Murtha’s Tentacles of Corruption Run Deep in PA-12
February 22nd, 2008 at 11:55pm Leo Pusateri
“Unlimited power is apt to corrupt the minds of those who possess it”
-William Pitt the Younger, The Earl of Chatham and British Prime Minister from 1766 to 1778
Nowhere does this phrase ring with more clarity and truth than in PA-12, and in no heart more so than the soul-less Jack P. Murtha. After making this post, I took the liberty to telephone Lt. Col. (ret) William T. Russell and get his take on the slimy she-nanigans afoot to remove him from the ballot to challenge the perennial political boss of PA-12. What I found was nothing less than nauseating.
As the Johnstown Democrat stated,
The challenge was filed by two local Republicans: Former Johnstown Mayor Don Zucco and attorney Jeanne McKelvey.
In what was an ominous statement that could have otherwise been uttered by a Stepford wife,
Zucco said only, “There are lots of ways to support the congressman.”
Aside from being totally non-sensical, what could drive a former Republican mayor, one who actually signed the petition to put Russell on the ballot, to initiate a petition to recall the ballot? Zucco reportedly lives across the street from Murtha. What kind of quid pro quo would make Zucco turn tail and not only run away from Russell, but attempt to derail the nomination of a viable candidate from his own party?
The answer, my dear readers, is found in the climate of fear created over three decades of immoral, corrupt, political powerbroking in PA-12 that would make the likes of Don Vito Corleone seem like Albert Schweitzer in comparison.
The history of corruption that has been Murtha’s decades-long tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives, time and time-again chronicled on this blog, has resulted not in a constituency representative of a free people, but rather a fiefdom of serfs afraid that any action against their liege would turn into certain repercussions by a nefarious network that could easily be labeled the Murtha Crime Syndicate.
Rather than utilizing his office in a manner befitting a public servant, Jack Murtha has displayed a clear pattern of abuses that has allowed him to cleave onto power just as surely as the legendary hydra clung onto a sinking ship as its hapless captives drowned.
It just so happens that Murtha’s corruption has bought the allegiance of nearly half of the Republican party structure in PA-12, not to mention countless professionals who are afraid to sign a public petition, or be on a list of contributors to a contender, lest they face retribution at a workplace in which Murtha’s largesse has been a benefactor. William Russell recounted a number of occasions of talking to professionals who would like nothing more than to see Murtha go, but at the same time are afraid to be publicly seen supporting an opponent.
PA-12’s allegiance to Jack Murtha, while certainly bringing about a booty of baubles and beads, has at the same time left them captive to the whims and fancies of a bald-faced, ruthless tyrant.
The venerable Thomas Jefferson once acutely observed, “A government afraid of it’s citizens is a Democracy. Citizens afraid of government is tyranny!”
It is time that the citizens of PA-12 renounce this travesty of government that has been the Murtha tenure in the U.S. Congress. It is time for men of character to stand up once and for all and declare that the emperor has no clothes, and once and for all break free of the fiefdom resultant of decades of greed and corruption.
Good citizens of PA-12. It is time to cast off the golden-fleeced shackles of servitude and to once again restore honor to your seat in the House of Representatives.
Good citizens of PA-12, Murtha Must Go!!
Entry Filed under: Congress, Corruption, Republicans
31 Comments
1. LiberalMind | February 23rd, 2008 at 1:16 am
And yet the Republican “Culture of Corruption” keeps on churning them out:
I give you Rick Renzi as evidence……
2. Leo Pusateri | February 23rd, 2008 at 1:20 am
What’s the matter, you can’t tackle your own party’s failure to throw out corrupt politicians?
At least the Republican party has the decency to do its own laundry.
The topic of this screed, in case you haven’t noticed, is Jack Murtha.
Now are you going to defend this slime?
3. Arctic Fox | February 23rd, 2008 at 2:34 am
“The history of corruption that has been Murtha’s decades-long tenure in the U.S. House of Representatives”
In the interests of fairness, if you want to talk long term corruption, wasn’t it in 1989 that Mr McCain, who could conceivably win the Republican party nomination for Presidential candidate, was proved to be corrupt and involved in the Keating Five scandal?
Why do we have to focus on Murtha’s tentacles of corruption while we are also supposed to totally ignore McCain’s?
4. Yakki.PsD | February 23rd, 2008 at 6:11 am
Simple,Artic Fox.
Because McCain isn’t one of them thar “EVUL DEMLIBS”.
No other reasons need apply.
5. Yakki.PsD | February 23rd, 2008 at 6:12 am
Or should I say,McCain isn’t one NOW.
Back in 2000 though….he was definetly “EVUL” for the wingnuts.
