‘Joe the Plumber’ looks to cash in on his 15 minutes of fame.
By on Nov 20th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
‘Joe the Plumber’ looks to cash in on his 15 minutes of fame.
Samuel Joseph Wurzelbacher, aka “Joe the Plumber,” has signed a deal to write a new book entitled “Joe the Plumber: Fighting for the American Dream.” To capitalize on his recent fame, Wurzelbacher is planning to release it on Dec. 1 – less than two weeks from now. The New York Times reports that the book “will address Mr. Wurzelbacher’s ideas about American values.” Wurzelbacher, who had failed to pay his taxes and wasn’t licensed as a plumber, revealed during the campaign that he was once on welfare but is opposed to welfare programs. He also said, “Social Security’s a joke.”
Sort Comments By: Top Rated | Date
85 Responses to “‘Joe the Plumber’ looks to cash in on his 15 minutes of fame.”
View Most Popular
Advertisement
What We're About
What We're Fighting For
What We're Fighting Against
Featured
Subscribe to the Progress Report
Topic CloudView topics sorted by popularity
Bachmann
Boehner
Bush
Cheney
Civil Rights
Congress
Corporate Ethics
DADT
Economy
Energy
Environment
Ethics
Fox News
Gingrich
Global Warming
Guantanamo
Hannity
Health Care
International Relations
Iran
Iraq
Justice
LGBT
Limbaugh
Liz Cheney
McCain
Media
Military
O'Reilly
Obama
Palin
Pelosi
Race
Radical Right
Religion
Rove
Sanford
Sotomayor
Steele
Supreme Court
Terrorism
ThinkProgress
Tiller
Torture
Women's Rights
Visit Our Affiliated Sites
Reports
In-depth studies on select topics
Got a hot tip?
Have a hot news tip? We'd love to hear from you. Use the form below to send us the latest.
ArchivesBlog Roll
yeah, he's looking to become the grand wizard of his local chapter of the kkk.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:46 pmAnd look for that book in the 99 cent store near you soon.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:48 pmI'm guessing the bulk of the budget will have to be devoted to fact-checking.
Oh, wait -- what am I thinking? It's a book aimed at the wingnut market. Fact-checking is irrelevant, and a waste of time.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:49 pmThis is too funny - what a frickin joke - good luck selling your book Joey with the economy in the tank - I'm sure it's the first thing people are gonna run out and buy - ROTFLMAO
November 20th, 2008 at 12:51 pmJoe/Sam the (non) Plumber will be leaving a copy of his book next to every toilet he installs. It will come in handy when the homeowner runs out of toilet paper.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:51 pmWurzelbacher is a F**KTARD!
November 20th, 2008 at 12:51 pmThis moron has had way more attention than my dog and believe me that's a lot. The difference of is my dog deserves it
November 20th, 2008 at 12:51 pmI can foresee a big storefront display.
At Big Lots.
In February.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pmThe fact that Sean Insanity didn't even blink on the video link when Not Joe the Not Taxpaying Not Plumber admitted that he had been on welfare tells you all you need to know about the strength of the winger brain washing (o.k. Insanity lacks a brain but you get the idea).
November 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pmI hope there is a chapter on how to buy your own highly profitable business on a $40,000/year income.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pmI can't believe anyone would publish what this white trash thinks about America...
...they won't publish Bush's...
...why the hell would anyone buy this creeps book...
...ridiculous.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pmWith McCain, Palin & the entire RNC circling the drain, they could use a good plumber to fix that toilet.
Sara, you look a little 'flushed'...
November 20th, 2008 at 12:53 pmWith his target audience, I have to guess there are a LOT of pictures.
But, wait. I think the NY Times could have dug a little deeper:
Things Forgotten wasn't published by PearlGate. Things Forgotten is PearlGate. It's their only title and, oddly enough, the "publisher" is in the same town as the "author."
Can you say "vanity press"?
