will go with the sources.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
5  seeder  George    5 months ago

Did she pick him based on Gender and skin color? hopefully not because that would be racist. 

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
5.1  Vic Eldred  replied to  George @5    5 months ago

She chose him via ideology. This is a great ticket for the radical left.

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
6  JohnRussell    5 months ago

Best reason to pick Walz  ------------ he's not JD Vance. 

Harris can campaign without an anchor around her neck.  Then again Trump is an anchor around his own neck so maybe it doesnt matter. 

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
6.1  Vic Eldred  replied to  JohnRussell @6    5 months ago
Best reason to pick Walz  ------------ he's not JD Vance. 

And he is not Jewish or smarter than Harris.

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
6.1.1  JBB  replied to  Vic Eldred @6.1    5 months ago

Walz is a person America can see a heartbeat from the Presidency.

Shady JD is not...

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
6.1.2  seeder  George  replied to  Vic Eldred @6.1    5 months ago
And he is not Jewish or smarter than Harris.

You are half right, he isn't Jewish.

 
 
 
Vic Eldred
Professor Principal
6.1.3  Vic Eldred  replied to  George @6.1.2    5 months ago

Shapiro is a lot smarter and far more articulate than Harris. That is the second reason she wasn't going to pick him.

Take a look at what democrats have done to him:

GUOwCUQWYAEpoYR?format=png&name=small

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
6.1.4  Sean Treacy  replied to  Vic Eldred @6.1.3    5 months ago

Yep, he had to humiliate himself and that still wasn’t enough.  He couldn’t overcome being Jewish. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
6.1.5  JohnRussell  replied to  Sean Treacy @6.1.4    5 months ago

When did he humiliate himself ? 

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
6.1.6  Sean Treacy  replied to  JohnRussell @6.1.5    5 months ago

His struggle session where he apologized for supporting israel. 

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
6.1.7  JohnRussell  replied to  Sean Treacy @6.1.6    5 months ago
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro wrote in his college newspaper in 1993 that peace “will never come” to the Middle East and expressed skepticism about the viability of a two-state solution, describing Palestinians as “too battle-minded” to coexist with Israel.

Those decades-old views stand in contrast to Shapiro’s positions today — he supports a two-state solution in the region — as he’s being vetted to be the Democratic vice presidential nominee.

Josh Shapiro said his views on the Middle East have changed since college (inquirer.com)

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
6.1.8  JohnRussell  replied to  JohnRussell @6.1.7    5 months ago

According to right wing dogma, anyone who evolves their thinking to the point where they support a two state solution has "humiliated" themselves. 

jrSmiley_88_smiley_image.gif

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
6.1.9  Buzz of the Orient  replied to  George @6.1.2    5 months ago
"You are half right, he isn't Jewish."

Rejecting Shapiro was no surprise whatsoever to me, because, after all, he's a JEW (God forbid), and these days catering to the latent and patent antisemites, of which there are so many, has got to bring her more votes than she has sacrificed Pennsylvania for.  If it had not been for Oct 7 and everything that followed Shapiro had a chance, but for more reasons than one Harris set him up to be rejected to prove to the antisemites (including The Squad) that she's with THEM.   IMO her rejection of Shapiro gives the Republicans all the ammunition they need to win Pennsylvania, as long as they're smart enough to take advantage of it. 

 
 
 
Split Personality
Professor Guide
6.1.10  Split Personality  replied to  Buzz of the Orient @6.1.9    5 months ago
IMO her rejection of Shapiro gives the Republicans all the ammunition they need to win Pennsylvania, as long as they're smart enough to take advantage of it. 

That's political nonsense. Josh is young and dedicated to the party.  He will probably be able to be whatever cabinet position is offered to him, or finish his work in PA. His future has no limits.

But let's face it, Harris is likely to win and historically put a Jew in the White House.  I never believed Josh had a real shot because of Doug Emhoff.

 
 
 
Buzz of the Orient
Professor Expert
6.1.11  Buzz of the Orient  replied to  Split Personality @6.1.10    5 months ago

Sure, obviously he has a future, but I'm talking about two things: firstly, the  way to win the antisemites' votes, and secondly, which way Pennsylvania is going to go in November.  It's a matter of waiting to see what happens then.

