Cliff & Joe Walsh verbally duel over Maine's chaotic Senate race, the Nazi-tattoo question, and whether character still matters in Democratic primaries. Tequila Talk gets real.
I’ve watched and listened to Graham Platner in many interviews. He HAS apologized for past actions. He doesn’t “use” his military past and culture as an excuse…he talks about it as a mitigating factor. You will hear him say that it’s not an excuse, but rather an explanation of where his head was during that time.
I would also characterize him as much more “centrist” than “leftist,” based on how he describes where he stands on issues. And I think he is as authentic as a person can be given the times we are living in.
Joe, there is a great interview of Platner on The John Stewart podcast. Check it out. And I am not an antisemite, but I 100% believe Bibi is committing genocide, so I agree with Platner on that point.
Thx for the comment, Peggy. I thought what you said was the case. I’ve looked him up since, and have seen him apologize. I found it ironic I was defending him to Joe, and re the broader pro-democracy coalition, we’re so quick to cast ppl aside when we need every new person we can get. His billionaires message, on monopolies, our failing system is pitch perfect. I haven’t found him lying about his mistakes. I’ll keep looking. And, look, military culture is a mitigating factor. I was heavily in jock culture bc I was a recruited athlete. I wish I could take back things I said in high school & college. So many are quick to criticize what they’d give themselves a pass for.
Re Bibi, I don’t like using genocide, bad historical implications wrt Jews, but I get why it’s used. I call Bibi a war criminal & mass murderer, and think it spells it out pretty well.
You need to stop using the term genocide. Its definition does not fit your intent. Yes, Bibi is responsible for the killing of innocents by virtue of his belief you can kill “an idea” he is only creating an army of the future. At the same time the civilians need to figure out how-to get Hamas out of Gaza. They hide amongst civilians and are directly responsible for their deaths. Until then Paestinians understand that they could live in peace alongside Israel they will continue to sacrifice their offspring to a belief that they can actually eliminate the Israelis. Genocide, if you must know, is the active institution of destroying people based on their face/genetic makeup. If Israel was indeed genocidal, there would not be any Arabs living peacefully inside Israel proper. To be sure, there are many.
Joe, there is no tent big enough for you and me. Why would you criticise someone who has been embraced by the citizens in his state who trust and believe in him? You are the fraud. Enjoy your tequila in a room by yourself.
I meant voters. Democrats "embrace" all their candidates. We'll see in November what the voters embrace. Currently I'm about 50/50 leaning a little to Susie Concern keeping her job. There's just too much baggage the GOP can make hay with, considering what they can gin up when there IS no baggage.
If Elizabeth Warren is a voter in Maine, she's in big trouble, and in danger of being expelled from the Senate for representing Massachusetts under false pretenses!
Platner is not a Nazi. He got a Tat while in the Marines in Croatia. The Tat is a skull and cross bones. Not SS lighting bolts, no nazi symbols. Basically the Jolly Roger. I met him a year ago we had a long talk he’s legit.
I guess I should be embarrassed because I didn't know that tattoo had anything to do with Nazis. I've read a lot and studied and didn't come across the tattoo. I asked a couple friends and they had it as a skull and crossbones like pirates or poison.
Alaskan here, not a libertarian! Not a native either I’ve been here for about 30 years. My husband‘s been here about 60. Just remember Alaska used to be blue before oil came here.! and it’s taken this long for the money to dry up and for people to wake back up again we love Mary Peltola ! 😍
He DID say that- and I am appalled! I pasted this during the live but no reaction!
As of September 2025, a United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel, under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu, is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip
Platner isn't "authentic" though; if you look at his background, he's play acting at being "working class." He comes from an upper middle class family and while some of his background abuts "working class" and might give him some understanding of those less privileged than himself, he enjoyed privileges the average "working class" person doesn't. If he were honest, the way Al Gore famously was (those ads in 2000 that openly owned his ultra-privileged upbringing and then said that he wanted to fight for others to be able to enjoy some of the opportunities he had), OK, he'd get a pass. But he's projecting an enacted persona. As well, he has a history of misogynist, racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks and affiliations that he brushes off rather than offer more than a half-hearted apology for: his attitude (and that of his followers) seems to often is that it's OUR problem for being too sensitive. Also, only MEN get to be all "working class." Women who work are never presented that way. I don't even see AOC called "working class" a lot although she herself does often mention her background as a bartender. (She also is a little more middle class than some think, so good on her.)
