"Joe the Plumber" Gets Union Job, Whines About Co-workers

Alone in his field. Image from source, ABC News

Ugh. From the category of odd right-wing heroes: where are they now comes this update on the whereabouts of one Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher. Apparently, he's landed himself a union job at Chrysler, and has gotten sufficiently mouthy about politics while at work, that he's been branded a "teabagger." Big surprise.

Wurzelbacher--as he is wont to do--is trying to turn it around, and make it into a hypocritical liberal attack on both himself and gay people. Because, a) he doesn't realize that the sexual double-entendre can be performed by straight people too, and b) he doesn't realize that it was the Tea Party itself that used the "teabagger" epithet first, in an attempt to slur liberals. Only it got turned around on them, and stuck. Which is still hilarious, and hilariously perfect. But not as hilarious as the notion that Ol' Joe-the-not-a-Plumber expects us to believe that he's on the side of gay people.

[Excerpt]

‘Joe the Plumber’ Finds New Job, Nasty New Nickname

Looks like “Joe the Plumber” has landed himself a new job – and a new, unsavory nickname. Just four days into his union job at Chrysler, Joe Wurzelbacher says a co-worker called him a “teabagger.” Wurzelbacher catapulted into the national spotlight in 2008 when he questioned then-Sen. Barack Obama’s tax plan. After the encounter went viral, Wurzelbacher became something of a Republican icon, an example of Democrats quashing entrepreneurial spirit. Wurzelbacher campaigned for Sen. John McCain, scored a book deal and even made an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House of Representatives – all as a staunch conservative. . .

Read more at: ABC News

This Just In: Joe "The Plumber" is an Idiot

But, then again, you knew that. It's really something, the caliber of the Tea Party heroes, isn't it?

[Excerpt]

Joe The Plumber Has Brilliant Analysis Of What Caused The Holocaust



. . .Mr. The Plumber, who apparently would like some more attention, please, has a new ad out that explains that gun control caused both the Holocaust and the Armenian genocide. That is some First Class trolling there, Joe, but you forgot one tiny, teeny thing. . .

Read more at: Wonkette

Joe the Plumber Wins Ohio Primary for Congress

Image from Wikipedia

Did I say that Ohio avoided embarrassing me for not voting for Rick Santorum? I take it back. Any state that would vote for Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurtzelbacher for anything is not to be taken seriously. Okay, maybe I should just save my ire for the 9th district, but still.

"Joe" gained fame by posing as a licensed plumber (he wasn't) named Joe (he isn't), and asked then-candidate Obama an inaccurate tax question. The reason this catapulted him to fame was that it prompted from Obama the inelegant response, ". . .right now everybody’s so pinched that business is bad for everybody and I think when you spread the wealth around, it’s good for everybody. . ." And the right took that answer to mean that Obama is a communist pinko socialist (and on and on).

But "Joe" turned out to be less than he said, and was in fact behind in paying taxes. And he's kind of a doltish lummox. But that is all it takes--in this post-Sarah Palin candidacy America--to be a political superstar. Embarrassing.

[Excerpt]

Joe The Plumber Wins: Samuel Wurzelbacher Defeats Steve Kraus In Ohio Congressional Race

An Ohio plumber thrust into national politics during the 2008 presidential campaign has won the Republican nomination in his home state as he makes a bid for Congress. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Picture of the Day: Kirk Cameron & Joe The Plumber at CPAC

Cameron's prayer to be hidden in shadow was apparently successful.

I kind of feel bad for the attendees of this year's CPAC (and by the way, doesn't it seem like CPAC happens two or three times a year?). They've got a man they imagine to be a demon in the White House, and yet they can't get excited about any of their candidates. I mean, if somebody told you six months ago that Rick (don't Google me) Santorum would be the front runner for the GOP nomination?

I have heard a few nasty things about this year's convention, and I might get to those later. But this picture just sort of encapsulates the sad state of affairs in Right-Wing World right now. Kirk Cameron, late of the dreadful film series (based on the even worse book series), Left Behind, and Samuel "Joe the (not really) Plumber" Wurtzelbacher. Cameron has taken being a publicly apocalyptic Christian to ridiculous lengths, and Joe? Well, Joe just seems to hang around conservative events and people. I never would have dreamed when I first covered that character 3½ years ago on this blog, that he'd still turn up. Anyway, there you have it. A washed up church fart actor, and a nobody non-plumber: GOP super stars!

