Murtha: Not a leg to stand on.

As has been chronicled on this blog time and time again, Congressman John Murtha threw his lot with the anti-war kook left as he threw Haditha Marine's Constitutional right to presumption of innocence out the window for reasons of cheap, political gain. Congressman Murtha mis-used the influence of his office in a manner, as John Kerry would say, reminiscent of Genghis Khahn as he ran roughshod over the Constitutional rights of those who so valiantly put their lives on the line to defend it.

Now that Murtha's chickenzzzz have come home to roost, Boss Murtha is claiming immunity, saying that he can't be sued because, according to him, he was actually doing his job when he was denying the Haditha Marines their right to due process and presumption of innocence.

Which led Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson to question:

“Who is his master?” Henderson asked. “Do you ever serve the interests of your constituents by making a derogatory comment to the media?”

Of course, the short answer to that is that Boss Murtha has never been about serving his constituents, but rather about weaving a web of quid pro quos designed for the sole purpose of keeping his big phat backside in PA-12's seat in Washington.

Make no mistake. Jack Murtha never does something without there being a whole lot of something there for-- Jack Murtha.

Jack Murtha is used to getting his way, by hook, or, by crook. But this time, Jack Murtha has spun himself a web from which there should be no escape. Christina Jeffrey, the historian for the 104th congress, asserts:

While Murtha wants us to believe talking to reporters is an activity covered by the Constitution's speech and debate clause, the Supreme Court doesn't agree.

In the 1979 decision Hutchinson v. Proxmire (443 U.S. 111), the court ruled against Sen. William Proxmire because this clause does not protect him when he is off the floor and transmitting information to the media in the form of a press release. Why should a verbal "press release" be any different?

The Herald-Journal makes the case, popular inside the Beltway, that members of Congress need immunity from lawsuits when conducting the people's business. (They also want to be free of lawsuits if they are in traffic accidents). Since they consider themselves to be conducting the people's business 24/7, we're creating a very privileged class - one that can run us over and defame us at will. However, if necessity were a legitimate defense, it's certainly undermined by changes in communication that have made it easy to amplify a million times every word a congressmen speaks on the floor of Congress. No, we don't need to relieve congressmen of the nicety of going down to the well to have their say. Constitutional forms remain important.

As Thomas Jefferson stated, "When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."

Jeffrey expands:

The clear language of the Constitution with respect to the responsibility of legislators to live under the law has been articulated since Montesquieu and is enshrined in the English common law on which the Constitution is based.

President Madison, writing in the Federalist, warns us that if ever our legislators are exempt from law, freedom will be lost. The 104th Congress actually passed a congressional rule that Congress would henceforth abide by the law. Murtha should be punished for failing to do so.

There can be no argument made against the fact that a grave, purposeful injustice was perpetrated against citizens by a duly elected Constitutional officer by the name of John Murtha.

Murtha, again, is not a king, but is rather elected to serve the people and at the pleasure of the people; and, even according to his own governing body's rules, must not only be held accountable for acting in the best interests of those he serves, but to live under the same laws, as well.

The Wheels of Justice are Turning...

On the road toward justice for the Haditha Marines:

A Marine who is suing Rep. John Murtha for defamation wants a federal appeals court to order the powerful Pennsylvania Democrat to testify under oath about comments he made related to the deaths of unarmed Iraqi civilians in the town of Haditha in 2005.

An attorney for Staff Sgt. Frank Wuterich on Tuesday asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to compel Murtha to give a deposition in the case. Attorney Mark Zaid said he needs information about how often and in what context Murtha claimed that Marines in Iraq engaged in “cold-blooded murder and war crimes” in killing the Iraqi civilians.

A government lawyer representing Murtha argued that the congressman does not have to agree to testify under oath and is immune from the lawsuit because he was acting in an official capacity as a member of Congress when he made the comments to the media.
Last year a federal judge ordered Murtha, a decorated former Marine and Vietnam veteran and close ally of Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), to testify in the case. His lawyers are appealing that decision.

Does 'congressional immunity' allow the right for an elected Constitutional officer of the United States, sworn to uphold and defend the Constitution, to in effect deny those very rights to due process and presumption of innocence to the constituents that they serve?

Perhaps a judge involved in the case stated it best:

Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson questioned whether Murtha’s comments were made within the scope of his employment, and if his constituents are considered his employer, what kind of service he was providing them by making the Haditha comments.

