What Price, Treason?

Despite "Jihad Jack" Murtha's treasonous betrayal of the Haditha Marines (for which he has yet to apologize); despite numerous sweetheart deals with cronies who continually line his campaign coffers; despite documented corruption going all the way back to Abscam in the early 1980s; despite all this and more, PA-12 voters have somehow found it within themselves to hold their collective noses at the polling place and re-elect Murtha, time and time-again. All because of Murtha's reputation of "bringing home the pork" for PA-12.

Yes, PA-12 again and again sold their souls elected a self-serving, traitorous politician in the grand tradition of Huey Long and other kings of corruption, because of the millions upon millions of dollars in booty that the corpulent political pirate brought home for his district.

So, what have the voters of PA-12 received in return for selling their souls?

Not much:

The Post analysis illustrates the fleeting success of some of the companies backed by earmarks. Some of the jobs generated by Murtha's earmarks cost about $2 million each, and scores disappeared as soon as projects were completed.

Peter Fiske, a former defense executive in Murtha's district, said awarding earmarks to fledgling companies often backfires, a problem that might be avoided with a more rigorous assessment of project risks. Fiske helped found RAPT Industries, a company that Murtha forecast would generate 45 new jobs. It shuttered its four-person office this year.

"If you looked at Congressman Murtha's efforts in the same way you look at an investor's efforts, it's easy to see that the business model originally conceived hasn't really panned out in terms of its rate of return, " Fiske said.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, of course. Murtha's self-named monument, the airport to nowhere, despite its hefty price tag, still has few flights. An 8-million dollar radar system continues to go un-utilized, due to the fact that there is no one around who is qualified to operate it.

So, PA-12... what did your 30 pieces of silver you deposit at the polling place every two years get you?

The question remains: In 2010, will you continue to pay your tribute to your faux provider-god, or will you finally come to your senses and do yourself (and your nation) a favor and elect an honest man, for once.

When it Comes to Corruption,

Murtha leads the way:

While it would be wrong to tar all of those who earn their living in and around government from the Congress to the White House, Will Rogers' crack way back in the 1930s that the United States has the best legislature money can buy continues to be validated by a monotonous repetition of scandals year after year.

The latest inadvertently leaked score card from the House Ethics Committee should resolve any doubt about this. According to news accounts of the panel's report, more than 30 lawmakers and several of their aides are under investigation to one degree or another on issues that include lobbying and influence peddling. Seven members of a highly influential House subcommittee that controls Pentagon spending are under scrutiny over allegations they steered money to clients of a lobbying firm in return for campaign donations.

That's half the membership of the subcommittee whose chairman is high profile John Murtha of Pennsylvania. Murtha's activities, through the use of earmarks, have been the subject of inquiries for some time and it now looks like a mixed bag of Democrat and Republican colleagues have done their best to copper their campaigns with the same tactics.

Way to go, Jihad Jack--they're learning from the best at being the worst.

But it gets even better...errr... worse:

Under O’Toole’s jurisdiction now falls the decision concerning the Murtha-supported effort to make the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) “the world’s leading facility for manufacturing vaccines by 2013, potentially a $1 billion venture.”

Mysterious players in private equity, pharmaceutical, and lobbying worlds have been working for years to get to the point where one of their own -- a fellow Murtha supporter and contributor like O’Toole -- can reward them with huge federal contracts. As someone affiliated and closely aligned with the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, the conflict of interest before O’Toole is clear, but will she really be able to resist the pressure to reward Murtha’s cronies with millions upon millions in taxpayer-funded, government contracts?

We've chronicled Murtha's dealings with UPMC and/or Pennsylvania University here here, here, here, and here.

As Michael Golfarb concludes:

Prediction: coming soon to western Pennsylvania with the support of Harry Reid, Arlen Specter and of course, Tara O’Toole, will be the John Murtha Center for Biosecurity to go along with the John Murtha Airport and the John P. Murtha Institute for Homeland Security.

With any luck, we will one day add the John P. Murtha State Penitentiary, and Mr. Murtha himself will be one of its most celebrated occupants.

