Think Progress

Murtha’s empty “threat.”

By Nico Pitney on May 23rd, 2007 at 3:45 pm

Murtha’s empty “threat.”

Conservatives are having a conniption fit over Rep. John Murtha’s (D-PA) admittedly rash statement to Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI) that “you will not get any earmarks now and forever.” A fact virtually never mentioned in press accounts: it’s an empty threat. Murtha has no control over Roger’s earmarks.

Never mind that Murtha’s threat was hollow: By tacit agreement between the parties, Murtha controls only the Democratic earmarks and lets the ranking Republican on the committee, Bill Young of Florida, handle GOP earmarks. A seething Rogers returned to the House floor on Monday night to introduce a resolution declaring Murtha guilty of an ethics violation.



44 Responses to “Murtha’s empty “threat.””

  1. Exley says:

    “Rep. John Murtha’s (D-PA) admittedly rash statement to Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI)”

    Good for ThinkProgress for calling Murtha out on his sleazy attempt at intimidation, despite his status as a Democrat. I’m impressed. Well done.


  2. lunacy says:

    What a waste of space… this is only 1 day old… should probably have read more before posting this ‘old news’.

    http://rawstory.com/news/2007/Dems_defend_Murtha_in_ethics_dispute_0523.html


  3. Zooey says:

    #1 – Exley

    Look up “disingenuous” and you’ll find a picture of yourself.


  4. Jimbo DUDE says:

    LISTEN DUDES/DUDETTES

    NOW AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED WE ARE DEALING WITH A
    DO NOTHING DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS AND MURTHA HAS A
    HISTORY I BELIEVE AS A CONVICTED SWINDLER CAUGHT
    RED HANDED

    CORRUPT I SAY
    TOTALLY FRIGGIN CORRUPT
    FOR ALL THE WONDERFUL SERVICES WE ALL GET AND DESPERATELY NEED
    YET YOU FRIGGIN CAN’T GET THEM
    WHITE HOUSE
    CRONYS + TOTALLY CORRUPT
    DEPT OF JUSTICE
    FAST SMOOTH TALKING SWINDLERS :) = CORRUPT
    DEPT OF DEFENSE
    2 FRIGGIN YEARS AMERICAN PEOPLE WANT OUT = TOTALLY CORRUPT
    CONGRESS/SENATE
    A COMPLETE DISASTER… =
    WHEELING + DEALING
    DRACULA DOMINATED

    YA SCRATCH/SMOOZE WITH ME AND
    I OWN A PRIVATE ISLAND AND I GOT A PRIVATE YACHT
    LIKE…. LETS MAKE A DEAL :)

    FRIGGIN
    TOTALLY
    CORRUPT


  5. Jimbo DUDE says:

    OH AND THE LAST COMMENT I MADE

    THAT’S EXACTLY THE HISTORY OF MURTHA :)

    LOTS OF SMOOZING

    SWINDLERS I SAY
    LITERALLY HIGH CLASS HOODLUMS


  6. CONservative says:

    Look up “disingenuous” and you’ll find a picture of yourself.

    Comment by Zooey — May 23, 2007 @ 3:54 pm

    I think Webster’s has a whole dicitonary dedicated solely to ‘disingenuous’, reason being one would find thousands of pages of Republics and their suck-ups/apologists/propaganda pushers/Kool-Aid swillers.


  7. Pops in Dunwoody says:

    That’s all the Repubs have to do now ,is whine about how they are being mistreated in the House and Senate!
    I wish someone would post a list of the crap, that Delay and his little pitbulls pulled since “94! Then every timeone of these halfwit congress men/women whine, shove the list back in their face!


  8. pee wee says:

    JimboDude,
    How about a little background on Murthas Conviction as a Swindler,I haven’t heard that!


  9. PatrioticLiberalChristian(PLC) says:

    Does anyone know what the exchange rate is for converting Democratic rash statements to Republican rash actions?


  10. CONservative says:

    Comment by Jimbo DUDE

    Dude, how bout makin some sense?? Your posts always appear to be long and rambling and if there’s a point at all it gets lost in the blah blah blah. Get to the point and post already!


  11. squegeebooo says:

    By tacit agreement between the parties, Murtha controls only the Democratic earmarks and lets the ranking Republican on the committee, Bill Young of Florida, handle GOP earmarks

    By the same token, couldn’t the D’s decide the Murtha controls all of it from now on? Or Murtha could just do it on his own. It would take a while for his leadership to call him to task on it me thinks.


