Two Republicans try to ensure that Murtha runs unopposed

Red State ^ | Feb. 23, 2008 | by Mark Kilmer

[jdm]

Jack Murtha is invincible. He's survived ABSCAM [Hannity and Colmes vid] and waltzed through recklessly slandering our troops in Iraq. And he seeks to walk to his 18th term, with the help of two "Republicans."

Bill Russell [campaign site] is a 44-year-old Army veteran who wanted to challenge Democrat Murtha as a Republican, but he might not be included on the Republican ballot in Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional District because of two people referring to themselves as "Republicans": former Johnstown Mayor Don Zucco and Johnstown attorney Jeanne McKelvey. Those two have petitioned the Commonwealth Court to keep Russell's name off the April 22nd ballot because, they insist, he did not collect the requisite 1,000 voters' signatures.

Read On…

The Murtha re-election committee, in an e-mail message on Friday, said that "it appears to us" that Russell's nominating papers contain "over 180 invalid signatures or unregistered voters in the 12th Congressional District."

Russell says he had more than 1,000 valid signatures, but he's counting on the stupidity of the two "Republican" petitioners. On the court papers, the listed him as "William M. Russell." His name is actually "William T. Russell."

"If they can't get my name right, what validity do their complaints have?" Russell said.

If the signatures are not valid, their complaint is. And if they win, Murtha is unopposed this November.

I got my story from the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, who say they tried to contact the two "Republicans" for the story but received no comment.

Murtha's hometown paper, the Johnstown Tribune Democrat, got this comment from "Republican" Zucco: "There are lots of ways to support the congressman." He supports Murtha. Well, he's a former mayor of Johnstown who has at least seen his city's pockets stuffed by Murtha in the form of earmarks (pork). Nobody has talked to McKelvey.

We'll keep an eye on this one, but it looks like Murtha may have been spared another challenge by that solid Republican constituency: "GOPers 4 Okinawa Jack."

[the invisib1e hand]

I thought it was Martha. As in Martha Stewart.

[TBP]

Obviously enthusiastic McCain Republicans.

These are the kinds of poeple who are destroying the GOP and should be forced out of it.

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[Cicero]

Getting rid of Murtha should be a high priority for any conservatives in this country.

I did a little googling, and apparently these guys ARE Republicans. But Murtha controls so much pork and gravy he evidently put pressure on them in one way or another to do this.

Although I can’t vouch for its accuracy, I found some information on this angle at this blog:

http://www.urlfan.com/local/murthas_tentacles_of_corruption_run_deep_in_pa12/68890877.html

[Digger]

This is the game of the corrupt “Two-Party Cartel”. These pubbies have NO ideology - empty vessels. The founding fathers warned us about political parties but the sheeple bought it hook line & sinker.

[Brad from Tennessee]

As LBJ aide and bag man Bobby Baker used to say: “Money talks and bullsh*t walks.”

[WOSG]

“I thought it was Martha. As in Martha Stewart.”

Same difference. Martha Stewarts a bigtime Democrat fan.

I read something that shwoed data that most criminals were Democrats. Maybe Martha picked it up behind bars.