http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/murtha/ en-us Thu, 2 Oct 2008 17:36:23 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2095919/posts This morning the House of Representatives begins debate on the Senate version of the Wall Street bailout plan. News outlets are reporting the last minute addition of multi-million dollar “sweetners” for House and Senate members to ensure passage. Once again, the disappointing way Washington does business—buy, sell, trade and giveaway.After the failure of the original $700B plan, Congressman Murtha told reporters constituents were calling “50 to 1” against the bailout measure, but voted “yes” anyway. He apparently knew better.So here’s my recommendation to Mr. Murtha. Instead of piling on another layer of taxpayer-funded promises to win a re-vote, Mr.... RussellBrigade.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2095919/posts#comment Thu, 2 Oct 2008 17:36:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2094031/posts Veteran area Congressman John He said he is confident that, with a few changes, the Wall Street bailout plan will pass significantly later this week. Murtha voted for the financial rescue plan on Monday, and on Tuesday he held a news conference to weigh in on the crisis. Via videoconference with local media and district offices, Murtha said he will stay in Washington, D.C., in case he's needed. Murtha said his office has been deluged with phone calls about the issue, 50 to one against what his constituents call a bailout for Wall Street. He said the plane goes way... WJACTV http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2094031/posts#comment Tue, 30 Sep 2008 16:36:33 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2093413/posts ...Rep. John Murtha, who represents the 12th District, and 5th District Rep. John Peterson voted in support of the [bailout] plan. Congressman Bill Shuster, of the 9th District, voted against it. In a written statement, Shuster said his "primary responsibility has always been to protect the interests of the people who entrust me to represent them in Congress..." Murtha did not immediately issue a statement and said he would not do so until "we figure out what's going on right now." WJAC-TV http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2093413/posts#comment Mon, 29 Sep 2008 21:36:09 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091257/posts Sharratt suit seeks 'justice' By Michael Jones, Staff writermjones@observer-reporter.com PITTSBURGH - Hours after filing a federal slander lawsuit against Congressman John Murtha, 24-year-old Justin Sharratt coolly described in one word what he wants from the man who said he and his fellow Marines killed "innocent civilians in cold blood." "Justice," Sharratt said without flinching. "Basically, just showing America that a congressman can't get on TV and say anything he wants." Sharratt, of Canonsburg, was charged in 2006 with three counts of unpremeditated murder after a battle on Nov. 19, 2005, in Haditha that left 24 Iraqis dead. The charges were... Washington Observer-Reporter http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091257/posts#comment Fri, 26 Sep 2008 18:31:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091540/posts Last modified: Friday, September 26, 2008 6:02 AM EDT In this photo taken from his official Web site, Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, waits for his trial to begin. He is suing U.S. Rep. John Murtha for slander, saying the Johnstown congressman presumed him guilty before he had his day in court. (Submitted photo) Marine sues Murtha for slander By MICHELLE GANASSIDaily American Staff WriterA Marine exonerated on murder charges in the Haditha encounter is suing U.S. Rep. John Murtha for convicting him in the media before his day in court. Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt,... The Daily American http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091540/posts#comment Sat, 27 Sep 2008 03:14:22 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091166/posts While congressional leaders wrangled over the details of a federal bailout for Wall Street that could cost taxpayers an extraordinary $700 billion, the U.S House quietly passed an omnibus-spending bill for nearly the same amount Wednesday. The Senate is expected to pass the $630 billion measure by week’s end. Senate leaders wringing their hands over where to find $700 billion for the Wall Street bailout might start with the fine print of the omnibus bill: The measure includes more than $6.6 billion in pork-barrel spending. The 2,000-plus earmarks fill 752 pages attached to the 357-page spending bill. Sen. Ted Stevens,... World http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091166/posts#comment Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:28:18 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091180/posts WASHINGTON – As Congress tried to cobble together a plan to spend huge sums on a financial bailout, lawmakers also moved yesterday toward final approval of an omnibus spending bill with more than 2,300 pet projects, including a $2 million study of animal hibernation. Many lawmakers had promised to go on a diet, but their appetite for the pet projects, known as earmarks, has returned as Congress finishes its work for the year and Election Day looms less than six weeks away. Taxpayers for Common Sense, a budget watchdog group, calculates that earmarks account for $6.6 billion of the omnibus... San Diego Union - Tribune http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2091180/posts#comment Fri, 26 Sep 2008 16:49:42 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090676/posts A former Marine lance corporal exonerated in the investigation into the killing of 24 civilians in Haditha, Iraq, has filed a slander suit against Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.) for allegedly saying that the Marines "killed