  12. Shlom o says:

    Dear Mr. Murtha,

    About time don’t ya think? Thank you for telling the Republicans where to shove it. Now, be real man and start the impeachment process or GW and DeadEye.


  13. Jimbo DUDE says:

    NOW LISTEN DUDE….

    AS FAR AS I’M CONCERNED RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A DO NOTHING CONGRESS
    THAT HAVE BETRAYED THE AMERICAN PEOPLE IN JUST 6 FRIGGIN SHORT MONTHS.

    THESE WAR LORD HOODLUMS WHICH IN REALITY ARE CRIMINALS IMPEACHMENT IS OFF THE TABLE, FREEZER BILLY WITH HIS $100,000 FREEZER, DELAY, GONZALES, ON + ON

    WE ARE DEALING WITH HIGH CLASS HOODLUMS, CRIMINALS,

    THE WHITE HOUSE IS SUPPOSE TO BE THE MOST SACRED HOUSE IN THE LAND AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL, THE DEPT OF JUSTICE IS SUPPOSE TO BE ALL
    MIGHTY IMPECCIBLE TRUTH, SENATE + CONGRESS ARE SUPPOSE TO SERVE
    THE PEOPLE

    INSTEAD WE ARE DEALING WITH A BUNCH OF FAST, SMOOTH TALKING HOODLUMS/SWINDLERS THAT BELONG IN THE SLAMMER :)

    OH NO COULDN’T DO THAT… THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED DUDE RIGGED… DRACULA IS PREPARING WRITTEN LEGISLATION OF LOBBYISTS AND AT THE WEE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING WHEN CHECKS ARE CHANGING HANDS
    AT 2 – 3 AM AND JUST FOR A VOTE YOU GET A TRIP TO MY PRIVATE ISLAND, OR A YACHT, OR A LAND DEAL

    IT’S SO FRIGGIN CORRUPT DUDE, IT’S ENOUGH TO PU.. NO INSTEAD THROW ALL THESE DOG GONE SWINDLERS IN THE SLAMMER DUDE :)


  14. Exley says:

    Hey Zooey,

    Don’t take your embarassment that your boy Murtha was caught in such a sleazy display out on me. Direct your anger at the right person — Murtha.


  15. numfar says:

    Rogers’ my representative. Folks here are slowly realizing he’s a douche.


  16. jackjett says:

    Those pervy repubs can dish it out but they can’t take it can they.

    Such overwhelming wussies.

    I have never seen such a group of evil and unhappy folks.

    LONG LIVE MURTHA…FOR HE IS THE MAN!

    JACK E. JETT


  17. Republicans are the Fear and Smear Party says:

    Big deal. If this is the best distraction from their support of their war that republicans can come up with then they’d better revel in it.


  18. squegeebooo says:

    Exley
    Don’t take your embarassment that your boy Murtha was caught in such a sleazy display out on me. Direct your anger at the right person — Murtha.

    Dude, you did that all wrong, heres what you should have gone with:

    Zooey
    Look up “disingenuous” and you’ll find a picture of yourself.
    So I looked up ‘disingenuous’, and I didn’t find myself, so I find you, and your statement to be rather “disingenuous”

    Basic Trolling 101, come on people, shape up.


  19. Jimbo DUDE says:

    NOW JUST SO EVERYONE KNOWS, OF COURSE I’M JUST BEING HUMOROUS
    ABOUT SWINDLERS/HOODLUMS….

    BUT IN REALITY WE ARE REALLY SEEING A LOT OF CORRUPTION AND NO
    FRIGGIN WAY IS THIS SERVICE TO THE PEOPLE, IT’S FRIGGIN TOTALLY
    CORRUPTED

    TRUTH, ROCK SOLID INTEGRITY DOESN’T EVEN MATTER… IT’S ALL ABOUT
    POWER AND CHALLENGING THE CONSTITUTION LITERALLY AS FAR AS THEY
    CAN GO. AND SERVING THE PEOPLE…. TELL ME ONE REALLY MEANINGFUL
    SERVICE YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM ALL ARE WONDERFULLY CARESSED
    PUBLIC SERVANTS? THE BEST I CAN MAKE OF IT, THEY GO THE OPPOSITE WAY… JUST TAKE NEW ORLEANS OR MEDICAL CARE AT THE WORLD TRADE CENTER OR A TOTALLY UNCONSTIUTIONAL FRIGGIN 6 YEARS IN IRAQ