November 20th, 2008 at 12:55 pmAh -- just in time for gift-giving season. I used to have conversations with my friends where we'd ponder what kind of person would buy a Chia pet as a gift, now we can ponder what kind of person would buy this book as a gift.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:56 pmMaybe PearlGate will publish Bush's book too.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:57 pmSam the nonplumber is the latest GOP entry in an already crowded field for 'Hypocrite of the Year' Award.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:57 pmI can’t believe anyone would publish what this white trash thinks about America…
I think the answer is that Annie Coulter can't give her books away anymore so she is backing publication of Sam/Joe's treatise as another ploy to increase distribution -- "get my book for free and I'll throw in a copy of Sam/Joe's book absolutely free!".
November 20th, 2008 at 12:57 pmWhat I find hard to believe that he had the opportunity to write the book. When did he write it? Where did he find the brains to write it?
November 20th, 2008 at 12:58 pmConservatives sure have low standards.
November 20th, 2008 at 12:58 pmHow ironic is that?
Joe and his bro's don't read books,
so why a book?
(so heritage foundation can give them away as premiums to subscribers)
November 20th, 2008 at 12:58 pmRemember that day he was supposed to be at the McCain rally, but he didn't show?
November 20th, 2008 at 12:59 pmIt better have plenty of pictures, or the target audience for this "literature" will be very confused...
November 20th, 2008 at 1:00 pmThe big difference, Buckie is this: four years ago, progressives knew Bush was a social retard (okay, most of us knew that eight years ago). But there were enough Americans out to lunch that it wasn't yet common knowledge. Wingnuts still loved them some Dubya, and a hardcover book might have been a decent bet for a publisher to take.
Joe the Plumber is at that same stage right now. Those of us who paid attention know he's a right-wing moron, but the right-wingers are incapable of recognizing it among their own kind.
So this publisher figures there's enough stone-cold stupid regressive boneheads out there that it might make this a decent gamble.
Besides, I bet it'll make a great "War on Christmas" gift!
November 20th, 2008 at 1:01 pmkeep it up media. keep him on the front pages. He will be laughing all the way to the bank. Arrgh! Oh, and TP you forgot to mention that "Joe" the unlicensed plumber, tax evader, welfare recipient,non small business owner is also a wife beater and driver without a license. That should get him more air and print time also, you betcha.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:01 pmwow - this thread is like chum...
excuse the OT, but i wanted a fairly new thread... and i can't sit long, but wanted to throw this out...
remember the stories about the Big 3 execs flying their private jets?
ed schultz has a very interesting take on the story, something i totally missed - TP too, it seems...
his concern is that, for these execs, time is money, and all the complications of flying regular airlines could have made for problems...
AND, now THAT is the story, instead of helping the WORKERS and the industry...
where was this concern, those questions, when the bankers and oil execs came to congress? eh???
and i was then wondering about those dems who brought it up at the hearings - are any of them of the BLUE DOG variety? southern states?
that combined with ABC first covering the story, points to another hit on the working class... MY take...
November 20th, 2008 at 1:01 pmJoe gets up at 6 a.m. and fills his coffeepot with water to prepare his morning coffee. The water is clean and good because some tree-hugging liberal fought for minimum water-quality standards. With his first swallow of water, he takes his daily medication. His medications are safe to take because some stupid commie liberal fought to ensure their safety and that they work as advertised.
All but $10 of his medications are paid for by his employer’s medical plan because some liberal union workers fought their employers for paid medical insurance - now Joe gets it too.
He prepares his morning breakfast, bacon and eggs. Joe’s bacon is safe to eat because some girly-man liberal fought for laws to regulate the meat packing industry.
In the morning shower, Joe reaches for his shampoo. His bottle is properly labeled with each ingredient and its amount in the total contents because some crybaby liberal fought for his right to know what he was putting on his body and how much it contained.
Joe dresses, walks outside and takes a deep breath. The air he breathes is clean because some environmentalist wacko liberal fought for the laws to stop industries from polluting our air.
