What a bunch of Idiots who are stuck on STUPID.

For once, I shake my head about a Scheer column. At the same time, I laugh as I remember predicting that corruption in Washington would not stop should the GOP lose its legislative majorities. Does anybody remember the Democrat’s corruption of the 1980’s, not to mention that of the 1950’s, with the visceral, faith-based defense of segregation?

Republicans have pushed corruption to high levels. There were strong indications that they were going to clean up their act to some extent even if they kept their majorities. The loss of their majorities means that the Dems can now claim their cut of the cake.

By the way, Hoyer, according to the LA Times, has already earned is BA in Corruption with high honors. Our new majority has now put him in a position to earn his PhD…

And when it comes to chairing the Intelligence Committee, Pelosi is reportedly valuing Rep. Hastings, with his rich corruption record, over Rep. Harman, who earned wide bipartisan respect as ranking Democrat on this committee.

The Democratic party is not dumb enough to repeat the excesses of the GOP, but Pelosi’s first actions certainly ought to raise concern in the mind of anyone who thought that 2007 would see a clean-up of Congress’ way of doing business.

I was appalled when Murtha lost out to Hoyer.  Here, we had a man who was not intimidated by Bush, Inc., spoke his mind, made rhyme and reason of the whole sorry scenario; cast aside by another pony rider.  No, I don’t mean express, either, I mean a man who hasn’t the ability to think it out and act on it.

Hoyer expects that to pull our troops out of the hellhole that Bush made of Iraq could create ‘more carnage’?  Would someone please tell me where this fellow is coming from?  Surely, he is not living in the world I’m living in.  Carnage will be created in Iraq long after he and most of us are dead.  It’s just the way the Iraqi mind works, no matter which faction or who’s in charge.  Now that bin Laden has so much as been given the key to management of terrorism there, carnage should be naturally expected.  And Hoyer would prevent this?  When pigs fly!

Murtha was rejected for the sad and simple reason that the Democrats, like the Republicans, are well aware of the peak oil and decline situation and will continue to follow the old George Frost Kennan doctrine of “securing” (stealing) resources for our 6.5% of the world population at the expense of the rest of the world. There will nothing more than a token withdrawal of troops from Iraq as huge US military bases in Iraq are maintained. It’s the oil, stupid; and it always has been.  To say that this policy is doomed to catastrophic failure is stating the obvious, but our elected knaves and thieves don’t know any other way of conducting business.

So, J.Q. Sap will go on being screwed and bankrupted to the bitter end, which will be a deep recession and likely depession, not to mention more empty chairs at the family dinner table. That, my friends, is being a true realist

Murtha is pro-draft. This made Hoyer the better choice.  If the Dems have any chance in 2008 they have to get Murtha, Rangel, Emmanual and the other drafters to shut up.

Ya, they are fighting for one of the lead stories today, the new playstation.

Why was the MSM so interested in Nancy’s choice? The real problem is this meddlesome newscorp; They bring up 20 year-old news and flame it, when it isn’t even relevant, to bring down the chances of an ex-Hawk (their previous crossover darling) and paint him tainted or pink!; To keep Democratic corporatists (and you can tell them by their shiny clothes) in with Bushes Blunder. The progressives should see this threat of being pushed into bad decisions by the Whitehouse and Co’s strangle held media to a propaganda fed,lazy, incurious American consumer, as what could cause a backslide into fascism with a much more capable leader than Bush.

Well here is some news, Rep. Steny Hoyer won over Murtha as House Majority Leader. Looks like business as usual

Breaking news: Hoyer’s in, Murtha’s out as of Thursday am, so it’s going to be the same accommodationist “centrist” bullshit that made the Dems the irrelevant wussies they’ve been for the last two years. Thanks for setting the tone for the next two years and guaranteeing a Republican return to power in ‘08. These goddam Democrats lose even when they win. Fuck ‘em.

>>>>Democrats should prove a real break from the corruption of the Republicans, and only elevate squeeky clean leadership. I think the voters expect this.
<<<<<

HA HA HA HA HA HE HE HE HAW

Sorry, but don’t you know that the ethics governing AMERKKKA is called capitalism???

TO get rid of all corruption a violent revolution would be necessary.  Somehow I don’t expect it to happen, especially in this fascist country.