    DUDE/DUDETTES I GOT FAR FAR SUPERIOR SERVICE FROM A 2′ND/3′RD RATE RESTRAUNT CALLED MCDONALD’S THAN FROM THE HIGHEST CLASS SERVICES OF ARE SO CALLED PUBLIC SERVANTS. CAN’T EVEN PASS MIN. WAGE WITHOUT WHEELING/DEALING. IT’S SO DOG GONE CORRUPT, IT’S ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU….. YOU CAN’T DO NOTHING DUDE, IT’S RIGGED DUDE RIGGED


  20. squegeebooo says:

    Jimbo DUDE

    Dude, far left of the keyboard, about halfway up, you got this button, labeled ‘Caps Lock’ you may want to tap it once.


  21. Not Canadian Yet says:

    Seems like a very MINOR violation. NOTHING like lying a nation into an needless war.

    But have at it Pukes, it’s the ONLY THING you’ve got to celebrate.


  22. Jim C says:

    The republicans are far more corrupt overall and need to be ashamed of the entire party. However, Murtha appears to be as big part of the corruption problem as anyone. He has stonewalled on lobbying reform and other ethics issues. It’s part of an abusive pattern and it shouldn’t be acceptable on the left either. Murtha really needs to go as he still believes in politics as usual.


  23. Lily says:

    Can anyone explain why this was brought up during the Goodling hearing?


  24. Zooey says:

    Hey Zooey,
    Don’t take your embarassment that your boy Murtha was caught in such a sleazy display out on me. Direct your anger at the right person — Murtha.
    Comment by Exley

    No anger here, Exley. Don’t take out your embarrassment on being called out for being disingenuous on me.


  25. Exley says:

    squegeebooo,

    Nah, I don’t want to get into a big back-and-forth with Zooey today. I realize she is not mad at me…

    She is frustrated with her Democratic Congress and she just happened to lash out at the nearest target. She is frustrated that the Democrats suffered a wrenching defeat at President Bush’s hands when they dropped the timelines and agreed to continue funding the war with Dubya ceding none of his war-powers. And now she is frustrated to see that Murtha is a sleazy and corrupt wheeler-dealer. I mean, even TP called Murtha out on his tactics.


  26. Zooey says:

    Zooey
    Look up “disingenuous” and you’ll find a picture of yourself.
    So I looked up ‘disingenuous’, and I didn’t find myself, so I find you, and your statement to be rather “disingenuous”
    Comment by squegeebooo

    Not you, baby — Exley.

    Do try to keep up….


  27. WaltTheMan says:

    Murtha has built a reputation as our uniformed forces’ representative. This scares the bejesus out of the conservative camp as the conservatives are trying their best to be the sole support organization for our men in uniform. Conservatives tend to honor our women in uniform only when they can be used (Jessica Lynch) or vilify them (Lynndie England) in order to deflect crimes created by their superiors from the public eye, otherwise, they are ignored.


  28. squegeebooo says:

    Zooey
    Not you, baby — Exley.

    Do try to keep up….

    I was keeping up, I was showing Exley how he should have responded.


  29. Exley says:

    “No anger here, Exley.”

    I know, Zooey. That’s why I wrote, “I realize she is not mad at me…”

    I am QUITE discerning, you know!


  30. Jimbo DUDE says:

    #20 … dude it’s called taking a chill pill dude. see i don’t down
    nothing intoxicating nor do i smoke up anything, i am just
    naturally ultimate coolness dude, with a history of being so
    ultimate cool, i blow everyone a way dude.

    now as stated dude…. i’m chillin dude, taking that chill pill dude.

    after hearing last night not only is impeachment off the table, but
    the swindlers gave bush a blank check, i have lost every friggin
    bit of trust from these totally corrupted 110th and bush is literally
    be given the go ahead to wage on as a war criminal. guess pelosi
    did a great job choosing murtha, dracula is in the works and it will
    just be the same repeat with the 110th as with the 109, infact lately
    it looks like this pattern has been going on since reagan, nixon, oh
    no…. corruption been going on DUDE for over 100 years dude

    AND I STAND STRONG ON WHAT I SAID…. I GET FAR SUPERIOR
    SERVICE AT MCDONALDS than the grease pits this so called
    high class service the people swindle dude, it’s just one
    scandal after the next dude


  31. squegeebooo says:

    Jimbo DUDE
    I GET FAR SUPERIOR SERVICE AT MCDONALDS

    Yah, dude, cause you have the option of not going to McDonalds, not so much of an option when it comes to the Feds, they get your money regardless.