He walks on the government-provided sidewalk to subway station for his government-subsidized ride to work. It saves him considerable money in parking and transportation fees because some fancy-pants liberal fought for affordable public transportation, which gives everyone the opportunity to be a contributor.
Joe begins his work day. He has a good job with excellent pay, medical benefits, retirement, paid holidays and vacation because some lazy liberal union members fought and died for these working standards. Joe’s employer pays these standards because Joe’s employer doesn’t want his employees to call the union.
If Joe is hurt on the job or becomes unemployed, he’ll get a worker compensation or unemployment check because some stupid liberal didn’t think he should lose his home because of his temporary misfortune.
It is noontime and Joe needs to make a bank deposit so he can pay some bills. Joe’s deposit is federally insured by the FSLIC because some godless liberal wanted to protect Joe’s money from unscrupulous bankers who ruined the banking system before the Great Depression.
Joe has to pay his Fannie Mae-underwritten mortgage and his below-market federal student loan because some elitist liberal decided that Joe and the government would be better off if he was educated and earned more money over his lifetime. Joe also forgets that his in addition to his federally subsidized student loans, he attended a state funded university.
Joe is home from work. He plans to visit his father this evening at his farm home in the country. He gets in his car for the drive. His car is among the safest in the world because some America-hating liberal fought for car safety standards to go along with the tax-payer funded roads.
He arrives at his boyhood home. His was the third generation to live in the house financed by Farmers’ Home Administration because bankers didn’t want to make rural loans.
The house didn’t have electricity until some big-government liberal stuck his nose where it didn’t belong and demanded rural electrification.
He is happy to see his father, who is now retired. His father lives on Social Security and a union pension because some wine-drinking, cheese-eating liberal made sure he could take care of himself so Joe wouldn’t have to.
Joe gets back in his car for the ride home, and turns on a radio talk show. The radio host keeps saying that liberals are bad and conservatives are good. He doesn’t mention that the beloved Republicans have fought against every protection and benefit Joe enjoys throughout his day. Joe agrees: “We don’t need those big-government liberals ruining our lives! After all, I’m a self-made man who believes everyone should take care of themselves, just like I have.”
November 20th, 2008 at 1:01 pmNice detective work, gummitch.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:02 pmWhy in the world did Joe the Plumber think he could afford to do this? If he manages to net $250,000 profit in royalties (and naturally Joe thinks this will be a runaway best-seller, just like any plumbing business he buys will generate him hundreds of thousands of dollars), he's at risk of paying 3% more in taxes over the quarter-mil mark -- which would surely destroy him.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:03 pmMy 8-year-old niece asked me to get her the latest Garfield anthology for Christmas. I think Joe's book will make her laugh more.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:05 pmGood luck with that floater.
Poll: GOP image goes from bad to worse
WASHINGTON (CNN) – The Republican Party has hit a new low.
Just 34 percent of Americans in a Gallup Poll released Thursday say they have a favorable view of the party, down 40 percent from a month ago, before the election.
What’s worse: 61 percent of Americans have an unfavorable view of the Republican Party.
According to Gallup, that unfavorable rating is the highest the polling organization has record
LINK
November 20th, 2008 at 1:07 pmWhile I really don't want to give this joke a dime, I am tempted, if my local library carries it, to buy it, make my own book on tape of it and give it as a gag gift for "the holidays." I'd do it in my best James-Earl-Jones-meets-Punky-Brewster's-adopted-dad voice, to give Joe's thoughts the appropriate gravitas they need.
Oh, and farts. Lots and lots of farts.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:08 pmIf they can pump out a book in two weeks, the narrative was already written. No fact checking allowed!
It should be listed in the fiction section.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:09 pm#26: awesome post, Fred.
I doubt if even the wingnuts who think Joe made such a great poster boy during the campaign really want to hear his opinions or read about what he thinks on economic or social policies. It was pretty much a given that he didn't know much about much.
It's the same problem Palin had: just because people think you're awesome at first blush doesn't mean that they want to hear your ill-informed opinions. I will give Joe this - he can talk extemporaneously better than Palin. Although he still doesn't know what he's talking about, he can address a simple question and use basic grammar.
