Posted on 06/28/2006 3:15:42 PM PDT by new yorker 77
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.
Murtha has turned into a US version of UK's Galloway.
He, he, he.
Murtha ain't that worried. Half the voters in his district depend upon the pork Murtha brings in.
YES!
Could impile him????? I think he's finished....pack your bags old man, your going home....come on Irey....show em how its done!!!
The headline had a typo ---- it is spelled Impale, not Imperil.
[Irey, who looks quite young, is a bit green, but her handlers see her as great raw material.]
Bob Novak writes a good piece and I'll agree with everything he says except that Diana Irey is a bit green, she's been a Washington County Commissioner for ten years.
http://www.irey.com/
How about this: All Freepers send a walnut to this nut's office?
From Irey's website:
Because we don’t know, Jack …*
On the Monday, June 26 edition of CNN’s “Situation Room,” hosted by Wolf Blitzer, New York Times editor in chief Bill Keller discussed the newspaper’s decision to publish last week details of a secret U.S. Government program to track terrorist financing.
Here’s a part of the exchange:
KELLER: To the best of my knowledge, three people outside of the administration were asked by the administration to call us. I spoke to one of them. One of them spoke to our Washington bureau chief. One of them spoke to Jill Abramson, our managing editor. All of them spoke, they thought, in confidence, and I don't think I will breach the confidence of what they said, although I will say that not all of them urged us not to publish.
BLITZER: Because in the letter from the treasury secretary, he specifically refers to former Democratic Congressman Lee Hamilton, who, together with the chairman of the 9/11 Commission, Governor Tom Kean of New Jersey, appealed to you not to print this information. I assume you can confirm Lee Hamilton, since the treasury secretary has disclosed his name.
KELLER: I am happy to tell you who we spoke to. I think I'll leave it to them to tell you what they actually said, but I will say that...
BLITZER: Who were the three people outside of the administration that asked you not to report this information?
KELLER: Tom Kean, Lee Hamilton and Congressman Jack Murtha.[1] <#_ftn1>
Some analysts have noted that because Treasury Secretary John Snow has publicly named former 9/11 Commission co-chairmen Tom Kean, Sr., and Lee Hamilton as people he knew to have talked to officials of the New York Times, and because Mr. Keller has indicated that New York Times officials received calls from three people outside the Administration – to wit, Tom Kean, Sr., Lee Hamilton, and U.S. Rep. Jack Murtha – but then goes on to say that “not all of them urged us not to publish,” the question is raised as to whether or not Jack Murtha actually urged the New York Times not to publish.
Today’s question for Jack Murtha:
Did you or did you not urge senior officials of the New York Times not to publish the offensive article?
I would say that is not too far off.
Green still plays better than senile un-American.
Hmmm.... I think the symbolism might be a little too deep for 'Mad' Murtha.
Maybe a buck or two to Irey's campaign instead? Now THAT's some meaningful dialogue!
I don't believe Tom Daschle was too worried either but you don't see him in the Senate any longer.
You have never been to Johnstown. 100% government contracts. It is all the town has.
You've got that 100% exactly right.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.