Please pray and send good thoughts to the family of Congressman John Murtha today.
Regardless of what you thought of him in life, he has a family who will miss him. He also was a member of Congress for many years, and at the very least deserves a prayer or two in his passing.
Murtha was one of the Democrats who stabbed Hillary Clinton in the back in 2008, so he joins Tim Russert and Ted Kennedy in the afterlife now, as people who attacked the Clintons who are now no longer alive. Just something to note…that it’s as if these people are all being punished for what they did in 2008, like something in an Edgar Allen Poe or Agatha Christie story, or in mythology where Hera works off her list and takes the worst of the worst down one by one.
Murtha presided over decades of waste and corruption. We hope those practices, and all the shameless pork he reveled in, are buried with him.
About the best thing we can say about this man today is that, to our knowledge, he never killed anyone, was never indicted on anything, and he got to be a Congressman and wear a suit to a fancy office every day. We didn’t appreciate all the things he did in that office, but he wore a nice suit and went there often, and we never heard of him being rude to his staff or visitors, so that’s better than a lot of what’s in Washington.
R.I.P. John Murtha.
May there never be another like you.
February 8, 2010 at 3:00 pm
Only the good die young.
oh, wait…
February 8, 2010 at 3:03 pm
LOL
Now now PA don’t start me laughing!
Murtha was good for sticking it to George JR though.
February 8, 2010 at 3:12 pm
Guess you are already well aware of this PA?
“Murtha also stirred controversy in the fall of 2008 with President Obama poised to become the first African American president. When asked about Mr. Obama’s chances in his Congressional district, Murtha responded that “there’s no question western Pennsylvania is a racist area.”
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/08/rep-murtha-dead/
February 8, 2010 at 3:49 pm
Yes we were aware of his comments in the suburbs outside Sin City (Philadelphia). I contributed to Murtha’s opponent, he put forth a valiant effort, but it was difficult to overcome the last minute surge of dead people voting for Murtha.
February 8, 2010 at 3:02 pm
RIP John and my thoughts are with your family.
February 8, 2010 at 3:03 pm
I do pray for his family. Jack Murtha made rash accusations against American Servicemen and was proved wrong, yet I don’t believe he ever apologized.
I do love your last line – May there never be another like him!
February 8, 2010 at 8:06 pm
“Rash”? How about “treasonous”?
Without knowing one IOTA of the situation and before anyone had been investigated, never mind indicted, he loudly and frequently accused American Marines of slaughtering innocent civilians.
Despite the fact that charges were filed against only one of these men (and his trial is still pending last I heard), Murtha never apologized for dragging these men’s names through his very public, politically charged mud.
It would make me less angry if he hadn’t once been a Marine himself. There’s a saying, “Once a Marine, always a Marine.” But this man shamed the Eagle, Globe and Anchor, so I think the Corps could make an exception in his case.
In my opinion, if Chesty gets asked to provide a character witness at the pearly gates, he can say, “I never knew the man.”
Semper Fi and God Bless the REAL Marines, especially my brother and my daughter.
February 8, 2010 at 3:04 pm
Not to seem rude about his passing..but does anyone know if there will be a special election to fill his seat or does the governor get to select his replacement?
February 8, 2010 at 3:08 pm
First thing of thought of too…how do they replace seats in PA?
February 8, 2010 at 3:10 pm
I know it’s kind of terrible but if there is a special election maybe we could pick up another conservative seat…you never know..
February 8, 2010 at 3:43 pm
Just saw announcement on Fox TV and I have to admit that the first thing I said to my husband was, “Do you think PA can replace him with a Rep.”
I also hate what he said about the American Military. We live a few miles from Ellsworth Air Force base. Home of the the B1B Bomber. We out here don’t like our boys and girls dissed.
February 8, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Good thinking Mark.
FYI
…complications from gallbladder surgery. ….
A hint of scandal lingered over much of Murtha’s career. The FBI named Murtha an “unindicted co-conspirator” in its ABSCAM sting operation in the late 1970s and early ‘80s. ABSCAM resulted in the conviction of five House members and one senator. The FBI recorded Murtha on videotape declining a $50,000 bribe from federal agents posing as Arab sheiks. But the Congressman did say he could be interested in future dealings.