He was shown in the tape saying no to the bribe.  He may have tried to leave the door open, but that is far less then what has been going on by this whole group that wants at least a hundred thousand troops to stay in Iraq.

A civil war often happens when governments develop and eventually unite.  They are bloody, but that is the Iraqi’s business.  They are a sovereign nation.  We are occupiers trying to influence their government.

I went to a site recomended by mite and came upon this:
http://www.givemeliberty.org/NoRedress/WTPTV-01-07-03T ranscript.htm

Let me give you an example of what has been happening behind the scenes in our nation’s capitol. On October 3, 2002, in a public, recorded debate on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Ron Paul of Texas reminded Congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois, the Chairman of the House Committee on International Relations, that the Constitution requires a Declaration of War before the armed forces of the United States can be deployed in hostilities overseas. In response to Congressman Ron Paul, Congressman Hyde then had this to say about our Constitution and Bill of Rights:

And I quote:……”: There are things in the Constitution that have been overtaken by events, by time. There are things that are no longer relevant to a modern society—things that are inappropriate, anachronistic"…end quote.

To those who love our country, who honor and cherish the ideals and principles upon which our great nation was established, we must ask ourselves---how have we come to this point where our government leaders can openly express such contempt and disrespect for our Constitution, and our God-given rights as Americans. To the millions of military veterans, law enforcement officers and other patriotic Americans who have taken an oath to support and defend our Constitution, Congressman Hyde’s comments should be viewed as nothing less than treason.

Our vice Presidents stock holdings in Haliburton went up in value 3000% in 2005.  He has made millions of the Blood Money.

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2006/111106a.html

According to an analysis by Sen. Frank Lautenberg, D-New Jersey, these no-bid contracts have contributed to the value of Cheney’s Halliburton stock options rising by more than 3,000 percent. In 2005, Cheney’s stock options increased in value from $241,498 to over $8 million.

We need Murtha’s dedication to the troops in the leadership.  It seems most politicians are corrupt some are just better at using secrecy and intimidation.  If that doesn’t work at least one has been known to shoot people with his shotgun.

I guess I shouldn’t be surprised by the swift-boating of Murtha.  He obviously is affective in fighting Bush and Company over the war.  And some fight it will be because there are many war profiteers making a fortune.  Even James Baker is a senior adviser to the Carlyle Group that owns a large portion of the military contractor industry. 

All we need to do is remember how ugly it got before those in power finally had to end the Vietnam war to realize the fight as now even started.  Bush, McCain, and Lieberman want to send more troops and perhaps start a third war with Iran.

Murtha is the best one to lead now.

Wonder when Murtha will put the sting on the FBI. How about bribing FBI officials to not investigate extradition or torture allegations, or bribing FBI agents to release “classified” information? Or bribing FBI to protect Saudi terrorism suspects as friends of the Bush family? The government feeding on itself is such a wonderful thing to watch. HBO please.

Since the advent of TV, politics has become a spectator sport. For instance, in baseball, the ump sometimes makes a bad call.  Is that a reason to keep from employing him again?  In a long career in politics, there is no one person on either side who hasn’t made a bad choice now and again.  About the latest smear against Murtha:  I thought I heard him say he WASN’T interested in their deal.  Also, how do I know that is really him 25+ years ago?.  Is the Repub press pulling another smear campaign???  What ever happened to the law about slandering? They should pass a new law stating that campaigners can only speak about what THEY stand for, and not be smearing their opponents!

Shut up about Murtha.  Nancy Pelosi gets to pick her number two. What’s controversial about that? Nobody on the outside of congress would get into this managerial fight if the speaker-to-be were a man! Even Scheer weighs in on something that is Pelosi’s business. Should she select a number two who is loyal to her? Duh. Did Gore get Lieberman? Just shut up, Scheer, even though I agree, and all pundits. Nancy Pelosi will be second in line to the presidency and certainly has the power to decide her leadership team. Woule anyone question a man in her place?

Robert Scheer: Murtha’s No Lefty, But He’s Right Pelosi, in supporting Murtha, rejected the path of opportunism that has so hobbled the Democratic Party in recent decades. If the Democrats fail to keep faith with the voters on the war, they can forget gaining back the White House in 2008, and it would be a rebuke much deserved.
http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20061114_robert_sc heer_11_15/

Unless you are Mother Theresa there’s probably a skeleton in your closet too.  Of the choice Speaker Pelosi made I will venture to say there maybe others who are more qualified but with Murtha vs Hoyer as the given I support the the one who stuck his neck out. If as it may come to pass he is hoisted on his own petard so be it. I respect his courage which is not to say I agree with all of his positions on the issues. But now is the time for bold and calculated moves. For much too long it has been go along to get along thus it should be no more.