Murtha: King of Wasted Taxpayer Dollars

Of course, we at Murtha Must Go!! (as well as other outlets) have been rightly portraying Murtha s the "King of Pork." While this is wholly accurate, I believe that once in a while it is more than worthy to point out that "porkbarrel" spending is invariably the spending of other people's money--Yours and My money, to be exact. Take this story by the Washington Post:

INDIANA, Pa. -- The buzzer is broken at the John P. Murtha Institute for Homeland Security, and a note invites visitors, "Please knock." On a summer afternoon, a lone intern answers the door of the mostly empty basement offices that through the years have overseen $50 million in federal money awarded to projects designed to make the nation safer.

Named for the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations subcommittee on defense, who has shepherded most of its funding, the Murtha Institute was supposed to embark on projects to protect the country from terrorists and clean up environmental dangers. Much of the work went to companies and friends close to the congressman, and few of the projects met their goals, a Washington Post investigation shows.

But its spotty performance and internal turmoil have not deterred Murtha (D-Pa.) or his alma mater, Indiana University of Pennsylvania, which houses the center, from seeking more money or dreaming big about the future.

Plans are underway to move the Murtha Institute from its dormitory basement suite to a $53 million IUP athletic arena and conference center now under construction. Murtha secured a $3 million federal earmark for the building two years ago, and he sought another earmark this year before abruptly changing course as investigations of his defense appropriations and lobbying connections heated up. Murtha redirected some of that request to IUP research.

This largesse, folks, is not only made up of "other people's money," it is financed with YOUR taxpayer dollars.

Folks, in these trying times, "politics as usual" shouldn't cut it.

If Jihad Jack had pulled his ponzi schemes anywhere outside what should be the hallowed halls of Congress, Jack Murtha would be now be sitting in the John P. Murtha Penitentiary.

It's now more apparent than ever that Murtha Must Go!!

Finally, a project worthy of Murtha's Mettle...

Murtha lands $2 million for sewer project.

Seeing as how just about everything that receives taxpayer largesse courtesy of Jihad Jack Murtha gets named after him, I'm just waiting for the newly remodeled facility to be re-named the John P. Murtha Sewer District.

Just sayin.

All in the Family?

Not only can Murtha be called the earmark king of the Capitol, but it would seem that he's in charge of his own family syndicate:

WASHINGTON — Representative John P. Murtha, chairman of the House military spending subcommittee and a decorated former Marine, has long acted as a protective Uncle Jack to the Marine Corps. [TELL THAT TO THE SHARRATTS--ED]

Now the corps has named one of his nephews, Col. Brian Murtha, to the office charged with advocating for its interests on Capitol Hill, where Representative Murtha, Democrat of Pennsylvania, helps write the military budget. In relocating to be near the Pentagon, Colonel Murtha has even moved into a unit in the same condominium building where his influential uncle lives in Arlington, Va.

[SNIP]

Nor is Colonel Murtha the first member of the Murtha family to be in a position to profit from his uncle’s influence. The congressman earmarked millions of federal dollars to an institution in his district, St. Vincent College, while the Rev. John F. Murtha, his cousin, was its president. He has directed millions more in earmarks to clients of a firm, KSA Consulting, where until about three years ago his younger brother, Robert Murtha, known as Kit, worked as a lobbyist.

Colonel Murtha is one of Kit Murtha’s sons. Another son, also named Robert Murtha, is a former Marine with a master’s degree in engineering. He previously worked for two military contractors who, seeking earmarks, hired a lobbyist with close ties to Representative Murtha.

Over the last three years, the younger Robert Murtha has operated Murtech Inc., a small contractor in Glen Burnie, Md., that runs a warehouse and offers engineering services. It has received more than $3.5 million in military contracts over the last three years, not including subcontracts through other companies.

He is also a founder of another company, Ocean Energy Systems Inc., which is seeking federal financing to support its research into the generation of power from the motion of waves.

There is no evidence, however, that this nephew has received any earmarks or otherwise benefited from Representative Murtha’s position.

Asked if the family name helped Ocean Energy, the company’s chief executive, Brian Cunningham, said, “It does and it doesn’t.”

Representative Murtha is under so much scrutiny, Mr. Cunningham said, that Robert Murtha “can’t raise his head at all on this, for fear that it will be connected with his uncle.

Well...We Tried To Tell You...

We tried to tell you, again and again, that John P. Murtha was not to be trusted.

