Posted on 10/17/2009 2:33:53 PM PDT by smoothsailing
GOP Sets Sights on House Power Brokers for 2010
Strategists Portray Races as Signs of Democratic Weakness
By David Weigel
October 16, 2009
“Once that happened, the Democrats flooded into the race,” Russell said. “They had a great get-out-the-vote program — ACORN was registering thousands of voters.”
In 2010, Russell is challenging Murtha not so much on his war stance, and not so much on his unfolding ethics scandals, although he said “when you have someone under constant investigation, his influence is waning.” Russell is talking about how Murtha “can’t control his temper” and how he supported the stimulus, which Russell claims is “destroying the economy.” On the war issue, Russell takes credit for Murtha’s lack of visibility.
“He knows that I will hammer him if he doesn’t support the troops,” said Russell. “Otherwise, he’d be voting like Nancy Pelosi asked him to.”
..Snip..
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonindependent.com ...
By Luke Rosiak on 10/16/09 @ 1:13 pm
While the ethics scandals that have multiplied around top fundraisers and earmark recipients of Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., have yet to involve him directly, he now faces a challenge from a different direction: A well-financed opponent.
William Russell, the Republican aiming to do battle with Murtha in the general election, trounced the longtime legislator with an astonishing $2 million in campaign contributions raised–more than House leaders John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi, more than double that of the next-highest grossing challenger, and nearly three times that of Murtha’s haul of $712,000, the most recent campaign finance disclosures filed with the Federal Election Commission show.
While almost 40 percent of Murtha’s take came from political action committees, Russell’s haul came almost entirely from individuals–and without help from the National Republican Congressional Committee. The contributions are largely from out-of-state, indicating that the support may be more about displacing Murtha.
The fundraising total is an indicator that Murtha faces a serious challenge this November, but Russell is doing more than stockpiling a dangerous warchest: With more than a year from the election, he has mounted an active campaign and spent nearly as much as he’s raised.
Murtha, chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, has taken heat for his ties to defense companies, whose PACs provide him with more support than those from any other sector, and for the earmarks he’s steered to contributors. One of his top contributors over his career, the lobbying firm PMA Group–which specialized in getting defense earmarks and contracts for its clients–disbanded after the FBI raided its offices; it remains under investigation.
Murtha has bought this district for life with all of our tax dollars that flood into the district. The city of Johnstown would be a ghost town if all the federal dollars dried up.
Can’t we support Cindy Sheehan against Pelosi?
Which RINOS will the GOP put up against them?
The ones who, once elected, will act exactly like the Dim spend-o-holics.
MESSAGE FROM BILL RUSSELL
You’ve seen the movie, haven’t you? Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Indiana, Pennsylvania’s favorite son, Jimmy Stewart, starred in this black and white classic.
It’s about a naïve, patriotic scout leader who gets appointed to a vacant U.S. Senate seat. Hours after he takes the oath, Smith lands in a hornet’s nest of political graft and corruption. When he gets too close to the truth, the political machine kicks in, and our hero finds himself in a battle to save his own reputation.
The movie was premiered at the National Press Club in 1939 before 4,000 Washington luminaries, including 43 Senators. The Senate Majority Leader called the movie silly and stupid because it made the Senate look like a bunch of crooks. Joe Kennedy, Ambassador to Great Britain and father of a future President and a pair of Senators, tried to block its release in Europe.
The movie exposed a culture of institutional corruption, poked at the underbelly of Capital culture, and hit its mark.
Fast forward to the headlines coming out of today’s Congress, 70 years later. Contracts awarded for campaign cash. FBI investigations into Congressional earmarks. Powerful Congressmen and Senators living by one set of rules and expecting constituents to live by another. The difference is that in our 2009 real-life version, newspapers and telegrams have become tweets, e-mails, and blogs. Instead of powerful newspaper editors and party bosses controlling the public debate, the people have a bigger megaphone.
At the end of the movie, Mr. Smith wins.
Here’s what the movie tells me. If you and I honor our responsibility to poke the hornets’ nest today – to challenge, expose and confront Washington corruption, we might win as well.
I’m Bill Russell, and when it comes to how your government does business, you deserve the facts.
