Max Cleland plans pro-Murtha rally -- the day before VFTT's Boot Murtha Rally in Johnstown, PA

WELCOME BACK, MAX!
Max Cleland is coming back to Johnstown!!

Former Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia is throwing a rally in Johnstown, PA for Rep. John Murtha -- the day before Vets for the Truth's Boot Murtha Rally.

The news is highlighted in the following release from Murtha's re-election committee:

[EXCERPT:]

JOHNSTOWN, Pa., Aug. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The Murtha for Congress Committee said that former U.S. Sen. Max Cleland (D-Ga.) announced last night he's leading a large-scale effort among his veteran brothers to support U.S. Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), who is coming under attack from "radical right-wing forces in the veterans' community" aimed at "swift-boating Murtha, like they did former Democratic nominee for president Sen. John Kerry.

The rally will be held Saturday, Sept. 30, 2006 at 11 a.m. in Central Park in Johnstown, Pa. Cleland said he expects veterans from all over America to make the journey "to support Murtha in an unprecedented show of unity against the war."

VFTT's Boot Murtha Rally is set for Sunday, Oct. 1 starting at 2 pm. Rally participants will gather at Central Park in Johnstown and proceed to the Cambria County War Memorial Arena for the full event. Pennsylvania radio personalities Quinn & Rose of the popular "War Room with Quinn & Rose" show will be co-emcee'ing the Rally. Also lined up for the Boot Murtha Rally:

Terry Pennington, father of Rob Pennington, one of the so-called "Pendleton Eight," who are being held without bail at the Camp Pendleton, CA, brig. They are being charged with murder and conspiracy, those seven Marines and one Navy Corpsman.

David Beamer, father of Todd Beamer, leader of the anti-hijacker group on Flight 93 (the man who said, "Let's roll!"

John Wrobleski, father of a Marine killed in Iraq, and who deeply resents the dishonor brought upon the USMC by Murtha's comments.

Gregg Garvey, father of Justin Garvey, who was killed in Iraq, founder of a program that enables local communities to purchase and erect memorials to their fallen sons and daughters. He will lead the memorial service that precedes the rally.

No, there are no @!%$&#*! polls on Irey vs. Murtha!

Yes but their are on the way the voters see the war in Iraq. The following results are from the National Journal Poll conducted 08/17/06.

When asked if they thought the war in Iraq is part of the greater war on terror 53 percent of the likely voters said YES; only 42 percent said NO and 5 percent were undecided.
When asked if we should withdraw our troops from Iraq only 22 percent of likely voters said YES.

What does that say? Twenty of the 42 percent who think the war in Iraq is not part of the greater war on terror think Cut and Run is a bad policy. Cut and run has only 22 percent support among likely voters.

Those numbers have to scare anyone who is contemplating supporting Murtha. But on the other hand that 22 percent who wants to cut and run is about 55 percent of the Democrats who will vote in the primaries in 2008.

Murtha and perhaps an even larger number of Democrats face a problem with no solution. Cut and Run costs them the moderate Democrats and moderates needed to win. However Stay the Course costs them the liberal base that is needed to win.

What I think is this years big political story is being totally ignored by the media. The Democratic party is split down the middle. And taking either side loses the votes needed to win. Worst of all avoiding the issue will not be allowed by moveon.org. They are demanding that Democrats take a stand on a losing issue.

That is what you call a lose-lose situation.

"During his 37 years serving in the United States Marine Corps, Jack Murtha led his brothers in arms with integrity and honor," Cleland said.
He continued, "Semper Fi is not a slogan to Jack Murtha, it's a way of life - in uniform and in the halls of Congress.....

In uniform?
11-17-05: It is evident that continued military action in Iraq is not in the best interest of the United States of America, the Iraqi people or the Persian Gulf Region.
My plan calls to immediately redeploy U.S. troops

12-2-05: Most U.S. troops will leave Iraq within a year because the Army is "broken, worn out" and "living hand to mouth," Rep. John Murtha told a civic group.

