Posted on 12/05/2005 7:41:51 AM PST by ncountylee
One of the mysteries these days is the about-face of a supposed Democrat war hawk, Representative John Murtha of Pennsylvania. Considered a supporter of the Iraq conflict, the decorated former Marine suddenly came out with statements calling for the withdrawal of US troops from Iraq and that the war is not winnable. After the liberal media feasted on his sudden burst on the national scene, Murtha became the new lightning rod for the antiwar, anti-American movement. Recently, he said that the US military was worn out and unable to protect Americans should a security crisis emerge. And the media again jumped all over the Murtha comments. John Murtha replaced Wesley Clark and John Kerry as the left's favorite veteran since they only love warriors opposed to war. Murtha is someone few Americans knew let alone cared about until he became the big thing in the media's relentless goal of undermining "Bush's war."
Meanwhile, another Democrat, Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, a respected member of the US Senate and a former vice presidential candidate, returned from a fact-finding mission in Iraq. He told of the progress he had seen and wrote a column in the Wall Street Journal about his positive view of US operations in Iraq. Other than some radio talk shows, Senator Lieberman was all but ignored by the mainstream news media, preferring to run Murtha quotes or air Murtha soundbites.
(Excerpt) Read more at sierratimes.com ...
pinging
Why did Murtha suddenly change his mind? Was this a calculated effort to win the news media over? Is this something he hopes will insulate him from something that is brewing within the Beltway?
Well, according to investigative journalist Sher Zieve, the House Ethics committee is considering investigating Rep. John Murtha for House multiple ethics violations. The investigation would center on Rep. Murtha’s involvement with his brother’s firm KSA Consulting.
The story, which originally ran in the Los Angeles Times on 13 June, surrounds the 2005 appropriations bill that funded $20M to companies for which KSA Consulting lobbied. Murtha is a leader on the House Defense Appropriations Committee. An aide to Murtha, Carmen Scialabba, also works for KSA.
Further reported by the LA Times is that KSA directly lobbied Murtha’s office for funding on behalf of 7 of its clients and that a Murtha aide advised a defense contractor that it needed to retain the services of KSA Consulting.
Zieve also dug up a recent editorial appearing in Investor’s Business Daily that stated: “The newspaper Roll Call reported that there might be a House ethics committee investigation of Murtha's apparent improprieties.
Good Point. Very clever, these filthy LIbs.
Murtha also strong-armed the USMC into placing a detachment of AH-1 and UH-1 helicopters in his district during BRAC-93. When informed of the plan the chairman of the BRAC committee, former congressman Jim Courter said; "We're in the business of shutting down bases not creating new ones."
When he came out for immediate withdrawal, he said he based his opinion on conversations he had with troops in Iraq. But then went on to say that he had visited Iraq "last year," which I have to say, seems like 2004.
I have a son in Iraq for the 3rd time. 15 months ago his attitude was less positive than it is now. Is Murtha going on old info? There has been so much done in 2005, it's hard to square his statements with reality on the ground unless maybe he is working from information gathered at the"low point" in morale, mid-late 2004.
It was at that point that Ryan annouced the Death Penalty Moratorium, and led an Illinois trade mission to Cuba, where he enjoyed the company of Fidel, a "Governor" who doesn't take crap from anybody.
Murtha is likely looking for a Chris Mathews Innocualtion.
Here's another possible reason for his little speeches - he knew this was coming, and now can claim the Republicans are trying to destroy him because he disagreed with the administration on the war.
Here it comes, folks.
Vote anit-incumbent, every time, no matter what party loses out.
John Murtha may face HEAD EXAMINATION...
Yes, exactly. We have been suspecting as much. He'll probably get away with it, too. These people are slimy.
George Will this morning called him a "professional Appropriator" or something like that. Murtha loves the big contracts, but wars mess with an appropriator's plans, makes in difficult to keep the process orderly. You have to work three times as hard.
"...the House Ethics committee is considering investigating Rep. John Murtha for House multiple ethics violations. The investigation would center on Rep. Murtha’s involvement with his brother’s firm KSA Consulting."
It's about time! Murtha is as corrupt - probably more so - as just about all of them Dems in the Senate...and a couple Republicans.
My advice to Murtha....cut and run you can't win!
14 posted on 12/01/2005 7:09:13 PM CST by kimoajax (Rack'em & Stack'em)
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"If Republicans were one-tenth as rough with the congressman who wants to withdraw troops in the middle of a war as they are on a congresswoman who calls it cowardly to withdraw troops in the middle of a war, we might have a functioning Republican Party." Ann Coulter
Great quote.
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