Welcome home, fellow Gator.

The Gator Nation's oldest and most active insider community
Join today!
  1. Hi there... Can you please quickly check to make sure your email address is up to date here? Just in case we need to reach out to you or you lose your password. Muchero thanks!

RIP Joe the Plumber

Discussion in 'Too Hot for Swamp Gas' started by QGator2414, Aug 28, 2023.

  1. QGator2414

    QGator2414 VIP Member

    18,426
    1,616
    1,308
    Aug 24, 2009
    Ocala
    Cancer sucks. One of my best friends was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer a few months ago. Fortunately it was a good rare kind. One that does not typically come back aggressively. Earlier this month he had surgery and was blessed again with not having to have the Whipple procedure. There have been a few minor setbacks in recovery. But all in all he is cancer free as of today. Pray it stays that way…

    RIP Joe the Plumber. You stood for what is great about this country!

    Joe the Plumber dies at 49 | wtol.com
     
    • Friendly Friendly x 5
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
  2. citygator

    citygator VIP Member

    12,035
    2,629
    3,303
    Apr 3, 2007
    Charlotte
    49 is too young.
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
  3. phatGator

    phatGator GC Hall of Fame

    5,687
    5,290
    2,213
    Dec 3, 2007
    Dayton, Ohio
    A friend found out in May she had a brain tumor. She died last week. It can grow so fast.
     
    • Friendly Friendly x 2
  4. FutureGatorMom

    FutureGatorMom Premium Member

    10,937
    1,255
    808
    Apr 3, 2007
    Florida
    Congratulations to your friend! Pancreatic Cancer is usually fatal because it's hard to catch early, sounds like he may have.
     
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  5. QGator2414

    QGator2414 VIP Member

    18,426
    1,616
    1,308
    Aug 24, 2009
    Ocala
    Very lucky. Being a male in his 40s…we are invincible. But they got back from a trip and he was feeling off. Called his wife while at work and headed to the ER. Stayed on the phone to make sure he went. Thought is was heart related. Slight abnormal EKG led to MRI to check for fluid and that came back clean except for a mass on the Pancreas. Definitely caught it early. And lucky the type as well. Apparently the type is much more common in women (90%).
     
    • Fistbump/Thanks! Fistbump/Thanks! x 1
  6. FutureGatorMom

    FutureGatorMom Premium Member

    10,937
    1,255
    808
    Apr 3, 2007
    Florida
    I always tell people how I went blissfully ignorant through my 30's and 40's never thinking of breast cancer. I had a 98% chance of never having it and guess what? I had it. I'm lucky that even though I ignored it, it was still caught early. It's been almost 10 years and thank God I'm still cancer free. All the best for your friend.
     
    • Friendly Friendly x 6
  7. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

    30,267
    1,911
    2,218
    Apr 19, 2007
    Becoming famous for 15 minutes by being on TV
     
    • Agree Agree x 3
    • Come On Man Come On Man x 2
    • Funny Funny x 1
  8. VAg8r1

    VAg8r1 GC Hall of Fame

    21,466
    1,794
    1,763
    Apr 8, 2007
    My condolences to his family. He was way too young. That being said although he became a symbol of the right during the 2008 presidential campaign Samuel J. Wurzelbacher, Joe's full name, was never a licensed plumber and Obama's tax proposal would most likely not have raised either his personal taxes or the taxes on his 2-person business.
    Real Deal on ‘Joe the Plumber’ Reveals New Slant (Published 2008)
    Thomas Joseph, the business manager of Local 50 of the United Association of Plumbers, Steamfitters and Service Mechanics, based in Toledo, said Thursday that Mr. Wurzelbacher had never held a plumber’s license, which is required in Toledo and several surrounding municipalities. He also never completed an apprenticeship and does not belong to the plumber’s union, which has endorsed Mr. Obama. On Thursday, he acknowledged that he does plumbing work even though he does not have a license.

    Neither Mr. Newell nor Mr. Wurzelbacher responded to telephone calls. And Mr. Wurzelbacher has provided only vague information on his and the company’s finances since talking to Mr. Obama. But if the plumbing business remained a two-person company and the net proceeds — after deductions for business expenses — were shared by the two men, both incomes would most likely fall well below the top tax brackets on which Mr. Obama wants to raise rates, as would the company itself.

    Both, in fact, would probably be eligible for a tax cut, said Bob Williams, senior research associate at the independent, nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, though the cut would probably be greater under Mr. McCain’s tax plan than Mr. Obama’s.