No, Rashida Tlaib is one of a handful of people on the left where I draw a hardline. She is rude, condescending and cheered people for booing Hillary Clinton — in 2020, nearly four years after Hillary left politics. The only other one I can think of I would never vote for is the useless, showboating Cori Bush. I do follow the #1 most progressive member of the House on Instagram (Becca Balint of Vermont) and I think she's terrific.
Cliff, I hope you think twice before interviewing Joe under the influence of tequila again. We don’t need any more sanctimonious bullshitters around here.
Joe, you probably won’t read this but I need to say it. You come across as an inauthentic blow hard recent convert trying to convince everybody how holy you are. Good luck with that. Meanwhile, Democrats and thinking people in America know that if we don’t come together under whatever covering is big enough, we will definitely lose to this oligarchy and democracy will die. Either get on the bus or get off. Please!
I don’t know about any of you, but no one I know had any idea what his tattoo represented until AFTER opposition research pushed it aggressively into the headlines. Because of this, I find it far more plausible that it was done out of ignorance – simply not knowing what it meant – rather than out of malice, especially since there’s NO concrete evidence connecting him to any hate group.
Politics can be a very dirty and underhanded game. Cutthroat strategists routinely distort, slander, and vilify opponents to give their preferred candidate an advantage, and we’ve seen this happen in countless campaigns.
This isn’t about someone’s policy ideas or their competence. It’s about understanding how the political game works and deciding for yourself whether something being pushed into the headlines is accurate OR being used strategically.
Wikipedia:
"Much of Platner's extended family is Jewish, and his stepbrother, Seth Frantzman, senior Middle East correspondant and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, lives in Jerusalem. Platner has said that he is friends with members of the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem."
I’ve watched and listened to Graham Platner in many interviews. He HAS apologized for past actions. He doesn’t “use” his military past and culture as an excuse…he talks about it as a mitigating factor. You will hear him say that it’s not an excuse, but rather an explanation of where his head was during that time.
I would also characterize him as much more “centrist” than “leftist,” based on how he describes where he stands on issues. And I think he is as authentic as a person can be given the times we are living in.
Joe, there is a great interview of Platner on The John Stewart podcast. Check it out. And I am not an antisemite, but I 100% believe Bibi is committing genocide, so I agree with Platner on that point.
Thx for the comment, Peggy. I thought what you said was the case. I’ve looked him up since, and have seen him apologize. I found it ironic I was defending him to Joe, and re the broader pro-democracy coalition, we’re so quick to cast ppl aside when we need every new person we can get. His billionaires message, on monopolies, our failing system is pitch perfect. I haven’t found him lying about his mistakes. I’ll keep looking. And, look, military culture is a mitigating factor. I was heavily in jock culture bc I was a recruited athlete. I wish I could take back things I said in high school & college. So many are quick to criticize what they’d give themselves a pass for.
Re Bibi, I don’t like using genocide, bad historical implications wrt Jews, but I get why it’s used. I call Bibi a war criminal & mass murderer, and think it spells it out pretty well.
You need to stop using the term genocide. Its definition does not fit your intent. Yes, Bibi is responsible for the killing of innocents by virtue of his belief you can kill “an idea” he is only creating an army of the future. At the same time the civilians need to figure out how-to get Hamas out of Gaza. They hide amongst civilians and are directly responsible for their deaths. Until then Paestinians understand that they could live in peace alongside Israel they will continue to sacrifice their offspring to a belief that they can actually eliminate the Israelis. Genocide, if you must know, is the active institution of destroying people based on their face/genetic makeup. If Israel was indeed genocidal, there would not be any Arabs living peacefully inside Israel proper. To be sure, there are many.
Joe, there is no tent big enough for you and me. Why would you criticise someone who has been embraced by the citizens in his state who trust and believe in him? You are the fraud. Enjoy your tequila in a room by yourself.
He actually hasn't been "embraced" by anyone as he is now a candidate without an opponent.
Key Democratic leaders who have embraced Platner include Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY)
https://youtu.be/gtzts-Tq5qQ?si=wBF07ok6U7TdxhT0
I meant voters. Democrats "embrace" all their candidates. We'll see in November what the voters embrace. Currently I'm about 50/50 leaning a little to Susie Concern keeping her job. There's just too much baggage the GOP can make hay with, considering what they can gin up when there IS no baggage.
