A challenger for John Murtha?
Diana Irey gave it a good try and failed.
Now, another GOP candidate looks ready to challenge Rep. John “In Cold Blood” Murtha. He’s an Army vet, 9/11 survivor, and small business owner:
A career Army member left the service two years short of retirement to move here and try his hand at politics by challenging longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. John Murtha.
First-time candidate William T. Russell, 45, a Republican, acknowledged that taking on a popular, 18-term congressman in the 2008 election will be “an uphill battle.”
“But it’s one that must be fought,” Russell told the Tribune-Democrat in Johnstown.
Russell plans to formally announce his candidacy within weeks. Murtha has declined comment on the challenge.
Murtha, 75, has served in the House since 1974 and is known for bringing money and jobs — especially in the defense industries — to his district in rural Pennsylvania. A decorated Vietnam veteran and Marine Reserves colonel who previously had been hawkish on war issues, Murtha has criticized the Iraq war and pushed for the troops to be brought home. He became chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee last year.
Washington County Commissioner Diana Irey ran against Murtha last year, trying to capitalize on the backlash against Murtha’s views among conservatives. She was soundly beaten in the general election.
Russell, who moved from the Washington, D.C., area to Murtha’s district specifically to take on the congressman, has a long Army and Army Reserve career that includes tours of duty in the Balkans and both Iraq wars. He and his wife, Kasia, were in the Pentagon when a hijacked airliner slammed into the building on Sept. 11, 2001. Both escaped unhurt.
Murtha’s call for troop withdrawal from Iraq “is just flat-out wrong,” Russell said. Like Irey, Russell also criticized Murtha’s public allegations that unnamed U.S. soldiers committed “cold-blooded murder and war crimes” against innocent Iraqi civilians in Haditha in 2005.
A small-business owner, Russell said he wants a local economy dependent on the free market. But he acknowledges some jobs may be lost if government contracts disappear.
Stay tuned. It’s really just a question of how much longer Murtha’s district can tolerate the troop-smearing, corruptocrat incumbent. When, not whether.
***
Here’s Russell’s website. Here’s his “What I Believe” statement. Good stuff:
I am a Conservative.
I believe in the sovereignty and security of this one nation, under God. I believe the primary role of government is to provide for the common defense and a legal framework to protect families and individual liberty. I believe in rugged individualism because individuals can make far better choices than any government entity in providing for families, protecting households, choosing doctors and health care plans, and deciding which teachers and schools are best for children. I believe prosperity is best ensured by what Adam Smith called the “invisible hand” of a natural, price driven economy.
I believe that we have the responsibility and obligation to control our borders and determine who is allowed to live and work in our country.
I believe that families are the foundation stone upon which all truly great societies are built. I believe that imposed systems of wealth redistribution destroy families, produce a culture of dependence, and hurt everyone. I believe in the sanctity of life and that life begins at conception. I believe in marriage between one man and one woman and that children should always be loved and sometimes spanked. I believe that all children in our school systems should be educated in English and taught the civic duties and responsibilities of citizenship and patriotism.
I believe in private property rights and that the death tax should be killed. I believe the Consumption or Fair Tax is the best and most equitable means to ensure all persons who participate in our economy, legally or illegally, pay their fair share and to reward those who build businesses or save and invest their money.
I believe in the right to bear arms and the right of self defense. Gun control and gun free zones only ensure that victims are unarmed.
I believe that no one owes me anything just because I live and breathe. I believe we should all practice charity in some form or fashion, especially to those who are suffering and least fortunate, but it must be voluntary and spring from a spirit of altruism and love for our neighbors.
Finally, I believe there is room to acknowledge the role of our Creator in public life as stated in the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution. The mention of God in the Pledge, and asking his blessings for our nation and our safety before ball games, classes, and public meetings does not constitute the establishment of a state religion and does not discriminate against anyone.
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Here is his website
http://www.williamrussellforcongress.com/
e to see him win so we can toss ABSCAm Murtha out on his a..ear
I don’t know what happened to my comment, it should have read “I’d like to see him win so we can toss ABSCAM Murtha…”
Wonderful, just wonderful!!… the worm IS surely turning. Some say 08 will bring Hillary… I say our 40 years in the wilderness are just about over. I can see the promised land & it looks like one big red state!
We can all hope that the people of PA have finally had enough … but I won’t believe it until I see it … It will not be easy because these people are so in the pockets of their special interest supporters …
Why is it they expect everyone else to retire when they turn 65 and these crapweasels stay in office forever? … it’s not just Murtha … (think Grand Wizard “KKK” Byrd as a good example, but there have been and are plenty more in that group such as Kennedy, et. al.) …
I thought the only government position that was “for life” was the Supreme Court …
Did I miss a memo on that somewhere?
