Area residents react to Murtha comments

LEADER TIMES ^ | 11/18/05 | Patrick Shuster

[Pikamax]

KITTANNING — U.S. Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, set off a political firestorm yesterday when he called for the removal of military troops from Iraq, and and least one local supporter of the U.S. effort in the war was not swayed. Dr. James L. Nemec of Kittanning, disagreed with Murtha: “We didn’t start this war, we were attacked and we are defending our country.”

Nemec, a local dentist and a retired Army colonel, said while he prays for the troops, which include his son, every night, the idea of simply pulling the troops out of Iraq would not end the war on terror.

“Iraq is just one of the fronts in the war,” he said. “The soldiers are fighting a global war on terror and to pull troops out would not solve the problem.”

Nemec said he felt Murtha’s comments were simply an effort to upstage President Bush after the recent defeat of a Democratic push to develop a timetable for the withdrawal of the troops.

[Names Ash Housewares]

I think another Swift Boat Vets style ad may be in order for Murtha the Mutha!

[Just mythoughts]

One thing that struck me about the speech was the unease in which Murtha spoke his words. He did not speak in a clear and confident manner, more as though somebody is making me say this.

[ken5050]

Has he had a serious opponent in his last few races?

[Brilliant]

If Murtha is such a whimp that he'd cut and run because of 2,000 combat deaths, then he had no business voting for this war in the first place, and it's a breach of trust with our fighting men for him to have sent them over there, and now pull the rug out from under them.

The casualty projections were between 5,000 and 10,000 when we invaded. Declaring defeat because of 2,000 deaths is treasonous.

[DTogo]

D-Johnstown? Wow, I wouldn't be suprised if Murtha is pelted with garbage the next time he makes a public appearance there.

[Jrabbit]

Fox News is doing all they can this morning to make Murtha relevent. Fred Barnes was asked for his reaction and said Murtha was a special person. ugh

[Buckeye McFrog]

he has never had a serious opponent....nor has any Dem imcumbent in Johnstown for that matter. This guy is a Ludicrous Pork King surpassed only by "Sheets" Byrd. As long as he keeps delivering pork-barrel projects and dead-end government jobs to the land of "Slapshot" he unfortunately seems very safe. No doubt that is why he drew this despicable assignment. I am seriously considering moving an hour east by '06 though...just so that I can cast a vote against him.

Any PA residents out there aware of plans to picket his local offices? Count me in!!!

[dfwgator]

As long as he keeps delivering pork-barrel projects and dead-end government jobs to the land of "Slapshot" he unfortunately seems very safe.

Ogie Oglethorpe needs to pay him a little visit.

[ken5050]

Thanks for the info....please keep me updated..regards..

[Always Right]

D-Johnstown? Wow, I wouldn't be suprised if Murtha is pelted with garbage the next time he makes a public appearance there.

Ever been to Johnstown??? The whole town is supported by pork barrel defense contractors and subcontractors brought in by Murtha.

[Always Right]

This guy is a Ludicrous Pork King surpassed only by "Sheets" Byrd.

Yep, almost every person in the community owes their job to the pork that Murtha brought in. The plus up projects that Murtha adds to the defense bills are legendary.

[Lou L]

Perhaps Senator Santorum could make up some ground in the PA polls, if he were to come out and take a few swings at Murtha?

[Air Force Brat]

Fox News drives me nuts sometimes. At times, they seem pretty good. But at their root, I think they're just like any other media outlet - jump on the latest bandwagon, spew inaccurate information, obscure the truth. This Murtha thing is amazing. I'll bet he'll see some tough competition in the next election. Wouldn't surprise me to see him decide not to run again.

[YOUGOTIT]

Freed Barnes tells another lie. I doubt that he even knows what Murtha did or said he did. I would like to know which units he served in and where and in what year.

Anyone who supports the terrorist and helps them kill American military should be in jail PERIOD. Murtha and the democrats and some Republicans in the Senate have done that.

[DustyMoment]

What astonishes me is that the Dems are touting Murtha as a big time war hawk because of his service in the Marines. But the claim is incongruous with the record because, from the outset of the Iraq War, Murtha's comments have ben anything but hawkish - they have been, at best, Chicken Littlish.

[liberty_lvr]

Exactly. This whole Murtha thing is, once again, nothing but media-driven fabrication and misdirection.

John Murtha has held this position consistently even from the beginning of hostilities in Afghanistan, but was never one who got much of the national spotlight thrown upon him.

Now suddenly his position is news? The constant references to him as a "hawkish" RAT is nothing more than a shameless attempt by the MSM to create an illusion: that John Murtha, veteran and war hero, has suddenly concluded that this war is wrong and immoral as well as started under false pretenses.

The gall of these people knows no bounds. Absolutely sickening, and they should all be tried for sedition. Friggin traitors.

[McGavin999]

Pascal said, “the strategy has always been to bring the troops home safely and turn over control to Iraq, but the war has been mismanaged from the beginning and there has been little progress toward that goal.”

Yeah, right, little progress. We've just taken a country that was totally under the boot of a ruthless dictator, a country that knew absolutely nothing about democracy, and in the space of one year have taught 25 million people what voting it, had elections (plus unnumerable local elections), passed a constitution, and are getting ready to elect a permanent government in 2 weeks time, in less than 3 years. Yeah, sure, nothing, right.