I think Pelosi is a brilliant tactician in her choice of Murtha.  Wait and see.  This is really about being strong enough and wise enough to shrug off the right-wing spin machine, then go to work to get a change in the Iraq quagmire that continues to kill or maim our soldiers.  Just take a moment to ask how much of the loud noise about Murtha is being started, amplified and echoed by the right wingers, those who can dish it out but who selectively ignore the fact that McCain was a principal in the Keating Five scandal?

My vote goes to John Murtha,the one person that challenged George Bush regarding the war in Iraq.The People supported Mr. Murthas’ views,and,
I am confident that we now have a Democratic House and Senate because the people want this war to end;redeploy and phase out the troops.The Insurgents and the Iraqi people need to start rebuilding their country.When the Coalition forces pull back,this will happen.
Congratulations Nancy,you will be a great Speaker.

It’s dismaying to see democrats posting here and taking the position that their party won majorities for any reason other than that the majority of voters wants us out of Iraq and wants the crimes of the current regime investigated and prosecuted.

Get this: the democrats won simply because there was nobody else to vote for to break the republican stranglehold on power.  The only issue in this election was the Iraq war, not gay rights, or gun control, or global warming or fair trade or any other overblown non-issue now being held up as mandate material.

Pelosi has stated that impeachment is “off the table”.  She is talking about “working with the president” instead of putting him and his crew on notice that they are going to be investigated, and probably indicted, impeached, and/or imprisoned for misfeasance, malfeasance, espionage and treason before being handed over to an international tribunal to face charges of multiple war crimes, as any leader of an actual opposition party would have done by now.

Prepare to see proof that the two parties merged long ago, and that no career politician is going to do anything to harm any other career politician, no matter what initial appears beside his name on a ballot.

Pelosi wouldn’t be considering Murtha for majority leader unless she knew he could be counted on to keep democratic support for the war rolling along, at least until her party can use it again as a campaign issue in ‘08.  They’ll inherit the war and keep it going as long as possible so that they can get the bribes and kickbacks the republicans have been getting from the beneficiaries.

Watch as the Iraq war widens to Iran while democrats in Congress continue to enable Bush as they have done from the beginning of his push for war and for a domestic police state.

America is ruled by a single party of two factions, the democratic national socialists and the republican fascists.  There’s so little difference between the two that members of Congress should be required to wear blazers in their party colors like traders on the exchange floor so that onlookers can tell one gang from the other.

I support Murtha, as he supports REMOVAL OF TROOPS.

I agree OUR JOB is DONE!

We trained them, if they select not to use same, it is Iraq’s problem.  If they don’t show up for training that is Iraq’s problem. Not OURS!  I can lead the “horse to water but can’t make him drink IT">

If you want TROOPS send in the 10 am - 2 pm lazy butts sitting in the Pentagon,(how many FAT government NonWorking employees are there), the K Street Project Lobby Boys and Girls (your NOT excused either - pack your bag),
any RED House or RED Senate Members who want to stay in Iraq!  And every single lying individual sitting in the halls of the Bankrupt White House. Oh by the way, bring plenty of food or YOU might just STARVE to death by our military!

Now there is YOUR TROOPS!

Bye bye Iraq!

Further, if needed I support Total Financial $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ FUND Removal from this Iraq War Abortion!

Most Sincerely,
Concerned Mother

Another little dirty trick many don’t realize: Bush is withholding money from many programs and states.  These “monies” are then peeled onto a
c-130.............to where

IRAQ!  Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Then through a Back end credit aka deficit reductions......

ROB Peter to PAY Paul to PAY Mary!

Oh the smell of Enron USA Government!  (did Bush take lessons from Lay?)

tick....tick....tick.............

People should know just what Murtha said in the Abscam videos, and what he did not say (or do).  And then, reach your own conclusions on the guy.  For me, he didn’t take the bait - the video is the proof.  “Not interested.” That he wants investment for his community - that’s what he’s there for.

