Democratic Rep. John Murtha Dies at 77
Representative John Murtha (D-PA) has died at age 77, according to his office. Murtha had been in intensive care following gallbladder surgery last week.
Murtha was a decorated war veteran who served in Congress for 19 terms. He was a vocal opponent of George W. Bush and the war in Iraq.
The WaPo: "In 2005, he became the darling of the Democratic antiwar movement when the prominent hawk announced that he was in favor of withdrawing troops from Iraq. He had supported the resolution to go to war in 2002, but he later denounced the administration's war effort as badly planned, calling it 'a flawed policy wrapped in illusion.' Rep. Murtha lost his shot, however, to become House majority leader after Democrats retook control of the House in 2006. He had successfully led Pelosi's campaign to be speaker at that time, but some colleagues argued that he could be a political liability in leadership because of what they called his old-style politics."
Watch Murtha rail at the White House on Face the Nation, AFTER THE JUMP...
Rest In Peace, Sir.
Posted by: peterparker | Feb 8, 2010 3:08:41 PM
Shocking news. I knew he wasn't well, but I didn't expect this. RIP, thank you for your voice and service.
Posted by: Joel | Feb 8, 2010 3:30:52 PM
If there is a hell, he's there now enjoying the warm hospitality he deserves.
Posted by: catherine | Feb 8, 2010 4:14:32 PM
A good example of the need for term limits.
Posted by: anon | Feb 8, 2010 5:29:44 PM
His main interest was in pork for his district, and he certainly looked the part.
Not somebody I could ever respect.
Posted by: Joel | Feb 8, 2010 6:08:38 PM
John M may have his critics, but he took on the war despite his opponents trying to make him Un-American for having done so... like they would know. jeesh.
Posted by: stephen | Feb 9, 2010 12:05:57 AM
Catherine, why don't you crawl back under your fundamentalist rock. Not quite sure why you're here, other than attempting to be a disruption, but the only thing you'll accomplish is giving posters a common enemy.
John Murtha gave the better part of his life to public service. He had the courage of his convictions and had the United States' best interest at heart when he stood up against Bush and this country's misguided warring in the middle east.
Posted by: sparks | Feb 9, 2010 10:47:54 AM
In the midst of John Murtha's vacant Congressional seat what Washington DC needs more than ever is a strong populist voice against the weakening Obama-Pelosi-Reid contagion. I don't know if any of the candidates circulating the mill, Bill Russell and Tim Burns will really provide that sort of opposition. They'd simply just fill the seat or else lose it back to the Democrats. There needs to be energy behind a candidate and the last time I've seen such a thing in this area was with current State Senator Kim Ward. She was the first female Republican County Commissioner elected in Westmoreland County history. She was made popular by being a whistle blower that helped fight the contract corruption that existed with other county commissioners Balya and Ceraso. Then with 2 months left in Bob Regola's botched state senate run in 2008 the State Party asked her to take his place. In that small window of time she not only won the election, she trounced opponent Toni Bompeani by 9,000 votes in a year where democrats were grabbing seats left and right. She doesn't take her per diems like other reps and senators, she is at her office in Greensburg every day when not in session, and she answers her own e-mails for goodness sakes. I think if you're going to run somebody, run somebody with momentum already so they can go into Washington with a vengeance and start to clean up the mess that the democrats have made. I hope the Republican party does the right thing and chooses Kim to save the day. I'm behind her.
Kim Ward Kim Ward Kim Ward Kim Ward
Posted by: Colin Ludwig | Feb 11, 2010 3:58:38 PM