No to Murtha as Majority Leader

[Rodeo]

Originally posted by lendaddy
You make his actions sound honorable.

No I don't.

Originally posted by Rodeo
***I don't think he should be the House Majority Leader. There's the AMSCAM thing, where although he was never charged, his conduct was marginal at best. And perhaps more importantly, he's the king of earmarks, trading political favors for money for home districts. While there is nothing illegal about his horse trading, the Congress needs to overhaul that system. Murtha's not the guy to do it.***

[lendaddy]

Right, so what was wrong or "marginal" about his conduct? They offered him a bribe....he refused it right?

[Tim Hancock]

Originally posted by Rodeo
No I don't.

Yes you do.


Originally posted by Rodeo:

"I think John Murtha was the most courageous public official in the nation a year ago, when he was the first to acknowledge publicly that Iraq was the disaster everyone privately knew it to be. He was the first to call for a redeployment, which still remains the best of the bad options our president has left us. He held his ground in the face of fierce attacks from the WH, and the country soon realized that he was, and is, right.

That's leadership, a rare commodity these days."

[Rodeo]

I think Murtha is a corageous person, and I salute him for his courage. I think his "actions" 26 years ago were questionable enough that I would not support him for majority leader.

Exactly what I said in my first post.

[Tim Hancock]

My head hurts.

[Rodeo]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Right, so what was wrong or "marginal" about his conduct? They offered him a bribe....he refused it right?

What's wrong or "marginal" in falsely quoting a public official as saying he would accept a bribe, except that it was not enough money?

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Rodeo
I think his "actions" 26 years ago were questionable enough that I would not support him for majority leader.

Exactly what I said in my first post.

Again, what do you find questionable? Why can't you answer this question?

[Rodeo]

Answer mine.

What's wrong or "marginal" in falsely quoting a public official as saying he would accept a bribe, except that it was not enough money?

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Rodeo
Answer mine.

What's wrong or "marginal" in falsely quoting a public official as saying he would accept a bribe, except that it was not enough money?

I already did, I was playing around, exaggerating the situation for comedic effect.

[Rodeo]

He didn't call the FBI, he didn't blow the whistle immediately. He protected his fellow Congressmen that he presumably knew were involved in something bad.

He didn't get involved in the scheme, but neither did he expose what he surely knew was wrongdoing.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by lendaddy
Yes yes, absolutely. A great man indeed.

It doesn't take a "great man" to shade the entire White House's aggregate integrity, nearly any street bum can do that.

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Rodeo
He didn't call the FBI, he didn't blow the whistle immediately. He protected his fellow Congressmen that he presumably knew were involved in something bad.

He didn't get involved in the scheme, but neither did he expose what he surely knew was wrongdoing.

This might also hurt, yes?:

The FBI videotaped Murtha as saying, "I'm not interested...at this point. [If] we do business for a while, maybe I'll be interested, maybe I won't."

[Rodeo]

I take that statement kind of the way I would decline something I thought was wrong without causing waves, or offending anyone and setting off alarms. Especially since he never took a nickel.

"No dude, I don't want any drugs, maybe later." People try to get along ... If someone followed you or me around with a video camera, I suspect there would be a lot of embarrassing 5 second clips

[cowtown]

Originally posted by cowtown
LOL. Welcome to another Rodeo thread. I'll paraphrase where this is about to go:

"You're all lying liars, telling lies and stuff."

"Now quit personally attacking me and agree with my point of view, you lying liars!"

Originally posted by Rodeo Clown

they pile on me for denouncing the blatant lie. I don't understand how people can do that, but "Swift Boat" proved me wrong.

Man, I'm on FIRE today! Now where did I put my Great Carnack hat?

[lendaddy]

Originally posted by Rodeo
I take that statement kind of the way I would decline something I thought was wrong without causing waves, or offending anyone and setting off alarms. Especially since he never took a nickel.

"No dude, I don't want any drugs, maybe later." People try to get along ... If someone followed you or me around with a video camera, I suspect there would be a lot of embarrassing 5 second clips

How about this?:

May 5, 2002

Dear Jack,



I’m writing on matters of joint concern. A number of weeks ago I was talking with someone who is a mutual acquaintance and your name came up. It was an unusually frank discussion and I considered it private. I did relate some opinions about you and shared some recollections about experiences with you in Congress. I was, to be honest, critical about how you misled me about ABSCAM where you convinced me you had voluntarily told federal agents about the offer of money to you and I learned later, after I had successfully defeated the ethics charges against you, that you had merely manipulated the system to cooperate with federal agents to avoid prosecution.



I also shared my recollection of when you admitted, back in our corner, that you didn’t earn your purple hearts (you indicated you had small scratch on your cheek that wasn’t even directly related to an APC that ran over a small anti personnel mine that was behind you). The other purple heart you even declined to explain.