1-15-06: Murtha tells 60 Minutes that mounting pressure from constituents in this election year will force Congress to pass his withdrawal plan, or something similar to bring troops home.
Does Murtha think Congress is going to insist upon a major withdrawal from Iraq before election day in November?
"Sure," he says. "You’re gonna see a plan for withdrawal."

5-18-06: EX-marine John Murtha has taken the extraordinary step of accusing U.S. Marines of war crimes before a joint NCIS/Multi-National Forces investigation has been completed of an incident that occurred on November 19, 2005.

5-19-06: BLITZER: The marines say they're still investigating. They don't know what happened yet. The pentagon says the same thing. How do you know what happened?
MURTHA: Wolf, you read the "Time" magazine articles. There are pictures, there are photos. You don't have to talk to the military about the proof.
"There was no firefight. There was no IED that killed these innocent people. Our troops overreacted because of the pressure on them, and they killed innocent civilians in cold blood," said Murtha, Judge, Jury and Executioner.

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In CONgress???
Who is "Kit" Murtha? "He's John Murtha's brother -- a Washington lobbyist whose firm reeled in more than $20 million for its defense contractor clients in the 2004 Defense appropriations bill. And the Pennsylvania congressman is the ranking Democrat on the Defense appropriations subcommittee, which he also chaired for six years before Democrats lost the House in 1994. "

6-21-06: Murtha "reportedly leaned on U.S. Navy officials to sign a contract to transfer the Hunters Point Shipyard to the city of San Francisco." Laurence Pelosi, nephew of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, at the time was an executive of the company which
The same article also reported how Mr. Murtha has been behind millions of dollars worth of earmarks in defense appropriations bills that went to companies owned by the children of fellow Pennsylvania Democrat, Rep. Paul Kanjorski.
Meanwhile, the Center for Responsive Politics, a nonpartisan campaign-finance watchdog group, lists Mr. Murtha as the top recipient of defense industry dollars in the current 2006 election cycle.
http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20060620-083859-8753r.htm

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where he's put the full force of his unyielding support of our military into real leadership for our troops and military families for over three decades in Washington.

Oh yes.....I see REAL leadership and support here.

3-19-03: "I'm a little more nervous this time because of the threat of chemical and biological weapons and because there will possibly be fighting in the streets," Murtha said.

"To put it bluntly, it was handled badly," Murtha said of the current situation. "We should have had the allies lined up first before we pursued this. But our troops are there; it's hard to stop the momentum."

(Question: Was 3-19-03 the first day of the OIF which he was already tauting as "handled badly"?)

late ’04 or early ’05: "A premature withdrawal of our troops based on a political timetable could rapidly devolve into a civil war which would leave America’s foreign policy in disarray as countries question not only America’s judgment but also its perseverance." John Murtha
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/05324/609608.stm

11-18-05: "Our troops have become the primary target of the insurgency," Murtha said in a Capitol news conference that left him in tears. Islamic insurgents "are united against U.S. forces, and we have become a catalyst for violence," he said. ". . . It's time to bring them home." Murtha

3-5-06: MR. SCHIEFFER: Now, I want to make sure I understand. I mean, I think I understand what you're saying, but you're talking about a Marine, and here you are an ex-Marine -- this is a military man. This is not somebody, some civilian out there at the Pentagon. You're saying you no longer believe what Marine General Peter Pace says when he says he thinks things are going well.

REP. MURTHA: That's exactly right. Why would I believe him

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There's a reason why Congressman Murtha is one of our most trusted voices on national security and America's standing in the world

When did he become "one of our most trusted voices on national security and America's standing in the world" Max? Until November 18, 2005, most of America and 99.9% of the "world" had never heard of this blowhard.

- he speaks his mind, he speaks his heart, and he's willing to speak truth to power."

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WELCOME BACK, MAX!Max Cleland is coming back to Johnstown!!

WELCOME BACK, MAX!
Max Cleland is coming back to Johnstown!!