Ruth Marcus in the Washington Post is going to do her darndest to tarnish the man.  For someone who’s been around Washington as long as she has, she comes off as naive about how politics work—or else she’s got an agenda of her own?

Whichever way the vote goes, remember to hang together.  The BushGOP folks have every incentive to divide, divide, divide.  Let’s stay cool headed, whatever the vote.  There’s a lot to do

Exactly—hooray for Nancy Pelosi.  I hope she does not back down.

one of the really dumb things the MSM is chirping lately (& there are alot)is that the Democrats don’t have a plan. it appears the ‘plan’ on eyerak is to bring in the generals, listen to what they suggest & not hang the sword of damocles over their heds for stating unpleasant truths---then follw their advice. I doubt that Rep. Murtha will be mislead much by the brass.

Robert Scheer hits the nail on the head once again.  Murtha was attacked virulently by the “powers that used to be,” because he was effective when he spoke up against the Iraq War.  The “Boot Murtha” campaign got the boot, and the latest campaign to prevent him from becoming the House majority leader has crashed and burned.  The media lap dogs look ridiculous trying to portray the conservative, burly Marine as a long haired Haight-Ashbury hippie, wearing love beads and granny glasses.

Lawrence O’Donnel has pointed out Murtha’s past connections with ABSCAM and the fact his brother is a K Street lobbyist who has earmarked $95 million in a recent deal to his brother.  O’Donnel also points out Pelosie’s promise, that this Congress will be honest, ethical and bring back integrity.  Isn’t that an ethical problem?

We the people need to support organizations made of the people for the people not these puppets of congress.
Truthdig need to start focusing on ‘V’ and ‘We The People’ http://www.givemeliberty.org. This organization is presenting the IRS, Justice Dept. Congress, and White House with a list of grievances (Amendment I) requesting answers to Taxes, Iraq, 911 independant investigation, etc.
Where is the law that says we the people pay income tax? America-Freedom to Facism

Murtha may be right on the war, but he comes with a lot of baggage.  He was implicated in the Abscam scandal (See Ruth Marcus’ Op-Ed piece in the Washington Post today).  He is also one of the most prolific earmarkers/back room dealmakers on Capitol Hill.  I fear that under him, any ethics reform will be token, not real.

People give George W. Bush too much credit. He is nothing but a puppet to Rummy and Cheney. He admitted in 2000 that he knew nothing about foreign policy. What he didn’t admit was that he knew nothing about anything else either. Cheney was the problem all along. When Bush, under Cheney’s direction, advocated tax cuts for the rich, Bush, to his credit, said that’s not fair to the middle class. But Bush went along with it on Cheney’s direction. There are two factions making up the Republican party:
(1)the right wing religious zealots.
(2)the ones that think the “little” people should
pay taxes. They’re the ones that want 2
classes of people:the super rich and the rest
of us.
So, they united knowing that neither one of them could win an election without the other. I don’t think that “the rest of us” will scare away the religious zealots anytime soon. I really think this religiosity played a role in the recent election. Nobody wants to say it, but it would be political suicide. Even the media isn’t saying it, but maybe they haven’t caught on. The American people are not going to allow the “Talibaptists” to control this country. Thanks for listening, Mr. Scheer.

I have long been an admirer of Rep. Murtha’s stand on Iraq - especially as a man knowledgable about the military.  But if he is anti-abortion and anti-gun control, I do not consider those positions ‘centrist’.  If it is also true as reported in the Washington Post (11/14/06)that he has a history of less than ethical behavior - that is exactly what I do not want to see in this new government.  It is time to emulate Caesar’s wife in this regard - not a time to go back to opportunistic politics that have nothing to do with statesmanship or the true stewardship of this country’s affairs.

The following is from THE NATION"S David Corn re Murtha/ethics:

“David Corn Mon Nov 13, 3:32 PM ET

“The Nation—This morning, I called Melanie Sloan, the executive director of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a watchdog group, to ask about the potential congressional reforms House Speaker-To-Be Nancy Pelosi is expected to push on Day One. But before we got to that, Sloan teed off on Pelosi for having endorsed Representative Jack Murtha, the hawk turned Iraq war critic, in his fight against Representative Steny Hoyer (news, bio, voting record) to be the House Democratic majority leader, the powerful number-two job in the body. “Murtha has lots of ethics issues,” Sloan exclaimed. “What the hell is she thinking? Corruption turns out to be a major issue in the campaign, and you endorse the guy with the more ethics problems?”