Nicknamed “The King of Pork,” Murtha also faced scrutiny for earmarking federal dollars for projects in his district. Numerous news reports lambasted the Congressman for steering money to the John Murtha Johnstown-Cambria County Airport. The facility received $150 million from Washington for upgrades despite limited commercial use. But the airport is also used for military purposes.
The Congressman also faced scrutiny for campaign contributions he and other appropriators received from the now defunct PMA lobbying firm. Murtha scored nearly $2.5 million in donations from PMA and its clients over a nearly 20 year period. The feds continue to scrutinize PMA. The Office of Congressional Ethics asked the House Ethics Committee to drop any inquiries into the dealings Murtha had with PMA.
Murtha also stirred controversy in the fall of 2008 with President Obama poised to become the first African American president. When asked about Mr. Obama’s chances in his Congressional district, Murtha responded that “there’s no question western Pennsylvania is a racist area.” (Geesh what a little jewel he was….. Sic ‘em Hillary!)
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/02/08/rep-murtha-dead/
February 8, 2010 at 6:58 pm
They will have a special election (to be announced).
February 8, 2010 at 3:05 pm
May there never be another like you.
Unfortunately,nature hates a void.
February 8, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Nope, never indicted that I know of, but he was an “Unindicted Co-conspirator” in the Abscam mess a number of years back.
That said, I agree with you completely, whatever I thought of the man in life, he will now be judged by a much higher power than myself and his family deserves nothing but condolences and respect in this time of grief.
Remember also, that his checkered Senate career does not extinguish the fact that he served this country honorably as a United States Marine, and it is on that basis that will offer my prayers.
February 8, 2010 at 3:12 pm
His service is appreciated and honored. To be a Marine during the Vietname era is no small accomplishment.
My sympathy goes to his family.
February 8, 2010 at 3:21 pm
I agree, his service is appreciated and honored.
That’s all I can say and not have the spirit of my grandmother smacking me up side the head for not respecting the dead.
February 8, 2010 at 5:50 pm
That’s good enough.
If it would do any good I would pray that the media would be thoughtful enough to leave the man’s family alone(again, no matter what you thought of him, THEY don’t deserve what everyone knows is probably coming from the media swarm).
February 8, 2010 at 3:17 pm
Good Job, Hillbuzz. Regardless of his political beliefs, we wish death on no one.
RIP
Now, PA voters do what is right and honor him and move forward with your own version of the Tea Party Movement.
February 8, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Karma is a bitch.
Murtha called fellow Marines “murderers” before they were even tried, and I have no sympathy for him.
Only his family.
He did not know the meaning of the words, “always faithful”.
February 8, 2010 at 3:19 pm
I was reading this when I heard the announcement of his death. Sort of ironic that Murtha made it to #9 on the list of most corrupt politicians.
It turns out that Obama also made it to the top 10 of most corrupt politicans. Surprise! surprise!
I wonder who will move up to the list now that John Murtha is gone. Pathetic legacy.
I do hope his family can find peace and I will say a prayer for them.
http://www.judicialwatch.org/news/2009/dec/judicial-watch-announces-list-washington-s-ten-most-wanted-corrupt-politicians-2009
February 8, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Sorry, all, but, as a former Marine, I can NOT engender any sympathy for his ‘family’ – his son is as corrupt as the father, and ANY wife worth the title would have told Senior to shut the hell up with his bloviations – good riddance to bad rubbish …………………
Semper Fi’
DM
February 8, 2010 at 4:10 pm
Also, as Murtha knew from his USMC service: To err is human, to forgive divine – neither of which is Marine Corps’ policy ……………..
Semper Fi’
DM
February 8, 2010 at 7:00 pm
Ditto.
February 8, 2010 at 3:32 pm
Now that John Murtha is gone someone is missing a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother, an uncle. It’s not able wishing death on anyone because death eventually comes for us all. I just hope that the family is able to grieve in a way that is best for them.
