Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) dead at 77

[BDKJMU]

My grandma always told me to say something good about the deceased.

It's good he's dead.

(in all seriousness, I second blueballs comments about his military service. Too bad his public service didn't stop there)

And you would think as a vet he would know better than to smear a bunch of Marines by accusing them of murder in the 05' Haditha incident before all the facts were known. All but one of the Marines so far has been either aquitted or had the charges dropped, and the remaining one is still awaiting trial.

[BDKJMU]

Murtha was one of the biggest porkers in Congress. Once the dems took over the house he was probably the biggest porker in the House. CAGW awarded him the 2007 Porker of the Year:
http://councilfor.cagw.org/site/News2?p ... e&id=11276

The John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport to Nowhere:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/co ... 02128.html
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Politics ... 160&page=1

The crook Murtha is the poster child (or was) for what is wrong with Congress and Washington DC.

[SeattleGriz]

A source close to the Congressman has told CNN that doctors nicked his intestine during surgery and that led to his death.

Unless the doctors or operating room staff specifically told Murtha or the source, which I doubt, how would this person know?

EDIT - Good call UNH. I now see the stories are saying what you said. Shows how much I paid attention to Murtha. I didn't know he was in the hospital for months after his gall bladder surgery.

[mainejeff]

You guys are so cool..........

[Pwns]

Say goodbye to another Liberal Donk seat in the house.

Murtha isn't an example of what is wrong with the dem party. He is moderate. Murtha is an example of what's wrong with Washington.

[AZGrizFan]

I'm tellin' ya...we're still on page ONE and this thread is already a classic.

And, for once, it is because of the "poster of the year." Congrats, fcuker.

Part of me wants to be pissed as hell at you for that backhanded compliment, but a bigger part of me says:

Nice addition to this classic thread, fucker!!!

[Ibanez]

While it is sad that his family has lost a member, the country is better off. He wasted funds and was a drain on the economy.

[mainejeff]

While it is sad that his family has lost a member, the country is better off. He wasted funds and was a drain on the economy.

Much like the millions of food stamp recipients across the country are.......not to mention the the people that pump out babies and then pass them on to the rest of us to take care of.

[travelinman67]

A source close to the Congressman has told CNN that doctors nicked his intestine during surgery and that led to his death.

Wasn't he in a single-payer plan?

[ASUMountaineer]

And, for once, it is because of the "poster of the year." Congrats, fcuker.

Part of me wants to be pissed as hell at you for that backhanded compliment, but a bigger part of me says:

Nice addition to this classic thread, ****!!!

Every now and then I get one...

[Ibanez]

While it is sad that his family has lost a member, the country is better off. He wasted funds and was a drain on the economy.

Much like the millions of food stamp recipients across the country are.......not to mention the the people that pump out babies and then pass them on to the rest of us to take care of.

I'm talking about his misappropriation of defense funds. I worked on one of his projects that was shut down because of it and the $76 million had to be recovered. Funny..that didn't make it to the headlines.

You can't lobby to give funds to a company you are deeply connected with and in turn, have that group buy products that financially benefit you. That is a huge ethical violation and conflict of interest. Not to mention a waste of money.


As to your comment, I can't tell if you're being saracastic or not.

[Col Hogan]

Representative Murthas' military service is to be honored...but while serving in Congress, he turned the military into his piggy bank, greatly staining that service...

His family will miss him, and to them, my condolences...

The country is better with his departure from Congress...

[Appaholic]

Say goodbye to another Liberal Donk seat in the house.

Murtha isn't an example of what is wrong with the dem party. He is moderate. Murtha is an example of what's wrong with Washington.

Amen

[BDKJMU]

Just do a web search for Murtha and PMA.

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0309/19870.html

[ngineer]

Murtha was no different than the others in Congress. Wouldn't exactly call him 'liberal' either....except he was liberal in getting fed money for his district, just like all the others. Other than bringing home the pork to southwestern PA, his only accomplishments were standing up for the welfare of veterans and calling out the Administration on the Iraq War debacle, which he originally and strongly supported. The people of his district loved him (got 58% of the vote last time out despite all of the scandalous allegations), and the rest of America despised him,...just like everywhere else. As long as we have an "I got/want mine" attitude, like Richard Shelby in Alabama, this country will continue to spin its wheels at 90 mph. SMH.

[blueballs]

A source close to the Congressman has told CNN that doctors nicked his intestine during surgery and that led to his death.

Unless the doctors or operating room staff specifically told Murtha or the source, which I doubt, how would this person know?

EDIT - Good call UNH. I now see the stories are saying what you said. Shows how much I paid attention to Murtha. I didn't know he was in the hospital for months after his gall bladder surgery.

Interesting...

... so he was incapacitated for months due to complications of a surgery, unable and unfit to serve, but didn't step down and had to be carried out with a sheet over his head desperately clasping to power, just like Kennedy.

THAT is further proof that politicians are in it only for the acquisition, retention, and expansion of power and their own interests- not yours or mine.

[BDKJMU]

Murtha was no different than the others in Congress. Wouldn't exactly call him 'liberal' either....except he was liberal in getting fed money for his district, just like all the others. Other than bringing home the pork to southwestern PA, his only accomplishments were standing up for the welfare of veterans and calling out the Administration on the Iraq War debacle, which he originally and strongly supported. The people of his district loved him (got 58% of the vote last time out despite all of the scandalous allegations), and the rest of America despised him,...just like everywhere else. As long as we have an "I got/want mine" attitude, like Richard Shelby in Alabama, this country will continue to spin its wheels at 90 mph. SMH.

No, Murtha was worst than most. There are some major dem and republican porkers in the House, but he was the KING of pork in the House.

His did call his constituents rascist and rednecks:
Murtha called his western Pennsylvania district a ``racist area'' while handicapping the chances of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, the first black major-party nominee. After apologizing, he caused himself more trouble by saying the district was, until recently, ``really redneck.''
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid= ... M&refer=us

But despite that and the scandal allegations, not that surprising that he got 58%. What is surprising is that Murtha only got 58%, as:
-he was a 17 term incumbent
-in a district where registered Dems outnumbered registered Repubs 2-1
-he was running against a carpetbagging Republican who moved from VA to Johnstown just to run against him
-he brought massive pork to his district
-previously had never gotten less than 60% except for twice, 1980 and 2008

I imagine he was often in the 70s%. Given the above, if it wasn't for the scandal allegations, the Haditha remark about the Marines, and the racist/redneck remark about his district, he probably would have been re elected with over 70%.

[BDKJMU]

Republicans have a decent chance to pick up Murtha's deat in this Democrat district. Maybe this time they won't run a carpet bagger.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/a ... _race.html

[ngineer]

Republicans have a decent chance to pick up Murtha's deat in this Democrat district. Maybe this time they won't run a carpet bagger.

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/news/a ... _race.html

They certainly have a plausible chance given the 'conservative' bent of southwestern PA. I was out there a year ago on a case and saw more Confederate battle flags than American. Murtha was politically incorrect, but dead on, in his assessment and characterization of his district. There has been a strong Klan presence there for years. (I put 'conservative' in quotes since I really don't view them as conservatives, as opposed to fascist reactionaries )

[ALPHAGRIZ1]

Cool, just another seat the GOP can pick up.


Good riddance!! Getting that corrupt POS out of office is a GREAT thing.


First Kennedy and now Murtha? Its shaping up to be a great year!!!

If we could just add Pelosi, Reid, McCain and Schummer it would be the greatest year in the history of this country.