I'm still thinking that Palin / Wurzelbacher 2012 would be a wicked awesome idea.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:13 pm"The book, which will be written with Thomas N. Tabback..."
So Joe isn't an author either, huh?
"planning to release it on Dec. 1..."
Why do I have the feeling that THIS will replace a lump of coal as the stereotypical holiday (sorry Bill-o) gift for the baddie on your list? Too effing funny!
November 20th, 2008 at 1:13 pmThat's the last chapter in the book. Joe loses his plumbing business when he is forced by a black liberal politician to pay an extra $900 in taxes on his $280,000 personal income. It's a very sad ending. I cried through the whole thing.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:13 pmPlumb-bob/Palin 2012
November 20th, 2008 at 1:15 pmUpon some further research, I find that this publisher, PearlGate Publishing, has only published one other book -- and that was written by the guy who's co-authoring (ghost writing) JTP's book.
I imagine such a publisher doesn't have a massive distribution network in place, and I don't know if the big book sellers (Barnes & Noble, Borders, etc.) will jump at the chance to carry it.
I suspect it will mostly be offered online, on wingnut sites.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:17 pm#26 Fred Says:
November 20th, 2008 at 1:18 pmA well delivered story would that the stupid bastard would read it with his free public school provide ability to read
Joe the Plumber: The future of the republican party. You go Joe! You're doing a great job showing the world what backwards assed, knuckle-dragging, destroyers of worlds the republicans are today. Keep talking Joe. Run for public office Joe. You're doing this country a great public service and you don't even know it.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:18 pmElBruce Says
November 20th, 2008 at 1:13 pm
I’m still thinking that Palin / Wurzelbacher 2012 would be a wicked awesome idea.
__________________________________________________________
It would be a good entertainment ticket -- sort of like Gracie Allen running for President on the "Surprise Party" ticket in 1940 as a publicity stunt.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:18 pmThey were the reason that congress had a lower rating than even bush.....watch congress approval rating go up in the near future.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:19 pmWell said Fred!!!
November 20th, 2008 at 1:20 pmHeh. Maybe Billo could add it to his "Holiday Reading" list.
*eyes rolling*
November 20th, 2008 at 1:20 pmAppendix A, "101 uses for an old toilet plunger", is a must have for every household.
And the list of things that you can and can't flush down the john is informative literature at its finest.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:20 pmDoes nobody realize this guy is just a dirtbag off the street that doesn't want to pay bills? Why are we giving him this attention? What a waste of skin.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:21 pmIn other news, a disturbing new report shows that 34 percent of Americans suffer from severe mental problems, including dementia, paranoia, cognitive dissonance, short and long term memory loss, as well as overall mental acuity.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:21 pmWhen this ridiculous book tanks and no one else gives a shit what this bonehead has to say we'll be soon introduced to Joe the Slummer.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:21 pmI know it's a long post and I apologize for that but it makes the point so clearly that I have to share it on occations such as this thread........joe is joe.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:22 pmGracie was much more lovable than palen......at least she knew what true humor was.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:27 pmThe opening chapter is "How You, Too, Can Be a Con Artist" by capitalizing on your completely fictional persona.
If that doesn't work out, he has some mall openings booked as Mr. Clean.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:31 pm#26 Fred, brilliant and very true!
November 20th, 2008 at 1:31 pmJoe should write a book, my guess is he has very few skills, even plumbing skills. Obviously he has no problem embarassing himself, so we know self esteem isn't an issue. So what's left for the guy to do? Write a book and cash in on his dillusions. If he thinks social security is such a joke then he's going to need the money he thinks he'll make from this book to pay for his assisted living home.
I hope Tito the Builder writes a book too, along with Palin's book, it's a trilogy
misshusseinmolly Says:
Upon some further research, I find that this publisher, PearlGate Publishing, has only published one other book — and that was written by the guy who’s co-authoring (ghost writing) JTP’s book.
