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Murtha's Anti-War Role Could Imperil Him at Home
Human events Online ^
| Jun 28, 2006
| Robert Novak
Posted on 06/28/2006 7:55:00 PM PDT by Patriot814
Rep. John Murtha (D.-Pa.) appears to be suffering "Daschle-itis," a figurative disease which makes entrenched incumbents become national celebrities and, in the process, risk alienating the voters that put them in office.
Since seizing his party's anti-war mantle, Murtha has become a great draw for Democratic fundraisers, helping his party boost its prospects for a congressional takeover. Naturally, this helps his party-leadership bid as well.
But at the same time, his outspokenness made him a huge target for the Internet right. His district went for John Kerry with only 51% in 2004. What originally seemed like a long-shot bid by Diana Irey (R.) to unseat Murtha has taken on new credibility as she raises money from the Internet and as Murtha makes more and more outrageous statements.
Murtha's opposition to the war has never been the real issue. His assertion that the U.S. is the greatest danger to world peace is only the most recent and perhaps most striking example of his potentially dangerous venture into the great left. Even more offensive were his statements condemning Marines who allegedly participated in a massacre in Iraq, which gave no regard to the presumption of innocence or the existence of evidence (the Marines involved maintain their innocence).
In fact, by stating that he had high-level confirmation that a massacre occurred, Murtha may have set a trap for himself. As the court martial begins, he is likely to be subpoenaed in the pre-trial hearings to testify to allegations of inappropriate command influence on the trial. He risks having his high-level sources of information exposed, or exposed as flimsy -- or even non-existent.
Irey, who looks quite young, is a bit green, but her handlers see her as great raw material. She has scored a series of unopposed television appearances on Fox News that have helped her raise money, and her message could resonate in what has always been a conservative Democratic district. Murtha was previously known as a pro-life, pro-gun Democrat. He received biennial votes for speaker from Rep. Gene Taylor (D-Miss.), who, until this year, had refused to support any candidate for the position who was pro-choice on abortion. Leaning Democratic Retention.
TOPICS: Editorial; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2006; dianairey; irey; jackmurtha; murtha; pelosi; pennsylvania
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To: mbraynard
You gave us your opinion and then asked the question.
21
posted on
06/28/2006 8:17:02 PM PDT
by
Cobra64
(All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
To: blake6900
As for Murtha, he's just another in a long line of pennywise, pound-foolish idiots on the Democratic side that fall in love with the media spotlight and forget who put them in Congress in the first place Not just Democrats.
22
posted on
06/28/2006 8:17:14 PM PDT
by
ElkGroveDan
(California bashers will be called out)
To: Onelifetogive
23
posted on
06/28/2006 8:21:07 PM PDT
by
Vigilanteman
(crime would drop like a sprung trapdoor if we brought back good old-fashioned hangings)
To: ElkGroveDan
Not just Democrats. Good point.
24
posted on
06/28/2006 8:21:46 PM PDT
by
blake6900
(YOUR AD HERE)
To: Patriot814
anyone got poll numbers or know where I can go to view them?
To: Patriot814
I sure wish Cindy Sheehan would go to Pennsylvania to fast/campaign for for Murtha.
To: Gordongekko909
Could they be sisters?
27
posted on
06/28/2006 8:28:07 PM PDT
by
Cobra64
(All we get are lame ideas from Republicans and lame criticism from dems about those lame ideas.)
To: george76; Patriot814; Onelifetogive; devolve; potlatch
Anybody got a picture of John Murtha on A HORSE?
28
posted on
06/28/2006 8:29:14 PM PDT
by
smoothsailing
(Support The Troops-Support The Mission--Please Visit http://www.irey.com--&--Vets4Irey.com)
To: smoothsailing
Use a picture of any horse, he's the back half. :-)
29
posted on
06/28/2006 8:32:06 PM PDT
by
jazusamo
(DIANA IREY for Congress, PA 12th District: Retire murtha.)
To: smoothsailing
30
posted on
06/28/2006 8:34:39 PM PDT
by
potlatch
(Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
To: gov_bean_ counter
Does Murtha have any children?I'm aware of a son and a daughter. Not sure if there are any more.
To: DakotaGator
So I guess he hasn't always advocated a premature pullout.
32
posted on
06/28/2006 8:41:34 PM PDT
by
gov_bean_ counter
(There are only a few absolute truths in life, the rest are just opinion.)
To: smoothsailing
Here is the Murtha farm, but not horse...yet.
33
posted on
06/28/2006 8:42:23 PM PDT
by
george76
(Ward Churchill : Fake Indian, Fake Scholarship, and Fake Art)
To: gov_bean_ counter
hehehe...always good to hear the other boot drop ;-)
To: smoothsailing
Anybody got a picture of John Murtha on A HORSE? I've heard there are some of him with a horse. The one he rode in on.
35
posted on
06/28/2006 8:43:32 PM PDT
by
Defiant
(MSM are holding us hostage. Vote Dems into power, or they will let the terrorists win.)
To: smoothsailing; devolve; ntnychik; PhilDragoo; bitt; dixiechick2000; Smartass
This one seems appropriate for Murtha!
36
posted on
06/28/2006 8:45:00 PM PDT
by
potlatch
(Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
To: Cobra64
Ah, yes. Emma can peel for me.
37
posted on
06/28/2006 8:50:43 PM PDT
by
Socratic
("I'll have the roast duck with the mango salsa.")
To: potlatch
LOL, looks like a Dinosaur-Horsey...fits him good!
The old hotdog Murtha may get voted out in this next election.
Diana Irey is closing in on him. Talk about putting a
dent in the Dems anti-war machine if she wins.
38
posted on
06/28/2006 8:55:02 PM PDT
by
Smartass
("In God We Trust" - "An informed and knowledgeably citizen is the best defense against tyranny")
To: Smartass
Used the funniest one I could find, Mexican painting I think!
39
posted on
06/28/2006 8:56:49 PM PDT
by
potlatch
(Does a clean house indicate that there is a broken computer in it?)
To: potlatch; ntnychik; PhilDragoo; smoothsailing; dixiechick2000
40
posted on
06/28/2006 8:58:06 PM PDT
by
devolve
(fx 9125_AMERICANS_KILLED_2003_BY_ILLEGALS MEX_ILLEGAL_GOT_911_TERRORISTS_ID NO_NUEVO_TEJAS)
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