 
 
 
Drinker of the Wry
Senior Guide
6.2  Drinker of the Wry  replied to  JohnRussell @6    5 months ago

I think is Walz is a good pick.  He is an Army veteran and hunter who has spent most of his life in rural and small town Nebraska and Minnesota.  He is the first on a ticket in years that doesn't have a law degree.   A popular Governor who easily won re-election. 

In her first big decision, I think she did better than Biden did 4 years ago.

 
 
 
JBB
Professor Principal
7  JBB    5 months ago

Harris -Walz 

 
 
 
squiggy
Junior Silent
8  squiggy    5 months ago

... and she kicks it off in Pennsylvania? What a douche - good luck with those independents.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
8.1  Sean Treacy  replied to  squiggy @8    5 months ago

It makes you think the original plan was Shapiro before Harris got talked out of it by the Hamas democrats. Seems gratuitous to make Shapiro a finalist and announce he’s a loser in his own state.

 
 
 
Sean Treacy
Professor Principal
9  Sean Treacy    5 months ago

Since Walz has been governor:

Minnesota became a high crime state for the first time ever.

MAth and reading scores plummeted as spending per student skyrocketed

GDP per person for Minnesota fell below the national average for the first time ever.

Energy cost increases far exceeded the national average

Became a high exodus state up with New York, California, Illinois...

 
 
 
Snuffy
Professor Participates
9.1  Snuffy  replied to  Sean Treacy @9    5 months ago

I saw this comment had had to clean my monitor from the coffee spew. Thanks for the laugh dude.

Comedian Tim Young wrote, "Last time Kamala and Tim Walz teamed up: He let rioters burn Minneapolis to the ground... and she fundraised to bail them out." VP Kamala Harris picking Gov. Tim Walz as running mate met with media scorn: 'Such a weird choice' | Fox News

 
 
 
JohnRussell
Professor Principal
10  JohnRussell    5 months ago

this video is hilarious

"The Trump campaign is sinking fast"

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
10.1  seeder  George  replied to  JohnRussell @10    5 months ago

Stay on topic John, it is about Harris VP pick, trump is not the topic.

 
 
 
Ronin2
Professor Quiet
10.1.1  Ronin2  replied to  George @10.1    5 months ago

[]

 
 
 
Snuffy
Professor Participates
11  Snuffy    5 months ago

Well, we'll have to see if he helps that ticket or not. I don't know a lot about him, from what I am able to find online he was a moderate in Congress. When he became the governor in Minnesota he became more progressive. Some of the things he championed during Covid to me are not good decisions but that's my opinion. He was re-elected to the Governor's office in 2018 so I don't know if those Covid decisions would have helped or hindered him in running again.

He could be helpful in the ticket defending the Blue Line of Wisconsin & Michigan. Time will tell. About all I expect right now is a bump in polling for Harris but it's completely unknown if that will continue.

 
 
 
Hallux
Professor Principal
12  Hallux    5 months ago

So Walz is already trashed ... that didn't take long and if veritas be obeyed neither did the trashing of Vance.

Although ... nevermind. 

 
 
 
Tacos!
Professor Guide
13  Tacos!    5 months ago

Seems like a good choice. Experience in the military, state governor, and Congress, give him a deep résumé to assist a president, or replace if necessary.

I know people like to look at what state he’s from and assume it will impact the Electoral College, but statistically, VP choices have almost zero impact on that.

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
14  seeder  George    5 months ago

So NBC news is reporting that Walz and his wife own no property, no stock or bonds. How do you make over 100,000 a year for 15+ years, not counting your wife's salary and own absolutely nothing? 

 
 
 
Igknorantzruls
Sophomore Quiet
14.1  Igknorantzruls  replied to  George @14    5 months ago

Gambling problem, i'd bet!

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
14.1.1  seeder  George  replied to  Igknorantzruls @14.1    5 months ago

Maybe he gave it all to charity? Or used all his money to bail out the rioters that burned his cities down? It just seems strange to me that 2 teachers and then a congressman making 165+ then a Governor who lives rent free don't own a damn thing.

 
 
 
Igknorantzruls
Sophomore Quiet
14.1.2  Igknorantzruls  replied to  George @14.1.1    5 months ago

i'd say it IS strange, but know nothing about it. Gotta get  outta here, out;

 
 
 
George
Junior Expert
14.1.3  seeder  George  replied to  Igknorantzruls @14.1.2    5 months ago

Enjoy your day and be safe.

 
 

Who is online




TOM PA


424 visitors