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Thoughts on Jack Murtha

By: streiff (Diary)  |  February 8th, 2010 at 04:32 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

In his Meditation XVII, known to most of us as No Man Is An Island, John Donne opined that any man’s death diminishes us all. As Mr. Donne preceded Jack Murtha by nearly four centuries he can be forgiven the broadness of this statement.

Jack Murtha was a profoundly destructive force in American politics. His legislative efforts were limited to lining the pockets of himself, his family, and assorted cronies. For all of his woofing about being sympathetic to the men and women of the Armed Forces he did not author a single piece of legislation in his career which did anything other than milk the Department of Defense for money.

Murtha did lead a charmed life. In Vietnam, as seems de rigeur among Democrat politicians who served there, he managed to acquire two Purple Hearts without spending a single day in the hospital. Likewise, he picked up a Bronze Star with V device as a battalion intelligence officer. As a member of Congress he was up to his eyeballs selling his influence to all comers and was captured on video by the FBI. For reasons that have never been real clear, Murtha was allowed to skate while he testified against two colleagues.

One would say that the real shame of Murtha’s congressional tenure took place in the past 6 years when he attempted to burnish his anti-war credentials for a run at a congressional leadership position at the expense of the men and women engaged in combat. He publicly declared the Marines charged with murder in connection with alleged killings at Haditha were guilty (they have since been acquitted or the charges have been dropped) and he described General David Petraeus as a political hack

All respect to Mr. Donne, none of us are diminished by the death of Jack Murtha. He was a man of few if any redeeming public attributes, he pillaged the treasury to enrich himself, he tarnished the reputation of good men, and he was a blight on the body politic. The nation is better off, not for his death but for his absence from its political life.

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  • Third Street
    • http://itsaboutfreedom.proboards.com/index.cgi IronDioPriest

      That Jack made atonement before God prior to his passing, and that his loved ones left behind are comforted by their loss.

      • http://thesandsinstitute.org Vassar Bushmills

        …but about Murtha, every Marine I’ve ever known, from four, no, five wars, say that Murtha was the exception that proves the rule.

        I however do regret his passing…this way.

        Semper F-U, as one jarhead told me. And rest in whatever level of Hades according to Dante best suits your choice of weather and social intercourse.

        VB

        • nessa

          Some of the dwellers are Judas, Brutus and Cassius. Satan himself handles the torments in the ninth level. Kind of makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

          • Flagstaff

            here on the Fox News website.

            A few highlights follow, and he starts with a doozy.

            …for the people in his district he did what congressmen are supposed to do ? which is, to provide as many goods and services for his constituents as possible. …Murtha always believed there was nothing wrong with pork and, in fact, it was your responsibility to get a much of the pork as possible.

            Gosh, Bob, that isn’t my idea of what a representative is supposed to do. Where in the Constitution does it say, “Congressmen are supposed to expropriate as much wealth from other constituencies as they can get away with.”

            Before he died, he was under investigation, yet again, for ethics violations. But this was nothing new for Murtha. …he never seemed to buckle under the weight of the criticism. Think about it. He?s the only member of Congress who was able to build his own airport, in Johnstown, Penn. — An airport which had virtually no flights and very few passengers, with the exception of Jack Murtha.

            Wow. Is that the best you can say about him? That he was a better thief than all the other thieves in Congress?

            I suppose his family loved him, but it’s just a supposition. His family didn’t turn him in as Bernie Madoff’s sons did Bernie.

            This is a man who should be quickly forgotten. The airport should NOT be renamed, however. It should carry the name “John Murtha” with it as it crumbles to dust. It should be a symbol for young Pennsylvanians to observe and ask, “Who was that Murtha guy?” The answer should be, “He was a shameful blot on the history of our state, a man for whom the pinnacle of greed was a goal to aspire to, a man who was unscrupulous in his dealings with our people and our government. He was a man who pandered to the most base instincts of the electorate to enable himself to feed at the public trough for far too long. In doing so, he let us demean ourselves as he demeaned our Constitution. That’s why this worthless airport has gone unfunded for lo these many years.”