6. phnx | February 23rd, 2008 at 7:02 am
The leftist comments above are typical of the way that the dems deal with corruption. Never acknowledge that it exists on the left. That way they don’t have to deal with it. Its what perpetuates graft and corruption in Washington. And they are for change. Yeah right
7. Christian Wright | February 23rd, 2008 at 7:15 am
So you are complaining that two Republicans were so fearful that they were intimidated into renouncing their support for a viable candidate.
How is that any different from Republicans renouncing the Billing of Rights because they are so fearful of a terrorist attack?
You support the later, why not the former?
8. js | February 23rd, 2008 at 7:28 am
I thought the only reason Renzi was investigated was because he is a Republican. After all, Reid did alot of the same thing, and has Mafioso partners, and he didnt get caught.
Reason? Because he is a Demoncrat.
9. phnx | February 23rd, 2008 at 8:31 am
Corruption is not exclusive to one party. Until the voters of both parties resist and say no more, it will continue. Of course, there is always the leftist meme:
“You will never stop (fill in the blank), its always been there and always will be.”
Their logical conclusion is why try. This applies to any number of man’s sins.
10. Diane Tomlinson | February 23rd, 2008 at 9:43 am
Politics is a corrupt business. The party in power will always push that fuzzy gray line of what is allowed as a matter of doing business and what is illicit. I still hold that while and as long as the GOP plays to the desires of the white American lower middle class while selling their dusty offspring down the road from the trailer park and the rented house to wealthy corporate interests who likely vote Democratic, such that they may spend their hard earned half € on the material want du jour the Media will on a minute by minute basis wait for them to teeter and then push them off their moral perch.
If members of the GOP LIVED their values and actually did not commit any crimes they would not have to worry about any media biases or muckraker scrutiny from bloggers. What it comes down to is that men like Ney, Renzi, Foley, Craig and Cunningham are nothing more than liars who would say anything about family values to have the sort of behind the scenes lifestyle they desire.
The same can be said about Rostenkowski, Traficant and Clinton. The difference is that none of the Democrats I mentioned have stood on soapboxes and pounded podiums about religion or ethics or what a tee vee show is doing to corrupt the minds of the next proud white generation of bible believing Christians. The GOP spouts this horse poop so people who have nothing else but religion and hate can go to the polls and say they “struck a blow for our side!” This daft counter productive lemming like trend is why men like Murtha who I will grant seems as corrupt as Boss Tweed to me is reelected by his district because the alternative, a religious liar that would French kiss Shai’tan to get a free golf trip and would bugger a kitten for a sweet deal to get his home renovated.
Good luck in 2008 Pusateri if the only counter for John McCain lying which ever way you slice it about Paxson is to bring up the guy you hate because he threw himself under the bus to expose how horribly your president executed a war that should have been won both militarily and in hearts and minds in two years.
Had Bush truly believed America was in trouble and was under a cloud of threat from Iraq in 2002 he should have listened to his generals who tolds him, “We can win the war but to hold and win the peace we need more bodies and for that we need a draft.” –General Eric Shinseki. It was nothing more than political cowardice that made Democrats vote to authorize this war and it was an equal measure of political cowardice that Bush refused to send every man AND woman over the age of 18 a draft card.
Qu’ul cuda praedex nihil!
11. PoetryInMotion | February 23rd, 2008 at 9:45 am
Why do we have to focus on Murtha’s tentacles of corruption while we are also supposed to totally ignore McCain’s?
If you cared to do research, or listen to recent reports on this matter, you’d realize that McCain wasn’t convicted of any wrongdoing. In fact, it was recommended that he be removed from the group being invetigated. the recommendation was denied because he was the only Republican being investigated.
Arctic Fox is a good nic for you; you’re obviously suffering from brain-freeze. Maybe not–how can you freeze something that doesn’t exist?
How is that any different from Republicans renouncing the Billing of Rights because they are so fearful of a terrorist attack?
CW, if you’re gonna spew left-wing propaganda, at least get it right. What in the hell is “Billing of Rights?” If you’re talking about the Bill of Rights, I still have all my freedoms and liberties, as do you. But I realize you have to toe the kook line and make up crap.
Way to go, Mindless Lib. You guys can’t debate, so you change the subject. We’re talking about Jack-off Murtha here, and the Donkaroach corruption that goes ignored by the drive-by media and the Donkaroach hierarchy. And by idiots such as yourself, a parrot lemming who’s a waste of oxygen. Typical…
12. Cavalor Epthith, Esquire, D.S.V.J. | February 23rd, 2008 at 9:57 am
I am truly impressed at the invocation of such a paper of record as the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat. The staff in Murtha’s office must be scrambling to convince the congressman to resign in shame faced with a cadre of foes the likes of Chip Minemyer, Arlene Johns and Bruce Wissinger!
