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MURTHA BREAKS (Dreher, The Corner)
The Corner ^ | Nov 17 05 | Rod Dreher

Posted on 11/17/2005 4:20:47 PM PST by churchillbuff

Don't know how many of you caught Rep. John Murtha's very angry, very moving speech just now in which he called on the White House to institute an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. CNN didn't air the entire thing, but as I listened to it, I could feel the ground shift. Murtha, as you know, is not a Pelosi-style Chardonnay Democrat; he's a crusty retired career Marine who reminds me of the kinds of beer-slugging Democrats we used to have before the cultural left took over the party. Murtha, a conservative Dem who voted for the war, talked in detail about the sacrifices being borne by our soldiers and their families, and about his visits out to Walter Reed to look after the maimed, and how we've had enough, it's time to come home. He was hell on the president too.

If tough, non-effete guys like Murtha are willing to go this far, and can make the case in ways that Red America can relate to -- and listening to him talk was like listening to my dad, who's about the same age, and his hunting buddies -- then the president is in big trouble. I'm sure there's going to be an anti-Murtha pile-on in the conservative blogosphere, but from where I sit, conservatives would be fools not to take this man seriously.

(Excerpt) Read more at corner.nationalreview.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Foreign Affairs
KEYWORDS: 109th; chamberlainbuff; churchillbuffoon; dreher; morerattreason; murtha; neville; wardchurchillbuff
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To: Non-Sequitur
"No but having served in two wars gives him a level of credibility that those who avoided service don't have."

Cheney has also "served" this nation, and I might add through more than two wars.

Allow me to indulge in a bit of elderly "elitist" military thought.
Ground pounders are undeniably tactical experts, but were once generally assumed doctrinally unable to comprehend the validity of strategic war plans.

That "given" has changed astronomically in the past two decades, for a whole lot of reasons.
A total all volunteer force.
An emphasis on combined forces at all levels of command and control operations.
Technology.
Flexibility.

I include myself among those who "learned the lessons of Viet Nam".
But the people in uniform today are very different from the people in uniform in the 1980s and before.
It is an entirely different force structure, and I generally error on the side of caution when I feel the need to criticize.
(Except for that MOAB, man I really love that bomb!, and all those drone thingys, and the...etc)
Some of us are more than willing to defer to the civilian leadership, just as we always swore we did, but even more forcefully nowadays, since I know for a fact that President Bush, VP Cheney, and may God bless him, Rumsfeld, have a better grip on strategic military goals than any other administration in my lifetime.
201 posted on 11/17/2005 6:43:45 PM PST by sarasmom ("The French are revolting." Some phrases are true on so many levels, it's mystical!)
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To: PhiKapMom

You say that well. Thank you!


202 posted on 11/17/2005 6:43:57 PM PST by rock58seg (My votes for Pres. Bush, the best man available, have finally borne fruit with Alito's nomination.)
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To: churchillbuff
Image hosted by Photobucket.com
203 posted on 11/17/2005 6:44:52 PM PST by USAConstitution
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To: fat city
"By Erin P. Billings and Emily Pierce Roll Call Staff May 6, 2004

Signaling a new, more aggressive line against the Bush administration’s policy on Iraq, Rep. John Murtha (Pa.), the House Democrats’ most visible defense hawk, will join Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) today to make public his previously private statements that the conflict is “unwinnable.”

You need to send this to Brit Hume and Rush.

204 posted on 11/17/2005 6:45:26 PM PST by tarheelswamprat
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To: sarasmom
Ground pounders are undeniably tactical experts, but were once generally assumed doctrinally unable to comprehend the validity of strategic war plans.

Hey, watch it! :-}

205 posted on 11/17/2005 6:47:29 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: RobbyS
Here's another soldier and politician. Did we believe him:

Murtha might have just given up years of honorable service for a brief moment in the spotlight.

206 posted on 11/17/2005 6:49:50 PM PST by swheats ("You can run, you'll just die tired")
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To: Texican

2004 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy's calculations, in 2004, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on social policy issues than 60 percent of the Representatives.

2004 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy's calculations, in 2004, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on economic policy issues than 64 percent of the Representatives.

2004 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy calculations, in 2004 Representative Murtha voted more conservative on economic policy issues than 35 percent of Representatives.

