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In the weeks since the news that prosecutors had raided the offices of the PMA Group — a lobbying firm founded by a former Murtha associate that became a gateway to his office and his biggest source of campaign money — about two dozen rank-and-file Democrats have risked his wrath by calling for a House ethics investigation of the matter. One Democrat has even foresworn seeking earmarks for the military contractors in his district because of ethical concerns about the process.
In a private meeting with the chairman of the House appropriations committee, Mr. Murtha, the unofficial leader of the “old bulls” who oversee the subcommittees, was forced to accept a series of new restrictions on his authority to grant earmarks
“Even if he himself is not accused of anything, the investigations have to weaken Mr. Murtha,” said Loren B. Thompson, chief operating officer for the nonpartisan Lexington Institute and a consultant to several military contractors. “He is under an ethical cloud and that is going to make it harder for him to maintain power.”
From the NYT story.
NYT is a corporate rag, after all.
Remember that Judith Miller was the stenographer for the BushII lies, re: Iraq?
Which was the ultimate "earmark" for big business.
Jack Murtha is an old-style Dem.
He gets Fed $ for his district. He is unappologetic about this.
These Fed $ go to projects that keep people in somewhat good paying jobs.
Since we've decided to let all our good paying jobs of the private sector go to China, etc, it can be said Murtha is just getting the remains of the carcass, and bringing it back home to his people.
Barack Obama is a Corporate Democrat; his concern for the Middle Class worker will only be seen briefly when he tries to run for reelection in 2012.
Until then, the Middle Class, and guys like Jack Murtha who champion them, will not be welcome in his office.
I sure hope Murtha's on his way out. Whether GOP or DEM, his sort of congressman is what I hate about our national leadership. He got caught up in the Abscam bribery case about 30 years ago and managed to somehow wiggle out of it.
There should be term limits for all Senators (12 years) and Representatives (10 years).
Committee assignments should rotate every 3-4 years to prevent what we see now where long-term members dominate a spending area for decades.
Hell, it's no wonder our nation is backwards on energy, transportation and health care. Once a vested interest gets "their guy" to be head of a House or Senate committee, only the vested interests get what they want - for decades. This is the sort of thing that I wish the Tea Bag protests would hammer on, not mere spending. Until we reform HOW congress works, NOTHING will improve for we the people.
Murtha's "vested interest" is the worker in his district.
That's a super "vested interest" to have, in my opinion.
If we are ever foolish enough to get term limits nationally, then look for the bureaucrats to be the power.
I also invite you to look at places that do have term limits (Southern governors) and see what that's do for/to them.
The articles in the papers demonstrate how Murtha has steered billions in Defense contracts to his district. His main vested interests ARE the vested interests, not the people. He only cares about people long enough to get their votes, like most politicians.
Southern governors usually cannot succeed themselves, thus no need for them to do anything that endears them to the people, only the vested interests who funded their campaigns.
My proposed scheme allows for Reps to be re-elected 4 times (totaling 8 years, on top of their original 2 years) and thus they do have to show some results to be re-elected, unlike southern governors. But those results would have to be graded on something other than how much taxpayer money they steered to home districts. The current system is simply based on how much taxpayer they can steal for their own district, it's an abomination and needs major change. If we don't change we'll always be one of the most corrupt nations on earth - though these clowns are world class at spinning our unique form of thievery in glowing terms. When they actually fix things that are wrong here (balanced budgets, viable Social Security System, healthcare, energy independence, transport) then we can vote to re-elect them; if they don't fix things, out they go.
Steer $ to their districts.
Been that way since 1790.
It's the NYT. It's not a newspaper in the true sense of the word. It is the voice of the corporations.
And even if you buy their fish for sale here, again, from the innuendo piece itself:
“Even if he himself is not accused of anything, the investigations have to weaken Mr. Murtha,” said Loren B. Thompson, chief operating officer for the nonpartisan Lexington Institute and a consultant to several military contractors. “He is under an ethical cloud and that is going to make it harder for him to maintain power.”
So, it's just a Fox-style character assassination.
Jack's obviously POed CitiGroup, etc.
The lesson from the Southern Gov's re: term limits is that when one Bourbon lackey (class, not booze reference) can't run, another similiar make/model takes his place.
ABC News: The federal government provides a subsidy for every flight into the Murtha Airport of about $100 dollars per passenger, but even with the subsidy, there are plenty of empty seats. On a visit to the airport, ABC News found it virtually deserted, with an empty restaurant, vacant lounges and empty runways. An air traffic controller was twiddling his thumbs. Thanks to Murtha, there is a Pennsylvania National Guard training facility located at the airport, but its personnel fly helicopters, not airplanes.
Isn't it funny how all the libs just have nothing to say over posts like this? Somehow they over look "silly little" things like this. But they are still running their mouths about Bush and pointing fingers at Bush and his admin.
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That John Murtha, he's somethin' else, isn't he?
