The Other McCain

"One should either write ruthlessly what one believes to be the truth, or else shut up." — Arthur Koestler

Representative Murtha: May The Almighty Have Mercy

Posted on | February 8, 2010 | 31 Comments

by Smitty

The WSJ notes the political fight for the house seat in his wake. The article makes no mention of a preferred Tea Party candidate to support, in our usual Progressivism-sucks fashion.
Murtha symbolizes an era of neo-aristocracy in American politics, as the seniority system rewarded PA-12 for returning the gentleman to 18 consecutive Congresses. Thus, while it would be easy to go into attack mode, it may be more helpful to set aside the emotion and consider him in context. Decry the mud, but also ask yourself: what did you expect, when Congress is the pigpen of integrity?
The sad thing is that there will be any number of whoops of joy over Murtha’s demise, scant analysis of why the system is rigged such that, seen from PA-12, the fellow was a smashing success. One could enumerate his achievements, but that would seem veiled criticism.  36 years of smashing success. 3 dozen years of spot-on bringin’ home the goods. And after the scant analysis, there will be very nearly 0 discussion of actual reform, of returning to the Constitutional order of government responsibilities, of arranging matters so that the next Jack Murtha can focus more on statesmanship and less on horse trading.
Let us respectfully mourn the passing of a fellow American, and gently factor out his name, while we verbally club the abyssmal Progressive policies that some espouse, as with a Louisville slugger to a rabid dog.

Update: Ace plays the William T. Russell card.  It’s arguably in bad taste to consider the political fallout, at the expense of a proper mourning.  I blame the 111th Congress for pushing things this far.  Bad Congress: bad.

Update II: Swing State Project reporting.

Update III: More at HotAir, SaberPoint, Gateway Pundit, the BlogProf, Fausta, the Corner, Another Black Conservative, Political Byline, Michelle Malkin, Instapundit, Ed Driscoll, Little Miss Attila, The Sundries Shack, The Reaganite Republican Resistance, Riehl World View, American Power, Governor Palin, Blackfive, Left Coast Rebel, GSGF, Carol’s Closet, Rick Moran, The Daley Gator, The Camp of the Saints, PowerLine, The Constitution Club

Bookmark and Share
Category: Politics

Comments

  • Natedawg

    Rumor has it the Dems have asked Bin Laden to be a Pall Bearer.
    Take heart, Dems. Even Benedict Arnold has a statue that is proudly displayed in Britain.

  • Natedawg

    Rumor has it the Dems have asked Bin Laden to be a Pall Bearer.
    Take heart, Dems. Even Benedict Arnold has a statue that is proudly displayed in Britain.

  • Chuck Cross

    I never met Congressman Murtha, nor knew anything about his personal life. May he be judged fairly.

    Beyond that, two words — TERM LIMITS.

  • Chuck Cross

    I never met Congressman Murtha, nor knew anything about his personal life. May he be judged fairly.

    Beyond that, two words — TERM LIMITS.

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @Chuck,
    I submit that re-jiggering the political context would help diminish the desire for term limits.
    Also, term limits can indeed be properly applied at any old election by an informed electorate. I don’t consider them a silver bullet; how they’re implemented would be crucial.

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @Chuck,
    I submit that re-jiggering the political context would help diminish the desire for term limits.
    Also, term limits can indeed be properly applied at any old election by an informed electorate. I don’t consider them a silver bullet; how they’re implemented would be crucial.

  • jefferson101

    The man had a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts from his service with the Corps in VietNam. I will honor him, (and anyone so decorated) for that.

    The less said about his Political career, the better, though.

    Be that as it may, he is no longer involved in the affairs of the Republic. He is history, for good or for ill.

    All sinners are capable of Salvation, if they truly Believe, and I’m praying that he did. And that’s all I can say about him in good conscience.

  • jefferson101

    The man had a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts from his service with the Corps in VietNam. I will honor him, (and anyone so decorated) for that.

    The less said about his Political career, the better, though.

    Be that as it may, he is no longer involved in the affairs of the Republic. He is history, for good or for ill.

    All sinners are capable of Salvation, if they truly Believe, and I’m praying that he did. And that’s all I can say about him in good conscience.

  • Natedawg

    No, he coldly turned his back on the very Marine Corps that gave him sustenance in his early days.

    I have a suggestion that can save the taxpayers a boatload of cash: stitch together about 20 of those Hope and Change t-shirts you find in the Wal-mart bargain bin and give him a burial at sea.

  • Natedawg

    No, he coldly turned his back on the very Marine Corps that gave him sustenance in his early days.