Source: Wonkette

Victoria Jackson's PolitiChicks Show

Image from Reddit

Oh, mercy. No. You would think that certain fringe political figures would just embarrass themselves into oblivion. But it is not to be. There are several, like Michele Bachmann, Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum, who are running for president. There is Dennis Miller, who jumped on the conservative bandwagon during the Bush Administration, and painted himself into a very small corner. Then there are the uncategorizable, like Samuel (Joe the Plumber) Wurtzelbacher, who is unbelievably running for Senate. And even lower down the ladder, Miller's former Saturday Night Live cast mate, Victoria Jackson.

Jackson's political acumen amounts to regurgitating the words of Rush Limbaugh and his imitators, along with FOX "News" and FreeRepublic.com. And then, throw in a heaping helping of religious fervor. Jackson's knowledge doesn't run deep, and her arguments don't tend to be logical. And, when delivered in that Betty Boop voice from a middle-aged, corpulent woman's body, it just isn't cute anymore. I worry about what audience would find her entertaining. But then, I worry about the followers of the GOP presidential field too.

[Excerpt]


Victoria Jackson's 'PolitiChicks': Former 'SNL' Star Launches Anti-Gay, Anti-Muslim Web Show



Victoria Jackson has never been one to mince words, having stirred controversy for sounding off on both Occupy Wall Street and the portrayal of gay characters on "Glee" this year. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Thanks to my friend, Tracy for the link.

Joe the Plumber and the Notorious Moderates: Rove, Huckabee, Gingrich

This post from AmericaBlog just cracked me up. Only in right-wing world is Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher worthy of endorsing candidates. And only in right-wing world are Karl Rove, Mike Huckabee and Newt Gingrich moderates. Unbelievable.  But the point about Sharron Angle is on the money.

[Excerpt]


Joe the Plumber running ads in support of Teabagger in MO Senate race; says Newt and Rove too 'moderate'





Some people seriously don't know when their time is up. Having said that, this can't bode well for Roy Blunt.


Yes, his opponent, teabagging state Sen. Chuck Purgason, is way behind Blunt in the polls, but so was GOP nutjob Sharron Angle in Nevada. . .

Read the rest at: AmericaBlog

"Joe the Plumber" Doesn't Owe John McCain Sh*t!

Image from source, Raw Story

With the huge list of cartoon characters on the right, from Michelle Bachmann to Glenn Beck to Sarah Palin, it's easy to forget some of the also rans. Like "Joe the Plumber!" Mr. Samuel Wurtzelbacher--who wasn't, and may still not be a licensed plumber--rode that wacky cable-news fame wave as far as it would take him. He managed to excite the tea baggers, before they had dipped a bag yet. But he doesn't sound to happy these days.

[Excerpt]

Joe the ‘Plumber’: ‘I don’t owe John McCain shit, he really screwed up my life’

For one-time political icon Joe Wurzelbacher, reminders of his old campaign buddy Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) aren't exactly pleasant.

Some grapes turn more sour than others, it seems. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Sarah Palin Fans Love Her, Don't Know Much About Her

President Barack Obama took a lot of heat for his celebrity status, his "cult of personality." Some of it is deserved, of course. He did seem to come out of nowhere. And many of his supporters went overboard. Still, it could be argued that after eight years of the Bush Administration, some enthusiasm for someone totally and utterly different was warranted. But the McCain-Palin campaign tried to turn "celebrity" into a bad thing. The right-wing radio yakkers, FOX "News" and their followers played up this angle, and continue to.

So, whither Sarah Palin? She is no doubt a celebrity. There is also certainly a Carrie Prejean/Joe the Plumber "famous for being famous" air about her. Her fans are devoted in a way that rivals a cult. But they can't exactly say why they love her so much. She's "real" and she's "honest" is about the best they can do. Which is strange, since to me she seems utterly phony and has only a passing familiarity with the truth. Oh well. . .

Sarah Palin in 2012? Go for it!

Image from source, Raw Story

Sarah Palin is going to be inescapable for the next couple of weeks, with a media blitz that includes Oprah and Barbara Walters. You'd think she was white-hot popular, and a shoo-in for the 2012 Presidential race, right? Maybe not so much. As the excerpted article below shows, she does have enthusiastic support. . .among a small slice of the electorate. Probably that same slice that watches FOX "News" all day, and thought that George W. Bush did a heckuva job.