You don’t have to win a majority if you can knock off the most powerful guys.
Murtha’s days are numbered.
YO, GOP ... PLEASE do not run JUAN McLAME against these guys... they can’t win.. you need REAL REPUBLICANS.. strike that...you need CONSERVATIVES..
GOP your current expressions of what a GOP is ..is SORELY LACKING!!
YO, GOP ... PLEASE do not run JUAN McLAME against these guys... they can’t win.. you need REAL REPUBLICANS.. strike that...you need CONSERVATIVES..
GOP your current expressions of what a GOP is ..is SORELY LACKING!!
Guess who the dems will give pork tarp money to in order to buy votes to save their sorry asses.
Have you ever been to Johnstown?
Inquiries to:
POBox 630, Johnstown, PA 15907
Tel. 814-525-9171
Contact me to be added to ping list.
Sure, many times. I live in Washington, PA.
Two good posts, Smooth.
Sounds like the money is coming in and Bill is making use of it.
I’m going to outlive that corrupt bastard if it kills me.
LOL! Here’s hoping we both do!
His ground game is impressive, and we’re still a year out from Election Day!
Run ‘em all out on a rail covered in tar and feathers.
I was only there a few times many years back, but I was astonished how many government contractors were located there. The most corrupt guy in Washington DC, but I don't see how he loses. I thought Diana Irey was a great candidate, and she got slaughtered. The only way to get rid of him is to put him in jail, but he is not as stipid as Blago.
Hopefully we’ll both be delighted on Election Day. I honestly believe Bill Russell can defeat him this time around.
Sure, is she running again?
Yeah, but it would be nice to do both.
I don’t see the dems helping Murtha with much money this time around. He’s already got a primary challenger.
I don’t know. It may be too early. She may need encouragement.
Bill Russell also seriously needs Diana Irey to make some appearances with him as well as do her own separate appearances every now and then for Bill Russell, IMHO. Diana can successfully get some additional money for him by doing this.
We’ll see what developes, she definitely could help him.
Because the head of the PA Republican Committe is in Murtha’s pocket.
He is supporting a Rino buddy in PA, not Bill at this point.
Bass Turd.
http://lvpoliblog.blogspot.com/2009/09/pork-continues.html
“Also, PA GOP State Chairman Robert Gleason has deep ties with Murtha. The GOP had two challengers, Diane Irey and Bill Russell during the last two election cycles. They received virtually no help from the PA GOP. Bill Russell had to reach out nationally to raise sufficient funds. Why would the state GOP not mount a major challenge to unseat the vulnerable Democrat Congressman from the 12th District? Because State GOP Chairman Robert Gleason has deep ties with Murtha.
From an October 4, 2006 press release from the PA Republican Assembly:
“October 4, 2006 Candidate for Congress, 12th District, Diana Irey had a critical fundraiser cancelled by PA Republican State Committee Chairman Robert Gleason the day before the fundraiser was to take place.
The fundraiser was scheduled for September 25th in Johnstown, PA, home to Mr. Gleason and Irey’s opponent John Murtha. Gleason’s excuse...”to go back to the donors would be difficult!”
Excuse us...but political races ARE difficult. If they weren’t...candidates wouldn’t need to raise a lot of money! Mr. Gleason has benefited for many years with his pal Murtha in office, which is fine because Murtha is supposed to represent everyone in the district. It is not fine when this chumminess becomes a conflict of interest in a critical race where the incumbent, an un-indicted co-conspirator in the Abscam bribery scandal and someone who rushed to judgement against our troops in active battle, is gaining favor from his opponent’s statewide party chairman!
Background
Anointed Chairman Gleason has been cozying up to Murtha for years. He stated publicly in 2005 that “I think Jack is a good guy. He has helped our community. He has been the king of appropriations. He has gotten a lot of great things here. This town would be a ghost town without him.”
Other evidence that Chairman Gleason is on the wrong side is given by Bill Choby, Murtha’s 2002 opponent: “He is a moderate who plays politics with both sides in order to secure government contracts for his family businesses. He was a major Murtha supporter while ignoring me completely during my congressional campaigns.”
The PA Republican State Committee, because of it’s lack of basic Republican principles and backbone allowed this milquetoast chairman to be their leader and chart their course right into a minefield that will see the PA Republican Party picking up the pieces for years to come.
