Posted on 10/01/2006 11:35:09 PM PDT by neverdem
WASHINGTON, Oct. 1 — For more than a decade, Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania has operated a political trading post in a back corner of the House of Representatives.
A gang of about two dozen Democrats mill around his seat. A procession of others walk back to request pet spending projects, known as earmarks. And Republicans come by, asking him to enlist some of those Democrats to join them on close votes. “Whether they get what they want in the bill or they get the votes they are looking for, nobody ever leaves completely disappointed,” said Representative Paul E. Kanjorski, a Pennsylvania Democrat often found in what is known as the Murtha corner.
Outside Washington, Mr. Murtha, a Vietnam veteran and longtime hawk, may be best known for his break with the president over the Iraq war last fall. But inside the Capitol, he is best known for turning earmarks into power. As the top Democrat on the House military spending subcommittee, he often delivers Democratic votes to Republican leaders in a tacit exchange for earmarks for himself and his allies.
In the last year, Democratic and Republican floor watchers say, Mr. Murtha has helped Republicans round up enough Democratic votes to narrowly block a host of Democratic proposals: to investigate federal contracting fraud in Iraq, to reform lobbying laws, to increase financing for flood control, to add $150 million for veterans’ health care and job training, and to exempt middle-class families from the alternative minimum tax.
In one case that particularly irked Democratic partisans, Mr. Murtha led three others in voting against a politically vulnerable Louisiana Democrat’s proposal to divert money intended to be spent on base closings to research prosthetic limbs for veterans. It failed by one vote.
For their “nays” on that and other matters, all...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
ping
Just adds to solidifying my opinion that congress is one big cesspool of corruption. Who is "for the people"? It appears most have their hands in the cesspool.
If the NYT is trashing murtha, there must be some internal polling that spells bad news for the RATS. (At least that's my wishful thinking)
Cesspool being the operant word here : )
Murtha must have the unions in his pocket.
round up enough Democratic votes to narrowly block a host of Democratic proposals: to investigate federal contracting fraud in Iraq
This is like Stalin ordering the assassination of Leon Trotsky in 1940.
Now 66 years later, who would most easily fit into the U.S. political role of Stalin within the 'Rat Party?
Gosh, I dunno. Heh.
Wow, the NYT actually used the negative-connotated word "gang" when referring to a gaggle of Democrats.
Murtha, stated once again he wants to be "majority" leader..
I'd say that pelosi and the powers that be have decided he's no longer a useful idiot.
Congratulations murtha, you've been publicly demoted to just plain Idiot.
If you read the article Murtha pretty much owns Nancy also.
Right on!!
If it were not for the WOT, I would sit out and actively, encourage all to do the same or in the alternative, support a "throw all da bums out" campaign.
Who was it George Wallace? (paraphrasing) who said there was not a "dimes worth of difference between parties?
The biggest shame about this entire matter is not so much this fat, corrupt, pig is doing what he does, but in that the Republican leadership has apparently acquiesced to his demands and power in exchange for votes.
Utterly shameful and a disgrace.
Time, now, for all of us to feign shock and surprise that any of our elected representatives could be the least bit corrupt. Hell, they are all -- each and every one -- as rotten as humans can get. They are, for the most part, elected for life, have zero accountability, and get filthy rich in the process of conning us out of our money. There should be strict term limits on every last one of them, but there will not be; the con has been perfected, and most will leave congress feet first.
Sorry, but I would stick a large knife in my gut and disembowel myself before I would ever read any article from the Al Quada Times.
I agree there's more than meets the eye. Why publish this now? Unfortunately, it doesn't hurt al-Murthawi at home where his constituents have their noses in the federal trough. The Times must be trying to derail Murtha's campaign for a leadership role.
I just skimmed the article but I don't think it's a HIT piece as much as a "cover". In the complete FBI surveillance tape, Murtha makes a big deal to the undercover agent about the need for the "sheik" to make investments in his district. Murtha tells the agent that it's easier for him to go on the floor and make speeches (and do the other necessary work) on behalf of a potential patron (briber) if he hasn't received anything (no quo for the quid). He makes it clear that he'll get his compensation AFTER the work is done. The NYTimes piece helps establish Murtha as a "dealmaker"... just out to help the people in his district. In the tape, Murtha makes a big deal about wanting to create jobs for the people in his district, "Hey that's my job!!! Everybody else does it. You're attacking me because I'm just better at it."
.....and pictures of some big turds floating around in the Capital Bowl posted above, me thinks.
Yes, it helps him in his district, showing how he brings them money and jobs.
And it hurts him in the leadership race, showing how he's a turncoat working for the republicans.
And it says that it's the republicans handing out money in exchange for votes.
I will still vote for a GOP Presidential candidate because of the SCOTUS appointments and I also don't want to see the likes of Reid, Kennedy and Pelosi dictating what this country will look like.
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