Run WIlliam run!!
I know of at least one Marine who will likely publicly support this man.
I think desertlover hit the nail on the head. If your’e counting on the people in Murtha’s district to come through for you, you’re going to be sorely disappointed.
DL, You mean the memo that said,
Screw the People?
swj719AWG
Maybe there will be an updated version of Kerry was “SwiftBoated” … afterwards they will be saying that
Murtha was “Haditha Marined” …
aj … that could be the one …
The problem is that pork Barrel Politicans know how to use govrenment largess to keep themselves in power.
The key is to convince the people of PA that leadership is better than government money. That given the chance the people themselves can lift themselves out of poverty.
Its a hard sell in economically depressed places. I livre in WV most of my life and campaign repeatedly against Byrd. The people are too afraid to take a chance.
You have to convince them it isnt a chance but a change.
Term Limits and a mandatory retirement age are the only things that are ever going to put an end to this insanity
Im sorry but I dont see Murtha or the current dem regime voting in term limits. It aint gonna happen.]
We need to win elections first before we can even think Term limits
Wow. His “What I Believe” statement is awesome.
I really hope he beats the pants off Murtha. And, since he’s only 45, we could be looking at a very good presidential prospect for 2016 or beyond.
Mr. Russell – ummm, I mean – Mr. President.
His statement should be retitled “What WE Believe” and become the new declaration of all like-minded Americans. That was AWESOME.
I know this area of weatern PA very well. It will be an uphill battle all the way.
Historically, the area has been heavily union. From coal miners, to steel workers, to clothing and glass factories. The decline of those industries has changed the economic climate, but has not changed the union/Democratic Party association.
The area relies on pork to maintain the unemployment level around 10%. The government is perhaps the largest employer in the district now, by a large measure.
Lots of reliance on government programs due to the per capitia income.
The State of PA has the second largest number of retirees in the Country behind the state of Florida, and last time I checked had the largest number of military retirees in the Nation.
They view Murtha as one of their own. They will vote for Murtha not because they agree with him, they will vote for him because he is a Democrat, and they have always voted Democrat. That, and the fact that in their minds, the devil you know is better than the devil you don’t.
I question the 2 years short of 20. Other than that he looks like a good candidate.
Absolutely correct.
William Amos,
Sorry, the Republicans will not vote in term limits either. You might as well believe we will see a flat tax someday.
Assuming he was 44 when he retired (eh, it’s as good a guess as any), that would mean at 46 he would have hit 20 years.
Meaning he’s have enlisted at 26.
Considering i’ll be about 29 and a half when I enlist, it’s not impossible.
i believe he is still in the reserves and therefor still eligible to make his “20″
Lets elect Republicans first and THEN apply full pressure on them to put in term limits. When they are in power we need to let them know we wont be ignored
From the linked article, which I suggest reading.
When (and only when) we can elect enough people who are NOT politicians, then we can expect them to care more about what we want and not about getting relected. Let’s be honest, that applies to BOTH parties.
Yes Wade. We saw that.
Michelle quoted it.
It doesn’t specify if he left the Army entirely, or if he merely left Active Duty. They are very different things.
So mind telling use why you though we’d not seen it?
The highlited area tells you why. And what does the age have to do with squat? You post does not sound like you read, or understood any of it.
I still question why
Obviously the amount of money an incumbent can steer to their district is proportional to the seniority and committee appointments.
This creates part of what contributes to incumbent advantage in a given election.
Some suggest the cure is federal funding of elections. I totally disagree with that concept but if it ever came to pass the only thing that would really create a level playing field is not even and equal dollars for the candidates up for the election since that ignores the pork factor.
I suggest that in the simple case of two people in a single election that the money split would give the opponent of the incumbent more funding by a percentage equal to the amount of pork spending the incumbent has given out.
The higher the pork spending the less campaign money the incumbent gets as a percentage of the pot.
This would probably result in a lot less pork, lower spending and vastly decreased influence of lobbyists.
They are? Well I’ll be darned. When did that start? Which one can you retire from?
The article says how old he is, and that he retired from duty. Those times aren’t neccessarily in sync.
He could have been anywhere from, say, 42-45 when he retired. I was speculating as to his age upon retirement, assuming it was even moderately recent. He could have retired at 36 for all we know.
And if he were currently active, or in the reserves, I think he would have to retire. Pretty sure you can’t be in the military and in congress at the same time.
So, what was your point again? You seem to just be bringing up random points.