Maybe Rep Murtha should enlist the services of Bob Bennett before it is too late.
13. PoetryInMotion | February 23rd, 2008 at 10:03 am
I see the gates of hell have opened, and the “journalists” from below have weighed in.
Dianne, what was the name of that paper you worked for? I didn’t catch your earlier answer. Or do you consider blogging at the brimstone journalism?
14. Pain | February 23rd, 2008 at 10:10 am
Poetry,
The name calling We are sure helps you cause to secure seats in the US house in 2008. What will you do when both the legislative and executive branches are in the hands of the Democrats? So We have to ask: Do you really feel that your party can keep from losing more seats in both houses of the US Congress?
All the name calling in the green fields and paved roads of Terra is meaningless if you are up against a filibuster proof majority.
15. Brian (Boston) | February 23rd, 2008 at 10:23 am
I am probably not going to be alive to see it in my lifetime, but I would hope people elected to public office are not corrupt and do the will of the people. Corruption of any elected official should not be tolerated. The Romans and Greeks struggled with it, and we are struggling with it.
I am actually for limiting term limits in the House and Senate. If they will not go quietly then they will go when their term limit is up.
16. Diane Tomlinson | February 23rd, 2008 at 10:24 am
Well good morning to you too Poetry . . .
The Gates of Hell aren’t open and I write digitally at the blog version of Hell’s leading daily newspaper. I don’t think Noonan is in business here to promote our site so if you are an adult in age you can just click my name to go to the main page and be enlightened! Hell isn’t what you think it is it’s more like New York City really. But I won’t bore you with details you’ll see for yourself in due time.
I think you failed to read my entire comment or maybe English isn’t your first language. Either way, I think Murtha should have been indicted for his acts during Abscam and I also think that Bill Clinton got what he deserved for lying about Monica Lewinsky. And yes i am a liberal journalist. But I’m not a blind partisan. I support Hillary Clinton personally but when she errs I point it out. This is the problem with the wingers because winning not having any dissent or discussion that strays from the talking points is why you couldn’t get a nation of 200 million white Christians to follow the pied piper toward a permanent majority in Congress.
Your problem is not the message, the religious conservative base is a powerful force, the problem is that you always want to be seen as being perfect in their eyes and that is politically impossible. I will be honest with you and share a background nugget i got three months ago. A certain short haired political strategist confided in me that she was so terrified that Mitt Romney might be the nominee because she knew he would have “super coattails” for congressional candidates because of his ideas on the economy. But somehow still thinking like little Bushbots you are on about a war in Iraq that is over! Iraq is only an issue in September if American troops are being killed en masse. If the surge stability remains guess what the American people will be voting with as the recession deepens? Funny how a recession can happen out of five years of tax cuts for the rich innit?
17. Kahn | February 23rd, 2008 at 10:32 am
Arctic Fox - According to Democrat Bill Bennet, who was the Srenates lawyer in the Keating case. McCain was cleared but included in the investigation because otherwise it would have been 100% Democrats.
Also, the Bill of Rights - the first ten Amendments to the Constitution. I see “liberals” attacking them.
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of Speech
Freedom to Bear Arms
Your side attacks religion. Attacks, of all things the Boy Scouts. Attacks speech (talk radio, and political speech) while maintaining control of the press. And regularly denies second amendment rights.
Are you ignorant, or stupid, or well kinda both?
18. Diane Tomlinson | February 23rd, 2008 at 11:01 am
Kahn,
Bob Bennett is the lawyer Bill Bennett is the pundit. They are brothers. The attribution is accurate to Bob. I disagree with liberals “attacking” the Bill of Rights. I think conservatives want to have Christian religion have a greater voice in the public political arena ahead of all others and this is definitely not how I see the Founding Fathers defining freedom of religion. This is the antithesis because it establishes a religion of state by exclusion.
As a free citizen your freedom of speech is not abridged in any way by people with liberal or progressive ideas. My proof? You and I are both exercising free speech right here! What you mean is that you are offended or annoyed by liberal ideas and wish not to have to hear them. Well change the channel or don’t visit my website. But that’s not enough for conservatives because you want to tell others what they can and cannot see or hear. If it offends you and those who think act and worship like you then it should not be allowed at all even if in the normal course of the day you would never encounter what really is at the root of the offense.