At the time you were feeling particularly vulnerable, because it wasn’t too long after you had called me crying and sobbing, thanking me for “saving your life” before the ethics committee. There was no doubt in my mind that you were expressing to me that you did not believe you did anything sufficient to earn the purple heart, and that you didn’t want to be active in my efforts to laud Vietnam Veterans that served with us.



Given what I know about the brave men who served in the Marine Corp., I did not criticize you, but to be honest, I was shocked and disappointed in you personally. We both knew what was at issue, and we both know what happened and that you wanted to avoid the limelight. Later, we ended up having to run for the same seat. It was a good clean race and I admit I knew I couldn’t win, simply on the basis of voter turn out alone. During that time some people came to me with documents indicating you had used influence, after the fact, or had embellished your purple heart awards. I did not respond, and I said nothing. In doing so I may have betrayed my comrades in arms because I knew then what you had told me in the corner of the house - but I had told no one about that and I stood mute. But a few weeks ago my conversation was private and I was not seeking to do you any harm, though it would be ridiculous for me to infer that I have any respect for what you’ve done.



Regardless, shortly thereafter a reporter called me and I was put in a very different position. I could either deny what I said in private conversation, and thus lie, or I could fess up to the truth, or, I could take the cowards way out and stand mute. If I say something, I should either have the courage to back it up, or I shouldn’t open my mouth. Regardless it was too late, and I did not choose to lie. So I admitted to what I had said. However, I later received two calls from two different aides of yours, and later I was called a liar in the press. I am not a liar and I want an apology for the remarks you authorized that I didn’t tell the truth about our conversation. I don’t know how you got yourself awarded the purple hearts, but I know you indicated you didn’t earn them.



By the way. I’m not an ingrate. I deeply appreciate the help you gave me for the last governor’s primary. In fact, out of respect for you, when I realized that the race was going no where, I didn’t even cash the check you sent, (which I kept). Being grateful for your help, I have not sought to hurt you - but I will not betray or exploit the young men who died while fighting, with me, for this country. Never coming forward is one thing - I never have. Lying is another. Coincidentally I just settled an 11-year old law suit with Barbara Hafer where she apologized in writing for campaign defamation and admitted that federal agents (Thornburgh’s political friends) lied to her. I will not accept your falsehoods now. Enough is enough.



You clearly indicated to me in a moment of weakness, that you hadn’t deserved the purple hearts and there was no confusion on that. You may deny that all you wish - but you and I know that that conversation took place. Please apologize now. You may fool a few reporters into believing that merely because you got some perfunctory paperwork made out by a friend, that that means you earned the purple hearts. But even if you were awarded the medals later, there should be affidavits from witnesses. These things should be easy to get - where are they? I bet they don’t exist Jack because you are the one who’s lying. Luckily there’s one easy way to settle all this. Call a press conference. Explain where you were and what you were doing when you got the purple hearts. Explain who was with you and treated your wounds, but most important Jack describe your wounds or the lack thereof, as you did for me, years ago. I am absolutely certain that you won’t do that - because, though you may have manipulated some paperwork that says you were awarded the medals (for political purposes) you can’t produce the witnesses or documents to show any wounds or circumstances under which they occurred.Unless the Marine Corps gives out medals for unsubstantiated non -combat related telltale scratches, procured for use in political campaign - then show me the money Jack - because there should at least be evidence by affidavit, or record of the scratches, that’s what getting a purple heart requires - show me.



You may be able to take advantage of a few Washington reporters who don’t have sufficient experience to understand - but you can’t fool combat veterans of the Vietnam war by hiding behind “Unit” losses - we’re used to those stories. I have my orders describing my combat awards Jack - to back up my DD-214. Where’s your’s? And Jack - don’t ever call me a liar.

Sincerely,

Don Bailey

[Rodeo]

That's the same as you falsely putting words in Murtha's mouth.

Maybe he's "kidding" also.

[fastpat]

Originally posted by lendaddy
How about this?:

May 5, 2002

Dear Jack,



I’m writing on matters of joint concern. A number of weeks ago I was talking with someone who is a mutual acquaintance and your name came up.

More "Swift Boat" disinformation from the Republican Party, figures.

[cool_chick]

Originally posted by the
It's been the worst kept secret in Washington for many years.

Murtha is a fine man. The best politician money can buy.

I thought he turned it down, which would mean no one bought him......

[fintstone]

He did not turn it down, only postponed the decision. Perhaps he wanted more, was afraid of getting caught, or was already bought and paid for by someone else....we will never know. All we really know for sure is that he did not turn it down. An honest man would have.

[cool_chick]

There are no "honest man" in politics, fint.