If Elizabeth Warren is a voter in Maine, she's in big trouble, and in danger of being expelled from the Senate for representing Massachusetts under false pretenses!
Platner is not a Nazi. He got a Tat while in the Marines in Croatia. The Tat is a skull and cross bones. Not SS lighting bolts, no nazi symbols. Basically the Jolly Roger. I met him a year ago we had a long talk he’s legit.
Platner's tat'ners over Smegseth's schmegraphics any time.
I guess I should be embarrassed because I didn't know that tattoo had anything to do with Nazis. I've read a lot and studied and didn't come across the tattoo. I asked a couple friends and they had it as a skull and crossbones like pirates or poison.
Joe, as a Democrat-come-lately, you don’t get to decide the size of our tent…
Alaskan here, not a libertarian! Not a native either I’ve been here for about 30 years. My husband‘s been here about 60. Just remember Alaska used to be blue before oil came here.! and it’s taken this long for the money to dry up and for people to wake back up again we love Mary Peltola ! 😍
Joe , did I hear you say that Israel is NOT committing genocide?
He DID say that- and I am appalled! I pasted this during the live but no reaction!
As of September 2025, a United Nations Commission of Inquiry concluded that Israel, under the leadership of Prime Minister Netanyahu, is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip
Joe Walsh is a Zionist that excuses Israel for genocide. That’s why he doesn’t like Platner, he stands against genocide. Choose your fighter
Any Democrat that will WIN bigly is OK by me, stop the bleeding then the cosmetic surgery.
Platner isn't "authentic" though; if you look at his background, he's play acting at being "working class." He comes from an upper middle class family and while some of his background abuts "working class" and might give him some understanding of those less privileged than himself, he enjoyed privileges the average "working class" person doesn't. If he were honest, the way Al Gore famously was (those ads in 2000 that openly owned his ultra-privileged upbringing and then said that he wanted to fight for others to be able to enjoy some of the opportunities he had), OK, he'd get a pass. But he's projecting an enacted persona. As well, he has a history of misogynist, racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic remarks and affiliations that he brushes off rather than offer more than a half-hearted apology for: his attitude (and that of his followers) seems to often is that it's OUR problem for being too sensitive. Also, only MEN get to be all "working class." Women who work are never presented that way. I don't even see AOC called "working class" a lot although she herself does often mention her background as a bartender. (She also is a little more middle class than some think, so good on her.)
No, Rashida Tlaib is one of a handful of people on the left where I draw a hardline. She is rude, condescending and cheered people for booing Hillary Clinton — in 2020, nearly four years after Hillary left politics. The only other one I can think of I would never vote for is the useless, showboating Cori Bush. I do follow the #1 most progressive member of the House on Instagram (Becca Balint of Vermont) and I think she's terrific.
I wasted half an hour listening to a genocide apologist, why are you talking to him?
I’d love to come try that delicious sounding beer!🤤
Cliff, I hope you think twice before interviewing Joe under the influence of tequila again. We don’t need any more sanctimonious bullshitters around here.
Joe, you probably won’t read this but I need to say it. You come across as an inauthentic blow hard recent convert trying to convince everybody how holy you are. Good luck with that. Meanwhile, Democrats and thinking people in America know that if we don’t come together under whatever covering is big enough, we will definitely lose to this oligarchy and democracy will die. Either get on the bus or get off. Please!
I don’t know about any of you, but no one I know had any idea what his tattoo represented until AFTER opposition research pushed it aggressively into the headlines. Because of this, I find it far more plausible that it was done out of ignorance – simply not knowing what it meant – rather than out of malice, especially since there’s NO concrete evidence connecting him to any hate group.
Politics can be a very dirty and underhanded game. Cutthroat strategists routinely distort, slander, and vilify opponents to give their preferred candidate an advantage, and we’ve seen this happen in countless campaigns.
This isn’t about someone’s policy ideas or their competence. It’s about understanding how the political game works and deciding for yourself whether something being pushed into the headlines is accurate OR being used strategically.
Wikipedia:
"Much of Platner's extended family is Jewish, and his stepbrother, Seth Frantzman, senior Middle East correspondant and analyst at The Jerusalem Post, lives in Jerusalem. Platner has said that he is friends with members of the Israeli human rights organization B'Tselem."
I think walch should be quiet. many of us have turned 180 degrees over years after we grow up
Not this Lynda!