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.
(Tell me if I need to upgrade!)
Darn, I just compared and realized I made his head way too small in the last one. 'That's it Folks', for tonight anyway!
Nighty Night :-)
Night SS!
LOL, good one Phil. We are the 'headhunters'!!
I think I might have to see what I can do to help her.
Thanks for the helpful comment.
Wonderful picture of all. Congrats.
That's quite the leap there. I'll still sing Gene Taylor's praises. I'd likely vote for him over a lot of New England Pubbies.
also:
LOL! I see I wasn't the only one who found that approach, ummmm, a bit disingenuous.
Mbraynard, if you're really interested, there may be one or two threads on Diana Irey floating around here somewhere. Or you could contact her campaign directly.
That's a good graphic SmartA! If General Sherman hated them they haven't changed a bit, have they?
IMO, large American newspapers have become a cancer. When a rag decides on their own, to compromise national security, they should run the risk of not only doing jail time, but having their doors padlocked for the duration of the conflict. Moreover, I'd jail the lawyers, and judges that attempt to have them released. The MSM, the ACLU, lawyers, and liberal left wing judges are no different than the Islamofacist swines our troops are fighting in Afghanistan, and/or Iraq!
Bump for that but it won't happen.
There's a horse in that picture?
Yes, check out #23. Once you see it, you will know I was just being sarcastic.
Take it easy,
JD
I bet she didn't even fight in Vietnam!!!!
What makes you think I am a liar?
I gave my short-hand analysis based on the article, and then asked for corrections or additional information by someone who actually knows whats going on because they are there geographically or maybe are even working there - not from some pajama patroller whose knowledge is limited to other FR posts on the race.
Please, add me to your ignore list. Thanks.
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