People please read
From his site
Generally when one leaves active duty, you enter into either the NG or IRR (National Guard, or Individual Ready Reserve). IRR is exactly like civillian life, only they might cal you and say “Yeah, show up. We need you.”
Sort of like a mini draft. Kinda.
Usually you are in one or the other (usually IRR for almost everyone) until 20 total years have passed from your initial enlistment, or you hit a certain age (I can’t think of a case where the latter would happen before the former, but I suppose in theory it’s possible).
So, you wanna keep being stupid? I have all night…
BTW Also awesome ? his tribute to Flight 93
TURNING THE TIDE……
Tribute to the Passengers of Flight 93
I would like to pay tribute to those who gave their lives on board Flight 93 as they turned the tide in the fateful battle that occurred in the skies over New York, Washington, DC and Western Pennsylvania six years ago. I also want to express my deep and personal thanks to the families of those heroes as my family and I personally benefited from their bravery. Much has been written and several movies have already been made depicting the terror and bravery of the passengers of Flight 93. I would like to focus on what they accomplished in those few minutes of exquisite bravery.
I was in the Pentagon when Flight 77 impacted the building. I was attending a meeting in office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense located on the 2nd floor of the B Ring, between the 4th and 5th Corridors. I was there as a staff officer to attend an emergency meeting to discuss military support to the civil authorities of New York City following the impacts of the two airplanes into the World Trade Center Towers. Although Flight 77 impacted the E ring between the 4th and 5th corridors, and the cockpit ended up 50 meters out and one floor down from the office I was in, I believed it had impacted on the far side of the building where my wife Kasia, who was pregnant with our son Stasiu at the time, was working in the CVS Pharmacy. I remember my boss, COL Joe Robinson, handing me a note to carry to then BG, Chiarelli and I handed it back to him and told him that I was going to CVS. As I ran around the A ring on my way to the Metro entrance concourse I was worried that I might not be able to get to Kasia and praying that she was okay, and wondering what I would do when I got there. As I arrived at the Metro entrance the Pentagon Police were busy evacuating the building and ensuring all the tourists and workers in the area got out. I met Kasia on the concourse just in front of the pharmacy. She asked me what had happened and what she should do because they were told to leave the store and to not take the time to lock the pharmacy. I told her that either a bomb or a plane had hit the building and that she should go home but that I had to stay.
Wade …
You seem to be questioning this man’s military service regarding “reserve time” as something less than what? … if that part is a concern you need to look up Murtha’s record … he was in the service at the end of Korea for less than 2 years … then reserves where he went to college and law school … then 1 year active as an S-2 intelligence officer (in other words in the rear away from the real action) in the latter stages of Viet Nam … then back to reserve status and has pretty much been in Congress ever since … from the looks of the ribbons on this man’s chest he spent a hell of a lot more active duty time than Murtha ever dreamed of …
guess I am just not understanding the point you are trying to make by questioning his military time and status regarding reserve time … ????
swj719AWG
There is no restriction as to active members being part of congress.
However it is at an all time historical low.
Right now there are a grand total of 2 members of congress who are current active reserve officers.
In fact one of them just returned after a short deployment during the congressional break for a stint with the JAG Corps in Iraq.
Fewer than 30 percent of congressional members have served in the military, 28 percent of senators and 23 percent of House members, according to figures provided by the Military Officers Association of America. Just 20 years ago, nearly 80 percent of congressional members had served in the military.
The dwindling number of veterans on Capitol Hill has some veterans nervous that veterans services and the well-being of current military personnel could be overlooked by a growing majority in Congress that has never worn combat boots.
BTW on Mr Russell’s site it says he was 28 years Active and reserve duty. So thats 18 years active and 10 years in the reserves.
He has done 6 combat duty tours
For the resord, for me to end up putting that time in, I’d be in my LATE 50’s.
Let’s just “Rather-gate” him now and save time?
Wade,
Here’s some info, so you can quit being retarded.
There are two different retirement systems in the military. One for Active Duty and one for the Reserves.
I spent 23.5 years in the military before I retired this year. Of that 23.5, about 10 or 11 was Active duty time. In other words, I retired 10 years shy of an Active Duty retirement.
Luckily for me, I get to collect my reserve retirement in 19 more years (2027) when I turn 60 yrs old. Versus collecting my retirement immediately, if I had retired with 20 yrs of Active Duty.
Does that explain it for your pea brain?
