[WeDontKnowJack]

Now we're talkin'. Diana Irey's continuing ability to play off current news events and fit them into an overall campaign strategy is awesome. Here she takes Nancy Pelosi's comments in this morning's newspaper and turns them (again!) against Pelosi's chief lieutenant, Jack Murtha.

And she found a way to get that terrific Los Angeles Times article from last summer into circulation again!

[COBOL2Java]

[sgtbono2002]

I thopught Nancy and Murtha were the closest of friends. That he was her brain trust about the war.

[tom h]

"Pennsylvania 12th district Republican Congressional nominee Diana Irey [said] 'Earmarks are wrong on two levels: First, they lead to wasteful spending on special interests, and second, they lead to corruption.'"

"Now we're talkin'. Diana Irey's continuing ability to play off current news events and fit them into an overall campaign strategy is awesome. Here she takes Nancy Pelosi's comments in this morning's newspaper and turns them (again!) against Pelosi's chief lieutenant, Jack Murtha. "

Sorry to burst your bubble, but this virtually guarantees Murtha's re-election.

First of all, the entire district's growth has been sustained by earmarks and the contractors who have moved into the district lock, stock, and barrell. Taking them away takes money right out of the local economy. This is not an indirect effect.

Second, now that Ms. Isrey has put down her gauntlet, it virtually guarantees that Republicans who have started businesses, or located people there, will vote against her. They will re-elect Murtha.

Third, it is impossible and foolhardy for any congresspuke to rule earmarks out entirely. It is how Congress runs. So running your campaign on such a platform, in a district which depends heavily on earmarks, is a losing proposition.

Last, believe it or not, earmarks are a guarantee of one important freedom we have -- freedom from a military that dominates our democratically elected leaders. Do we really want all budget decisions made by the Pentagon? Do they really understand the impact of their financial decisions? No. That's what local representatives are for.

Incidentally, most earmarks for DOD -- my industry -- usually align well with unfunded needs from the service branches. That's one of the criteria. The service branch will publish an unfunded requirements list, and industry plus their lobbyists plus their congresscritter will insert the project into the bill. No waste here.

[SunkenCiv]

He was a big man... his name was Murtha...

[Gimme]

Gosh.. and they looked so cute together.

[bray]

Not to worry Lola doesn't mean it.

Pray for W and Our Troops
Shalom