We tried to tell you, again and again on this blog, that the only thing John P. Murtha is interested in, is, well, enriching John P. Murtha, whether it's throwing the Haditha Marines under the bus for reasons of political gain, or rewarding his cronies with pay-to-play earmarks designed as quid-pro-quos to keep his political machine and campaign war machine well-oiled and chock full of booty.

Hell, even when the megalomaniacal John Murtha scores an earmark for a local cancer center, it has his name plastered all over it like he's some modern day Julius Caesar.

Yes, we at Murtha Must Go!! have known this since May of 2006, when we first started peeling the rotten onion that is Congressman John P. "Jihad Jack" Murtha.

We even warned you literally years ahead of the curve that John Murtha was utilizing his political connections and earmarks to set up phony fronts to line his greasy pockets. As a matter of fact, this story, regarding Murtha's connection to Electro-Optics Center, now just coming to light in the mainstream press, was reported by me on MMG back on September 27, 2006, over two and a half years ago.

We at MMG tried to warn the voters of PA-12 that they were sending and re-sending a crook of the lowest order back to Washington, time and time again. But I guess it's hard to see straight when you have more pork dangling in front of your eyes than a Hormel Spam factory.

So, to our friends in the mainstream media (and even the Kos-Kids) who have finally taken the time to delve into what a scumbag Murtha is, welcome to the club.

Just one question, though: What the hell took you so long?

Murtha won't let military directly lobby for their needs

It has long been known that Jack Murtha has been living high off the hog with regard to earmarks that have been given to his military contracting buddies. As a matter of fact, he's making such good money from his beneficiaries that he wants to streamline the earmark process: He plans to bypass advice by members of the military altogether:

The House’s top defense appropriator has pledged to help strengthen the role of the Pentagon’s comptroller in an effort to curb lobbying by the military services for their controversial programs.

Why should he listen to the military, as the military itself doesn't provide Jack with campaign contributions.

As I've stated before, Jack Murtha does nothing without there being something in it for Jack Murtha. To Jack Murtha, the military is merely a tool he uses to keep his fat backside in power, or to advance his political career, a/la his slanderous declaration of guilt toward the Haditha Marines.

I don't know; perhaps I'm a bit too cynical. I'm absolutely positive that there is no lobbying going on when Concurrent Technologies receives a taxpayer-funded porkbarrel contract to the tune of $200 million dollars... or is there?

Yet, the Murtha situation is very troubling when you look at CTC’s Form 990. With the exception of three individuals listed on the schedule of officers and directors, all have contributed to Murtha’s congressional campaigns since 2002.

[SNIP]

The Times also notes that CTC has paid somewhere around $500,000 to a lobbying firm. The lobbying firm's executives and clients have contributed over $1.2 million to Murtha in campaign contributions (the Times refers to these as donations) since 1999, according to the Times.

So we have a congressman who was a driving force behind the creation of this tax-exempt entity. That same congressman is earmarking significant amounts of money to that organization. Those who are in control of the organization (several of whom receive significant salaries from CTC) contribute large amounts of money to the congressman’s campaign. We can only wonder how the entity distributes the federal grant money within the local community.

I mean, with sweetheart deals like that, why should Murtha even bother to take the time listen to those pesky military folks who actually know what they need?

I mean, there's gold in them there earmarks, right, Jihad Jack?

A little look at history...

John Murtha's history of being a robber-baron, playing free and easy with the toils of the taxpayers, is far from being a short one. Let me take you on a trip down memory lane to Murtha's challenge from another democrat opponent, Frank Mascara, in 2002

Murtha challenged Mascara to a debate early in the campaign. Mascara quickly accepted, but Murtha said he couldn't fit the debates into his schedule. So Mascara offered a $1,000 bounty to anyone who could convince Murtha to debate. The money went unclaimed.

While Mascara was trying to get Murtha to debate, Murtha was announcing millions of dollars worth of federal grants and projects throughout the 12th District.

As the second-ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, Murtha has control over military spending and has steered defense-related contracts to companies throughout the district. Murtha's slogan, "the congressman who delivers," became the theme of his campaign.

Murtha made immediate inroads in the new district. At one point, he dealt Mascara a blow in the heart of his 20th District by awarding a $2 million grant to a center that retrains unemployed coal miners at California University of Pennsylvania, Mascara's alma mater.

Mascara had enjoyed support from the United Mine Workers of America through the Greene-Fayette-Washington areas, but the union endorsed Murtha for re-election.

