Posted on 10/16/2006 12:12:55 PM PDT by smoothsailing
WHY DOESN'T JACK WANT TO DEBATE? REASON NUMBER 21: HE DOESN'T WANT ANYONE TO KNOW HE'S VOTED HIMSELF 12 CONSECUTIVE PAY RAISES
Monday, October 16, 2006
(MONONGAHELA, October 16) -- Washington County Commissioner and Pennsylvania 12th district Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey -- responding to Jack Murtha's refusal to meet with her to debate the issues -- today released this statement:
"Why is Jack Murtha scared to debate me? Two leading newspapers in our district -- the Washington Observer-Reporter, and Jack Murtha's own hometown newspaper, the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat -- have now urged him to debate. Several TV stations have offered to air the debate, so that the public can tune in for themselves and see the contrasting visions we have. And the League of Women Voters has offered to sponsor and set up the debate.
"Yet Jack Murtha refuses. His official response was, 'My record's out there for everyone to see … I've done it the same way all the time.'
"Of course, Jack Murtha is counting on the fact that everyone in the district thinks he's the same old Jack Murtha they always knew. But we know otherwise. As I've pointed out before, if you think the Jack Murtha of 2006 is the same Jack Murtha you've been supporting for the last three decades, you don't know Jack -- and for proof, you can visit YouDontKnowJack.org to read up on the Jack Murtha you never knew.
"As I said last week, the only reasonable conclusion one can reach is that Jack Murtha is flat-out scared to debate me. He knows I will hold him accountable for his record, and for his behavior as our Congressman. And he knows that debating me would be a sure-fire loser for his campaign.
"But just because Jack Murtha is scared to debate me doesn't mean the voters of the 12th District should be denied the information they would have received had Jack Murtha been willing to meet to discuss the issues. So today, and for the remaining days of this campaign, I will offer one reason per day why Jack Murtha is scared to debate me. There are 21 days left to campaign, so I will offer 21 reasons.
"Reason #21 that Jack Murtha is scared to debate me: he doesn't want anyone to know that HE HAS VOTED HIMSELF TWELVE CONSECUTIVE PAY RAISES."
-- 30 -- Paid for by Diana Irey for Congress www.irey.com
G'Night Red, I just got here and haven't even had time to read the funnies.
ROFL...Another winner Red.
Good job today see you in the A M .....
I'm looking forward to it!
G'Night Gitmo!!! :-)
any poll numbers on this race? Seeing how Murtha wont debate her...Im guessing Murtha has a good sized lead.
ABC cut the segment tonight so you didn't miss it. It will be on tomorrow night.
It was a good day. Thank you agains for the outstanding edition of Red's Irey Funnies! They are great!!!
Good morning all! Looks like I missed some action. Lots to got caught up on--but coffee first.
The thread is a place for Irey supporters on FR to find the latest campaign news and to countdown to her victory. The banter between us may be throwing you off. Some of us are in the 12th District, knocking on doors. Some of us are in farflung places from New York to Washington state. We're giving time and treasure to help Diana Irey boot Murtha. And we're encouraging others to do the same.
There's a ping list and daily summaries so people don't have to read the whole thread.
First of all I would LOVE it if Diana Irey kicked Murtha's sorry ass.
Great! Pitch in!
Having said that I have seen nothing to indicate any such thing is going to happen....
I don't know what would convince you, but there's a great summary of the race by rwsteel at post 675. Here it is.
Because of the hard work of people like Freepers, it is not a matter of "if" Irey wins...it is only a matter of how large will her margin of victory be?
As far as war chests are concerned, her blog, TV and radio coverage has been of the kind that you just can't buy. Her message has been heard, read, and seen by hundreds of thousands, and even millions of people. Her campaign has also been the Master of the press release. Irey has also personally knocked on every door and attended very social function that she has had the time for. She's letting the people know, one-on-one, just who she is and what she's all about. Most campaigns often have to pay for campaign "door-knockers" and other campaign workers. How much of a 'financial advantage' does she have with more than eight hundred volunteers working the district for her on an almost day-to-day basis for the last few months?
Additionally, Larry Bailey, Linda, and their crew have been active in the district with the sort of expertise, organizational skills and knowledge that others would pay tens of thousands of dollars to have working for them. As for likely voters, depending on turn-out, which should be higher than normal... 18% of the district's registered voters are Veterans. They have families. By all reports most of them (75% or more) will be voting for Mrs. Irey.
The Dems have a 2-1 advantage of registered voters, but that means that she has a possible voter base of well over one hundred thousand registered Republicans...who are hearing things they like to hear from a candidate. Most of them will be voting for Mrs. Irey. (Key: Her GOTV operation determines the size of margin of victory. I personally expect her to win by at least seven to ten points.) Plus, many of the Democrats of the district are more of the Scoop Jackson/JFK/Reagan variety than they are of the San Francisco-Pelosi variety...and they haven't been hearing things they like to hear from a candidate, even from a "favored son." Then, there's the active duty military vote, which will almost all go to her.
The financial disparity being effectively neutralized, the next best indicator is job approval ratings. Murtha's approval ratings are a bit low for an incumbent...Less than forty-five per cent approval ratings this close to an election, in the face of a strong challenger... He's toast.
Indicator: In social situations, when her name has been even mentioned and she's nowhere around, the local crowd breaks into spontaneous applause and cheers. This is virtually unheard of popularity for a modern political candidate.
Indicator: Rumors say that, in the district, yard signs with her name on them outnumber Murtha's by nearly two to one.
Indicator: Murtha's "supporters" have failed to show up for his events in the numbers that he was expecting. When you're a thirty year incumbent and your "supporters" stay away in droves, that just might tell you something... That's the "short list." There are other indicators.
Prediction: Upset of the year. Akin to and probably greater than the Daschle defeat. (I seem to remember that a few Freepers were involved in that one, too...)
This campaign should be - and probably will be studied by candidates, pundits and political scientists for decades to come. All of that said: Keep working hard to help get her elected...and VOTE!
So, Artemis, hope that's plenty of reason for hope! Please help in any way you can!
I can guarantee that Murtha is badly out of touch with his district and will never see his defeat coming.
I did it! and it does feel good - mailed my check of support to Diana's campaign.
Its been a busy week and I have a lot of catch up reading on here.
Thanks for your support, marm! It's a close race and Diana will put every dollar to good use!
Sunny and 50° here in SW PA.
Morning, smooth! Bright and brisk here on the Isle of Evil!
Good morning all!
Still dark and and a nippy 37 in SW WA.
You are so Good!!!!......Reading Your post this A.M. will make my whole day......Thank You from the bottom of my heart......Diana Irey Will Win!!!!!!!
BRAVO!
Yes, you were missed! I see you took on what I couldn't face in the early hours of the morning. ;*)
Morning all!
Raining and mid 50's here.
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