“Sloan was referring to exit polls that noted that 42 percent of voters considered corruption and congressional scandals critical to their voting decisions. And she pointed to her outfit’s Beyond DeLay site that lists the “20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress.” Murtha was not on that roster, but he garnered one of five “Dishonorable Mentions” (along with Republican Representatives Dennis Hastert, the outgoing speaker, J.D. Hayworth, who was defeated in Arizona last week, and Don Sherwood, who was accused by his mistress of choking her and who also lost his bid for reelection).

“CREW’s low-down on Murtha charges that he abused his position as the senior member of the defense appropriations subcommittee to steer contracts to military firms represented by his brother, a registered lobbyist. The report also notes that Murtha routinely inserted funding earmarks into defense spending bills for contractors that funded his campaigns and hired a lobbying firm run by a former aide on the defense appropriations subcommittee.

“Murtha, according to Sloan, was also instrumental in undermining the House ethics committee. In the late 1990s, he successfully pushed (with other legislators) to change the committee’s rules to prevent it from accepting ethics complaints from parties outside Congress. He also pressed Democratic leaders to name Representative Alan Mollohan (news, bio, voting record) of West Virginia the senior Democrat of the ethics committee. Mollohan has had his own ethics troubles--which have forced him off the ethics committee--and is a member of CREW’s Top (or Bottom) 20. (See here.) “Murtha really doesn’t like the ethics committee,” says Sloan, speculating this may be due to Murtha’s involvement in the Abscam bribery scandal of the late 1970s and early 1980s. (The ethics committee chose not to file charges against Murtha, after which the panel’s special counsel resigned in protest.) “Murtha seems like a bad choice from our perspective,” Sloan said.

“The fight to be Pelosi’s No. 2 has its odd dynamics. Hoyer is regarded as a centrist sort of Democrat. He’s no virgin when it comes to the institutional corruptions of House, readily hitting up corporate interests for campaign cash. But Hoyer has not been accused of ethical violations. Though Murtha advocates a get-out-of-Iraq-now position, he is a hawkish conservative who has attacked Hoyer for being too liberal.

“By publicly endorsing Murtha--who has voted more with the Republicans than almost every other House Democrat--Pelosi has backed the fellow who has been less loyal to the party, who has engaged in liberal-baiting, and who is widely considered to be the underdog in the race. Murtha is indeed the Democrats’ leading critic of the war, and he and Pelosi, another war opponent, have found themselves in the same foxhole. (Hoyer, like Murtha, voted to give Bush the authority to attack Iraq, but he has not turned on the war and has criticized Democratic calls for withdrawal.) Perhaps Pelosi figured that with the Iraq war likely to be the major source of dispute between her and the White House (and congressional Republicans), she needed an antiwar hawk right by her side. But much of this present tussle might be more personal than policy. Pelosi and Hoyer have long been rivals; she defeated Hoyer to become the Democratic minority leader.

“In the Murtha-Hoyer face-off, is the choice ethics versus opposition to the war? Conservative versus centrist? A Pelosi ally versus a Pelosi rival? Whatever it is, siding publicly with Murtha is risky for Pelosi. Should Murtha lose, Pelosi will look like a weak leader--at the start. This is a contest between two imperfect candidates, each carrying different baggage. It might have been wise for her to duck.”

******

What about Murtha’s unethical activities (as discussed in ‘The Nation’)?

Another case where I completely agree with Robert Scheer.  Murtha was the man who stuck his neck out and said what needed to be said—and when he said it, it resonated.  I’m no expert, but I’d say the public will see Murtha as a conservative counterweight to Pelosi—and the Democrats want both that perception, AND that reality. 

Drive to the center, now.

I find Murtha’s role in Abscam pretty interesting: “Not interested.  Why don’t you invest a couple of million in Johnstown.  And let’s talk”.  Makes sense to me!  What’s a Congressman supposed to do anyway, if not try to benefit his constituents.

My only serious real concern at this point is that the Democrats are not making a clean break from the corruption of the Republicans in their leadership choices. Rep. Murtha was touched by the ABSCAM FBI effort to rid Congress of corruption in 1980. And Sen. Harry Reid was recently tainted by a casino related scandal only days before the election.

