Submit your comments on this article |
Home Front: Politix |
John Murtha, Today's Winner of JFK "Profiles in Courage" Award |
2006-05-22 |
Reading Profiles in Courage as a youth had a big impact on me. It's shameful how they have diminished its worth. The first Vietnam veteran elected to Congress, Rep. John Murtha took pride in politicking quietly, behind the scenes, with Republicans and fellow Democrats alike. Washington has become more deeply partisan since Murtha was swept into office more than 30 years ago, and so has Murtha in a very public way. On Monday, Murtha is to be awarded the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Award in Boston for his bold pronouncement that U.S. troops should be pulled out of Iraq a statement many say helped change the public debate over the war, because of Murtha's past as a Democratic hawk and retired Marines Reserves colonel who enjoyed easy access to presidents. "There aren't many around like him any more," said Jack Johannes, a political science professor at Villanova University. "As a result, when the generations change, the environments change, even someone like John Murtha has to change." Being honored along with Murtha on Monday is Alberto Mora, a former Navy general counsel who warned Pentagon officials that U.S. policies dealing with terror detainees could invite abuse. |
Posted by:Captain America, esq |
#14 Murtha has an opponent this Fall, Diana Irey. Here's what she wrote me:Thank you for your pro-American views of life. We face many serious challenges with the war on terror and trying to win the hearts and minds of millions of Muslims around the world through the concept of freedom. Little by little we gain support. |
Posted by: Chuck Simmins 2006-05-22 22:27 |
#13 Since when does it take courage to "Cut and Run" ? !!! |
Posted by: junkirony 2006-05-22 22:19 |
#12 Well you never have to worry about Teddy winning one. He will show up for the party however. My early pick for next year? He nominates his kid. |
Posted by: tu3031 2006-05-22 22:16 |
#11 Iff IRAN-CONTRA = GWOT, Murtha = Ollie North??? save in reverse??? Notice that Danny Ortega is running for office again, and arguing that Nicaragua should keep all or most of its Soviet RPG's and SA anti air missles. |
Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-05-22 22:10 |
#10 Gawd this is depressing. This joker can't even find his way home and more than likely thinks we are still in Viet-Nam. JFK must really be feeling the shame. |
Posted by: 49 Pan 2006-05-22 21:15 |
#9 ...Actually, it's only fitting: Some years back, it was pretty much determined that Ted Sorenson wrote 'Profiles' and JFK just put his name on it. A phony award for a fraud of a congressman. Mike |
Posted by: Mike Kozlowski 2006-05-22 19:31 |
#8 Does anyone know a Marine vet that likes Murtha Harri? His good friend Scotty Ritter. |
Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2006-05-22 18:32 |
#7 This shows how far the Democratic party as fallen. Kind of sad in a way. |
Posted by: CrazyFool 2006-05-22 18:07 |
#6 Murtha is a pig. He claims that things are worse in Iraq now than under Saddam. I suppose that's because he never had the joy of watching family members killed by wood chipper, or nerve agent, or mass grave. Then his claim is supported by comparisons of crude oil production under Saddam and post-Saddam. That tells us exactly what the war was about. Or these Saddam supporters love to make comparisons of electricity availablity, but there is rarely a discussion of the fact that the Ba'ath NEVER improved or expanded the electrical grid. There is never a discussion about how outdated the system is. Same thing for water sanitation. It's really too bad that his entire family was not murdered by the Ba'ath. Maybe then he'd get it. |
Posted by: Azad 2006-05-22 18:07 |
#5 Anyone who wants to read some real "Profiles in Courage" should pick up a copy of Home of the Brave by Casper Weinberger. Reading it is a humbling experience. |
Posted by: Matt 2006-05-22 18:03 |
#4 Mutha Murtha not welcome at my USMC reunion. |
Posted by: Inspector Clueso 2006-05-22 17:52 |
#3 Does anyone know a Marine vet that likes Murtha Harri? |
Posted by: Cyber Sarge 2006-05-22 17:43 |
#2 Glad you liked it Capt. it did very well in middle schools, just like I intended. |
Posted by: Ted 2006-05-22 17:27 |
#1 That whirring sound you hear in the east is JFK spinning in his grave. Gotta figure out how we can hook up a dynamo.... |
Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-05-22 17:27 |