I always suspected you didn't read my comments; now I know for sure.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:32 pmWho could doubt for even a second that the marketing of this book will be a slam dunk? I have it on good authority that the publisher will be throwing in a free box of crayons with every copy purchased.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:34 pmThis thread has helped remind me to pick up some toilet paper soon.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:40 pmIf the guy can churn out a book in two weeks what is he doing in the plumbing busines?
take care
tony and lido
shoeless Says:
Remember that day he was supposed to be at the McCain rally, but he didn’t show?
In all fairness, he said he would show up sometime between noon and six o'clock. :)
November 20th, 2008 at 1:40 pmLooks like he has fulfilled the Repugnican dream if nothing else.
November 20th, 2008 at 1:45 pmHe sounds like Larry Craig... "I'm not gay, I just like to tap my foot in airport bathrooms."
November 20th, 2008 at 1:55 pmI can honestly say that this is one book that will not be in my peronal library.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:01 pmWhat a joke...I can't believe that his "pearls of wisdom" would fill more that one page...
Now I know the repubs are going downhill...this is their idea of a GOP icon...laughable
November 20th, 2008 at 2:04 pmFred @ 1:01
I deliberately fail to recall any part of A Day in The Life of Joe so I can enjoy reading it again and again for the first time whenever it's reposted.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:07 pmI think missmolly is onto the answer to this one.
See, Joe is in danger of making too much money as a plumber, and his taxes will be raised, which would devastate him and his family.
So he's changing careers, becoming an author who will pump out crap dumbed-down ideological screeds that will be ignored by people who actually read for pleasure.
This will solve Joe's looming problem of paying more in taxes.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:12 pmWho is this "Joe the Plumber" and how is he relevant to our current situation?
November 20th, 2008 at 2:21 pmThank gods! I was beginning to experience some anxiety not having heard about the days and times of SamJoe the plumber's gopher for a week or two now
November 20th, 2008 at 2:24 pmFred - HEHE, oh the irony of it all. Nice story about Joe.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:25 pmBush can get an autographed copy or three for his library.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:29 pmSounds like Joe's book will be a great stocking stuffer for Daniel Henninger in a preceding story. Great minds think alike. I'd buy Joe's book for Henninger but I'm too depressed to shop because the clerks won't say merry Christmas to me.
Oh, and I've written to my county library begging them not to buy Joe's book on my tax dollar. I hope more taxpayers in other public library systems will do the same.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:37 pmYou can't blame Joe the Plumber for trying to or wqanting to cash in on celebrity.
Celebrity is the Great American Lottery. If the fickle finger of fate singles YOU out, you GOTTA go for it. Us lumpen-folk don't get a lot of chances. If you miss it--if you DON'T sue the shitwit who rear-ends you, if you DON'T write a book about your capture by space aliens, if you DON'T try for endorsements after you've swum the Mississippi--then you're missing your (possibly, probably) ONLY chance for the one big score.
Cuz let's face it, we've all worked hard, and if hard work paid off as handsomely as fate or luck or celebrity, we'd all be sinning and sunning on a tropic isle...If you get only one chance, you'd better TAKE the Phucquer...
November 20th, 2008 at 2:47 pmYou're putting me on, Right ?
Of course, did it surprise anyone that Joe was gonna find more ways of shameless self promotion ?
But to write a book in a month. I know students that take more time than that to write a 20 page term paper.
November 20th, 2008 at 2:52 pmA hack tell others what it's like being a hack. One thing the publisher should remember, Joe the Plumber fans don't read!!!They just stand in pews and take orders.
One dumb F*&^ giving advice to other dumb F&^%^^s ,....lol
November 20th, 2008 at 3:00 pmAnd the RNC will buy pallets of the book to push it up on the best seller list, then trash them when they can't give them away.
Who in their right mind would buy a book written by this illiterate jerk? I'm betting he doesn't write a word of it. Just like Sarah Palin. Can you imagine her writing a book? It would be incomprehensible.
November 20th, 2008 at 3:08 pmFor this they cut down trees?