I was talking to my mom this weekend. In her area of PA, they got nearly 23 inches of snow on Saturday and the snow was promptly removed and melted fairly quickly (despite what is happening in DC where the city is completely crippled because of the snow–but that just the ineffectual government–state and federal at work, but I digress). Now I know why. Muthra was on his descent into hell. Sorry, but what he has done to the state of PA, our military, race relations, coupled with the abuse and mistrust of the people who appointed him to office…and the list goes on is unforgivable. Again, you’re right Hillbuzz, may there not be another one like him.
Looks like Karma is helping out with the 2010 elections.
February 8, 2010 at 3:33 pm
All and all Mr. Murtha,,,,may you Rest-In-Peace…
“Condolences to his family”
February 8, 2010 at 3:35 pm
What goes around, comes around. In other words, Kharma can certainly bite you big time in the ass when you transgress. It just takes time!
February 8, 2010 at 3:37 pm
Your class is part of what I like about your site. I don’t wish death on anyone (unless a Stalin or Hitler, who are caused death and horror).
He does have a family who love and mourn him, and we should not be rude or mean.
February 8, 2010 at 3:44 pm
May I add to send a kind thought to the residents of Johnstown (Cambria County) PA?
Though they blindly followed their pork producing demigod, they deserve ‘better’ than the kick in the economic butt the area will receive now that Murtha is gone.
Other than the University of Pittsburgh JTown Campus and some health care providers (for the aging, RAAACIST anti-Obama voting religious, gun toting clingers) defense contractors (like Northrup Grummon) are the BIG employers. Nothing else in that Valley (except an incline and the hauntings of flood victims–but that is another thread).
With Murtha gone, the sidewalks will pretty much roll up and unemployment should be about 40%. Beautiful homes though (probably for cheap) in the Westmont neighborhood.
In local news accounts, I heard mention that Fast Eddie (Gov. Rendell) gets to fill the seat w/ an appointee (just supposition on my part, but Possibly Murtha’s son?). Murtha was up for re-election this Nov. (Bill Russell, a decorated Army was his R opponent last time…and Russell almost pulled the seat ‘out’ from under ‘Haditha’ Jack.)
February 8, 2010 at 7:03 pm
I believe they have to have a special election – Murtha was a congressman, not senator.
February 8, 2010 at 4:18 pm
Is he going to be buried in his Obama tee shirt too?
February 8, 2010 at 4:29 pm
The Obama as Mao T-Shirt?
Oh yeah!
February 8, 2010 at 4:28 pm
Just heard the “complications from gallbladder surgery” was a perforated intestine and a reason why we should not have tort reform. (A democrat said that! Pretty quick out of the gate aren’t they?)
February 8, 2010 at 7:09 pm
Saw that jerk on Neil Cavuto’s show with Jim Varney filling in for Neil.
Cohen was his name, from Tennessee. The guy would not shut up, very obnoxious. Said because of Murtha’s medical situation, that was a good reason not to have tort reform. But wasn’t Murtha’s surgery done at Bethesda? Then he was moved to a hospital in Virginia.
If anything, Murtha’s death is why we should not have socialized medicine.
The same thing happened to my aunt at Kaiser. She pulled through okay, but it was crazy that this could happen to anyone.
Wasn’t Kaiser involved in the Dems health care scheme?
February 8, 2010 at 9:36 pm
Yes, Cohen is pretty obnoxious. He’s the CongressCritter here in Memphis; one of the safest Dem seats in the country. He was elected when Harold Ford, Jr. wanted to step up from the House to the Senate. Thankfully, the Ford family corruption doesn’t spread to the rest of the state. He is up for a fight in the primary though because “King Willie” our former mayor is running against him because Cohen isn’t white. Can we say raaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaacism.
February 8, 2010 at 8:23 pm
I guarantee John Murtha had the absolute best medical care available on this planet.
The bottom line is that sometimes there are complications. Humans are imperfect, even doctors.
Can you imagine a world where NOBODY is allowed to EVER make a mistake at work, or it means a lawsuit?
Mistakes are made EVERY SINGLE DAY in all levels of work by all kinds of employees.
