Just now posting a story to Military.com on the death of one of the most influential defense lawmakers on Capitol Hill ever.
I’ve had my beefs with Rep. Jack Murtha in the past, but I truly am shocked and saddened by his death. He was a tireless advocate for Pentagon programs he believed in and forced them down a left-leaning Congress in years where defense spending was less than a priority. And despite our sometimes butting heads over the Haditha incident, he and his staff have always treated me with respect and professionalism.
We’ll slice and dice his record tomorrow, but today, let’s offer his family and staff our condolences and take a moment of silence to honor the decorated Vietnam vet and Marine officer/public servant.
– Christian
{ 21 comments… read them below or add one }
The Hill will get a lot less exciting. RIP.
Served his country, a patriot.
Gosh!
I had no idea that you and Rep. Jack Hurtha practicaly officed with each other.
I bet that you know a lot of other Capitol Hill celebrities too.
By the way, Murtha, was one of the first to have the fortitude to denounce what is going on in the Mid East, but then, he sort of got shut up.
RIP
Jack Murtha
My grandmother said if you've got nothing nice to say don't say anything at all. [crickets]
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[and still more crickets]
and even more crickets
The circumstances behind his death is so murky. He had gallbladder surgery,& even though ALL medical procedures run the risk of death,the idea that he died from complications of the surgery is very odd,especially since this surgery is mostly done with a laparoscopy. I'd like more information or you can be sure that the conspiracy theorists will come out of the woodwork over this one. I would equate this death(complications from gallbladder surgery/lap chole?) with complications from liposuction.
That sort of thing happens when you're pushing 80. Regardless of what you might think, 77 is *old*.
All surgery can have complications, and being 77 doesn't help.
Haditha
more crickets
and whats up with the guy next to him (letting his nails dry?)
[more crickets]
Serously, Christian, did you strain yourself trying to say something that nice about him? After what he did?
Noone finds it odd that these people hold office for 30+ years?
We critize russia for there 3 term presidency yet we have these senators for 30+ years and noone finds that suspicious?
I say two term limit!
The legislature is not the same as the executive, especially in a country like Russia, where the President appoints the Prime Minister and nominates the regional governors, and one party controls two-thirds of the legislature.
I'm as conservative as they get, but mandatory term limits are a terrible idea. Because you know who doesn't have term limits? Bureaucrats. With a Senator or a Representative, you've got someone accountable to the people. With a bureaucrat you don't. And you might disagree with what Murtha was doing, but he definitely *understood* what he was doing. We want people in office who understand the system better than the bureaucrats. Otherwise, guess who ends up in charge.
Bloomberg…
Fox News last night said the doctor who performed the operation had clipped his bowel during the procedure.
Did Clinton go into the hospital earlier than he had to so that the Murtha situation in regards to health care could be moved off the table? It seems that Murtha has conveniently passed on like Wellstone and Carnahan. Who benefits? The Republicans, once again, benefit from the death of a Democrat.
Jack deserves some respect, he was a patriot and believed in freedom and democracy unlike the uberlib marxists and muslims who now run our govt.
blackbull, maybe you've missed the part where he prejudged a group of Marines in front of the whole nation who were found not guilty or charges were dropped. Which part of freedom and the democratic process was he championing then?