Posted on 07/23/2006 5:21:51 PM PDT by Coop
US Representative John Murtha of Pennsylvania, the senior Democrat on the House Defense Appropriations Committee and an Iraq war critic, was the guest at last Friday's Monitor breakfast.
"We have become occupiers. We cannot win this militarily. But I hesitated to say anything. I waited probably too long. The way we operate militarily is a problem.... We go into a place, we have to blow it up to protect American lives. I agree with that. That's the way we operate to protect Americans.
On what would change if the Democrats retook control of the House:
"Accountability is going to be the key. Corruption, talk about corruption ... there [are] billions of dollars that disappeared and we don't know where it is. We have all kinds of stories which haven't been followed up.... The biggest deficiency among all the other mistakes is no accountability in this administration ... I think checks and balances have gotten out of kilter."
On why he is running for House majority leader:
"I think I can help because I am more conservative.... There is an idea that [the Democrats'] leadership is very liberal and I think I bring some balance to that leadership."
On whether the press has been an active enough watchdog during the war in Iraq:
"I blame some of you guys, too. You guys knew this wasn't going well. You didn't say a damn word, either. You just sat back and were afraid to speak out. I don't know whether it was access or what. But you sat back and did nothing either.
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
Seen any polls on the race yet?
Yes
And???
It's really amazing.
"Who's on first?"
"Exactly!"
I dunno.
Third base!
The left fielder's name?
Abbott: Well, Costello, I'm going to New York with you. Bucky Harris the Yankee's manager gave me a job as coach for as long as you're on the team.
Costello: Look Abbott, if you're the coach, you must know all the players.
Abbott: I certainly do.
Costello: Well you know I've never met the guys. So you'll have to tell me their names, and then I'll know who's playing on the team.
Abbott: Oh, I'll tell you their names, but you know it seems to me they give these ball players now-a-days very peculiar names.
Costello: You mean funny names?
Abbott: Strange names, pet names...like Dizzy Dean...
Costello: His brother Daffy
Abbott: Daffy Dean...
Costello: And their French cousin.
Abbott: French?
Costello: Goofe'
Abbott: Goofe' Dean. Well, let's see, we have on the bags, Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know is on third...
Costello: That's what I want to find out.
Abbott: I say Who's on first, What's on second, I Don't Know's on third.
Costello: Are you the manager?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: You gonna be the coach too?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: And you don't know the fellows' names.
Abbott: Well I should.
Costello: Well then who's on first?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: I mean the fellow's name.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy on first.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The first baseman.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy playing...
Abbott: Who is on first!
Costello: I'm asking you who's on first.
Abbott: That's the man's name.
Costello: That's who's name?
Abbott: Yes.
Costello: Well go ahead and tell me.
Abbott: That's it.
Costello: That's who?
Abbott: Yes. PAUSE
Costello: Look, you gotta first baseman?
Abbott: Certainly.
Costello: Who's playing first?
Abbott: That's right.
Costello: When you pay off the first baseman every month, who gets the money?
Abbott: Every dollar of it.
Costello: All I'm trying to find out is the fellow's name on first base.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy that gets...
Abbott: That's it.
Costello: Who gets the money...
Abbott: He does, every dollar of it. Sometimes his wife comes down and collects it.
Costello: Who's wife?
Abbott: Yes. PAUSE
Abbott: What's wrong with that?
Costello: I wanna know is when you sign up the first baseman, how does he sign his name?
Abbott: Who.
Costello: The guy.
Abbott: Who.
Costello: How does he sign...
Abbott: That's how he signs it.
Costello: Who?
Abbott: Yes. PAUSE
Costello: All I'm trying to find out is what's the guys name on first base.
Abbott: No. What is on second base.
Costello: I'm not asking you who's on second.
Abbott: Who's on first.
Costello: One base at a time!
Abbott: Well, don't change the players around.
Costello: I'm not changing nobody!