That's all Murtha had to do to win votes. A little pork here, a little pork there, paid for by the very taxpayers he supposedly serves. When asked about his opponent after the election, a gloating, self-aggrandizing Murtha declared:

"I usually don't take things like this personally, but I did this time. He was desperate. He wanted to win so bad he would stoop to anything. I haven't heard from him, and I don't expect to."

He would "...stoop to anything to win," eh Jack? You mean like your decision to betray your country during a time of war by starting an unprecedented negative propaganda campaign against our troops and their mission; just like the time in May of 2005 when you threw 15 Haditha Marines under the bus for your own political aggrandizement, just so you could win the House Majority Seat?

Seems like Mr. Mascara learned from the best...er worst. But let's face it-- on Mascara's meanest, most unscrupulous day, he could never stoop so low or be so ruthless as Jihad Jack Murtha.

Arrogant Murtha to Americans: "Tough Shit."

Jack Murtha is undoubtedly not only the most corrupt member of congress, but the most arrogant.

When complaints arose that it is still difficult to find information regarding earmarks embedded in legislation, Murtha had a wonderful answer to those Americans who wish to know where their tax dollars are going:

Last year, Congress promised to shed light on the secretive process. But the lists of earmarks are still buried in obscure documents that are difficult to find and search. Until Congress put them online a couple of weeks ago, the House disclosure letters, linking lawmakers to companies, were thick volumes of paper kept in a cabinet in the offices of the House Appropriations Committee.

When a reporter for Congressional Quarterly pointed out how difficult it remains to pull all the information together, Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., chairman of the committee that drafts the defense bill, had a quick answer: “Tough shit.”

"Tough Shit," Jack? Is that what you have to say to the cry for more transparency in government?

Much to your amazement, Jihad Jack, the people of PA-12 elected you to be a public servant, not an elite member of royalty.

PA-12, it's high time to say, "Tough Shit!" to his "royal heinous" at the ballot box. Say NO to Murtha, and say YES to William Russell!

****UPDATE****

Welcome Freepers, Just One Minute, and Calaveras Today Readers. We at MMG have been chronicling the misdeeds of Jack Murtha ever since he unjustly and falsely pronounced guilt over the Haditha Marines in May of 2006, without an official briefing.

Please click here for more information as to why Murtha Must Go!

Murtha and earmarks: Like Peas & Carrots!

Murtha and the rest of the corrupt congress continue to refuse to follow their own rules:

And Congress broke its pledge — and President Bush's challenge — to cut earmarks in half. Lawmakers cut the dollar amount of defense earmarks by about a fourth and the number by 19 percent.

The hidden earmarks range from $8 million for lighting sold by a financially troubled company in North Carolina to $588 million for a submarine the administration doesn't want.

After months of investigating the $459 billion 2008 defense bill, The Times found:

• The hidden $3.5 billion included 155 earmarks, among them the most costly in the bill. Congress disclosed 2,043 earmarks worth $5 billion.

• The House broke the new rules at least 110 times by failing to disclose who was getting earmarks, making it difficult for the public to judge whether the money is being spent wisely.

• In at least 175 cases, senators did not list themselves in Senate records as earmark sponsors, appearing more fiscally responsible. But they told a different story to constituents back home in news releases, claiming credit for the earmarks and any new jobs.

Lawmakers do not face penalties for failing to follow these ethics rules.

"The whole ethics bill was a sham," said Sen. Jim DeMint, a Republican from South Carolina, after being told of The Times' findings.

This continuing scandal shows the grubby little fingerprints of the Pork King, himself:

One congressman's fingerprints, however, weren't so easy to conceal. Latrobe sits in the congressional district of Rep. John Murtha, a Democrat who chairs the subcommittee that drafts the defense bill and wields the most power over defense earmarks.

Latrobe's officials have given $5,000 to Murtha's re-election fund in the past two years.

Also, Murtha had talked about giving taxpayer dollars to Latrobe. "We're trying to get together to see how we can work out an increased capacity for that particular company," Murtha said at a subcommittee hearing in April 2007. "I've talked to that producer. And what I'd like to see is them put some money in, us put some money in, and reduce the time it takes to get those spare parts out."

This spring, the Air Force carried out the earmark by asking companies to submit proposals for a $16.6 million research grant that would expand production of specialty steel made through "vacuum induction melting and vacuum arc remelting."