Wrestlemania here he comes!
November 20th, 2008 at 3:12 pmYou ever notice how wingnuts are always writing and reading each others' books? I mean, there's hardly so much of a publishing industry by and for the left. Maybe that's because if we buy a book we expect it to actually have some substantive content. Them, they'll print anything by anybody. Maybe it's a sooper-sekrit plan to destroy all the trees and make hippies cry.
November 20th, 2008 at 3:18 pmTotal fraud. But one, obviously, with a good agent.
One moment in front of the microphone uttering a 10-second sound bite does not make one an expert to speak on any, and every, topic under the sun. The only thing more dangerous than this guy in the spotlight will be the readers who think this guy is "on the right track" and "knows what he is talking about," ala the Rushbots.
But, that is what makes this country great, eh? You can say most anything and someone will believe it - or buy it.
"There's a sucker born every minute" and we are obviously living in a baby boom of them.
November 20th, 2008 at 3:36 pmThe Left gets the presidency; the right gets Joe the [non]-plumber.
Priceless.
November 20th, 2008 at 4:19 pmmisshusseinmolly Says:
Ah — just in time for gift-giving season. I used to have conversations with my friends where we’d ponder what kind of person would buy a Chia pet as a gift, now we can ponder what kind of person would buy this book as a gift.
MissMolly - I'd *MUCH* rather have a Chia Pet. At least they produce oxygen, eh? ;O)
November 20th, 2008 at 4:22 pmSo who are they signing on to actually write SamJoe's book?
November 20th, 2008 at 5:21 pm"joe the plumber:a life in the toilet" by joe the writer
he should become Joe the Suicide Committer
November 20th, 2008 at 5:26 pmThe title of the book will be "Idiot's guide to be an idiot"
November 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pmI have only one question. What do you people have against the guy?
I think you folks just like to TEAR DOWN other people you don't even know for SPORT. How disgusting.
November 20th, 2008 at 9:41 pmI wonder if this book will be on Oprah's book club list?
November 20th, 2008 at 10:11 pmtimmy......see my post at 26....it applies to you as well.
November 21st, 2008 at 12:37 am> I have only one question.
> What do you people have
> against the guy?
He's a liar, he's a fraud, he lies about his income and complains about taxes he doesnt pay anyway, and he's a wifebeater.
He claims he's a plumber yet he's not liscened to be in one in a state that required him to have a liscense.
He was lying about being in an income tax range that would "suffer" under obama's tax plan.
He complains about the government asking him to pay taxes even though he apparently doesnt actually pay them even when he's asked to, anyway.
He complains about social security but apparently doesnt mind accepting welfare..
He makes scandalous assertions about Obama "being bad for israel" then when challenged on this assertion tells us to "look on the internet". A commentatator of FOx News, of all places, actually rebukes him on that one. You KNOW you've gone out on a limb when when Fox News is refuting the anti-obama allegations you're making..
also...
When his wife filed for divorce she made allegations of spousal abuse. Since you guys are the ones so excited about the legitimacy of profiling, let me profile this guy and say he looks, sounds, and talks exactly like the kind of pseudo macho idiot who would actually engage in wife beating..if the pipe fits....
In short, hes a liar, a fake, a fraud, and someone whose trying to nail obama with a question based around a premise which is totally false and untrue. Does that answer your question fer ya?
November 21st, 2008 at 3:36 am> I think you folks just like to TEAR
> DOWN other people you don’t
> even know for SPORT.
Riiight..tearing down peopel should only be done for political gain, like the switboaters did, right timmeh?
November 21st, 2008 at 3:37 amDoes the book come in toilet paper thin pages. If it did I would like to get one so I can think about Samuel every time I wipe
November 21st, 2008 at 1:08 pmI HOPE HE GETS ALL THE $$$$$$$ HE CAN !! THEY USED HIM LIKE A DISH RAG IN THIS ELECTION !!!!! GET ALL YOU CAN !!!!
January 12th, 2009 at 1:10 am