Abbott: Take it easy, buddy.
Costello: I'm only asking you, who's the guy on first base?
Abbott: That's right.
Costello: OK.
Abbott: Alright. PAUSE
Costello: What's the guy's name on first base?
Abbott: No. What is on second.
Costello: I'm not asking you who's on second.
Abbott: Who's on first.
Costello: I don't know.
Abbott: He's on third, we're not talking about him.
Costello: Now how did I get on third base?
Abbott: Why you mentioned his name.
Costello: If I mentioned the third baseman's name, who did I say is playing third?
Abbott: No. Who's playing first.
Costello: What's on base?
Abbott: What's on second.
Costello: I don't know.
Abbott: He's on third.
Costello: There I go, back on third again! PAUSE
Costello: Would you just stay on third base and don't go off it.
Abbott: Alright, what do you want to know?
Costello: Now who's playing third base?
Abbott: Why do you insist on putting Who on third base?
Costello: What am I putting on third.
Abbott: No. What is on second.
Costello: You don't want who on second?
Abbott: Who is on first.
Costello: I don't know. Together: Third base! PAUSE
Costello: Look, you gotta outfield?
Abbott: Sure.
Costello: The left fielder's name?
Abbott: Why.
Costello: I just thought I'd ask you.
Abbott: Well, I just thought I'd tell ya.
Costello: Then tell me who's playing left field.
Abbott: Who's playing first.
Costello: I'm not...stay out of the infield!!! I want to know what's the guy's name in left field?
Abbott: No, What is on second.
Costello: I'm not asking you who's on second.
Abbott: Who's on first!
Costello: I don't know. Together: Third base! PAUSE
Costello: The left fielder's name?
Abbott: Why.
Costello: Because!
Abbott: Oh, he's center field. PAUSE
Costello: Look, You gotta pitcher on this team?
Abbott: Sure.
Costello: The pitcher's name?
Abbott: Tomorrow.
Costello: You don't want to tell me today?
Abbott: I'm telling you now.
Costello: Then go ahead.
Abbott: Tomorrow!
Costello: What time?
Abbott: What time what?
Costello: What time tomorrow are you gonna tell me who's pitching?
Abbott: Now listen. Who is not pitching.
Costello: I'll break you're arm if you say who's on first!!! I want to know what's the pitcher's name?
Abbott: What's on second.
Costello: I don't know. Together: Third base! PAUSE
Costello: Gotta a catcher?
Abbott: Certainly.
Costello: The catcher's name?
Abbott: Today.
Costello: Today, and tomorrow's pitching.
Abbott: Now you've got it.
Costello: All we got is a couple of days on the team. PAUSE
Costello: You know I'm a catcher too.
Abbott: So they tell me.
Costello: I get behind the plate to do some fancy catching, Tomorrow's pitching on my team and a heavy hitter gets up. Now the heavy hitter bunts the ball. When he bunts the ball, me, being a good catcher, I'm gonna throw the guy out at first. So I pick up the ball and throw it to who?
Abbott: Now that's the first thing you've said right.
Costello: I don't even know what I'm talking about! PAUSE
Abbott: That's all you have to do.
Costello: Is to throw the ball to first base.
Abbott: Yes!
Costello: Now who's got it?
Abbott: Naturally. PAUSE
Costello: Look, if I throw the ball to first base, somebody's gotta get it. Now who has it?
Abbott: Naturally.
Costello: Who?
Abbott: Naturally.
Costello: Naturally?
Abbott: Naturally.
Costello: So I pick up the ball and I throw it to Naturally.
Abbott: No you don't you throw the ball to Who.
Costello: Naturally.
Abbott: That's different.
Costello: That's what I said.
Abbott: you're not saying it...
Costello: I throw the ball to Naturally.
Abbott: You throw it to Who.
Costello: Naturally.
Abbott: That's it.
Costello: That's what I said!
Abbott: You ask me.