I think a run at it would be highly entertaining. First the primaries, where there is enough material available for her GOP competitors' negative ads. That'd be a hoot. And supposing she made it through that gauntlet, she'd then have to rally about 30% more of the electorate than she currently commands. Daunting task. President Obama would then just have to cobble together all the GOP bits, and let 'em roll. I say run her!

And a little bit of a sidebar now. Conservatives are very defensive about the treatment Palin has received, alleging it's a personal, character assassination. Possibly. A little. But there is more to it than that. For some time now, the GOP and its defenders have been hoisting up a slate of cartoon characters as their standard bearers. Palin. Carrie Prejean. Mike Huckabee. Michelle Bachmann. John Boner Boehner. Joe the freakin' Plumber. And they defend and support them with vigor. Until they don't (poor Levi Johnston, where have your defenders gone? Don't worry, Carrie Prejean will be there to join you soon).

When bloggers like me assail them, it is not entirely aimed at the public figure. Much of the effort put into these "attacks" is to point out the hypocrisy and unseriousness of their followers. Plus a whole lot of schadenfreude.

[Excerpt]

Poll: Plurality of Americans do not like Sarah Palin

Looks like the voters are going rogue.
According to new CBS News figures [PDF link], 38 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of Sarah Palin. Meanwhile, 37 percent are not paying attention, saying they do not know enough to form an opinion. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Sean Hannity for President?

Image from source, World Net Daily

Hahahaha! The story is from World Nut Net Daily, so consider the source. But I'd find such an effort hilarious. Especially if they pair him with Sarah Palin or Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurtzelbacher. Ooo! Or Michelle Bachmann!

[Excerpt]

President Hannity? Talker drops hint

Talk-show host Sean Hannity, a vocal opponent of Barack Obama's policies, said today he would not rule out a bid for the presidency in 2012.

Egged on by radio colleague Bill Cunningham, Hannity said he would consider entering the front lines of the political fray if God directs him. . .

Read more (if you dare) at: World Net Daily

Michelle Bachman, Touched by God?

Image from source, Wonkette

Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann (R-Minn.), potentially the craziest member of Congress, has apparently been hearing the voice of God. I don't know if she talks back, but He seems to be in regular communication with her. And she's waiting for word to see if she should run for President! Lucky us! My dream slate for the 2012 Republican primaries: Sarah Palin, Tom DeLay, Rick Santorum, Joe the Plumber, Orly Taitz and most definitely Michelle Bachmann.

[Excerpt]

Michele Bachmann Will Be President BUT ONLY If God Orders Her To

Important World Net Daily provocateur Drew Zahn has written the puff piece from Hell about psychotic Minnesota Monster Michele Bachmann, and you must read it, to be informed about politics. The fappery begins like so: “She began her political career simply, as a Christian mom concerned about the content of school papers her children brought home in their backpacks, but today she has become one of the leading defenders of liberty and conservative principles on Capitol Hill. . .”

Read more at: Wonkette

Meghan McCain on the Dumbassary of Joe the Plumber

Picture from source, Think Progress

I knew I liked this girl. Mark my words, she'll be ditching the GOP one of these days. After all, the roster of Republican All-Stars are only shades better than Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurzelbacher.

[Excerpt]

Meghan McCain: ‘Joe the Plumber — you can quote me — is a dumbass.’

The day before the White House Correspondents dinner, Jamie Kirchick interviewed Meghan McCain for Out, largely focusing on her outspoken support of gay rights. During the interview, McCain took a crack at a man her father made famous during last year’s presidential campaign, Joe the Plumber. . .

Read more at: Think Progress

Stuck on Stupid: Joe the Plumber and "Queers"

Image from source, Think Progress

I had an internal debate about whether or not to post this. Why? Because first of all, Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurtzelbacher has no area of expertise, and his inane utterances should not matter, regardless of what he's talking about. Secondly, even though he's an utterly clueless boob, the people who have made him a celebrity don't care about that. They love him despite--perhaps because of his boobishness. Like Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, and countless other GOP cartoon characters, the stupider and crazier, the better apparently.

Still, I guess it can't hurt to point out how stupid these characters are, so here ya go.

[Excerpt]

Joe the Plumber: I would never let gay people ‘anywhere near my children.’

. . .People don’t understand the dictionary—it’s called queer. Queer means strange and unusual. It’s not like a slur, like you would call a white person a honky or something like that. You know, God is pretty explicit in what we’re supposed to do—what man and woman are for. Now, at the same time, we’re supposed to love everybody and accept people, and preach against the sins. . .

