A side note: In areas dominated by one party it is not uncommon for straw men, members of the other party in name only, to be used by the majority party for any number of purposes. For example, many boards and commissions require members be selected from both major parties. Straw men controlling the minority party cut deals with the majority party leadership, typically doing their bidding (for example, naming majority party sympathizers as the minority party members to such boards and commissions) in return for some other political/financial favors (such as giving political plum jobs to the straw men or their associates and family members). My bet is that these two “Republicans” (Zucco & McKelvey?) are stealth Democrats. And I bet this fact is well known in the district.

On February 28th, 2008 at 8:15 am, pecze said:

I don’t think they planned to run. I think they realize how much money that area will lose if Murtha isn’t in office to bring all the pork.

If Murtha’s not in office, then there isn’t anyone fighting to keep the NDIC open or pushing lucrative contracts to the likes of CTC.

Unfortunately, money trumps policy.

Ah. Politics at its best. I would suspect that Zucco, etc. also benefit from being able to point to the wonderful jobs brought into the area by Murtha’s pork projects as an accomplishment for the mayor’s administration too.

If Murtha’s not in office, then there isn’t anyone fighting to keep the NDIC open or pushing lucrative contracts to the likes of CTC.

Unfortunately, money trumps policy.

On February 27th, 2008 at 7:33 pm, pecze said:

I did some more searching, and found this article. Apparently, Murtha challenged 180 signatures. So, he had about an 18% cushion.

Being from Johnstown, I know that Russell doesn’t really have a chance against Murtha. Murtha is practially a god there — mostly because of all of the pork he sends that area.

But, I would really like to see someone give Murtha a run for his money.

Were Zucco and McKelvey planning to run too for the Republican nomination or are they just RINO’s in Murtha’s hip-pocket doing his dirty work for him, pecze?

Not so long ago, Nancy “San Fran Nan” Pelosi promised that Democrats would “drain the swamp,” of Washington’s pork-barrel…

Let me get this straight. When getting his petition signed to qualify to run, he only got the exact amount of signatures on it that he would need, not allowing any cushion for any that may be disqualified for being ineligible? If that is the case, that was pretty stupid on his part. He sounded a lot more insightful than that. *sigh*

I did some more searching, and found this article. Apparently, Murtha challenged 180 signatures. So, he had about an 18% cushion.

Being from Johnstown, I know that Russell doesn’t really have a chance against Murtha. Murtha is practially a god there — mostly because of all of the pork he sends that area.

But, I would really like to see someone give Murtha a run for his money.

So, how do you raise taxes on Americans without most of them even knowing it? You tax the evil oil companies, who then add that tax to a gallon of gasoline. Presto! Americans get an $18billion tax and don’t even know it. To the contrary, those evil oil companies raised their prices on the poor folks.

Go ahead and keep re-electing guys like Murtha people. That sensation you feel up your arse, is Congress screwing you again without you even knowing it.

On February 27th, 2008 at 5:25 pm, pecze said:
William Russel’s name got thrown off of the primary ballot in PA because 2 politicians (Republicans, ironically) challenged the signatures. A judge ruled that he only had 997 valid signatures, 3 short of the 1000 required.

Since there was no one else running, I would hope that the GOP would get him on the ballot for November, but with all of the pork that Murtha funnels to that region, it’s hard to believe those people would give up that cash.

Let me get this straight. When getting his petition signed to qualify to run, he only got the exact amount of signatures on it that he would need, not allowing any cushion for any that may be disqualified for being ineligible? If that is the case, that was pretty stupid on his part. He sounded a lot more insightful than that. *sigh*

On February 27th, 2008 at 2:02 pm, ajmontana said:
a couple of those big trailer BBQ’s would go nicely parked in front with full piggy’s being Q’ed on em.

On February 27th, 2008 at 2:05 pm, ajmontana said:
The more smoke the better.
bbq pork

Oh, my, AJ. Think of the carbon footprint. What would The Gorical say? On second thought, if he is in on the feast, you could probably slide it by on one of his double-standards.

Pig snouts optional!

Well…yeah, for those of us that might wear fake ones.
( Murtha and his swine don’t have any choice)