innocent civilians in cold blood." Lawyers for Justin Sharratt, 24, filed the lawsuit today in federal court in Pittsburgh. Sharratt's family lives in Murtha's district. Murtha, a former Marine and vocal opponent of the Iraq war, made his comments at a news conference in 2006, before Sharratt and seven other Marines were charged for the November 2005 killings. After a preliminary hearing at Camp... LA Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090676/posts#comment Fri, 26 Sep 2008 00:52:26 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2090448/posts First of all, here were the accusations from Congressman Murtha: Right Werds, Korrekt Speech http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-bloggers/2090448/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:36:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090423/posts A Marine from Washington County today plans to sue U.S. Rep. John Murtha for publicly claiming his unit slaughtered innocent Iraqi civilians, according to the man's attorney. A lawyer for Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg on Wednesday announced plans to sue Murtha, D-Johnstown, for comments he made to news outlets concerning the November 2005 killing of about two dozen people in Haditha. Murtha repeatedly said Sharratt and seven fellow Marines "committed cold-blooded murder of innocent women and children," according to lawyer Noah Geary, who scheduled a news conference for 1:30 p.m. today to announce the lawsuit. TRIBUNE-REVIEW http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090423/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 19:14:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090274/posts <p>One of the Marines cleared in the killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad.</p> <p>Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005.</p> Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090274/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 16:19:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090235/posts One of the Marines cleared in the killings of Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha plans to sue his congressman today for statements he says defamed him and other members of his squad. Former Marine Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, 24, of Canonsburg, will file a civil lawsuit against U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha, D-Johnstown, who was widely quoted two years ago saying that eight Marines carried out a cold-blooded killing of 24 civilians in the Iraqi town on Nov. 19, 2005. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2090235/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 15:26:24 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089841/posts Former Marine lance corporal, Justin Sharratt, files suit against Congressman John MurthaSecond defamation suit to be filed by a Marine who Murtha said "murdered innocent civilians in cold-blood". Sharratt is a constituent of Murtha in Pennsylvania's 12th District. Press conferences tomorrow. Developing. Story to follow. Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089841/posts#comment Thu, 25 Sep 2008 01:34:51 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089227/posts Defend Our Heros (William Russell for Congress) Please help fight Jack Murtha join the Russell Brigade and keep this ad running in PA! http://russellbrigade.com/defend-our-heroes/ http://russellbrigade.com/defend-our-heroes/ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089227/posts#comment Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:59:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089216/posts Important interview, since Q&R's home-base station covers much of the 12th district. http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2089216/posts#comment Wed, 24 Sep 2008 12:41:25 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2088705/posts One definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, but expecting the result to be different. One might apply that definition to this year's elections. Every candidate at every level is running on a platform that somehow involves making things in government different. If the candidate promising to make things different is a challenger, that position makes perfect sense - that is why the person is running in the first place. But when the incumbent starts talking about needing to be re-elected to do things differently, anyone with a modicum of common sense should respond with a... The Bulletin http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2088705/posts#comment Tue, 23 Sep 2008 19:58:43 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2084513/posts PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ― Lt. Col. Bill Russell was in the Pentagon when it was attacked on September 11th. "The office I was in was actually one floor up and about 150 feet from where the cockpit ended," says Russell. That experience and his military service in Iraq shaped Russell's strong support for the Iraq war and his political challenge to long-time Democratic Congressman John Murtha. "People can disagree about whether we should be there, but the fact of the matter is that we are there -- and we have no choice but to win and achieve victory," says the Republican... KDKA http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2084513/posts#comment Wed, 17 Sep 2008 18:59:20 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2082541/posts Retired U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Bill Russell of Johnstown will challenge incumbent U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, in the upcoming general election. The Republican candidate retired July 31 from the U.S. military. He and his family moved to Johnstown earlier in the year. "It is a beautiful area; the people are friendly and my wife and I thought it would be a good place to raise our kids," he said, adding