IRR doesn’t last until 20 years after your initial enlistment. I think it’s usually something like a commitment of 6 or 8 years, the longer you are active duty, the shorter your IRR. I know my brother, who had one enlistment that ended in ‘91 hasn’t bee IRR for a long time. Twenty years would be 2011 and my brother would then be 43 years old. I don’t think the military wants someone that old that long after they left the service…
And, I think you can be Reserves/NG and be in Congress. I think we have some in Congress now who hold NG/Reserve commissions, but their names escape me at the moment… Now, active duty would be a different situation entirely, I’m sure.
as apoint of Reference Lyndon Johnson was a congressman when he “won” his silver star in WWII.
oh WOW! Seeing this man in uniform is enough to make me swoon! I hadn’t seen him, just read about him.
All my best sir and good luck!
Miss LB and CommentGuy are correct, and I was in error.
Mea Culpa.
Murtha Out, I like the sound of that, can we make a list of people we would like out?
Eliot Spitzer,
Johnny Sutton…hmmm lawyers again.
I just made a contribution to William Russell’s campaign via his site. This is the first candidate for whom I’ve been excited in a very long time. I told my Republican friends that I will no longer vote for or support “the lesser of two evils”. I don’t like the weather in PA or I’d move there and walk precinct for him.
Screw congress, this guy’s the closest thing to Reagan I’ve heard since…well, since Reagan. I pray to God that they have telivised, or at least taped, debates. I would PAY to see that.
Also, I’ll still never give to the RNC again, but I’d be glad to give to Bill Russel when able. He’s either the real deal or about to be the biggest fraud since Arnold ShwarzenTeddy. God halp us if it’s the latter because that would just about kill my hope of “us” ever being “us”, again.
Some comments from his site about the current war
To hell with Murtha, run for the presidency so we aren’t left with a mediocre selection like the ‘96 election.
I hope I die before I become so old that I turn into a Democrat… What is it with old people and becoming a Democrat? I’ve seen it with my own parents. Worked hard all their lives, then in the waning years, they become Democrats and want to sup at the GVMNT trough and complain about the mean ol’ Republicans… Sheesh.
Hey, William T. Come here to Ohio and run for Voinovich’s seat. We need some spine for a change.
If PA doesn’t work out, which of course I pray that it does…how about NJ Mr. Russell?
tgillian, same vision…
Or Illinois…
Looks like a good man, I wish him the best of luck.
Anyone else for adopting his “What I Believe” statement as a Conservative Creed?
I’m in.
Mornin’ everybody. I may be a little late to this thread, but here’s my two cents worth. As I have said before, my parents live in Murtha’s district and have sworn never to vote for him again after his Haditha outrage.
Pennsylvania is an odd electoral case. Usually, the two ends of the state, containing Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, vote Democrat, but the middle sections are strong Republican areas, so maybe Mr. Russell stands a chance.
All of the posters who have mentioned Murtha’s ability to bring pork projects to his district are right on target. As most of the voters up there will tell you, “He may be a crook, but he’s OUR crook”. If he can be attacked and discredited on ethical issues, maybe Mr. Russell can pull it off.
Don’t anyone hold your breath on this one. I live in Vermont, and my neighbors keep electing Leahy and Sanders. In fact, many have openly said they appreciate these guys’ support for left-wing dictators and their lack of support for U.S. armed forces.
Last time anyone dared take a poll, Term Limits for Congress had 75% support, across the board.
Like the 17th Amendment, the pressure that will get it passed has to come through the States. Someone will just need to organize a campaign to get it passed.
Lance Cpl. Justin Sharratt, one of the Marines cleared in the Haditha case, also lives in Murtha’s district.
I heard Sean Hannity encouraging him to run against Murtha, but I’d suggest he lend his efforts to backing William Russell.
Desert Lover &tomk59:Absolutley right-years after Murtha is dead and buried,the idiots in this district will still be voting for him.I think I’m the only person here in Murthaland who actually votes against the traitorous moron.
Miss Ladybug is correct. When a person enlists, the Military “owns” them for a total of 8 yrs (AD/Reserve/IRR).
If a person joins for 4 yrs (whether AD or Reserve) they have another 4 yrs in the IRR, where the Mil can recall them to Reserve/Active Duty during a time of war.
Same thing for a Reservist. If they do a 4 yr (or 2 yr) enlistment, they’re still in the IRR for an additional 4 yrs (or 6 yrs).
Once you fulfill that 8 yrs, you no longer have a “commitment” to the Mil, unless serving AD or Reserve, then it’s whatever your enlistment term is.
ITS TIME
It may be an up hill battle, but I would assume even the Democratic residents of his district would object to an Abscam crook and lying traitor. Even though I’m on the left coast, I contributed to Mr. Russell’s campaign and hope you all will join me. I’m sure there are some Marines willing to help Russell campaign!
Thank you Michelle for the update on Russell.