2004 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy's calculations, in 2004, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on foreign policy issues than 66 percent of the Representatives.

2004 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy's calculations, in 2004, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on foreign policy issues than 33 percent of the Representatives.

2004 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy's calculations, in 2004, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on social policy issues than 40 percent of the Representatives.

2003 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy's calculations, in 2003, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on economic policy issues than 44 percent of the Representatives.

2003 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy's calculations, in 2003, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on social policy issues than 55 percent of the Representatives.

2003 According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2003, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 55 percent of the Representatives.

2003 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy's calculations, in 2003, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on foreign policy issues than 53 percent of the Representatives.

2003 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy's calculations, in 2003, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on economic policy issues than 56 percent of the Representatives.

2003 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy calculations, in 2003 Representative Murtha voted more conservative on foreign policy issues than 46 percent of Representatives.

2003 According to the National Journal - Composite Conservative Score's calculations, in 2003, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 45 percent of the Representatives.

2003 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy's calculations, in 2003, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on social policy issues than 44 percent of the Representatives.

2002 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy's calculations, in 2002, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on economic policy issues than 66 percent of the Representatives.

2002 According to the National Journal - Composite Conservative Score's calculations, in 2002, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 42 percent of the Representatives.

2002 According to the National Journal - Composite Liberal Score's calculations, in 2002, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on economic, defense and foreign policy issues than 58 percent of the Representatives.

2002 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy's calculations, in 2002, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on foreign policy issues than 56 percent of the Representatives.

2002 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy's calculations, in 2002, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on economic policy issues than 34 percent of the Representatives.

2002 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy's calculations, in 2002, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on social policy issues than 47 percent of the Representatives.

2002 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy's calculations, in 2002, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on foreign policy issues than 44 percent of the Representatives.

2002 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy's calculations, in 2002, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on social policy issues than 52 percent of the Representatives.

2001 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Economic Policy's calculations, in 2001, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on economic policy issues than 27 percent of the Representatives.

2001 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Social Policy's calculations, in 2001, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on social policy issues than 47 percent of the Representatives.

2001 According to the National Journal - Conservative on Foreign Policy's calculations, in 2001, Representative Murtha voted more conservative on foreign policy issues than 36 percent of the Representatives.

2001 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Economic Policy's calculations, in 2001, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on economic policy issues than 72 percent of the Representatives.

2001 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Social Policy's calculations, in 2001, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on social policy issues than 52 percent of the Representatives.

2001 According to the National Journal - Liberal on Foreign Policy's calculations, in 2001, Representative Murtha voted more liberal on foreign policy issues than 61 percent of the Representatives.




Murtha is a liberal, nothing more, nothing less.


207 posted on 11/17/2005 6:52:58 PM PST by jwalsh07
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To: Willie Green
Time to bring the troops home and let the Iraqis govern themselves.

Sometimes I have nagging doubts about my position on something. Then I find I am on the opposite side to Willie Green and my selfconfidence is restored.

Thank you Willie!

208 posted on 11/17/2005 6:53:05 PM PST by rock58seg (My votes for Pres. Bush, the best man available, have finally borne fruit with Alito's nomination.)
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To: Jim Robinson

Leaving Iraq now would be like leaving a football at the beginning of the 4th quarter when you are ahead by 5 touchdowns. How could anyone honestly think that they would still win the game by giving the opponent the field with a quarter left to play? Oh yea, and the officials are the UN. How ignorant can the Dems be?


209 posted on 11/17/2005 6:58:10 PM PST by Pure Country
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To: sport

"We can either kill them or they will kill us. There is no third option."

So, I take it you would rather see us fight this war as if we were really fighting in a war? If so, I agree.


210 posted on 11/17/2005 7:01:54 PM PST by Sun Soldier
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To: Sun Soldier

Did the US military lose South Vietnam? There was hardly more than a corporol's guard of US Forces in South Vietnam when the North Vietname Army invaded the South in the spring of 1975. The Watergate Democratic Congress cut off all aid to the South Vietnamese militry and forbad the use of US air power, making inevitable the overthrow of South Vietnam and the resulting bloodshed and oppression.
There is much South Vietnamese bllod on the hands of the Democratic Party, including many members still serving in Congress.