The money was aimed at alleviating the shortage of specialty steel.

But the foreign-steel ban proved so restrictive that the military and major defense contractors, such as Boeing, complained that they couldn't get parts. In December, Congress loosened the ban.

Latrobe has tentatively won the research grant, a Pentagon spokeswoman confirmed, although details are still being worked out.

The company would not comment on any discussions it had with Murtha. A spokeswoman defended getting the grant, saying it had been competitively bid. Even so, she acknowledged that Latrobe is the sole U.S. producer of certain specialty steels, a requirement for getting the money.

She said Latrobe was a few months away from completing the $62 million expansion while it waits for the government handout.

Through a spokesman, Murtha said the project was not an earmark because the contract was competitively bid. Last year at a hearing, however, Murtha talked of giving Latrobe funding because it was the only U.S. company that could make that steel.

I'm telling you, PA-12. There is a better way.

Murtha, the Pork King, continues to try to buy votes with bacon

From the Johnstown Democrat (note how the J-T avoids the term, "earmarks"):

Local companies in line for defense budget funds
By SHAWN PIATEK
The Tribune-Democrat

Congress on Wednesday passed the fiscal year 2009 Defense Appropriations bill, including at least $80.7 million earmarked for local organizations out of the $487.7 billion budget.

After the bill passed, U.S. Rep. John Murtha announced directed funding to 10 Johnstown-area companies and agencies included in the bill.

[SNIP]

The remaining $36.7 million was spread among nine other Cambria- and Somerset-county companies as follows:

n$10 million is provided for Northrop Grumman Corp. and Conemaugh Health System, both of Johnstown, to continue working on a digital health-care testbed to evaluate electronic health-care technologies in a rural setting.

• $3.2 million is included for MTS Technologies Inc., Johnstown, for the Joint Collaborative Medical Information System. The bill also includes $2.4 million to develop a computerized training tool for recruits that simulates virtual training environments and combat scenarios.

• Kuchera Defense Systems, Windber, will receive $4 million to continue development of Roll-On, Roll-Off reconnaissance technology. The bill also includes $2.5 million for a support facility that will be used for the repair and maintenance of unmanned ground and aerial vehicles.

• $4 million is included for DRS Technologies, Richland Township, to continue upgrading the combat information center consoles on Aegis class Navy ships.

• Gautier Steel, Johnstown, will receive $3.2 million to continue transitioning its capabilities as a Defense Department regional supplier of titanium steel.

• Environmental Systems Research Institute, Johnstown, will receive $3 million to produce highly sophisticated geographic information systems software for the military to map battle terrain more effectively.

• MountainTop Technologies, Johnstown, will receive $2.4 million to develop distance learning modules for Joint Task Force teams.

• $2 million is provided to research improvements to body armor being developed by KDH Defense Systems, Johnstown

But perhaps the pease de resistance of all the earmarked taxpayer dollars that Santa Claus Murtha is O so graciously bestowing upon his fifedom:

Of the directed funds, more than half – $44 million – are targeted for the National Drug Intelligence Center in downtown Johnstown, funding the center for another year and allowing it to grow.

So, Jihad Jack has earmarked 44 million of your taxpayer dollars to a corrupt, redundant, pork-laden vote farm, and is allowing it to grow even more?

The time is nigh when the citizens of Johnstown and the surrounding PA-12 area are going to need to make a stark choice: Will they continue to send to Washington a bloatedly corrupt, twisted version of Santa Claus, who bribes his constituents with their own money, and is more than willing to throw the honor and fortunes of innocent Marines under the bus to further his political ambitions?

Or will they finally refuse to hold their nose at the ballot box and instead send an honorable candidate to Washington, in the form of one Lt. Col. William Russell to represent their interests?

Hillary Gets SuperJack Endorsement

Every other significant Democrat in Pennsylvania is hitching his caboose to the Hillary train -- so why not Murtha?

A boost more powerful than a locomotive.....

Rep. John Murtha, D-Johnstown, stirred up a hornet's nest in 2005 when he spoke out against the war in Iraq. Yesterday, the Vietnam War veteran created a buzz by endorsing Mrs. Clinton.

Mr. Murtha said Mrs. Clinton "will forge a consensus on health care, education, the economy, and the war in Iraq."

