His fellow Tea Party icon Allen West may be in deep denial and throwing temper tantrums over his apparent defeat, but Illinois favorite loudmouthed idiot (and former deadbeat dad) Joe Walsh is already moving on following his nearly 10 point defeat at the hands of Tammy Duckworth. That Walsh lost despite nearly $7 million in spending for him ($2.7 million alone spend on attack ads against Duckworth) must sting, but the fallen Tea Party darling is already looking ahead.
And what might his future plans be? Yesterday, Walsh gave an interview to the Daily Herald and the answer may both surprise and delight you, especially my fellow Illinois Democrats:
Less that 12 hours after his concession speech to Democrat Tammy Duckworth, Congressman Joe Walsh was not ruling out a future bid for governor or U.S. Senate.
Describing a "dearth" of Republican leadership in Illinois, Walsh said someone needs to step up. And the McHenry Tea Partyer, know for his charismatic candor and caustic rhetoric, said Wednesday it just might be him.
We can't be this lucky. We just can't be this lucky. Here's Walsh going more in detail to how he can win, proving he's yet another Republican who doesn't get the lessons of Election Night:
Q. So, how do Republicans win over those independent, swing votes?
A. It's by having a clear stance. You have to go to independents and say to guys and girls, "The state has the worst foreclosure crisis in the country." Republicans need to go to Latinos and Hispanics and blacks and say, "the education you're getting at city public schools is terrible." I believe in school choice. Republicans have to stand for real ideas. If all we have to do to get more votes is sound like Democrats, we're never going to win. We can't out-Democrat the Democrats.
Shorter Walsh: "We lost because we weren't conservative enough! Our ideas are the best! Screw moderation!"
I don't think I'm going out on a limb to say Walsh as a statewide nominee would be a dream come true for Illinois Democrats. Hell, they'd probably encourage it. Having this loose-cannon loudmouth atop the GOP ticket (whose highlights this election season including saying Duckworth wasn't a "true hero" despite her double amputee status, screaming in the face of constituents at public gatherings and making a late entry into the GOP Rape Caucus) would likely be a disaster for the Illinois GOP.
To be fair, Walsh did also say in the interview that he may also become a political pundit. For the sake of what little dignity he has left, I advise he go that route. Hell, Fox News probably has reserved seats ready for both him and Allen West come January.
But on strictly political terms: Run, Joe, Run!