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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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To: a fool in paradise

I agree!


61 posted on 02/08/2010 3:14:32 PM PST by BamaDi (I'm praying for a bloodbath in '10)
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To: Smogger

You think god will send him to hell?


62 posted on 02/08/2010 3:15:14 PM PST by FightThePower! (Fight the powers that be!)
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To: BamaDi

Obama has said that Gitmo needs to close because “perception becomes reality”, that even if conditions really weren’t horrible, false reportage from Newsweak that we were flushing korans down the toilet served to recruit terrorists to engage in jihad.

John Murtha’s trumped up claims of a Haditha massacre likewise serves as a terrorist recruiting tool.

Ted Kennedy served the enemy’s cause too when he said that Abu Ghraib had simply reopened under new management (with the implication being that we were committing the very same deadly attrocities that Saddam Hussein had overseen there: mutilations, rapes, and murder).


63 posted on 02/08/2010 3:18:48 PM PST by a fool in paradise ("like it or not, we have to have a financial system that is healthy and functioning" Obama 2/4/2010)
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To: Smogger

What happens to Murthat’s vote in the meantime. Do they get to seat a temporary replacement?


64 posted on 02/08/2010 3:20:00 PM PST by REPANDPROUDOFIT (Hey General, I would be honored to have you call me "ma'am" !)
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To: Lurking in Kansas

>I’ll just state that this will be another GOP gain and leave it at that...

I’ll second that, even if Murtha campaigns from Hell...


65 posted on 02/08/2010 3:26:53 PM PST by bill1952 (Choice is an illusion created between those with power - and those without)
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To: Tribune7
Bucchaineri doesn't sound half bad until you go to his website and check his positions on things like Gay marriage (for it) and ObaMao's health care plan (needs a public option).

Hopefully, Bill Russell will clean his clock in the November Election, but there are probably going to be two elections on the primary ballot: 1 to fill Murtha's seat until next January; the other to pick who will face off in November.

66 posted on 02/08/2010 3:29:16 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Tribune7
Bucchaineri doesn't sound half bad until you go to his website and check his positions on things like Gay marriage (for it) and ObaMao's health care plan (needs a public option).

Hopefully, Bill Russell will clean his clock in the November Election, but there are probably going to be two elections on the primary ballot: 1 to fill Murtha's seat until next January; the other to pick who will face off in November.

67 posted on 02/08/2010 3:29:17 PM PST by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
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To: Smogger

Good riddance.


68 posted on 02/08/2010 3:30:02 PM PST by linn37 ( "The problem with socialism is that you eventually run out of other peoples money.)
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To: B-Chan

I’m no fan of the guy, but I’ve still said a prayer for his family.


69 posted on 02/08/2010 3:31:04 PM PST by Jacob Kell
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To: Smogger
One less vote for obamadeathcare.

Rename, repackage, rewrite it a tad smaller, and sell another pig in a poke.

Tennessee has joined several other states in trying to pass a Health Care Freedom Act. NO COLAs for granny, retired Military or retired fed employees. BIG NEW fees for Tricare for Life retired over 65 Military's secondary health ins. (DOD bill already passed, delayed but goes into effect 2011)

New Dem mantra: Woof, woof eat dog food granny....ala let them eat cake.

Obama's War on Seniors

Socialized Med Thread

70 posted on 02/08/2010 3:31:36 PM PST by GailA (obamacare paid for by cuts & taxes on most vulnerable Veterans, disabled,seniors & retired Military)
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To: digger48

But see, since whomever fills the seat will have NO pull to bring in tons of tax $$$, nor will this person head a single leadership post, they no longer have any obligation to pull the lever for the Democrat.

Murtha was only as useful as the depth of his wallet.


71 posted on 02/08/2010 3:36:09 PM PST by VanDeKoik (Iran doesnt have a 2nd admendment. Ya see how that turned out?)
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To: FightThePower!

That POS has been on auto-pilot since he embraced the motto.

” If your not cheating, your not trying hard enough”.


72 posted on 02/08/2010 3:38:18 PM PST by TET1968 (SI MINOR PLUS EST ERGO NIHIL SUNT OMNIA)
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To: BilLies

“Good he’s dead. Good, Teddy is dead. This is starting to be a good twelve months. They are about the same and left the same dump in the outhouse of history.”

Seems like the man upstairs is cleaning house along with voters.

Does that mean he’s a “teabagger”?


73 posted on 02/08/2010 3:39:37 PM PST by VanDeKoik (Iran doesnt have a 2nd admendment. Ya see how that turned out?)
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To: Vigilanteman
I'll give you odds Bucchaineri doesn't get the Dems support.

Here's another Dem that's seeking the seat: Ron Mackell Jr. who I'd also be surprised to see get the Party's OK.

74 posted on 02/08/2010 3:40:25 PM PST by Tribune7 (Obama Is An Obstructionist)
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To: B-Chan; beaversmom; dynachrome; rockabyebaby
Celebrating the death of another human being is unseemly.

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.

An evil man has been removed from our midst, what are good people supposed to do, cry?

75 posted on 02/08/2010 3:41:53 PM PST by whatisthetruth
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To: VanDeKoik
they no longer have any obligation to pull the lever for the Democrat.

Seeing how that District went for Palin/McCain in '08 by 50-49%, I reckon there could be some hope there. especially in this particular political climate.

76 posted on 02/08/2010 3:44:15 PM PST by digger48
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To: a fool in paradise
Nonsense. The governor(D) can appoint a lameduck Democrat to pass the Party legislation

THAT'S nonsense.

Members of our House can only sit there by election. They are NEVER appointed (as Senators can be).

77 posted on 02/08/2010 3:47:48 PM PST by Jim Noble (Hu's the communist?)
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To: REPANDPROUDOFIT

“What happens to Murthat’s vote in the meantime. Do they get to seat a temporary replacement?”

RATS vote the dead all the time - only usually it’s not a Congressional vote...


78 posted on 02/08/2010 3:49:20 PM PST by SeattleBruce (God, Family, Church, Country - Keep on Tea Partiers - party like it's 1773 & pray 2 Chronicles 7:14!)
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To: Smogger
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.)

in other words Congressmen are not as important as Senators. If Spector would have died and they were in danger of losing another of the Dem majority in the Senate, they would probably have the special election next month.

Since the general is only 9 months off, just wait until then to replace him.

79 posted on 02/08/2010 3:51:02 PM PST by Harley (Life is Tough, But It's a Lot Tougher When You're a Liberal. Stop Global Whining Now.)
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To: REPANDPROUDOFIT
What happens to Murthat’s vote in the meantime.

No rep, no vote.

Not like that will stop Nancy from trying, though

80 posted on 02/08/2010 3:53:05 PM PST by digger48
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