There's no way to measure the power of Mr. Murtha's endorsement as far as influencing voters, but he is a pretty good fund-raiser. And in a race this close, it's worth noting that Mr. Murtha is one of those all-powerful super-delegates.

I will try to set aside the image of John Murtha in spandex tights and concentrate on the topic at hand (thanks a lot, Mr. Post-Gazette reporter!).

Since Murtha has been an advocate of "declare defeat and bring 'em home!" for a few years now, it's almost surprising that he has not gotten behind Barack Obama, whose advocacy of a policy of surrender seems closer to Murtha's position than does Hillary Clinton, who is in favor of a gradual withdrawal. The only reason that the Murtha endorsement is NOT a surprise is that Pennsylvania politics are old-fashioned and somewhat bizarre. PA politics do not reflect the popular image of politics in other parts of America. This is the state (or should I say, Commonwealth) that is currently represented by a pro-life Democrat and a pro-abortion Republican (who is not a Christian) in the US Senate. Boom boom, out go the stereotypes. In the big elections, PA voters thumb their noses at party affiliations in many general elections. For a few decades now, Pennsylvanians have been electing a Republican Governor for two terms, then a Democrat for two terms, then a Republican for two, then a Democrat...and so on. A few years ago, every statewide elective office was held by Republicans except for one. Today, the exact opposite is true. Our voters are fickle. We are a political pendulum.

This goes a long way to helping understand John Murtha's success in getting re-elected to Congress, biennium after biennium. He's a Democrat. But he's a conservative! That's what the media tells us, and compared to most other Dems, he certainly seems that way. Considering Murtha's voting record over the decades, labels like "conservative", "liberal", and "moderate" are meaningless. The only description that accurately fits him is "Porkmonger". He's all about delivering the goods. Today, those goods are called Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Like his support for immediate troop withdrawal from Iraq, this endorsement is an example of Murtha going along with the prevailing winds. Governor Ed Rendell, the mayors of Philly and Pittsburgh, and other major league Democratic political players have publicly backed Hillary. Jack Murtha is following suit. Hillary has become Murtha's other white meat, so to speak. A Clinton victory already seemed like a foregone conclusion in Pennsylvania; Murtha has made it even more so.

Getting back to the Murtha-as-superhero image (more like super-villain), it's not hard to imagine him assuming the identity of...The Porkmonger! I don't know if the Porkmonger can fly off of rooftops, but I wouldn't mind seeing him try.

Leo adds:

There ya go, Dave :-)

Murtha Pork Fest...

In a gala reminiscent of the Appalachian Mob Meeting back in 1957, Murtha is having a thank you party for all the defense contractors who have contributed to his ongoing culture of corruption.

Tonight, Rep. John Murtha (D-PA) will be hosting a gala dinner tonight at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Pentagon City for defense industry lobbyists who have received and who hope to receive millions of dollars worth of earmarks in FY 2009 appropriations bills.

Mr. Murtha will be joined by Reps. James Moran (D-VA) and Peter Visclosky (D-IN). All are well known for their “Earmark for a Contribution” prowess. Last year Roll Call found that these three members funneled millions of earmarked tax dollars to firms whose executives subsequently contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to their campaign funds.

Par for the course, eh Jack??

Sooo-weee!!!! Sooo-Weee!!!!

Jack Murtha: Unabashedly Porcine.

It is widely spread news that the National Drug Intelligence Center (NDIC) at Johnstown is more or less a slush fund for Jihad Jack Murtha's perpetual re-election to PA-12's U.S. congressional seat. A poster child for government waste and the consequences of the "earmark mentality," NDIC, and Murtha's connection to it, has been the subject of continuing ethics violation investigations. Not only is Murtha so arrogant as to accept his connection to the pork-laden, waste-laden redundant bureaucratic bloat-ocracy, he's proud of it:

Van Osdol: "Congressman, what about the National Drug Intelligence Center?"

Murtha: "You're from WTAE?"

Van Osdol: "Yes, sir."

Murtha: "Nice to see you."

Van Osdol: "What are you going to do to secure funding for that, sir?"

When Van Osdol tried to keep asking questions, one of Murtha's men tried to block the television camera.

Van Osdol: "Congressman, can you respond to the criticism that people say NDIC is just a pork barrel program?"

Murtha: "No comment. How's that?"

Van Osdol: "Why don't you want to talk about that program, sir?"