          • Scope

            called Hannah Giles a “Ho.” Don’t know what Hannity’s response was, but, it doesn’t matter. He is still a regular on the Hannity’s show. So much goes for Hannity’s outrage at some other much smaller issues.

          • Flagstaff

            But “If Democrats had any brains, they’d be Republicans.”

          • http://impudent.blognation.us/blog kyle8

            You would think that these people would be happy that they finally got into power, but they have gotten even nastier. It must be a miserable existence to be a progressive.

        • Doc Holliday

          nt

        • jerseydevil

          you really have to go some to be “removed” from the rolls of the true elite! Jack Murtha’s name should be scrubbed from the ranks of THE FEW THE PROUD…his ashes scattered to the path where heroes trod and never again his name find form on the lips of those who “stand the wall”!

      • mbecker908

        I trust that he will stand before the White Throne and hear “depart, I’ve never known you”. I also hope that if his family doesn’t have the common courtesy to apologize to the Haditha Marines and their families that they never have a moment of peace.

        • Charles Cianfrocca

          Were I able to convince myself that such a man as Murtha could ever have atoned to the satisfaction of mankind’s Judge, I should be unburdened to the point of insouciance as to my own prospects for eventual salvation.

          For the sake of all of us, may it be so.

        • http://deafconservative.wordpress.com Cheetah772

          How do you know Murtha didn’t accept Jesus Christ as his personal Savior during his lifetime? White Throne Judgment is only for those who have rejected Jesus as their personal Savior.

          Trust me when I say this, both liberals and conservatives alike will face Jesus at the White Throne Judgment. There are plenty of conservatives who have not accepted Jesus as their personal Savior, or are practicing the wrong kind of religion.

          As for me, I would hope that even some of his closest family members and friends will finally reason that the only way to Heaven is through the precious blood of Jesus Christ who died for all of our sins and rose on the third day to defeat the power of death once for all.

          Let’s not be bitter over this thing. Even the worst kind of enemy can turn out to be our greatest advocate — look at Paul who was a murderer, but converted to one of the chiefest apostles for Christ.

          Don’t be surprised to find some people in Heaven that perhaps most of us thought would be in the everlasting Lake of Fire for one very simple reason: at one point during their lifetime, they decided to accept Christ as their personal Savior. Of course, it doesn’t mean a born-again Christian will lead a perfect Christian life free of reproach or bad testimony, but his place is assured in Heaven.

          All born-again Christians will face the Judgment Seat of Christ, this is where we will receive rewards for our works on the Earth. All of us from the least to the great will be judged on the basis of how we walk in Christ during our lifetimes. I would urge you to be less bitter and consider this an important lesson in harboring love for all types of people, even those whom we despise the most.

          • janis

            cheated, and stole from his own countrymen was a man who accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior? Because my understanding of that process is that you make atonement for your sinful ways and then vow to walk in the footsteps of Jesus ever afterward.

            So far as I know, that would not include deliberately lying about soldiers who served this country with honor, nor would it include sticking your fat snout in the public trough to suck up money you weren’t entitled to, nor would it include taking money from lobbyists to enact programs that enriched no one but yourself and the lobbyists.

            Because if Jesus Christ was advocating that kind of behavior, well then, Murtha was just the bestest Christian that ever was. But if Jesus didn’t model that sort of thing, then Murtha obviously didn’t accept Christ as anything other than someone trying to harsh his mellow brand of larceny, libel and disgusting opportunism.

          • http://deafconservative.wordpress.com Cheetah772

            I don’t know about Murtha, but I’ve met a few born-again Christians who did lie to me for different reasons. There are plenty of born-again Christians who have committed adultery. In fact, I’ve met one born-again Christian who molested a child.

            This is why Jesus admonishes us to be Christ-like in our way of life. Our flesh is crucified with Christ on the Cross, so we are to walk in the Spirit, producing good spiritual fruit.