Costello: I throw the ball to who?
Abbott: Naturally.
Costello: Now you ask me.
Abbott: You throw the ball to Who?
Costello: Naturally.
Abbott: That's it.
Costello: Same as you! Same as YOU!!! I throw the ball to who. Whoever it is drops the ball and the guy runs to second. Who picks up the ball and throws it to What. What throws it to I Don't Know. I Don't Know throws it back to Tomorrow, Triple play. Another guy gets up and hits a long fly ball to Because. Why? I don't know! He's on third and I don't give a darn!
Abbott: What?
Costello: I said I don't give a darn!
Abbott: Oh, that's our shortstop.
WHY
Because!
I'd love to play this a while longer, but I'm suffering from an accuite case of jet lag.
Got in from Fresno at 4 AM.
My eyes don't want to focus right.
That's okay. It was more fun that posting "bump" a dozen times. Have a good sleep!
That is a Prez condition. I will bet Murtha has beaten opposition by more that 10% or more each time he has won his House seat. That is what I mean , non-competitive. I hope you are correct and she actually has a chance. After all, perhaps some Dems are not insane as Kos or Moore!
True but unfortunately, Murtha has won many House races there with more than 10% between himself and his competition. If Irey wins praise the Lord. I'll send her some dough but unless Dem voters finally agree that Jack is senile and a Quisling, don't look for another incumbant to go down ,unless it is a Pub who the MSM is rooting against!
I didn't call RNC, I called the Bush campaign.
It was obvious somewhere in mid-summer that they weren't gaining much ground. Also, I had found an electoral college webpage where you could play around with various scenarios and where I hadn't been very worried before, I was then terrified because I saw how close it was going to be, or how Gore could win with just a few big states.
Now, I could write couple of chapters about that phone call but what follows is just one more detail and the thoughts behind it.
They weren't campaigning much or at all in Tennessee, Gores homestate, or Arkansas. I could see we had to have those states or would have to pick up, say, Pennsylvania, which was not looking at all likely.
So, after still being all heartbroke after Dole/Kemp losing, and seeing all this, I felt compelled to call up the Bush campaign. I was speaking to a lady who I believe might have been Karen Hughes. In a fairly long phone conversation to offer 'suggestions' I told her this story about my now ex-wife and I up in Chattanooga where the T-Shirt shop outside the Aquarium was selling "Just Say No in '96" T-Shirts in previous campaign (had Clintons picture with red line through it). I bought one, and much to my ex-wifes dismay, put it on right away, just to see what kind of reaction there would be. The only vocal reaction was positive and boy were people venting! Tennesseans are disgusted with Gore (and Clinton.)
It was one of those "emperor has no clothes" situations. People just assumed that Gore being the 'native son of Tennessee' he would have to win. He was the parties nominee and all. I told them that holding rallies would start something up. People would start getting excited.
I told her the loudest cheers (then Gov.) Bush would hear on the campaign trail would be if he would stand anywhere in Tennessee and make the following statement "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have great news. We are going to carry the Great State of Tennessee" They modified that as "with your help." but he actually spoke those words, and got the response I promised (not sure about the loudest, but they went crazy.) I told them it would be a 'self fulfilling prophecy' because if he campaigned and got folks rallied, they'd turn out the vote.
I told them every dollar Gore had to spend defending Tennessee, was a gain for us. I said: "Just let him try to campaign in Texas. (heh!) We have the advantage of strongest base." And Gore did have to start making stops in Tennessee, spending money and time he needed in Florida!!
So, yes, I do think my suggestions helped. But, this is not rocket science, its just grassroots politics. You just have to pay attention to the details.
Hope that answered your question.
Please do. And it would also be helpful to stop saying she can't win. With Kerry only pulling in 51%, this is by no means a shoo-in for Jackie M.
:-D
Cool! You were directing Karen, while I was providing critical direction to Karl Rove!!
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