Murtha: "Just talk to them about it. Talk to NDIC."

Van Osdol: "We've talked to NDIC."

Murtha: "What did they tell you?"

Van Osdol: "They say you are the man who keeps it going."

Murtha: "That's right. You got that right."

Heh. Straight from the horse's pig's mouth.
PA-12, there's a reason that politicians, like diapers, need to be changed.

When it Comes to Pork....

Murtha remains the King....

From the New York Times, nonetheless:

The Pork King Keeps His Crown

The new earmark disclosure rules put into effect by Congress confirm the pre-eminence of Representative John Murtha at procuring eye-popping chunks of pork for contractors he helped put in business in Johnstown, Pa. The Pennsylvania Democrat, a power player on defense appropriations, exudes pride, not embarrassment, for delivering hundreds of millions of dollars in largesse to district beneficiaries. They, in turn, requite with hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations.

Mr. Murtha led all House members this year, securing $162 million in district favors, according to the watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense.

[SNIP]

In 1991, Mr. Murtha used a $5 million earmark to create the National Defense Center for Environmental Excellence in Johnstown to develop anti-pollution technology for the military. Since then, it has garnered more than $670 million in contracts and earmarks. Meanwhile it is managed by another contractor Mr. Murtha helped create, Concurrent Technologies, a research operation that somehow was allowed to be set up as a tax-exempt charity, according to The Washington Post. Thanks to Mr. Murtha, Concurrent has boomed; the annual salary for its top three executives averages $462,000.

There’s been no report of Mr. Murtha’s profiting personally. “This is about jobs,” the congressman insists. But the Murtha operation — which has become a model for other entrepreneurial lawmakers — is a gross example of quid pro quo Washington. Every one of the 26 beneficiaries of Mr. Murtha’s earmarks in last year’s defense budget made contributions to his campaign kitty, a total of $413,250, according to the newspaper Roll Call.

Once a Marine, now a bloatedly corrupt politician.

Is this really who you want representing you, PA-12???

Why Russell has more than a chance to win!

There are those who believe that Lt. Col. William Russell has no chance to win against the Gasbag from Johnstown, Jack P(utz). Murtha (D- Al Qaeda).

To that I politely say, HOGWASH.

While Diana Irey, Murtha's most formidable opponent to date, garnered 39 percent of the vote and fell short of victory, certain circumstances exist today that weren't in play at the time of Irey's candidacy that play well in Russell's favor:

1. Haditha. The truth about Haditha had not yet come to light. There is no longer an argument regarding the fact that the Haditha Marines had *NOT* committed "cold blooded murder," as Murtha had so loudly proclaimed; and to this day Murtha refuses to apologize for and to retract his unfounded accusations.

One of the Marines that Murtha wrongfully accused of cold blooded murder, Justin Sharrat, is in actuality one of PA-12's own constituents. There is a heavy concentration of military personnel, both active and retired, in PA-12. The truth about Haditha, especially after having been brought to light not only by Darryl and Justin Sharrat, but also by the highly decorated candidate, Lt. Col. William Russell, shall sprout some mighty stout legs.

There is no honorable military person who, in good conscience, can vote for an ex-Marine who sold one of their own down the river. Just ask John Kerry.

2. William Russell is retired military.

While Diana Irey was bright, knowledgeable, and in every way competent, Lt. Colonel Russell will add yet another dimension of credibility to the mix that will appeal to PA-12's military voters. Not only is Russell retired military, his record is beyond reproach, and Russell exemplifies all that is honorable in a veteran; a stark contrast to his incumbent opponent.

3. Murtha continues to be corrupt.
His earmarks and other "boss politician" antics, while certainly bringing pork in the area to buy votes (this, being the latest example), at the same time have gotten additional scrutiny that had not been brought to bear, even in local media, until relatively recently.

Due to these factors, do not lose sight of the notion that now, more than ever, the Murtha Machine is a corrupt, and yet vulnerable machine that could well be on life support at this juncture, and that Lt. Colonel William Russell, via his weapon of honor and righteousness, will be the one to put this monster in retirement mode, once and for all.

We just knew you could do it!!

Jack Murtha, who was on CREW's "watch list" last year, has finally made it to the big list of America's most corrupt congressmen!

I know that PA-12 is proud of you!

The Kook Left's Divorce with Murtha...