            There are two different words: the standing and the state of a Christian. The standing of a born-again Christian means he is assured a place in Heaven, no matter what he did on the Earth. The state of a born-again Christian means HOW he practices his faith on the Earth. Was he practicing good Christian testimony or not? So, if he did anything bad on the Earth, he will receive little or no rewards in Heaven, though his salvation in Christ is assured of.

            Jesus did not encourage that kind of behavior. The liberty in Christ taken advantage of is frowned upon by God. Appropriate measures will be taken to correct this type of attitude. After all, salvation is not a license to sin exceedingly.

            Maybe Murtha did reject Christ, then he will rot forever in Hell. But if he did accept Jesus as his personal Savior, then let Christ judge him at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Let Murtha receive his rewards (if any) in according to his works (which isn’t that much anyway) during on the Earth.

            Look at two thieves who were crucified with Christ, one did not accept, while the other one did. That thief did not do anything good during his lifetime on the Earth, but at the moment of his death, he asked Christ for forgiveness and accepted Him as his personal Savior. To Jesus, that’s all matters the most.

            The very first question Jesus will ask anybody who is alive or dead — have you accepted me as your Savior? Yes or no? Everything else is secondary to that question. So, if Murtha answered incorrectly, then well, he will suffer greatly in the Lake of Fire. On the other hand, if he answered correctly, then let him be judged by Jesus. No one escapes the judgment, no one.

          • mags

            I believe God knows what perfect justice is for all of us. God and Murtha will have their own time together. For the rest of us, knowing that his being out of our lives because he is no longer a part of the political machine, should help motivate us to move forward and work to set things right in our country.

          • Read Chesterton in New Improved Jersey

            even though they worked fewer hours than those who were selected by the master early, are a good representation of those who are saved at the time of death. C. S. Lewis talked about God having all of eternity to hear the split second repentance of a pilot going down in flames toward the ground. What awaits us in the next life is the most private and personal thing that exists – between us and our God. Once we’ve crossed over, it’s nobody business. And what was the Lord’s exclamation when his closest apostles bickered over the seeming unfairness of their foreseen individual fates when compared to each other? He said “And what is that to you?”

            The disposition of Jack Murtha’s soul is none of our business.

            As for “Once saved always saved,” I am working out my own salvation in the manner of St. Paul the apostle, to use his own words, “with fear and trembling.” That doesn’t sound like Paul believed in “Once saved always saved” to me.

            And by what were those disciples in the parable n Matthew 25 saved or condemned? It was those who said “Lord Lord” who were told “I never knew you.” It was those who “did for the least of their brothers” who were saved.

            The words “by faith alone” appear together only one time in the KJB. That would be in the Epistle of James (2:19), and they are preceded by the word “Not.” That’s not to say Grace and faith aren’t operative in salvation they certainly are. But it defies reason (and most Christian theologies) to believe that a youthful proclamation of faith would avert the eternal consequences for, say, the unrepented molestation and murder of a child later on in life. “Better that a millstone be tied to your neck” and all that.

            St. Paul said that “Not all sins are deadly.” That would logically indicate that some actually are. I’m no theologian, but I’d hazard a guess that that’s where the “fear and trembling” comes in.

    • winghunter1

      The Rest of Murtha’s FBI Tape
      ABSCAM tapes – Murtha: “Well, let me find out what is a reasonable figure that will get their attention,” said Murtha, “because there are a couple of banks that have really done me some favors in the past, and I’d like to put some money in….["]
      http://spectator.org/archives/2006/07/12/the-rest-of-murthas-fbi-tape

      Stick it to him: Marine files suit against Murtha
      http://michellemalkin.com/2008/09/25/stick-it-to-him-marine-files-suit-against-murtha/

      Murtha: You know who?s pretty racist? My constituents
      http://hotair.com/archives/2008/10/15/murtha-you-know-whos-pretty-racist-my-constituents/

      Jack Murtha: Veteran Ex-Marine Hero or Lying Cowardly Crybaby REMF?
      http://wambulance.blogspot.com/2006/06/jack-murtha-veteran-ex-marine-hero-or.html

  • Wayne

    doubt that Murtha will be guarding any of “heaven’s streets. Nor did he ever keep his honor clean. But, I subscribe to the adage that if you can’t say something nice, so I’ll stop now.

