What "personal attacks"? Are you trying to defend a crook based on what he did over 30 years ago in Vietnam?
From the plea agreement (PDF):
a. Defendant demanded, sought, and received at least $2.4 million in illicit payments and benefits from his Coconspirators in various forms, including cash, checks, meals, travel, lodging, furnishings, antiques, rugs, yacht club fees, boat repairs and improvements, moving expenses, cars, and boats;b. Defendant made recommendations and took other official action in order to influence the United States Congress's appropriations of funds to benefit Coconspirator No. 1 [Wilkes] and Coconspirator No. 2 [Wade], which defendant did, in part, because of his receipt of the above-described payments and benefits, and not because using Coconspirators Nos. 1 and 2 was in the best interest of the country;
c. Defendant used his public office and took other official action to pressure and influence United States Department of Defense personnel to award and execute government contracts in a manner that would benefit Coconspirator No. 1 and Coconspirator No. 2, which defendant did, in part, because of his receipt of the above-described payments and 'benefits, and not because using Coconspirators Nos. 1 and 2 was in the best interest of the country;
He was being facetious; or sarcastic - referring to Murtha.
calcowgirl...everyone on capitol hill basically engage in the same thing to varying degree. The big question is: why is Cunningham being torpedoed at this time? It's quite likely he has refused to toe the line or "crossed" the big dogs on some very important agenda item like Bush's "open borders" deal? The Duke could write a book and blow the whistle, but they'd probably "suicide" him before it got into print. Pretty dangerous business crossing the big dogs when they're playing for high stakes which is what this is almost certain to be about. I think he may have a son serving in Iraq who may be under threat to get Duke to agree to charges. In any case half the charges may not even be true. There's a hidden agenda here somewhere.