    I have a suggestion that can save the taxpayers a boatload of cash: stitch together about 20 of those Hope and Change t-shirts you find in the Wal-mart bargain bin and give him a burial at sea.

  • Chuck Cross

    @ smitty
    Sorry — trying to follow what you mean. Do you mean by re-jiggering the political context, reforming the role of the legislator with respect to Congress? In other words, returning Congress’ primary role to protecting the people, and protecting freedom rather than the current primary role of who-can-bring-home-the-most-bacon?

    You’re right in that term limits can be effectuated every time re-election comes up, by an informed electorate. Of course, it depends who is informing the electorate, and further, how much they wish to be informed. Of course that tangent could evolve into how much people read these days, and what they believe the role of government ought to be. A tangent best discussed over scotch with cigars, rather than blog-comment essays.

  • Chuck Cross

    @ smitty
    Sorry — trying to follow what you mean. Do you mean by re-jiggering the political context, reforming the role of the legislator with respect to Congress? In other words, returning Congress’ primary role to protecting the people, and protecting freedom rather than the current primary role of who-can-bring-home-the-most-bacon?

    You’re right in that term limits can be effectuated every time re-election comes up, by an informed electorate. Of course, it depends who is informing the electorate, and further, how much they wish to be informed. Of course that tangent could evolve into how much people read these days, and what they believe the role of government ought to be. A tangent best discussed over scotch with cigars, rather than blog-comment essays.

  • Pingback: uberVU - social comments

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @Chuck,
    I mean that the House rules favoring incumbency could be changed. I would
    a) Randomly assign committee chairmanships to majority party members. The USMC calls a variation of this a ‘quality spread’ at The Basic School,
    b) Preclude successive stints on committees, and
    c) Vigorously oppose Federal over-reach.
    The Federalism Amendment, or something similar, will be required to move these kinds of ideas past wishful thinking.

  • http://theothermccain.com smitty

    @Chuck,
    I mean that the House rules favoring incumbency could be changed. I would
    a) Randomly assign committee chairmanships to majority party members. The USMC calls a variation of this a ‘quality spread’ at The Basic School,
    b) Preclude successive stints on committees, and
    c) Vigorously oppose Federal over-reach.
    The Federalism Amendment, or something similar, will be required to move these kinds of ideas past wishful thinking.

  • http://qwertyaltofuori.blogspot.com Red

    I think that was the best pulling of punches Ace could do. Matter of fact. I liked it.

  • http://qwertyaltofuori.blogspot.com Red

    I think that was the best pulling of punches Ace could do. Matter of fact. I liked it.

  • http://threebeerslater.blogspot.com richard mcenroe

    I can think of eight families I feel more sorry for than Jack Murtha right now. Marine families.

    http://threebeerslater.blogspot.com/2010/02/kickback-jack-murtha-kicks-bucket.html

  • http://threebeerslater.blogspot.com richard mcenroe

    I can think of eight families I feel more sorry for than Jack Murtha right now. Marine families.

    http://threebeerslater.blogspot.com/2010/02/kickback-jack-murtha-kicks-bucket.html

  • Pingback: That's Right

  • http://www.thats-right.com/ thatsright

    I second Richard’s sentiment.

    Smitty, you know I love ya, but while he may have been born here, he’s not my “fellow American”. My family has served since they got here too. Not one of them came home and slandered their fellow soldiers to score cheap political points. In my opinion, for that he deserves no respite, even in death.

  • http://www.thats-right.com/ thatsright

    I second Richard’s sentiment.

    Smitty, you know I love ya, but while he may have been born here, he’s not my “fellow American”. My family has served since they got here too. Not one of them came home and slandered their fellow soldiers to score cheap political points. In my opinion, for that he deserves no respite, even in death.

  • Joe

    I hated his politics. What he did to fellow Marines was wrong, but he did serve honorably in combat. I will leave it to God to sort out.

  • Joe

    I hated his politics. What he did to fellow Marines was wrong, but he did serve honorably in combat. I will leave it to God to sort out.

  • Doom

    May he lift one with Teddy and bros. May it not be a scotch. I hope the muslims enjoy their new virgin. And may they have no lube, pleasure, or release. Hubba Hubba Cheers.

  • Doom

    May he lift one with Teddy and bros. May it not be a scotch. I hope the muslims enjoy their new virgin. And may they have no lube, pleasure, or release. Hubba Hubba Cheers.

  • Chuck Cross

    @ smitty – Thanks for the clarification!

  • Chuck Cross

    @ smitty – Thanks for the clarification!

  • http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com Reaganite Republican
  • http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com Reaganite Republican

  • Pingback: Nightly Ramble Tuesday

Performance Optimization WordPress Plugins by W3 EDGE