And then there's this:

. . .When asked if he had planned to run for public office, Wurzelbacher said he didn’t have any “right now.” “God hasn’t said, ‘Joe, I want you to run. . .’

Great, now he's hearing voices.

Source: Think Progress

Steven Weber: Glenn Beck, Crazy Everyman

Actor/blogger Steven Weber has a great post up at Huffington Post that centers on the new FOX "News" superstar, Glenn Beck. I'm almost always enamored with Weber's writings, but here he locks right into something I've been reading and hearing about lately (and I don't just mean Beck), most recently on last night's episode of Real Time with Bill Maher.

In that episode, Maher interviewed meta-celebrity, Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurtzelbacher. The interview was only interesting on Maher's side, and from the (almost) acknowledgement that Joe was in it for the fame. After all, his original mission--confronting Barack Obama on his tax policy--was not only semi-factual, it has gone by the wayside with Joe's foray into the political sphere. Sure, he's hawking some sort of "fair tax" plan at the moment; but only for the moment. Joe's been all over the place, as an economic "expert," as a war correspondent (who wanted to abolish war correspondence), not to mention writing a book and fielding other media offers.

Similarly, Glenn Beck claimed to be a champion of the little guy, but with his growing fame has become one of the big guys. And, like Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, this big-paychecked star is now fairly removed from the crowd he is preaching to. Anyway, Steven Weber sums it up better, so have a look.

[Excerpt]

Lonesome Rhodes' Wild Ride

. . .Glenn Beck is not so much Everyman as he is the worst in every man. He is yet another in the recent line of high profile media loudmouths which began with Father Coughlin in the late 1920's and reached their apotheosis with the creation of an entire network devoted to indiscriminate rabble-rousing under a false banner of ethical, unbiased journalism, Fox News. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Bill Maher's New Rules, April 3, 2009

Real Time with Bill Maher was back on its game this week, with a very entertaining show. And the interesting thing was, the panel included two conservatives, and there was even an appearance by Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurtzelbacher. OK, that last bit could have been excised, and while Maher did get in a few sly digs, too much credence was given to Wurtzelbacher as a legitimate personality.

That aside, the discussion was engaging for the whole show, with Sam Donaldson, David Frum, and Reihan Salam providing spirited discussion. I still want to slap Frum for being so condescending and patronizing, but he reminds me so much of a conservative friend of mine (hi, Jeff!), I just can't get mad at him. Carol Leifer was the sore thumb in the mix, but she's so funny and bright, it didn't matter that she didn't meld with the rest of the group.

As usual, New Rules was a standout part of the show, and it was in fact the best installment this season. Maher's take down of circus side show Glenn Beck was brilliant, with the final part of the segment the icing on the cake. I actually applauded the TV at the end. So, enjoy. . .

Watch more YouTube videos on AOL Video

"Joe The Plumber" Don't Know Much

Sigh. I have had a lot of fun at the expense of the ever-growing cast of cartoon characters that populate today's GOP. Sarah Palin, Eric Cantor, Michelle Bachmann, Michael Steele, Bobby Jindal and others are all ripe for parody, and regularly provide us with material. But the single most mystifying, head-scratching Republican hero is Samuel "Joe the Plumber" Wurtzelbacher.

As said endlessly here and elsewhere, he's not Joe, he's not a Plumber, he has no particular identifiable knowledge base or skill set. He's famous for asking then candidate Barack Obama an impertinent--and factually inaccurate--question on the campaign trail. And though he's done nothing of substance to earn his fame, he just keeps popping up. Who ever thought, when Republicans had such a stranglehold on government, that they'd sink this low?

GOP Trashes Sarah Palin, Also

Photo from source, Huffington Post

This story interests me because of a conflict that might not be immediately apparent. If you visit far right-wing sites like Free Republic, you'll find that Sarah Palin is still greatly loved--even revered--among the right-wing base. They show near-equal love for characters like "Joe the Plumber" and Bobby Jindal too, so there's no accounting for taste. But what is this lock-steppy bunch to do when party leaders trash their moose-skinning heroine? It's not just the evil "liberal media" doing it now, guys!

[Excerpt]

Republicans Disinvite Palin From Major Fundraiser, Trash Her In Private

Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin is out, and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich is in as keynote speaker at a Republican dinner this spring.

Palin, the party's 2008 nominee for vice president, had been slated to address the annual Senate-House Dinner in Washington on June 8. The dinner, sponsored by the House and Senate Republican campaign committees, is one of the GOP's biggest fundraisers. . .