Freedom to Bear Arms I love guns and I think everyone should have one and all citizens should also be enlisted in some branch of the national militia. But see those are crazy liberal ideas that men like Franklin, Jefferson, Adams and Madison had. You say the founding fathers were not liberals? Ask George III about that or any of his privy council if the ideas in the New World were or were not the products of “feverish liberalism.” Ask William Pitt the Younger about “rampant colonial liberalism.”
19. PoetryInMotion | February 23rd, 2008 at 11:08 am
What will you do when both the legislative and executive branches are in the hands of the Democrats?
I’ll be working on my short game and putting; I improved my driving distance back in 2006.
So We have to ask: Do you really feel that your party can keep from losing more seats in both houses of the US Congress?
Probably not, and I can’t do anything about it here in the PRC Maryland. Guess I’ll work on my mid-irons too.
Your problem is not the message, the religious conservative base is a powerful force, the problem is that you always want to be seen as being perfect in their eyes and that is politically impossible.
Don’t lump me in with those who “always want to be seen as being perfect;” I’m a realist and know that nobody is perfect, regardless of whatever letter they have behind their name. And there are hypocrites on both sides, too. But reading your last post, I think you agree. Work on your punctuation, please; I’m not perfect there either, but I would expect a journalist to know when a semi-colon is appropriate.
Funny how a recession can happen out of five years of tax cuts for the rich innit?
No, not funny at all, because the tax cuts had nothing to do with this so-called recession. You can lay the blame on both parties in Congress for whatever economic ills we are suffering. It was Congress who demanded we loan money to those who couldn’t afford to buy a house. It was Congress who opposed any entitlement reform. It was Congress who blew it on ILLEGAL immigration, and this one affects me directly. Yet all anyone on your side can do is lay all the blame on the executive branch. I guess that’s politics.
Let the socialists have their power. I’m reaching retirement age anyway; I’ll be needing some of those entitlements Hillbama keep promising. In the meantime, I’ll work on my golf game. My clubs are paid for, and in short order, I’ll be living in England, quite close to St. Andrews, the birthplace of golf.
Diane, eight years ago, politics meant very little to me. It won’t take much for the apathy to return. These people who crave power have no effect on my happiness. In fact, it’ll be quite amusing watching this country under a socailiat regime. Then, and only then, will the kooks realize how important they are to their idols, Hillbama. Do you really think any of these folks even remotely care about you?
20. Diane Tomlinson | February 23rd, 2008 at 11:47 am
Poetry,
I have no dog in the fight as I am not American. I was but now I’m not. There are some beautiful courses in Fife and yes getting a lottery tee time at the Old Course is a dream I’ll never realize. I think the us against them mentality of politics in the US does more damage in the current era than any other time of crisis globally.
The mid irons and fairway woods are what lower your score once you have a tight short game. If you hit a buck of 3 4 and 5 irons every day and spend an hour chipping and putting you’ll be a single digit handicap in two years. Well, that and knowing when not to pull out the big dog.
Boxing is my game and “retirement” as you put it is an Eternity to me. But unlike many Americans I love my job.
21. Leo Pusateri | February 23rd, 2008 at 11:48 am
Source, please.
If Murtha had merely been a blockhead who spoke against the war, my battle against the slimebucket would have not been occurring to this day. His aim was not to throw himself under the bus. His aim was to be driving the bus by being majority leader in the House. He knew the only way he could accomplish this was by endearing himself to the rabid anti-war George Soros establishment, and the only way he thought he could accomplish this was by throwing our soldiers under the bus. Murtha was the absolute darling of the leftist media and the Koskids, after he, without any evidence, accused Marines at Haditha of killing civilians in cold blood; he made his accusations without any official briefings; he even said that it was worse than what Time Magazine had portrayed; though even Time Magazine itself had backed off of many of the accusations. Murtha stated that there was no firefight, although there was.
So the Haditha Marines, already tried in the court of public opinion, thanks to Jack Murtha, actually underwent investigations… and lo and behold, not a ONE of them was ever indicted for murder. They were following rules of engagement, and in the process a certain number of civilians were killed because the savages who were engaging our soldiers were hiding among civilians.
Murtha, an ex-Marine, didn’t give a damn about any facts regarding Haditha. He saw Haditha as his meal ticket to Stenny Hoyer’s job, pure and simple. And he made some sweetheart deals with Nancy Pelosi’s nephew to garner her support, as well.
No, Murtha isn’t your everyday “Boss Tweed.” Murtha is a self-absorbed, opportunistic piece of slime who will do anything, up to and including treason, to achieve his ends.
22. Rana Quijotesca | February 23rd, 2008 at 1:42 pm
If Murtha was so obviously corrupt, then why didn’t the Glorious Republicans do anything about it in the 12 years that they were in charge of the House?