     
    Last edited: Aug 28, 2023
    • Agree Agree x 1
    • Winner Winner x 1
    • Informative Informative x 1
  9. QGator2414

    QGator2414 VIP Member

    18,426
    1,616
    1,308
    Aug 24, 2009
    Ocala
    Thank you and Yes! And same to you that the evil cancer never returns! I need to get on the colon stuff as my grandmother had colon. Recovered from that but breast got her not too long after.

    I have spent my focus on the heart knowing family history. Just got my calcium heart score back. Which came back really good. Not perfect but close. Considering my family history and Lp(a)s it was perfect. All zeros and a 3. But cancer is another thing we have the ability to be ahead of the game on.
     
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
  10. QGator2414

    QGator2414 VIP Member

    18,426
    1,616
    1,308
    Aug 24, 2009
    Ocala
    I could call my handyman a plumber/electrician/hvac/handyman. He got labeled "Joe the Plumber". That is what we do in this country. And with that he stood for the hard working American that wanted to build a business while making their community better. You can make a lot of money being a handyman. And that is the point.
     
    • Funny Funny x 1
  11. WarDamnGator

    WarDamnGator GC Hall of Fame

    10,872
    1,360
    1,718
    Apr 8, 2007
    Sad. Hopefully Obamacare made his life a little easier at the end.
     
  12. VAg8r1

    VAg8r1 GC Hall of Fame

    21,466
    1,794
    1,763
    Apr 8, 2007
    The real issue isn't so much as whether or not he was a plumber (technically he wasn't) it's whether Obama's tax proposal would have adversely affected him and based on the data his 2-person business (and he apparently was not the senior of the two partners) would have had to grow exponentially before he and his partner or the business itself would have been hit by the tax increase. In fact based on the available data his taxes probably would have decreased.
     
    • Agree Agree x 2
  13. wgbgator

    wgbgator Premium Member

    30,267
    1,911
    2,218
    Apr 19, 2007
    The death panels got him, possibly the vaccine
     
    • Like Like x 2
    • Informative Informative x 1
    • Come On Man Come On Man x 1
  14. QGator2414

    QGator2414 VIP Member

    18,426
    1,616
    1,308
    Aug 24, 2009
    Ocala
    That is the issue he was standing for. Whether he was in that position or not is irrelevant. The point/issue he made was many want to grow. But you get to a point and the risk reward with what the government will take can become a hinderance.

    This is a tougher issue to understand for those who do not cut checks to the irs directly. IE employer or self employed…
     
    • Like Like x 1
  15. FutureGatorMom

    FutureGatorMom Premium Member

    10,937
    1,255
    808
    Apr 3, 2007
    Florida
    My family history is basically clear of heart disease, diabetes, cancer and anything else you can think of. I'm 62 and extremely healthy. No meds for hypertension or cholesterol. My PCP is like " Well you're stable as usual, you just want to wait 12 months to come back?" I keep my weight down and make exercise a main part of my week.
    I did go for my first colonoscopy in December and I had two polyps they removed. I have to go back in 3 years, I might do it in 2. I had a neighbor who got the all clear for 10 years and within six months she had to go to the ER with pain. She had colon cancer. We just have to be diligent to keep up with screenings and pay attention to what our bodies are telling us!
     
    • Like Like x 1
  16. QGator2414

    QGator2414 VIP Member

    18,426
    1,616
    1,308
    Aug 24, 2009
    Ocala
    Well said!!!

    The Charter Captain and owner of Captain's BBQ in Palm Coast (if you have never been it is an absolute must from food to atmosphere as you can sit and overlook the intracoastal and boat ramp) that I consider a friend was hit with Colon Cancer. He is still crushing life! Does not do many charters in Palm Coast anymore. Though I bet I could get you on one if you wanted. But he does Charters to Punta Allen Mexico and the Grand Slam Lodge where the fly fisherman can land Snook/Permit/Bonefish/Tarpon/Etc...

    I have not had the desire to leave the country. But part of me wants to take my youngest on it. They set it all up for you. Cannot remember if you have to book the airfare or not so a rookie sales post from that standpoint. But guarantee you they would help walk you through everything!!!
     
  17. FutureGatorMom

    FutureGatorMom Premium Member

    10,937
    1,255
    808
    Apr 3, 2007
    Florida
    Thank you for that! My husband would love it, I'll keep it in mind :)
     
  18. Sohogator

    Sohogator GC Hall of Fame

    3,568
    576
    358
    Aug 22, 2012
    CONservatives never let facts get in the way of their crazy…..
     
    • Come On Man Come On Man x 1