that region had caught his interest while serving as a Reservist. The son of a military career officer, Russell attended West Point and then earned his undergraduate degree... Uniontown (PA) Herald-Standard http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2082541/posts#comment Mon, 15 Sep 2008 09:08:41 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081907/posts House subcommittee says funding will keep command at current levelJust weeks away from standing up as the Defense Department’s newest combatant command, Africa Command is facing a serious budget shortfall. For fiscal 2009, President Bush had requested $389 million for AFRICOM, which is expected to become fully operational on Oct. 1 at its Stuttgart, Germany, headquarters. But last week, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on defense recommended providing only $80.6 million in funding — 80 percent less than was requested, according to Matthew Mazonkey, communications director for Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., the subcommittee chairman. "The subcommittee has provided $80.6 million to... Stars and Stripes http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081907/posts#comment Sun, 14 Sep 2008 01:43:14 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081751/posts Rep. Jack Murtha’s (D-Johnstown) opponent in this year’s congressional race -- Lt. Col. William Russell, a decorated Iraq war veteran who was in the Pentagon on Sept. 11, 2001 -- has just released an ad titled “In Cold Blood.” So far, it is one of the most powerful campaign spots to hit the airwaves in the down- ballot races this cycle in the Keystone State. Pittsburgh Tribune Review http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081751/posts#comment Sat, 13 Sep 2008 20:07:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081700/posts Published on CREW's Most Corrupt Members of Congress (http://www.crewsmostcorrupt.org) Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA) Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA) is an 18th-term member of Congress, representing Pennsylvania’s 12th congressional district.  Rep. Murtha chairs the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee.  Rep. Murtha’s ethics violations stem from abuse of his position on the subcommittee to benefit the lobbying firm of a former long-term staffer and from threatening to block earmarks of other members for political purposes.  Rep. Murtha was included as a member to watch in CREW’s 2006 and 2007 reports on congressional corruption.PMA GroupPaul Magliocchetti worked with... Citizens for Responsiblity and Ethics in Washington(CREW) http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2081700/posts#comment Sat, 13 Sep 2008 18:45:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080743/posts Defend Our Marines main page  Who’s Behind the Government’s Delay in Bringing the Haditha Case to a Close? Defend Our Marines | Rusty Howell and David Allender [pdf] September 11, 2008 -- It’s fitting that the last remaining defendant in the Haditha case is the squad leader, SSgt Frank Wuterich. Real leaders take responsibility, and SSgt Wuterich has taken full responsibility for the actions of his squad in Haditha. He has also expressed deep remorse for any civilians who were killed as a result of those actions. Over the past 18 months, Wuterich, still waiting to clear his name,... Defend Our Marines http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080743/posts#comment Fri, 12 Sep 2008 13:44:54 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080269/posts No matter how proud their tradition, every military organization has its embarrassments. The U.S. Marine Corps has John Murtha – currently a Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania. During Vietnam, Murtha gave signs of being quite patriotic. However, something has changed him and many who once respected him wonder if Murtha’s ambitions for leadership in a political party that has a 40 year tradition of trashing the military led to his incredible behavior. Senator John Kerry, D-Mass., slandered those along with whom he claimed to have fought in Vietnam in a hate-filled tirade before a Senate committee in which he compared U.S.... NewsMax.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2080269/posts#comment Thu, 11 Sep 2008 21:00:13 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2078786/posts The Kremlin has been dusting off old Bolshevik intimidation techniques since the U.S. signed a missile defense partnership with Poland last month. The Russian foreign ministry promised that its response "would go beyond diplomacy," and a Russian general mused that this meant its nuclear missiles would have to target Poland. Who would have thought such talk would find an accommodating ear in the U.S. Congress? That will be the question when Illinois Republican Representative Mark Kirk offers an amendment in the coming days to the Defense Appropriations bill to restore funding for missile defense sites in Poland and the Czech... WSJ http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2078786/posts#comment Wed, 10 Sep 2008 04:47:27 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074444/posts **MANAGER’S UPDATE** Great news. Your response to Bill’s $200,000 by 9.11.08 appeal has been incredible! We’re still counting, but by Monday afternoon, we had raised just over $100,000 - over half way to our goal. Thank you. If you haven’t seen the TV spot, “Defend our Heroes,” watch it here As you might expect, since the acquittal of the majority of the Haditha Marines, there has been little or no mainstream coverage. Mr. Murtha’s original “cold blooded killer” characterization still stands in the minds of many in the public. Will you help Bill set the record straight? Will you help... Bill Russell for Congress http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2074444/posts#comment Thu, 4 Sep 2008 13:03:20 GMT