Also, Murtha was never convicted for a crime, though other Democrats were (in ABSCAM in the 1980’s).
Honestly, I don’t know whether or not Murtha is corrupt. I do know that he has never been convicted or indicted, and I don’t think that he has ever been censured by any Congressional Committee or by the House of Representatives as a whole.
If he is so corrupt, why not get your Republican representatives to open an inquiry? Why didn’t they do it while they were in power? Why doesn’t the Department of Justice do anything? You have three possible answers: they couldn’t/can’t be bothered to deal with corruption; they are complicit in corruption; or they have nothing to go on…
23. Leo Pusateri | February 23rd, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Well, Rana, I’m calling attention to it now. As a matter of fact I’ve been calling attention to it on Murtha Must Go! since May 21st, 2006. I’ve chronicled his abuses of power, and have spoken personally to many of his constituents.
I know he’s corrupt, and deep in your heart, you know it, too. If you can’t bring yourself to admit it, then you’re part of the problem.
24. Diane Tomlinson | February 23rd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Pusateri,
So are you officially endorsing H William DeWeese for PA-12? I’d take him over Murtha in a heartbeat but that still leaves you no closer to that coveted permanent majority.
Yeah, I’m gonna keep on reminding you guys of that one. Just like you keep bringing up haditha. I was dead wrong on that and facts prove it but I don’t get paid for being stubborn in the face of fact I get paid to bring the facts.
25. phnx | February 23rd, 2008 at 2:37 pm
“But that’s not enough for conservatives because you want to tell others what they can and cannot see or hear. If it offends you and those who think act and worship like you then it should not be allowed at all even if in the normal course of the day you would never encounter what really is at the root of the offense. ” Diane T
…Unlike the tolerance, open mindedness, and courtesy shown during political debates on virtually any college campus in the US. Just ask any of about a dozen conservatives who have been invited to speak, only to be confronted by unrully mobs of leftists rable rousers whose only interest is to prevent the free expression of ideas which they oppose.
26. FmrMarine | February 23rd, 2008 at 4:42 pm
Diane is picture on the web site YOU??
27. Yakki.PsD | February 23rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm
6. phnx | February 23rd, 2008 at 7:02 am
The leftist comments above are typical of the way that the dems deal with corruption. Never acknowledge that it exists on the left.
Who said anything like that?
As far as McCain is concerned,if he’s just screwing that gal,I got no problem with it. Good for him at his age IMO. Doesn’t offend or affect me in the slightest.
If he’s doing some trading for votes or positions in the Senate,then that’s a different ball of wax.
28. Leo Pusateri | February 23rd, 2008 at 9:20 pm
No, I’m endorsing Lt. Col. (Ret.) William T. Russell; but I’d even settle for another democrat besides Murtha. My mission with Murtha isn’t to gain a majority. My mission with Murtha is to see him retired and/or jailed. For good.
With me, being the dad of an OIF vet, the mission is personal.
29. Slabinger | February 24th, 2008 at 12:04 am
Let’s see, the challenge was brought by two repulicans.
I guess all Russell has to do is prove the signatures are valid.
If they are NOT valid, Russell has nothing to complain about.
I particularly like this rabid snippet:
“has bought the allegiance of nearly half of the Republican party structure in PA-12″.
Yeah Leo, that says it all right there. Your rabid rhetoric is off the scale. Can you prove this remark? Back it up. Save the effort. It’s all B.S.
I can’ pass up your other frothy remark:
“I know he’s corrupt, and deep in your heart, you know it, too. If you can’t bring yourself to admit it, then you’re part of the problem.”
Every single progressive believes this about YOUR Prezident and his administration
Look in the mirror Leo, YOUR PART OF THE PROBLEM.
30. phnx | February 24th, 2008 at 6:16 am
Murtha is the House champion of solo earmarks. His $169 million in 2008 earmarks is only a mere $90 million above his nearest Democrat comrade.
31. PoetryInMotion | February 24th, 2008 at 9:40 am
There are some beautiful courses in Fife and yes getting a lottery tee time at the Old Course is a dream I’ll never realize.
How so, Dianne? I played the Old Course twice–in 1985 and again in 1991. The first time, we were able to arrange a starting time through a local resident who was a friend of one of our group. The second time, we put our names in the ballot and were drawn.
And yes, there are lots of other courses–the New Course, the Eden Course, the Jubilee Course, Scots Craig, and Ladybank, to name a few. We also played Carnoustie in 1991. What a great course! I played the Old Course and Carnoustie like a dog, but enjoyed every minute of it. Alas, I hear that they’re quite expensive these days…