“Who is his master?” Henderson asked. “Do you ever serve the interests of your constituents by making a derogatory comment to the media?”

Amen, Judge Henderson.

To hold Murtha unaccountable for what can only be construed as outright slander and lies that wrought immeasurable damage against the Haditha Marines (not to mention toward the security of all our soldiers in harm's way), would be a travesty of justice of monumental proportions.

Much to his amazement, Murtha is a public servant, not a king.

Get Ready for Round 2, Jack...

Cause Lt. Col. William Russell isn't taking defeat sitting down:

HARRISBURG -- Just eight days after Election Day, Bill Russell says he's ready for round two against U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-Johnstown).

The Republican congressional candidate, who received a late avalanche of attention of attention in his race against the 34-year incumbent before ultimately falling by 16 points, told PolitickerPA.com Tuesday that he plans to run again in 2010.

"I'm running for the same seat again," he said, although he added he hasn't officially declared.

And we'll be leaving the light on here at MMG, as well. In Murtha's past 17 elections, he barely needed to lift a finger. All he had to do was spread the pork around and everyone was fat and happy. But all that changed in the 2008 election season. Remember, it was Russell who was running only slightly behind in some polls, and even ahead in others; this despite his not being able to campaign until honorably discharged from the Army on August 1. For the first time in his political career, the scumbag from PA-12 was scared for his seat; so scared that he had to call in chits from the beneficiaries of his largesse, as well as big guns such as Bill & Hillary Clinton to help him out.

The little Nero from PA-12, though not totally defeated, was knocked off his pedestal; and for the first time in his sorry political existence, had a taste of mortality. I anticipate that in two years, Lt. Col. Russell will return in grand fashion to finish the job.

CHUTZPAH!

chutz⋅pah

–noun Slang.

1.	unmitigated effrontery or impudence; gall.

2.	audacity; nerve.

Also, chutzpah, hutzpa, hutzpah.

With all the work that John Murtha has done to undermine our troops' mission in Iraq, with the apologizing he has yet to do by playing judge, jury and executioner to the Haditha Marines, Jihad Jack Murtha has a helluva lot of nerve!

JOHN MURTHA | Honoring our veterans takes more than words

BY JOHN MURTHA
The Tribune-Democrat
Veterans Day is a time to honor those Americans who answered the call to service and who proudly fought to defend our freedoms.

America owes an immeasurable debt to each of the 23.4 million veterans alive today, including the tens-of-thousands living right here in southwestern Pennsylvania.

Honoring our veterans means more than just words and speeches.

You're damn tootin' it takes more than words and speeches, Jihad Jack!

For starters why don't you yet apologize to the Marines you slandered by labelling them cold blooded murderers, without so much as an official briefing.

While you're at it, Jack--if you want to repay your debt to our gallant men and women in uniform, why not apologize to the people whose enemy you emboldened with every lie and with every word of discouragement that came from your piehole, all in the name of endearing you to the moonbat left and furthering your pathetic political career.

But ultimately, Jihad Jack Murtha--if you really want to honor our gallant men and women who put their lives on the line every day to protect your sorry ass, let me suggest you do the following:

RESIGN YOUR SEAT.

Open Letter to PA GOP

(ed note--I couldn't get this through because of overzealous (by design, perhaps?) spam filters, but if any of our readers can pass this on, I'd appreciate it--thanks)

To the leadership of PA-GOP...

I guess I don't understand it.

You have had a chance to knock off the most corrupt, democrat congressman, possibly in the history of the United States, who sits ensconsed in your own backyard much like Jabba the Hut, and you keep on shooting yourselves in your collective kneecap. Jack Murtha slanders and unlawfully convicts those who put their lives on the line to defend us and our way of life, and you don't so much as lift a finger to depose his ass. Alternately, you actually enable his re-election.

You didn't lift a finger when Diana Irey ran against the gasbag in '06.

You were active in trying to keep Lt. Col.William Trower Russell, an honorable veteran, off the ballot; he had to get in on a write-in campaign after the local GOP had him tossed off!!

You chose not to take an active part in deposing a democrat politician who has lived high on the taxpayer hog for thirty-four (soon to be 36) friggen years!!

And then you have the gall to still want money from your constituents???

Since May 19 of 2006, after Murtha played judge, jury and executioner to the Haditha Marines, I (and some talented, like-minded friends) have maintained the blog, Murtha Must Go!!