Sometimes mistakes warrant punishment. I happen to think that mistakes in the medical profession that DO result in death DO require some kind of compensatory process. The question becomes, how much compensation is fair?
There are already processes in place where a truly negligent doctor can lose their license to practice medicine, or even go to jail. So we don’t have to worry about doctors becoming flagrantly abusive of people’s lives.
Here’s an important thing to note: When people die or are damaged as a result of a doctor’s mistake, the doctor doesn’t pay. EVERYBODY ELSE WHO USES DOCTORS PAYS. This is because huge jury awards result in higher doctor insurance, which results in higher doctor prices, which results in higher insurance premiums.
So, to me, tort reform is a no-brainer.
February 8, 2010 at 4:49 pm
“May there never be another like you.”
Amen.
February 8, 2010 at 4:50 pm
Prayers going out to his family – I had hoped that he would be forced to step down from his position, but I never wished death on him.
If I remember what I read last week Mr. Murtha had GB surgery around Christmastime – it was pretty swollen, so it meant that the surgery was going to be riskier than normal to begin with. Doctors ALWAYS prefer a non-swollen GB because of the risk of complications at the time of surgery.
When I had mine out, the doctor told me that if they could, they would do it laparoscopically, but that sometimes they aren’t able to do it that way.
That having been said, I also recall that Mr. Murtha had his ORIGINAL surgery done at a government hospital. When he had to go back, he went to a private hospital. If Obamacare was in place, his family would have been SOL as far as filing a wrongful death suit…
February 8, 2010 at 5:05 pm
According to RedState, PA will have a special election to replace Rep Murtha:
http://www.redstate.com/dan_mclaughlin/
The Voters Of PA-12 Will Choose A New Representative Through A Special Election
Looking Forward
Posted by Dan McLaughlin (Profile)
Monday, February 8th at 3:58PM EST
17 Comments
The important practical question following the death today of Congressman John Murtha is what happens to the House seat he held on behalf of the people of Pennsylvania’s 12th District. The good news, so far as I can tell from early reports, is that Ed Rendell won’t get to appoint an interim replacement, but rather the voters will have to choose one in a special election. As the Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza reports:
According to state law, the governor has ten days once the vacancy is officially declared to decide on the date for the special election, which can come no sooner than 60 days following that proclamation.
That likely means the special election will be held on May 18, which is the date already set for federal primaries around the state. (Special elections costs the state huge sums of money and it’s likely that Gov. Ed Rendell will choose to go with an already established election day to save some cash.)
This is yet another critical election; recall that Obamacare passed the House with a 3-vote margin of victory, and any effort to run it back through the House with the watered-down Senate langauge on abortion will cost at least two of those votes (Bart Stupak and Joseph Cao), while now two others (Robert Wexler and Murtha) have left the House since the vote was cast. Mike Memoli at RCP notes the continuing flux with special elections already coming up to replace Wexler and the yet-to-resign Neil Abercrombie in Hawaii:
February 8, 2010 at 5:05 pm
I’m sorry hillboyz–but my son is a US Marine. I can never forgive the deceased for calling those Marines murderers before they had ever been tried. Once they were found innocent, he never apologized for that statement. I never could forgive him for grandstanding with these young men’s lives and setting himself up as judge and jury.
Where ever he is now, he is being judged for that and other sins.
February 8, 2010 at 7:49 pm
Nelly,
I have a niece and nephew in the Air Force. This person, now deceased, had the audacity to slander the good names of those who would lay down their life for him. He is now in their seat. “May God Have Mercy on His Soul,” and forgive him for his judgement. Even though, he never “forgave” those brave men with an apology for his transgression.
February 8, 2010 at 5:47 pm
Sad about Murtha dying that way. I read over the weekend how there was a medical “mistake” and that he was in ICU. Sepsis is overwhelming and would be a difficult recovery for a man his age.
I was hoping he wouldn’t go out that way. I wanted his district to boot him out this November for his arrogance, corruption, his despicable treatment of our Marines and his lying. Unfortunately, the district will be wrapped up this year in the “death of a hero” meme. And his brother or his son or someone will come up to run for the “Murtha” seat.
