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.

[GopherIt]

I respect Murtha enormously. Thus, when I heard he was having a speech, I thought surely he was coming forward to publicly denounce Clinton for his contemptible behavior yesterday, so I watched it. That's the Murtha I thought I knew. When he just added himself to the constant partisan drumbeat undermining our war effort, replacing Clinton on tomorrow's front page of the NYT, WaPo, and Al Jazeera, (not actually changing his position on the war)), then I knew he was just another page in the playbook of treason. Sad to see.

[kublia khan]

"Rep. John Murtha's very angry"

I watched anger like that shown by Rep. Murtha for 14 years, I watched a man who use to be resolute in his opinions and reasoning become a vacillator, unable to make a decision and often reversing a decision today with a virulent protest of denial tomorrow. I watched it until Oct 28th of 2002 when my father succumbed to one of the most hideous diseases; Alzheimer's. I see symptoms of this ravaging illness so often when I listen and look at our statesmen that I have to wonder if a mandatory retirement age wouldn't be in the nations best interest.

[LibLieSlayer]

GOD bless you Kelly!!!

LLS

[Lakeshark]

Name one who said they want to stay forever. You are just full of it. Your distortions are disgusting.

[RobbyS]

I wonder what you think about his chest-pounding and this talk about "chicken-hawks." Do we have to list the war presidents who never served in a war? That would include Lincoln and, of course, Bill Clinton. And, btw, remind people that ethnic cleansing is still occuring in Kosovo?

[LibLieSlayer]

We have to destroy anyone that thinks like this. Murtha has declared WAR on America, and Conservatives will answer his volly with NUKES!!!

We are an army of citizens Brother tomahawk. I am proud to call you Brother!

LLS

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" Murtha is 73 years old."

The clip shown tonight on NBC made Murtha look like a bitter, old man. The fist pounding, yelling and ad hominem attack against VP Cheney sealed it.
David Gregory did add a bit of levity to the report.
He said " It's not just Democrats that are demanding a timetable or immediate withdrawal( can't remember which, but, neither was good for the troops there presently ) it's also Republicans... Senator Chuck Hagel said yesterday ..."
Hagel should switch sides and get it over with.
And does Murtha want the troops fighting Al Queda to get out of Afghanistan immediately or just those fighting Al Queda in Iraq ?

[Wild Irish Rogue]

" Murtha is 73 years old."

The clip shown tonight on NBC made Murtha look like a bitter, old man. The fist pounding, yelling and ad hominem attack against VP Cheney sealed it.
David Gregory did add a bit of levity to the report.
He said " It's not just Democrats that are demanding a timetable or immediate withdrawal( can't remember which, but, neither was good for the troops there presently ) it's also Republicans... Senator Chuck Hagel said yesterday ..."
Hagel should switch sides and get it over with.
And does Murtha want the troops fighting Al Queda to get out of Afghanistan immediately or just those fighting Al Queda in Iraq ?

[headstamp]

Excellent find, "old news" just reintroduced for more affect and retelling by the sycophant MSM.

[crazyhorse691]

I could feel the ground shift

---

If you are speaking of the betrayal of our soldiers, our nation, and free people everywhere by this crass attack, then by all means you are correct.

[AGreatPer]

Why can't one, just one, reporter ask,"Mr. Murtha, if we pulled out of the area like you want, what would happen?". Please, just one reporter, speak up.

[appleharvey]

John Murtha was my congressman for many years before Pa. redistricting got rid of him. He was always pro military,but that doesn't make him right.Truthfully, I think he's been in office far too long. After awhile, you lose touch with reality.This ain't Vietnam! This is but one important battle in the survival for Western Civilization. There are many more to come. We better not get wobbly this soon, or we're finished!

[hope]

The man has now become nothing more than a democrat shill siding with his cronies for political expediency.

[StraightDave]

I believe most of the DemoCraps "supported" the war because they thought it would soon turn into W's Vietnam. That would be a big plus for their party. To their dismay it has not, inspite of their efforts to make it appear so (and MSM's assistance). We were supposed to fail militarily and politically. But, we remain the military power in Iraq that is doing the job and elections have been held. W did not surrender to the military and political naysayers, and finally realizing they can not force W into withdrawal, they are now clamoring for an "exit strategy". Our exit strategy is based upon winning and that would mean years of losing elections for the DemoCraps.

[Lakeshark]

When I saw the clip of this guys' speech, all I could think of was the slaughter that occurred in Viet Nam as the last helicopter left.

The man is may have been a soldier once, but he's just a common Democrat sh*tbag now from what I can see. Shame on him.

[PhiKapMom]

I think that is a great idea! I lived through Vietnam and what those slimey RATs did to friends of mine in the military and we are not going to have that happen again if people like us can help it. Thanks to places like FR, we have a place to collectively share our ideas and time for us to go on the offensive.

I remember when we left S. Vietnam in a hurry -- it was a disaster -- you can never cut and run --you have to WIN!

[montag813]

Murtha, as you know, is not a Pelosi-style Chardonnay Democrat;

Yes and no. Murtha is a "top adviser to Pelosi" on military affairs, says the AP.

[DarthVader]

Don't worry the President, VP and numerous others will. The Pubbies are seizing the debate on this and are going to kick ass. They have been backed into a corner and have come out swinging.

[shield]

Do you think Pres Bush will go by Iraq on the way home to show how safe it is there and to encourage the voting coming up. It would sure be a big lift to the troops and something he should do more often.

That's a thought and a real possibility. Condi did a surprise visit...it was a surprise totally for security reasons...so if W takes a jog to visit the troops in Iraq or even Afghanistan...he'll have to do it...then we hear after the visit is over and he's back in the air on AF1...

[PhiKapMom]

I just posted about when we left Vietnam -- that was terrible. This guy is a traitor to the uniform of the United States Marine. He should be ashamed but RATs seem to have no shame.