That was better than Mr Smith Goes to Washington!

The Repukes tried to pull a cute trick, but I believe the Dems turned it around and got the better of them. Murtha was GREAT! The rest of the Dems got a lot of good debate in.

I guess it all depends on how the Whoreporate Media spins it, though.

In the meantime, GREAT JOB, DEMS!!!!
:patriot:

play fair with the truth...

Murtha got a ton of air time today and tonight between CNN and MSNBC - didn't check Faux, last time I did I thought I was going crazy - but the fact that he got the time shows that the media is paying attention to this issue - usually in the past I have found that when it's something somewhat unpleasant (like finding out Halliburton grossly overcharged and "misplaced" government money) there is hardly a peep.

:sarcasm:

:eyes:

This was absolutely the best thing since Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and it is definitely going to "blow back" on the Republicans. This is going to be their Joseph Welch / Joe McCarthy "have you no shame moment". It was transparent and they vastly underestimated Colonel Murtha's debating skills as anyone who watched immediately understood what type of dirty underhanded trick they were trying to pull and got to watch the Colonel kick ass and take Republican names tonight.

If you really want to thank Colonel Murtha (and I recommend we all refer to him that way exclusively from now on as he has certainly earned it tonight) please be sure to donate generously to his reelection campaign and do it soon in a way that will get national media attention.

I also recommend that everyone of you writes a letter to the editor or to the networks expressing your outrage at the Republicans for this evil effort of theirs to try to discredit this very creditable man among men.

Below is the letter I've sent to the Orlando Sentinel, the Miami Herald, the Washington Post, the New York Times, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, CNN, Congressman Keller (R-FL), Senator Nelson (D-FL), Senator Martinez (R-FL), and Senator Kerry (D-MA):

Thanks,
Douglas J. De Clue
Orlando, FL

Dear Editors:

"If we are going to continue to be proud that we are Americans, there must be no weakening of the code by which we have lived; by the right to meet your accuser face to face, if you have one; by your right to go to the church or the synagogue or even the mosque of your own choosing; by your right to speak your mind and be protected in it." - President Dwight D. Eisenhower, November 23rd, 1953.

United States Congressman Jack Murtha of Pennsylvania finally spoke his mind yesterday about the war in Iraq. And war is a subject he knows a great deal about, for you see, Congressman Murtha is also retired Marine Corps Colonel and Vietnam Veteran Jack Murtha who earned a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts in the service of his country.

Of course the Bush administration, which was already in political free fall, immediately went to the same old tired counterpunch mode of trying to accuse, attack, and smear Colonel Murtha as they have done previously against the likes of Commander John McCain, and Lieutenant John Kerry who also served their country with great distinction in the Vietnam War, another unpopular, ill conceived, and deceptively sold war, in which both President Bush and Vice President Cheney went to great lengths to avoid having to serve.

"In this country, if someone dislikes you, or accuses you, he must come up in front. He cannot hide behind the shadow. He cannot assassinate you or your character from behind, without suffering the penalties an outraged citizenry will impose." - President Dwight D. Eisenhower, November 23rd, 1953.

We the People must finally hold President Bush to account for his repeated and shameless character and patriotism attacks on anyone of conscience who dares to stand up to him and speak truth to power. We the People must finally stand up and say with one voice "enough Mr. President, have you no shame?" and demand an apology.

Respectfully,

Douglas J. De Clue
Orlando, FL

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

I'm not totally new here though, just an infrequent poster. I posted several times last year and a few times this year too.

P.S. How do you get those teeny tiny beers away from those smiley face guys? :)

Doug D.
Orlando, FL

Continuing the same behavior and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. “Staying the course” in Iraq is not a policy, it is insanity.

Although I used to agree with Senator Kerry and General Wes Clark and thought both of them had reasonable plans for eventual withdrawal from Iraq, eventually I came to the same conclusion that Colonel Murtha has: the vast majority of Iraqis see US troops as occupiers, and our very presence there is making the problem worse not better. I do not believe we should abandon Iraq as the sham Republican resolution suggested, and neither does Colonel Murtha or anyone calling for withdrawal “as soon as practicable.“

Senator Kerry has pointed out repeatedly that there are other countries that have offered their help in training Iraqi forces, but the Bush Administration turned down the offers. We should accept their offers, and we should let an International Body take over our efforts. Other nations will accept, because they will realize it will be in everyone’s best interests. We should redeploy our troops in a support position, as Colonel Murtha has suggested.

As Colonel Murtha has repeatedly said, we cannot win this war militarily, we must win it politically and diplomatically. Colonel Murtha has a reputation as a “hawk”, and he is very close to high-ranking members of the Military and the Pentagon who will tell him things privately that they will not say publicly. When he makes a statement like this, we should all listen very carefully.

At the very least, we should ask this Administration and Republicans what they mean when they use rhetoric like “we will withdraw when we have victory” or “when the Iraqis stand up we will stand down.” What do they mean by “victory?” How will we know when the Iraqis “stand up?” Personally, from listening to the rhetoric and comments from this administration and considering that they are building 14 permanent military bases in Iraq, I do not believe they intend to withdraw, ever.

The American People deserve a plan, and we deserve some accountability from our leaders. Our brave men and women in uniform deserve a plan. Stop using our troops as cannon fodder- or more correctly, IED fodder.

I stand with Colonel Murtha, because he stands with our troops.