Democrats should prove a real break from the corruption of the Republicans, and only elevate squeeky clean leadership. I think the voters expect this.

I’ve heard a number of people on Air America say that Murtha has a lot of corruption issues and that electing him will send a message that the Democrats are no different than the Republicans.

Yes !  I too, support John Murtha for House Majority leader.  I wrote my Congress representative and requested a vote in favor of Murtha over Hoyer. I encourage readers of TruthDig to write their congresspersons urging them to support Ms. Pelosi’s forwarding Murtha as Majority leader.  The issue is the war.  America cannot continue in this debable.  Support Murtha, call and email your representatives concerning the matter.

At the meeting in the Oval Office on November 9, King George told Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer that “all three of us recognize that when the Democrats win, you have a responsibility to do the best you can for the country”. When saying that the King apparently referring only to himself, Pelosi and Hoyer and obviously omitted the Vice-King, who was also present at the meeting.

The omission of the Vice-King, the main architect of all King’s dynasty approaches to national and international policies, raised a question: Does He Want To Put The Vice-King Statue Into The Storage as he did to Don Rumsfeld then seizes the whole power that he left behind for over 6 years ?

Immediately after Rumsfeld was shown the way out there was intense speculation about the future of Karl Rove, the used car dealer, who had manipulated all strategies for King George to win both general elections with lot of tricky plays. When was asked what role would “the dealer” play now, Tony Snow, press secretary, said :"for which I don’t have an answer”.

Now Rumsfeld was gone. Vice-King rest in peace on the shelf of the storage, so who’s next ? Sordid Rice, drunkard Bolton, car dealer Rove, and so on...?

When the chimpanzee wants to be reincarnated a real human being, it ought to cut its tails in pieces, to shed its skin and at immediate approach the above mentioned trio should be considered without hesitation !

I agree with you completly about Murtha, I think he is a true hero the way he took on the Bush administration and I agree that we should pull back our troops from Iraq and put them in Kuwait or some other place, but what about all the stuff that is starting to surface about his being one of the most corrupt Democrats when it come to earmarks and throwing favors to his children and friends, I would like your opinion on this.
William

The election’s over. We now talk about bringing justice for the crimes of the King. What are crimes ? Lies, deceptions, suspension of moral authority, lives ruined, trust betrayed, covered up for ineffectiveness of his subordinates, and mostly dragged our kingdom into a nightmarish national quagmires…

How’s about impeachment ? Oh yes, why not ?

Great article by Mr. Scheer but Rep. Murta must have his named cleared of recent kickback aligations.

When Murtha spoke out last year against the un-winnable war in Iraq, he was one of few Democrats who had the gonads to speak up. The entire nation was wrapped in the blanket of fear and hysteria to be labeled un-American. Joyfully, the Republican/Rove politics of fear has reached its downfall. The Republican political tactics were comparable to the Joseph McCarthy tactics of the Red Scare.

Murtha is not a liberal, he is a pragmatist. We have created a monster in Iraq. There is no solution. If our soldiers stay in Iraq, they will continue to be fodder for the newly created terroist/freedom fighters, who want nothing more from the U.S. than for us to flee their nation.

If we flee “their” nation, then the Iraqi’s will continue to destroy their nation. We have created hell in a nation that was better off with a so-called dicatator.

It seems that Bush has put us into a catch-22 situation in Iraq: damned if we stay, damned if we pull out. Yet there continues to be an idea that we can actually do something useful over there, that we haven’t yet burned all our bridges. Until people begin to shift their beliefs toward the idea that there isn’t anything useful we can do in Iraq, then a real pull-out will not occur.

Some current ideas of tasks others think we should accomplish before pulling out include decreasing unemployment, repairing infrastructure, crushing the militias, etc.. Sounds nice, doesn’t it? But isn’t that ostensibly what we’ve spent hundreds of billions of dollars to accomplish thus far? Clearly the results leave a lot to be desired. What makes people think that this precedent can be reversed?

ah, darn.  Well, it was fun while it lasted.  Bye truthdig…

I nominate Nancy Pelosi and John Murtha for Persons of the Year. We should all be proud of these “profiles in courage”.