Isn't it kind of pathetic that people from around our nation, myself being from Minnesota, others from Chicago, etc., who clearly recognize what a scourge Congressman Murtha is on the national political scene, care more and do more to expose Murtha than does the Pennsylvania GOP???

Are you that comfortable wallowing in Murtha's abject debauchery that you, too, are willing to look the other way?

Are you, as are many a corn-fed dependent PA-12 constituent, blinded by the pork?

Must the remainder of the people in this nation, disgusted by Murtha's traitorous behavior that has literally taken its toll in lost lives, continue to do the heavy lifting that the PA GOP continues to refuse to do?

Don't get me wrong. I'm still going to go after Murtha. I'm still going to expose the corruption, and I won't rest until he either gets unseated or takes a well-deserved frog march and perp-walk in front of a thousand cameras.

But it would be nice to get a little help once in a while.

Sincerely,

Leo J. Pusateri, Jr.

Founder and Editor of Murtha Must Go!!

We're Not Going Away Jack...

Pork Over Principle won again.

But you know, Jack, the principle of the thing remains that you have yet to answer for your abuse of power. You have yet to answer for your crime of slander against the Haditha Marines, and against Justin Sharratt, in particular.

We here at Murtha Must Go will not rest until you are 1. Unseated from your seat, or 2. made to do a well-deserved perp walk.

Rest assured, Congressman John Murtha, that we here at Murtha Must Go!! will continue to be watching you, and chronicling your mis-steps and mis-deeds.

So, don't get too comfortable and arrogant, Jack Murtha.

Just remember, Pride goeth before the fall.

That is all.

BILL, MAKE THEM STOP!!!!

Poor Jihad Jack...

Nobody likes him anymore, so he sent for Slick Willy Clinton to shame his constituents into voting for him...

What a sourpuss:

Murtha's Swan Song?

To quote an old song...

~When you're blue and oh so lonely, when the world has turned on you...

PITTSBURGH -- After a campaign rally, incumbent Pennsylvania Rep. John Murtha walked out on an interview with Channel 11 when he was pressed to answer questions regarding controversial comments he previously made to the press.

Earlier this month, Murtha publicly said that Western Pennsylvania is a “racist area” and this will be a problem for Obama’s campaign in the state.

When pressed about his controversial comments, Murtha said, “Now you see what you’re doing? You’re getting away from the real issues of this campaign. You are getting away from the economy and health care. You are getting away from education.”

Poor Jack... nobody likes you anymore. Not the media, Not the military, not the far-left whackos who used to wine you and dine you to get you to betray our nation; hell.. not even your constituents like you anymore.

Once you were the toast of the town, and now you're scurrying about miserably, with your hand out, singing, "Brother Can You Spare a Dime," trying desperately to hang on the seat you once held comfortably for the past 34 years.

I'm so sorry... here... let me help you by getting out the world's smallest violin, while I play, "My Heart Bleeds for You".....


NOT.

Murtha on Iraq: WRONG!

Despite nearly three years that Jihad Jack Murtha has waged his own personal war against American troops and their mission in Iraq, this past month in Iraq shows beyond a doubt that the determination of our fighting men and women, their leaders, and yes, President Bush has resulted in a victory:

October’s U.S. death toll in Iraq matched the lowest monthly total of the war, with 13 deaths — seven in combat — reported by the Defense Department.

The earlier low came in July of this year, as security improvements throughout the country translated into lowered violence targeted at U.S. troops.

The Pentagon figures for October mark the first time in the war that no U.S. combat deaths were reported in Iraq’s capital, Baghdad. The two Baghdad deaths were reported as nonhostile.

Security improvements have been attributed to the now-reversed troop "surge," a turning of tribes against al-Qaida and other militant groups, and the emergence of paid "Sons of Iraq" who patrol neighborhoods.

Last October, 38 U.S. deaths were reported in Iraq, and in 2006, there were 106 U.S. deaths.

Going to show, all along, that Jihad Jack Murtha was wrong, wrong, wrong about our ability to achieve peace and stability in the fledgling democracy.

Going to show that Murtha, the supposed "military expert" wouldn't know a victory if it came up and bit him on his "big fat backside."

Going to show that Murtha gave not one wit about men and women in harms' way in Iraq, choosing rather to embolden the enemy while he attempted to enrich his own political career.

Going to show, once and for all, that MURTHA MUST GO!!