The best folks to ask are the Freepers who are from that district.
From the outside looking in, the key issue, obviously, has been Murtha's attacks upon our military and upon Veterans. That sort of thing just isn't going to fly in a place like the 12th district. National Security and Illegal Immigration are other top concerns. The nation is also in the midst of a war, and I don't think the people of the 12th district can 'go along to get along' with a politician who is trash-talking America or its military during a time of war. A part of their considerations will be that Murtha side-stepped the Constitution in what he had to say about the Haditha Marines. All in all, Murtha violated his Oath of Office, as well. That won't fly in that district. Some of those people still spit on their hands before they shake over a deal and they still have a stiff drink to "seal the bargin." Once you've made the bargin and given your word, that's all she wrote. There's no turning back. Murtha has 'turned back' on his bargin with the people of the 12th district...
All in all, it is the sort of basic mistake that you wouldn't expect an experienced politician like a "John Murtha" to make...which is puzzling in and of itself...
A lot of theories have been offered as to why he made such a mistake. My own thoughts are that someone, somewhere, scared him and scared him badly. Pelosi had the goods on him in one way or another and she used it - along with a fair bit of "bribery" - in order to leverage Murtha for her own purposes. As an example only: "Take one for the team, John. After all, you can't lose in that district. Besides, if you do this, when I'm the Speaker there'll be a position coming open that you might be interested in. ...Plus, there's this little thing I know that you don't want to see on the front page of the NYT."
Another factor in their considerations, btw, would have been that conventional wisdom would say that there was not a chance of Murtha ever losing an election in the 12th district. But here we are in November with Mrs. Irey poised to bring off the political upset of the last fifty or sixty years. Whatever the reason(s) for Murtha saying and doing what he has, no one would have predicted this as a result.
The only other factor that helps to make sense out of this is that the Democrats, and Murtha in particular, totally misunderestimated the power of the internet. They and their cronies in the MSM no longer control the narrative...and they are not used to operating without having that control.
Just thoughts in passing...
I spoke with a fellow Vietnam veteran who was standing close by when Murtha walked by him (this was in Johnstown on the weekend of the dueling rallies, won hands down by those who came in large numbers, in oppostion to Murtha, BTW).
He told me Murtha is a shell of a man, frail, unsteady, pale, with trembling hands.
In a normal world, the one I once knew, and the one I hope we will see again, I would have felt sad for Murtha.
But I can not today. A person like Murtha will find no sympathy from me.
Excellent thoughts and I much appreciate your sharing them. I'll try to work up some graphic treatments of the themes you suggest. "Breaking Faith" could be a strong piece.