Posted on 11/17/2005 4:20:47 PM PST by 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.
(Excerpt) Read more at corner.nationalreview.com ...
I was digusted at Fox News in their coverage of the Murtha surrender for trumpeting his war record, yet when Duncan Hunter's response followed, they didn't mention a word about Duncan's service, and the fact that he has a Marine son fighting in Iraq. Shame on Fox.
The right to Free Speech is his, and unfortunately the responsibilities that come with that right have been sorely been misused and pissed away. He has made himself a disgrace, trading his honor and his country's for forty pieces of silver.....courtesy of the DNC.....
He has, however, earned the right to be called a disgusting turncoat toady.
There's an important election coming up in December.
Why are our Congressmen trying to destabilize the situation at this critical juncture?
Don't they realize that they embolden the enemy, and by doing so, put our troops at risk?
If they would put as much energy in supporting the successful end of this war, the current problems the troops are encountering would be less than the are now.
If you ask me, some people in Washington care more about their own petty desires than the do about the safety of our nation!
If we pull out of Iraq, then I say let's pull out of Europe as well.
He's not a "career Marine" like Dreher says.
He signed up during Korea (but never served in Korea) and left as soon as he qualified for his GI bill.
He got his degree, went into business, dabbled in state politics and then, at the time he deemed auspicious he signed up for a year in Vietnam at the age of 35.
While he was there he was already planning his campaign for state senate and was elected a few months after he got back.
He's been living off the public till for the past 37 years.
The guy's a Kerry before Kerry ever was and an operator through and through.
His tough guy act is pathetic.
Then he's an even bigger piece of...work...than I thought.
"Suicidal" bombings, car bombings coming soon to your neighborhood.
Murtha has no real challenge politically. He can stay in the job as long as he wants. He ran unopposed in 2004 and won in 2002 with 72% of the vote. Whatever the motivation for his actions, it has nothing to do with securing his political future.
Congressman Murtha, ANY day is good day to attack your critics for lying!
Congressman, do you know the difference between disagreeing and lying?
'Lying' is when you KNOW that what you are saying is NOT true!
I disagree completely with what Murtha said, but he did receive the Bronze Star with Combat "V" and two Purple Hearts.
I no longer blindly assume that powerhungry Democratic politicians have truly earned the decorations that they advertise in their every press release.
So did John Kerry, Your point is?
What I cannot understand is why the administration was silent for so long. They have let the MSM create a perception of incompetence. The shocking stories out of New Orleans are, we now know, largely fabrications, but you won't see them revisit their coverage of Katrina in "Frontline" You won't
see them admit that FEMA aid came a lot qucker to the Gulf Coast than aid did to the Tsunami victims, nor will they tell us that like the Tsunami was a natural phenomenon of unprecedented size and violence.
Much the same thing has occured with respect to Iraq. The progress in the country has been totally ignored. It is literally never seen. The ratification of the constitution was literally buried in the back pages while the 2000th military was trumpted across the front pages and repeated every hour on the news for two days.
The Democrats are allowed to use the most extreme language, and any reply, even if in relatively moderate language is treated as equally extreme.
The release of Pflame's name is treated as if it was vital to the national interest, but the leak of the new of the "black cells" is a "good leak." Basically anything that reduces the credibility of the administration is allowed.
But what do we expect? That they will give both sides? The administration has got to continue the campaign. Maybe a Bush trip to Iraq.
As once was said about a Republican running for congress back in the 1880s, an empty sleeve does not make up for an empty mind.
I don't think we've ever seen it at this fever pitch, not even during the last election.
They are desperate.
Kerry had a phony war record. Until now, I have not heard anyone allege that about Murtha.
Good point
Everyone assumed that Max Cleland was wounded in combat until he started grandstanding about his military record.
Democrats are never, ever what they seem. That is an iron law of politics.
Kerry had a phony war record as the SBVFT ably documented and Kerry never refuted. It was a legitimate issue in the campaign.
FYI: I am also a Vietnam veteran who served a full year in-country and eight months off the coast. Unlike Murtha, I totally support our invasion of Iraq and our continued presence there until the Mission is completed. That is the real lesson of Vietnam.
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