PA Republican State Committee by-laws Rule 11.1 clearly states: “Whenever it shall appear that any member of State Committee ... is charged with ... or opposes or is about to oppose the Republican Party or any of its candidates” an investigation will take place and if warranted, the offending official should be removed.
Chairman Gleason’s egregious behavior in canceling a fundraiser in a critical district, at the eleventh hour, for no justifiable reason, constitutes a Rule 11.1 violation and should trigger an immediate investigation.
Gleason should be free to build his business and cozy up to whomever can help him. However, due to this conflict of interest, he cannot effectively serve the interests of the PA Republican party and should be replaced by a qualified principled chairman untainted by these conflicts.”
Another company in trouble is Kuchera Industries. They received over $8 million in earmarks from Murtha in 2008 and have been raided by the FBI and are being investigated by the Federal Election Commission. Washington Post They raised a lot of money for Murtha over the years and spent quite a bit in lobbying activities. Open Secrets
And this is from Mr. Gleason’s brochure for his companies, Gleason Insurance, Gleason Financial, and Gleason Technology:
“We have been able to build our business, knowing Gleason is looking out for all of our insurance needs...”
Ronald Kuchera, Chief Financial Officer
Kuchera Industries
One wonders if “Gleason” is looking out for more than just their insurance needs.”
RUSSELL PING! He's got my money.
PA GOP Party Chair Rob Gleason is rumored to work against Republican Bill Russell
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PA GOP Chair Gleason is rumored to be working behind the scenes to recruit a Republican to run against an already declared candidate in the 12th Congressional District.
William Russell, a retired Army Lt. Col. tried unsuccessfully to unseat Abscam implicated Cong. Jack Murtha in his first attempt; and has already announced his run for a second time. Russell embodies the best of Republican principles and is endorsed by the PA Republican Assembly and FOAC. He should be strongly supported by the PA GOP as the best chance to unseat Murtha.
Chairman Gleason, who has business ties to Murtha, also had tepid support for the previous Republican candidate Diana Irey cancelling a fund-raiser for her at the last minute.
While Gleason’s business relationships are his choice, the appearance of a conflict of interest in both these cases should alert the State Committee to begin a search for a new chairperson free of entangling alliances.
You’re correct, HC, Gleason and Murtha are joined at the hip and every time I see his name my blood pressure rises.
For the life of me I can’t figure out why he’s the PA GOP State Chair, might as well have a RAT in the position.
A campaign should be started to remove his butt. Not until he’s gone will the people have a shot at a voice.
This pressure would be a marvelous tool for conservatives.
Burns has lived in the district his entire life. He's had ample opportunity to run against Murtha. Why now? Why the sudden interest?
It's certainly proof of Murtha's weakness. Murtha also has a challenger in the Democratic primary, the first time that's happened in quite a while-Ryan Bucchianeri For Congress.
I suspect for Burns, he sees it as a way to polish his resume and rub elbows with the Gleason RINO crowd. As a multi-millionaire ( estimates of his personal fortune run as high as 150 million) he's actually attempting to get folks to contribute their hardearned money to his upstart effort. I guess he figures it's better to spend your money than his own. It's hard to take such an opportunist seriously.
He'll be what is seen as an unnecessary distraction to the Bill Russell campaign, but I don't see him as anything more than that. There may even be a benefit to his little Gleason game. If he is able to reach voters that Bill Russell somehow misses and turns them against Murtha, perhaps they will stay on for the General Election and vote for Bill.
I have no doubt that Bill will emerge victorious from the primary.
Yes, and he will be Gleason’s boy.
Gleason won’t do well if Bill wins, thus the shill.
Burns would have served his purpose by taking out Bill, and Gleason would be done with both of them.
All of this is the best evidence of just how much they fear Bill Russell.
Very well said.
They’ll use Burns, just like the left used McCain and then, bye bye.
But on the other hand, how to we know that the RNC didn’t play like Gleason in picking McCain?
Good point, and there's probably something to it. The clubby GOP has it's "good 'ole boy" pecking order and it probably was McCain's turn.
That's Great! Mine too! :)
Ping
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