Posted on 02/08/2010 2:24:03 PM PST by Smogger
The death of longtime Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha (D) this afternoon will set off a special election in his very competitive western Pennsylvania 12th district.
According to state law, the governor has ten days once the vacancy is officially declared to decide on the date for the special election, which can come no sooner than 60 days following that proclamation.
That likely means the special election will be held on May 18, which is the date already set for federal primaries around the state. (Special elections costs the state huge sums of money and it's likely that Gov. Ed Rendell will choose to go with an already established election day to save some cash.)
Murtha's passing comes at a tenuous time for House Democrats as they seek to convince some of their older members to re-up for another term in the face of what looks to be a difficult national political environment for the party.
To date, 12 Democrats -- including long-serving Members like John Tanner and Bart Gordon (both of Tennessee) -- are calling it quits at the end of the year. Sixteen Republicans are retiring at the end of the 111th Congress although just four of them are leaving office entirely; the other dozen are running for higher offices like Senate or governor.
Murtha, 77, had held his seat with ease since 1974 even as it became increasingly more competitive between the two parties. The only semi-serious challenge to him in recent years came in a redistricting-forced primary race against then Rep. Frank Mascara in 2002, which Murtha won easily.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
Only for the Senate, they must hold an election for the house.
His defeat and retirement would have been great. I certainly don’t want to see anyone die in the name of politics. Indeed, not a day to celebrate.
I WILL WASTE NO TEARS. SORRY GOR HIS FAMILY.
PLUGS LIVED IN CENTRAL NY FOR YEARS.
Yes, I’ll take the same approach you have and say I’m sorry for the mans family. But as to Jack Murtha himself, well... let me just say I’m glad he’s finally out of politics.
Rest assured, my FRiend. He and the Swimmer are sharing their own special spot, I'm sure....
It’d be nice to see another Scott Brown type campaign here, with a solid, personable GOP conservative candidate.
This election is guaranteed to turn into another national referendum on the Obamunists, with both sides throwing everything they have at it.
Additionally, the Tea Partiers, we Freepers, and freedom-loving conservatives across the nation can once again join in a bottom-up fashion just like we did with Scott Brown, contributing money and effort directly to the candidate.
A defeat for the Dims for this election will be utterly devastating, particularly if Obama shows up and they lose again. Even more interesting will be if Obama hangs back and does not show up to campaign for some hand-selected Obamunist candidate.
At any rate, this election will have massive national implications for November, one way or the other.
We here need to be prepared to step into the fray and help make sure the Dims are sent packing one more time.
As the saying goes, "God is not a Republican, but Satan definitely is a Democrat."
You’re right. How could I have forgotten all those verses in the Bible where Jesus gloats over His dead enemies?
As for being an “evil man”, well, I myself have been guilty of great evil from time to time. But maybe you haven’t. Bearing this in mind, please feel free to cackle self-righteously over my grave after I die.
Jack Kelly said recently Murtha would never lose an election in his district...only way he’d ever be gone is through his death.
My-oh-my, so maybe you feel a little kinship with wicked Murtha, well I don't and no suffice to say, I 've done no great evil in my life thank God, certainly not on the order of a Murtha or a Ted Kennedy.
If you are capable of great evil, I suggest you find a way to get rid of it asap before you die, if not I'll be 'happy' to know that you'll get yours also in due time.
The USMC ought to refuse and respectfully suggest Code Pink do his funeral.
If you are capable of great evil, I suggest you find a way to get rid of it asap before you die, if not I'll be 'happy' to know that you'll get yours also in due time.
If only I could be as holy as you.
Today..the same day I heard the news that Murtha died...
..I received a campaign solicitation letter from William T Russell, a GOP candidate for Murtha’s seat.
What I know about him is in his letter.. a Lt Col in the US Army reserve, Iraq War veteran, Pro gun rights, Pro tight border security, anti-death tax and capital gains taxes..and wants to make the Bush tax cuts permanent, pro-life (thought that isn’t an issue I’m big on..one way or the other).
In his letter he claimed that Murtha apparently felt threatened enough by him that Murtha’s chief of staff threatened to have Murtha use influence with the Secretary of the Army to get Russell recalled to active duty... to keep Russell from running aginst Murtha..and that Russell’s former commanding officer was willing to testify under oath that he had been contacted by Murtha’s office with regard to that very threat!!
Sounds like an OK candidate.
Anyone know more about him?
Is he the real deal?
pissant
They need to honor the Fat Traitor like they honored teh Fat Swimmer after he croaked.
I’ve already forgotten what honors the Submarine Commander got when he fizzled.
Wasn’t he buried at sea..in a 1967 Oldsmobile Delmont?
Smogger
Good he’s dead. Good, Teddy is dead. This is starting to be a good twelve months. They are about the same and left the same dump in the outhouse of history
Shame on you.
This isn’t DemocratUnderground or the Daily Kos... where those kind of comments are the rule rather than the exception.
WE are better than that.
Will I shed a tear over Murtha’s death?
For his family..yes..but for him? Sorry..I can’t, that would be a lie.
But we shouldn’t be like those vicious turds and haters at the left wing wacko sites and REJOIOCE in this mistaken guy’s death.
He was wrong..and he was obviously corrupt.. and he will receive his just deserts by a higher court than any here on earth.
No need for us to pile on.
You can, check out my homepage.........
I am simply acknowledging and giving praise to the providence of the Lord.
they will need a creative voting procedure to hold a general election (to fill the vacancy) on the same day as the GOP and DEM primaries.
Could turn into a mess with lots of irregularities. Give the people two paper ballots ... they are bound to get mixed in with each other, at least a bit.
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