Well, I will pray for his family and also that he was right with his God before he left this world.
February 8, 2010 at 9:45 pm
The good new is that now after “The Scott Heard Around the World”, no longer is the death of a “legend” a given that the seat will stay “in the family”.
February 8, 2010 at 6:15 pm
I admit I know very little of John Murtha’s military record. I have no doubt in my mind that John Murtha was, at one time, a good man. Maybe even a great man.
But as the HB Boyz have said many times on this very site about Kennedy, the fact that he died doesn’t change his legacy any more than the fact that he “served” in Congress for so long.
John Murtha is proof that even a Colonol in the Marines can fall victim to the siren call of Congressional corruption. Oft investigated, never indicted, just like so many “wink and a nod” mobsters of yesteryear. Were there room for doubt, I would grant him the benefit of it. But he’s on FBI videotape professing the possibility of accepting a bribe. I saw it. There is no doubt.
The legacy of John Murtha is another testament to the need for Congressional term limits.
February 8, 2010 at 7:13 pm
Well said!! My feelings exactly.
As far as I’m concerned, he dishonored his own service by willingly turning into the person he was when he died.
February 8, 2010 at 10:13 pm
Was Colonel his rank? I was under the impression that he was drafted and that that was one of the reasons for his “discontent,” as it were, of the American military. And, his service was short, like most drafted nco’s. Usually officers are not drafted, but what do I know. Jean Fraud Caries also earns my ….respect. *Spit*.
February 9, 2010 at 12:03 pm
According to Wikipedia (Warning!! Wiikipedia!) he left college in 1952 to join the USMC, there he was noticed for his leadership qualities and was selected for Officer Candidate School. In 1955 he left the Marines (Anyone knows how long is Officer School course? I find funny that he went from private to full officer in three years). He returned as staff officer from 1966 to 1967 working in intelligence. He ended his career as Colonel (obviously most of his ascension was in the reserves)
February 8, 2010 at 6:15 pm
Kinda makes you think, huh?
Makes me think, at least.
February 8, 2010 at 6:28 pm
“Please pray and send good thoughts to the family of Congressman John Murtha today.”
Sorry, guys, no can do.
I have a son in the Marines, and the bald-faced lies he told about the Marine Corps are unforgivable.
John Murtha was an ex-Marine, according to my son.
February 9, 2010 at 12:05 am
This old Nam Army Vet agrees with your son, and I also agree with you. NO CAN DO.
February 8, 2010 at 6:31 pm
Disgusting—about 55 seconds in:
February 8, 2010 at 9:06 pm
Yeesh. That must be the talking points sent out as soon as he was declared dead. The faxes in DC are churning. They couldn’t wait until his body was cold? They couldn’t wait until he was in the ground? Despicable behavior! This may just be the proverbial jumping-the-shark for the D’s as it applies to their health care “reform” debacle.
I saw this live. He accused that doctor of malpractice! On national TV! It’s possible/probable that there was an error – but wouldn’t it be prudent for a congressional personality [those entrusted to make the laws] to wait until the peer review is over and/or any lawsuit by the family is completed before finding him and declaring him/her guilty? He has ruined this doctor’s career with his determination/statement that the doctor is guilty of malpractice.
Idiot.
February 8, 2010 at 9:50 pm
Yes, Cohen is an idiot. He’s from one of the safest dem districts in the nation, Memphis.
February 8, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Bizarrely, just three weeks after Scotty B shocked the world in Massachusetts, we’re now looking at a re-run of that race in PA-12. It’s a special election to fill out a nationally recognized legislator’s term, and the winner stands to cast the deciding vote on O-Care in his chamber. Expect the Republican nominee to run hard on that point, especially since his opponent is bound to run on the fact that, with the Dems in power, he can deliver more earmarks for Murtha’s district than a Republican could. Exit question: Is opposition to ObamaCare so intense in Johnstown that voters there might cut off their supply of pork because of it? I’m skeptical.
http://hotair.com/archives/2010/02/08/without-murtha-dems-now-one-vote-short-of-passing-obamacare-in-house/
Pa has a primary coming up and the gov. will use that date to vote instead of having a special election.