MURTHA BREAKS (Dreher, The Corner)

The Corner ^ | Nov 17 05 | Rod Dreher

[churchillbuff]

Don't know how many of you caught Rep. John Murtha's very angry, very moving speech just now in which he called on the White House to institute an immediate withdrawal of US troops from Iraq. CNN didn't air the entire thing, but as I listened to it, I could feel the ground shift. Murtha, as you know, is not a Pelosi-style Chardonnay Democrat; he's a crusty retired career Marine who reminds me of the kinds of beer-slugging Democrats we used to have before the cultural left took over the party. Murtha, a conservative Dem who voted for the war, talked in detail about the sacrifices being borne by our soldiers and their families, and about his visits out to Walter Reed to look after the maimed, and how we've had enough, it's time to come home. He was hell on the president too.

If tough, non-effete guys like Murtha are willing to go this far, and can make the case in ways that Red America can relate to -- and listening to him talk was like listening to my dad, who's about the same age, and his hunting buddies -- then the president is in big trouble. I'm sure there's going to be an anti-Murtha pile-on in the conservative blogosphere, but from where I sit, conservatives would be fools not to take this man seriously.

[beandog]

Could you point me to where it says he fought in Korea? I can only find that he was in the Marines during the Korean war. Also my son fought in Iraq and he can say whatever he damn well please but I can still tell him is full of it. Fighting in a war doesn't make you right, nor does it make you immune from criticism.

[daybreakcoming]

Yep...Murtha was saying the same things back in May 04 so I don't see this as a recent shift in his position.

Neither do I. In 2004 He voted NO on this Bill (believe it was .557) "Approving Removal of Saddam, Commends the Iraqi people for their courage in the face of unspeakable oppression and brutality inflicted on them by Saddam Hussein's regime; commends the Iraqi people on the adoption of Iraq's interim constitution; and commends the members of the U.S. Armed Forces and Coalition forces for liberating Iraq and expresses its gratitude for their valiant service."

[caisson71]

I guess there are some Marines who wear armor on their backs. What a sorry ass for a US Representative.

[Prost1]

"I like guys who have never been there to criticize us who have been there. I like that. I like guys that have got five deferments and never been there and send people to war and then don't like to hear suggestions about what needs to be done."

Where was this democratic hypocrite when Clinton was president? Where is he on Hillary running? Where is he on Pelosi's arguments?

According to this hypocrite, the only ones who can speak out are those who have been there. Well, millions have served their country but not in combat (myself included). And I will not let the fact that I have not been in combat take away my right to speak. I served my country. Cheeney has served his country. Look at the record! Congressman, Sec of Defense, Vice President. It is absolute hypocrisy to deny Citizens their to speak because they were not in combat. Lincoln was not in combat. Roosevelt was not in combat. How dare this arrogant, peanut minded jerk!

[Windsong]

he's a crusty retired career Marine

Could care less if he was John Wayne. He is a democrat, as was Pat Tillman (who said "This war is so f&^&*ing illegal"). Borderline treason IMHO.

[OldFriend]

Murtha has been calling for an end to the freeing of Iraq for well over a year.

He can hardly be called a hawk on the war. Never was!

[Libertas3188]

Whoa. It's easy to be brave from a distance.

Let's not dupe down to personal attacks against the Congressman. Calling him a coward is something a Democrap would do.

Simply by pointing out their point of view is easy for us to win.

[Non-Sequitur]

Fighting in a war doesn't make you right, nor does it make you immune from criticism.

No but having served in two wars gives him a level of credibility that those who avoided service don't have.

[visualops]

Just like the Japs resorting to kamikaze tactics

A very apt description!

[bnelson44]

He said this in 2004!

This is OLD NEWS


http://216.109.125.130/search/cache?p=murtha+iraq&toggle=1&ei=UTF-8&u=www.rollcall.com/pub/49_120/news/5469-1.html&w=murtha+iraq&d=WASTJY6CLwSO&icp=1&.intl=us

[PhiKapMom]

It is sickening! This should be a constant reminder of why Ms. Clinton has to be defeated -- we cannot let her ilk get anywhere near the WH again.

[OldFriend]

All this ranting by the left is more proof that they will never ever do a single thing to defend this country against terror.

Clearly everyone should have learned from sick willie's lack of effort on behalf of Rwanda that they're never going to defend anyone, let alone our own country.

[Lakeshark]

Who are you saying avoided service?

[Ann Archy]

The left made the military LOSE VIETNAM and millions of Cambodians died also....now the left want us to LOSE IRAQ and the WOT and MILLIONS of AMERICANS WILL DIE!!

Maybe America isn't worth saving with so many Democrats wanting America to lose.

[RichInOC]

No, really, I'm unhappy enough with our guys these days. I'm not even going to pretend to be patient with this kind of stuff from the Democrats, I don't care what they did in the war.

[beandog]

Again, I ask you to point me to where it says he fought in Korea. I can only find that he was in the Marines during the Korean war.

[PISANO]

A MARINE that wants to surrender?

I thought I heard everything but this tops it all.

What the hell happens to people when they become Democrats? He is a Vietnam Vet, how can he want the same result in this WAR as the war he fought in? I am at a LOSS for words to explain my complete and utter amazement and disgust!!!

[Alter Kaker]

What war do you like?

What war do you like? War is hell. It is the most miserable, horrific event imagineable, unless you haven't been in a war, in which case you can't imagine it. Sometimes it's necessary. But only a psychotic would "like" it.

[Stultis]

he's a crusty retired career Marine

Whatever his history the only thing notably "crusty" about Murtha currently is the chafed skin under the collar Nancy Pelosi has fastened around his neck.

[DarthVader]

Yes America is worth saving. These events are reminders and warnings to us showing the fact that we have domestic enemies here at home that need to be taken care of.