Read more at: Huffington Post

Unions Protest "Joe the Plumber"

As a blogger, I am often stymied by correct usage of punctuation. Sometimes I just make it up as I go. For instance, I prefer the British method of placing punctuation within quoted segments. But what do you do with Samuel Wurtzelbacher? Is it "Joe the Plumber," or Joe the "Plumber?" Considering his name isn't Joe, and he's not a plumber, I guess it should be "Joe" the "Plumber." Whatever he is, he's still inexplicably making political pronouncements, and making an ass of himself on behalf of the GOP and their causes.

But what happens when you place a non-licensed plumber in the position of arguing against something that union members are for? Hilarity, I'm sure.

GOP in Exile! The New Republican Sitcom

There is a site called "Radio Equalizer" that serves those interested in talk radio. It is sometimes known by critics as Radio Tranquilizer, and isn't given much credence by those not "in the tank" for the conservative side of the political spectrum. But I went there to see if there was any--undoubtedly biased--news on the Randi Rhodes situation.

What I found was an odd post about the "sitcom" that Rush Limbaugh feels he is in, populated by curious liberal characters. Well, two can play at that game. I might characterize the last eight years as a horror movie, but if I was going to cast a conservative political sitcom, I couldn't do better than this. Let's meet the cast of "GOP in Exile."

Caribou Barbie - Sarah Palin, the great Republican 2012 hope, was hopelessly flummoxed by the likes of Katie Couric. She can't speak extemporaneously--much like George W. Bush--but has mastered the "pageant answer." She peppers responses to questions with phrases like "all these years," and "in this great country of ours." But her answers are always meandering, which was demonstrated to comedic effect by Tina Fey on Saturday Night Live. Word-for-word quotations as comedy. Also.

Piyush "Bobby" Jindal - The governor of Louisiana has been touted as the "next Ronald Reagan." But his big national debut, rebutting President Barack Obama's address to Congress was almost universally ridiculed. Even if he was having a bad hair day, Jindal is of Indian descent, formerly Hindu, and once performed an exorcism. Not exactly a stock Republican "type." Plus, he picked his nickname by watching The Brady Bunch. No joke.

Comedian Rush Limbaugh - Got out of Viet Nam service on a questionable medical deferment. Once addicted to prescription drugs that were illegally obtained. Almost completely deaf as a probable side-effect of his addiction. Took a very questionable "pleasure trip" to the Dominican Republic with a stash of illegally obtained Viagra. Big, fat idiot. And an ego to match the size of his ass.

Mitt "Mittens" Romney - A Mormon. Right there enough to disqualify him from the large evangelical Republican "base." But he's also a major-league flip-flopper, with evangelist/anchor man hair, and a tendency to try to sound "hip."

John "Boner" Boehner - Histrionic, seemingly drunk much of the time. Cries. And has the weirdest facial twitch this side of George W. Bush's "coke jaw."

Sean "The Manatee" Hannity - Dumber than a box of rocks, with a savant-like ability to remember Republican talking points. Allegedly puppet-mastered by the audibly abusive, headache-inducing Mark Levin.

John "Hunhhh?" McCain - More like the confused Grandpa Abraham Simpson now than ever. Is he wearing an onion on his belt?

Michael "You Be Da Man" Steele - The unhippest black guy in the universe. Completely tone-deaf to political reality, and wayyy too willing to kiss Limbaugh's patootie.

Michelle "Excuse Me, Stewardess, I speak Jive" Bachmann - Batshit crazy. The 2009 version of 2004 Katherine Harris. But great for comedy.

Karl "Turd Blossom" Rove - Corpulent Republican toadie. The renowned "architect" of the disastrous past eight years. Prone to unknowingly ironic pronouncements. Somehow able to obtain special treatment from Congress.

Ann "The Man" Coulter - Adam's appled Annie is a caustic, sexually ambiguous character. She has a knee-jerk response to any situation: "It's the Democrat's Fault!" She's one note, but is hauled out by FOX "News" as an "expert" on almost any subject.

Joe the (not) Plumber - Samuel Wurzelbacher, the unlicensed plumber from Ohio, opines on un-American ideas like the silencing of the press. He's also apparently some sort of financial expert, though he fudged his taxes.

Now that's a sitcom!

Stuck on Stupid, Pt. 4: The Whole Crazy CPAC Crew

Keith Olbermann and Eugene Robinson did a great wrap-up of the big ball of crazy/stupid/desperate that is the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), and the current Republican Party in general. It's a hoot!