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John Murtha dies, special election looms (McCain carried PA-12)
The Washington Post ^ | February 8, 2010; 3:50 PM ET | Chris Cillizza

Posted on 02/08/2010 2:24:03 PM PST by Smogger

The death of longtime Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha (D) this afternoon will set off a special election in his very competitive western Pennsylvania 12th district.

According to state law, the governor has ten days once the vacancy is officially declared to decide on the date for the special election, which can come no sooner than 60 days following that proclamation.

That likely means the special election will be held on May 18, which is the date already set for federal primaries around the state. (Special elections costs the state huge sums of money and it's likely that Gov. Ed Rendell will choose to go with an already established election day to save some cash.)

Murtha's passing comes at a tenuous time for House Democrats as they seek to convince some of their older members to re-up for another term in the face of what looks to be a difficult national political environment for the party.

To date, 12 Democrats -- including long-serving Members like John Tanner and Bart Gordon (both of Tennessee) -- are calling it quits at the end of the year. Sixteen Republicans are retiring at the end of the 111th Congress although just four of them are leaving office entirely; the other dozen are running for higher offices like Senate or governor.

Murtha, 77, had held his seat with ease since 1974 even as it became increasingly more competitive between the two parties. The only semi-serious challenge to him in recent years came in a redistricting-forced primary race against then Rep. Frank Mascara in 2002, which Murtha won easily.

(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...


TOPICS: Front Page News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Pennsylvania
KEYWORDS: 111th; elections; government; johnmurtha; murtha; obama; pa12; pa2010; pennsylvania; politics; specialelection
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Circle May 18th
1 posted on 02/08/2010 2:24:04 PM PST by Smogger
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To: Smogger

They need to honor the Fat Traitor like they honored teh Fat Swimmer after he croaked.


2 posted on 02/08/2010 2:24:49 PM PST by pissant (THE Conservative party: www.falconparty.com)
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To: Smogger

In order to prevent myself from having this deleted or getting banned... I’ll just state that this will be another GOP gain and leave it at that...


3 posted on 02/08/2010 2:27:20 PM PST by Lurking in Kansas (Never argue with an idiot. They drag you down their level, then beat you with experience.)
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To: Smogger

Praying that he will receive his just reward.


4 posted on 02/08/2010 2:28:44 PM PST by SeaHawkFan
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To: Lurking in Kansas

http://russellbrigade.com/


5 posted on 02/08/2010 2:28:47 PM PST by WOBBLY BOB (ACORN:American Corruption for Obama Right Now)
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To: Smogger
Do we have another one ready?
6 posted on 02/08/2010 2:29:16 PM PST by traumer
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To: Smogger
We need a candidate that will stand there and honor the troops, not accuse them of war crimes like Murtha did.
7 posted on 02/08/2010 2:29:41 PM PST by tobyhill
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To: Smogger

Remember Thumper’s mother, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Guess that’s all I have to say about Murthabutt.


8 posted on 02/08/2010 2:30:21 PM PST by Da Coyote
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To: Lurking in Kansas

I will continue praying for the Republic.


9 posted on 02/08/2010 2:30:26 PM PST by seton89 (Use Amendment X as your email signature)
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To: Smogger

This is gonna make the Cornhusker Kickback look honest by comparison. This Democrat candidate is going to have support from the highest party authorities to promise the voters ANYTHING that would keep the Murtha pork flowing to Johnstown.


10 posted on 02/08/2010 2:30:42 PM PST by Buckeye McFrog
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To: Smogger; All

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1786319/posts


11 posted on 02/08/2010 2:30:57 PM PST by raptor22 (The truth will set us free)
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To: Smogger
Call in the Marines

.

12 posted on 02/08/2010 2:31:37 PM PST by Elle Bee
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To: pissant
They need to honor the Fat Traitor like they honored teh Fat Swimmer after he croaked.

I've already forgotten what honors the Submarine Commander got when he fizzled.

13 posted on 02/08/2010 2:31:48 PM PST by Ole Okie
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To: Smogger

Hmmm, with a special election PA may just get a Republican in there!


14 posted on 02/08/2010 2:32:45 PM PST by Salvation ("With God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26)
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To: Smogger; alice_in_bubbaland; Allegra; ArmyTeach; billmor; FranklinsTower; freema; Fred; ...
Bill Russell is a good man and would have run against Murtha.

Bill Russell for Congress

PA 12th District
Bill Russell

RussellBrigade.com

Inquiries to:
POBox 630, Johnstown, PA 15907
Tel. 814-525-9171

Contact me to be added to ping list.

15 posted on 02/08/2010 2:33:24 PM PST by jazusamo (But there really is no free lunch, except in the world of political rhetoric,.: Thomas Sowell)
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To: pissant

I know that pervert who loves to talk about showering with his staff O’Reilly will be looking for people on free republic to show how evil the right was after the passing on John Murtha cause the guy never lived in PA but quite frankly I don’t care he doesn’t realize what a corrupt fat traitor the guy was from his real estate deals with John Mccain for his buddies in Vietnam to his kickbacks him and Paul Kanjorski where taking. I pray for his family but the man was just a bad dude.


16 posted on 02/08/2010 2:33:32 PM PST by Leclair10
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To: Smogger

I was wondering when the first comment of this would hit here.....saw it on Drudge an hour ago...my thought? Marines all over the world breathe a sigh of relief and sleep easier this night.....I hope he can find Teddy in Hell.


17 posted on 02/08/2010 2:33:46 PM PST by Gaffer ("Profling: The only profile I need is a chalk outline around their dead ass!")
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To: Da Coyote

Remember Thumper’s mother, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.”

Hitler loved his dog.


18 posted on 02/08/2010 2:34:46 PM PST by TET1968 (SI MINOR PLUS EST ERGO NIHIL SUNT OMNIA)
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To: Leclair10

Check that O’Reilly lived in Scranton which us in Pennsylvania have been embarrassed about for years anyway.


19 posted on 02/08/2010 2:35:02 PM PST by Leclair10
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To: Smogger

The voters in his district be lovin that pork. The state may have gone Palin/McCain by 12 in ‘08, but the voters in PA-12 went for the bloated Pinko by 16%.


20 posted on 02/08/2010 2:35:39 PM PST by digger48
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