...is now final






Since his announcement of surrender to third world thugs in November of 2005, Jack Murtha has been the darling of the left-wing fever swamp. Basking in the adoration of the leftist elements, Murtha felt emboldened to continue unabated his diatribes against the war, and felt so emboldened as to throw fellow Marines under the bus with impunity, as a means of burnishing his credentials with the kook left base of the democrat party. Feeling his oats, he overplayed his hand in vying for the majority leader position in the House. But even the endorsement of his partner-in-crime Nancy Pelosi couldn't cement the gig. Dejected, but prideful, Murtha continued his seditious path, accepting and advocating for nothing less than the prospect of unconditional surrender of the United States to third-world savage psychopaths, and was thus still accepted in the fringe of left-wing circles.

But there's one thing that his storied career in the House of Representatives has proven axiomatic: Nothing, but nothing gets in the way between Jack Murtha and money.

So when it came time to approve the measure signed into law by President Bush to accept the 9/11 commission recommendation that defense appropriations become above-board, Murtha politely said, "Crap!"

Of course, Murtha's long history of shady deals and earmarks, along with his recent eschewing of earmark reform suggests Murtha's decision had absolutely nothing to do with keeping defense secrets. Rather, it had everything to do with keeping his earmarks and sweetheart defense deals far from the eye of public scrutiny.

This, of course, was the last straw for the moonbat faithful, who had heretofore hitched their wagons to a self-serving gasbag ex-Marine to lead them to the promised land of a failed, subservient, land flowing with political correctness and socialism for all:

mikelgb (1000+ posts)

Tue Aug-07-07 12:23 PM Response to Original message

11. Murtha is covering up his earmarks

I saw the floor debate when Issa offered his amendment... and I saw Murtha accepting it without even letting Issa mention the title or substance of the amendment but it was already after the FISA bill had passed so nothing much mattered anymore

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babylonsister (1000+ posts)

Tue Aug-07-07 12:28 PM Response to Reply #11

14. That was my first thought, too; makes you wonder if everything is

aboveboard, why does he need to cover them up? I don't want to accuse Murtha of anything, so will just wait and see how this shakes out.

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Kagemusha (1000+ posts)

Tue Aug-07-07 12:36 PM Response to Reply #14

15. There's no need to accuse Murtha - he has a well earned reputation for this.

The ONLY reason that he got on the good side of the base is because he came out against the Iraq war, which shocked people because he was such a good soldier, so to speak. But where appropriations are concerned, he never changed his spots, not one bit.

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NoodleyAppendage (1000+ posts)

Tue Aug-07-07 12:24 PM Response to Original message

12. Blackmail to keep his earmarks under wraps. Yet another DEM WHORE? Be gone asswipe!

Murtha is the king of earmarks, many of which are probably for private firms working with the intelligence community. Alternatively, it's also possible that Chimperator has dirt on Murtha and Murtha isn't man enough to buck his blackmail attempts. Gone are the days of honor. J

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redqueen (1000+ posts)

Tue Aug-07-07 12:27 PM Response to Original message

13. Unbelievable...

just... ugh. *sigh*

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donkeyotay (1000+ posts)

Tue Aug-07-07 01:04 PM Response to Original message

18. I can see where the opposing view would merit debate

"The opposing view," according to Aftergood, "adopted by the 9/11 Commission and endorsed by Congress last month, is that budget disclosure is an indispensable precondition to broader accountability and that it is essential to restoring the credibility of a defective classification system." Accountability. Restored credibility. Naw. Let's just keep on with more of the same.

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Vidar (1000+ posts)

Tue Aug-07-07 02:01 PM Response to Original message

20. Fuck that!

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AX10 (1000+ posts)

Tue Aug-07-07 02:08 PM Response to Original message

21. Murtha, now there's someone I trust with accountability.

Murtha doesn't want us to see the pork he's bringing home. That pork is not going for things such as roads and hospitals, but to his defense contractor buddies.

Never let it be said, Mr. Murtha, that I am an uncaring, unfeeling lout.

I know that your now-severed relationship with the moonbat faithful must be very difficult for you.

So as a token of compassion, I leave you with this:



And just remember, as you wax poetic of the bygone days when you were the darling of the fever swamp left, though you will never again have the moonbat faithful groveling at your feet,

At least you'll always have your earmarks.

:::sniff::::