211 posted on 11/17/2005 7:03:56 PM PST by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: churchillbuff
Most of these Democrats are just a push away from falling over the edge. I'm glad to see President Bush and Vice President Cheney doing the pushing.

Keep a box of straight jackets handy, this could get ugly.
212 posted on 11/17/2005 7:04:40 PM PST by TheForceOfOne
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To: Willie Green

Before a government is established? Before we deal properly with the Syrians and the Iranians--and the Saudis. Play the hand out before you quit.


213 posted on 11/17/2005 7:06:49 PM PST by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
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To: churchillbuff
I'm sure there's going to be an anti-Murtha pile-on in the conservative blogosphere

I don't quite think "pile-on" will capture the intensity (or justice) of it. "Gunny Bob" certainly didn't hold back:

A Traitor's Tirade: Rep. John Murtha Soils The Corps (Gunny Bob) ^
  Posted by Stultis
On Bloggers & Personal ^ 11/17/2005 8:14:19 PM CST · 24 replies · 201+ views


Men's News Daily ^ | 17 November 2005 | Bob Newman ("Gunny Bob")
In a statement that has angered, embarrassed and humiliated Marines around the globe, one of our own -- a retired Marine Corps Reserve colonel -- has called for the legendary fighting force to retreat from Iraq and surrender to the terrorist organization that has killed thousands of Americans at home and abroad. He has even called for the United States to enter into negotiations with al Qaeda. This vermin’s demand for retreat, surrender and negotiations with the enemy is so committed to assisting al Qaeda in their efforts in Iraq that he has posted his unspeakable demands on his...

214 posted on 11/17/2005 7:08:40 PM PST by Stultis (I don't worry about the war turning into "Vietnam" in Iraq; I worry about it doing so in Congress.)
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To: Sun Soldier

Right you are.


215 posted on 11/17/2005 7:14:44 PM PST by sport
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To: at bay
So sorry to hear of your mother and thus your family's painful journey. The experience we have shared does give us a unique perspective when we observe a Murtha or a Byrd in front of the TV screen. The Republicans have not escaped this as I watch my own senator John Werner, it appears to me that the lights are a little dimmer each year that he serves.
It's troubling to think that a number of the people who are in the highest level of the US government would be functioning with serious mental defect.
216 posted on 11/17/2005 7:19:59 PM PST by kublia khan (Absolute war brings total victory)
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To: sport

"Their one and only goal in life is the complete destruction of President Bush. If they have to destroy the Nation along with themselves, so be it."

This attitude of theirs is becoming recognized and I for one am with a growing number who is ready to destroy the traitorous fanatics in the Democratic Party totally to prevent them from wrecking our country in their blind lust for power. The Dems have grown to be a dangerous and subversive enemy to the Republic and the Constitution. This is a harsh indictment on my part but it is also true.


217 posted on 11/17/2005 7:22:45 PM PST by DarthVader (Do something positive for your country today: Punch an America hating leftie in the mouth.)
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To: RobbyS

"Did the US military lose South Vietnam?"

No, I said they weren't allowed to fight the war to the best of their ability. You can blame the Democratic Congress at the time for the bloodshed that followed our withdrawl but it is the American people who ultimately made the decision to wash our hands of all things Vietnamese. That includes all the war protesters and the "silent majority". What I find most disturbing about South Vietnam is that after all we invested there, the spark of freedom didn't ignite anything and they layed down for their own slaughter. Unfortunately, I believe the same thing will happen in Iraq after we leave. A thug will fill the leadership vacuum and they'll be back to square one. I sincerely hope I'm wrong on that one.


218 posted on 11/17/2005 7:24:11 PM PST by Sun Soldier
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To: DarthVader

Harsh, maybe......true, absolutely..........


219 posted on 11/17/2005 7:27:31 PM PST by Lakeshark (Thank a member of the US armed forces for their sacrifice)
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To: Lakeshark
They are totally morally unfit to lead this nation and are walking perilously close to the edge of the precipice that can lead to civil war.
220 posted on 11/17/2005 7:31:31 PM PST by DarthVader (Do something positive for your country today: Punch an America hating leftie in the mouth.)
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