  • JadedByPolitics

    who in another time in our countries history would have hung for TREASON he then had made the final decision to sell this countries fighting men & women down the pike for his political benefit. His family has become rich beyond their wildest dreams off of the blood, sweat and tears of hardworking Americans. They set up companies that DID NOTHING and were rewarded handsomely. I shed no tears for this man. I would rather prefer that he had had quit Congress either way he is not ABUSING his position any longer.

    • Flagstaff

      For example, this was not exactly commendable behavior.

    • Scope

      http://www.capveterans.com/anti_american_americans/id6.html

      The Code Pink leader, Jodie Evans, has traveled to Afghanistan to meet with the Taliban. Jodie Evans is in support of the Iranian terrorists. On a Fox News interview, Jodie Evans admits to being a Communist. How many articles would you like me to link to to prove this. I can bring many.

      • JadedByPolitics

        “How many articles would you like me to link to to prove this. I can bring many.”

        For some reason that particular sentence sounds like something one would say to someone who is arguing against something and I wasn’t and so your link is actually in agreement and if you wanted to help prove the point that Murtha was a POS you could certainly link hundreds I know I could. Very weird response to my particular comment.

  • Doc Holliday

    It is also a shame he passed before giving the Marines and their families some relief by apologizing for his malicious lies. It is also a shame his constituents never did the honorable thing by removing him from office.

    People are talking about who will run n PA12 and whom will we support. Of course life goes on but I am sitting that one out. I gave all I could last time around, PA12 is dead to me, no pun intended.

    • mbecker908

      was indicted in the latest investigation.

      I’d much rather he died in prison.

      • Doc Holliday

        There were so many throughout his time in office. I will be honest, I actually feel sorry for him. I think he actually lost control of his own mind. To not be able to even admit that the Marines did not do it after they were exonerated is to slip into a realm of insanity. I am sure he died a very bitter man.

        As a Christian, I can only feel sorry for the dead and his loved ones. But as I have mentioned, there are many things sad and painful about Murtha and they did not start today.

        • mbecker908

          I’ve just seen a couple of general articles about him being investigated.

          Frankly, in the world of the corrupt Murtha could give Dollar Bill Jefferson lessons.

          • Doc Holliday

            I think I remember something about him strong arming some defense companies or something.

          • Tbone

            helps us comprehend the grace of God available to all of us.

            OTH, the concept of Jack and Teddy in Hell let’s us enjoy the imperfection of our humanity.

          • Viet71

            I have, therefore, some authority to speak as to Jack Murtha and John Kerry.

            They were both opportunists and exploiters.

            If you served in the Nam, you did your job, tried to survive a year, and get back. Your whole goal was to survive your tour.

            Murtha and Kerry used Viet Nam as a platform.

            I say, good riddance.

          • jayburd

            then joined the Airforce and retired in 90′

  • olsmithie
  • tankertodd

    and will they find any Marines willing to be in his honor guard?

    If they do bury him in Arlington, I would expect someone eventually to dig out the casket and set it in the Potomac where he belongs.

    • mbecker908

      dishonor guard should be CodePink.

  • spiff

    My comment on the article – Amen!
    Spiff

  • ocleverone

    Murtha’s love of earmarks.

    Requests for appropriations (read earmarks) are due to Congress around this time of the year. With his death, the Clerk of the House oversees the operations of his office in a caretaker/audit status until a new representative takes office. The Clerk, nor the office, during this time can push anything. In fact, the employess of the representatives office may only be there until the new Congress member takes office – employment is at the discretion of the new member.

    Since Murtha’s replacement probably will not be there until May, the appropriations bill will be well underway and it isn’t certain whomever takes his place would even want those earmarks.

    So his death just caused a major snafu with his earmarks possibly making them non-existent this year. Thus the irony. From excessive to nothing.

    Energy needs to be focused on electing someone who will provide fiscal responsibility.

  • Scope

    thank you God, he will not be buried among hero’s in Arlington.