I too, like Thomas, congratulate you on a fine perspective. I am a moderate democrat and I do disagree with Murtha on abortion rights, but do agree on gun ownership and getting out of the non-winnable war with Iraq. In a world of civility we should not just agree with those that go along. Debate is healthy and we should look at both sides of every argument. Murtha has shown great courage, much as Wayne Morse did over Vietnam.

Last time we heard about Steny was when he was pushing the bankruptcy bill for the credit card companies Suppose they gave him any of the money he’s been passing around?  Sounds like another DeLay to me.

Nothing in Washington will go right until we stop reelecting sell-outs.

Anybody got the number of the Green Party?  I might need it Friday.

I understand that one of the arguments made against
Murtha’s candidacy is that he has been accused of past ethical lapses. Given the corruption stink from the Republican side Murtha and Pelosi should address these charges head on in the interests of honesty and clearing the table.
Murtha seems to be the right leader to take on the Bush administration and the mess they’ve made in Iraq. The whole country is mired in this debacle and the Democrats will be stymied in addressing other issues from domestic syping to Social Security, the EPA etc etc etc.
Thanks to Robert Scheer for his clear words.

Nancy Pelosi has stated that the “culture of corruption” is over.  Isn’t John Murtha, or WASN"T he investigated for taking bribes, and stopped just short of taking one on video?  If the Democrats truly want to give the American People what we have voted for, they will start filling postions with people that have NO ties to any sort of scandal, nor have their motives or morals been brought into question.  That is the only way we are going to get anything accomplished in this country, at least what we need to get accomplished.

Don’t let the Republicans scare Democrats into “cutting and running” on Jack Murtha. If they do, it will encourage more of their Swift Boat tactics against everything you do from now to 2008.

The Democratic party owes Congressman Murtha BIG Time
for winning the election for the Democrats by his stand on Iraq. He gave cover to them for standing up against the administration.

Murtha is corrupt and right wing (not “centrist"), but you still offer a good case for why he should be majority leader over Hoyer—at the very least an argument worth considering.

If the Dems seriously intend to tackle corruption then they better find a poster boy without so many skeletons in the closet. Those who look for a silver lining in Murtha’s appointment should remember that often it is just a mylar layer in the body-bag to retard decomposition:

http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001981.php
http://www.tpmmuckraker.com/archives/001984.php
http://www.spectator.org/dsp_article.asp?art_id=10427
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article15597.htm

Would anyone in their sweet, right mind actually believe that the Demmies would suddenly acquire a spine and install Murtha as House majority leader?  If you do, I have a “Yellow Brick Road” here I’ll sell you. We have seen the Wizard and he is all smoke and mirrors in spite of Pelosi’s pronouncements.

Murtha would be a wonderful leader if it weren’t for the fact that he is one of the most corrupt politicians in Congress.  When the ABSCAM video of his shady dealings hit YouTube, it will be damning for the Democratic Party that promised a clean-up of the system.

Not so fast Thomas, listening to Randi Rhodes yesterday it was brought up that Mr Murtha was involved but in the Abscam affair, and also on the Al Franken show Melanie Sloan pointed out that Mr. Murtha was a big one for trading favors for earmarks and has a brother that is a lobbyist for defense contractors.

I agree with Thomas in #38086.

I wish Murtha were more supportive of gay rights, but he’s certainly not an anti-gay fanatic. On the other hand, the emergency our country faces is a fight for our very life against what Thomas calls the “neoCON vision of Iraq as a beacon of U.S./Israeli hegemony.”

And forget Iraq even—these neocons (some of them Democrats) still want us to start a war against IRAN, on top of what we’re already dealing with! Steny Hoyer is not the guy to stand up to these people. Hoyer is a hawk who follows the AIPAC line in all things.

I don’t normally like backing conservatives but sometimes a conservative can be more effective than a peacenik under certain circumstances.  Mr. Murtha fits this category. This is especially true when they have to deal with other conservatives and even right wingers.

However there is a tendency on the left to not back up fellow progressives.  This is sad, hell it is disgusting!

A great article by Robert Scheer. Thank You Mr. Scheer for laying out clearly why we owe a debt of gratitude to John Murtha.  He stuck his head up above the battlements and deserves to be put in prominent position.  His military stature will be absoultely essential when the decissions on how much life we are willing to contribute to Hallburton Blackwater & the neoCON vission of Iraq as a beacon of U.S./Israeli hegemony.