  32. Zooey says:

    I know, Zooey. That’s why I wrote, “I realize she is not mad at me…”
    I am QUITE discerning, you know!
    Comment by Exley

    SHE is here. You don’t need to talk to Squeegy as if SHE is not here.

    Thanks.

    BTW, I posted my “no anger” comment before you posted your patronizing screed.

    You’re not quite so discerning as you might think….


  33. Jimbo DUDE says:

    exactly DUDE… that is why the american people should expect nothing
    less than impeccible service from our public servants, complete accountability.

    the best i can make of it dude, is the system is totally corrupted, literally
    high class hoodlums have sold out the people… as far as i’m concerned
    and everyone else should hold them fully responsible and if they act like
    criminals… there ain’t no immunity… off to the slammer :) we can start
    off with jefferson, bush, cheney, delay. santorum… there’s just too friggin many of them… so i’ll refer that to CREW.

    BUT I AM DEFINITELY holding strong that i receive FAR FAR superior service at Mcdonald’s which just happens to be literally a 3′rd rate quality food than i do than from highest house of the land…. listen as far as i’m concerned all these government services

    ARE A FRIGGIN SCAM.

    Yes… i can be my own fire department, i would be perfectly capable of
    defending myself, can grow my own food, cut my own firewood, build my
    own shelter…. but those days dudes/dudettes are long gone dude.

    Anyhow, nice to take a break from a busy schedule to do a little day dreaming there :)


  34. Bluedog49 says:

    Hold up here. When repubs were in charge, Dems couldn’t even get a frickin room in which to hold a meeting. Repubs would not even allow Dems to participate in the debate on certain legislation. Now repubs are whining about an empty threat. Give me a break.

    And, JIMBO, this will not be a surprise to anyone here, but you are full of crap. If Murtha committed a crime, the republican majority would have prosecuted him. They didn’t because he didn’t.


  35. Patrick1 says:

    As Pelosi said a year ago:

    “Democrats are leading the effort to turn the most closed, corrupt Congress in history into the most open and honest Congress in history,” Pelosi said. “The American people have been paying the cost for the Republican culture of corruption with a confusing, special-interest Medicare prescription drug program, higher gas prices at the pump, and skyrocketing home heating bills. Democrats will restore truth and trust to our government, and put the priorities of the American people first.”
    [...]
    “Republicans’ so-called lobby reform does almost nothing to address the ethical cloud that hangs over the Capitol,” Pelosi said. “Republicans don’t want real reform, because for more than 10 years they have benefited from their culture of corruption. Instead of seizing the opportunity today to enact real reform, Republicans once again put the special interests first, leaving the American people to pay for the Republican culture of corruption.”

    Hey Nance…what’s the status of that bill now that we’re in yours and Murtha’s and Jefferson’s house, exactly? Ahh, as I suspected – nothing has been done yet…good job getting all those Post Offices renamed though…I know I feel safer now.


  36. Exley says:

    #32, Zooey,

    Our two postings appeared about a minute apart. We are on the same wavelength…Like we said: No anger here.


  37. Patrick1 says:

    House Democratic leaders pushing a promised lobbying overhaul are facing resistance from balky lawmakers and fending off accusations that a prominent member is flouting new ethics rules.

    The Democratic leaders were forced to scrap a promise to double the current one-year lobbying ban after lawmakers leave office. Now, they are struggling to pass legislation requiring lobbyists to disclose the campaign contributions they “bundle” — collect and deliver — to lawmakers. Failing to deliver on both measures would endanger similar provisions already passed by the Senate.

    Other House rules changes this year appear to have done little to alter business as usual on Capitol Hill. House Democrats voted along party lines on Tuesday to block the censure of one of their most powerful members, Representative John P. Murtha of Pennsylvania. He was accused of violating a new ethics rule that prohibits lawmakers from swapping pork for votes.

    Still to come is a long-overdue report by a House committee considering the creation of an independent watchdog to monitor compliance with ethics rules. Democrats say the House is unlikely to endorse the idea, which the Senate has already rejected. . . . Some newly elected Democrats say they worry about potential perceptions that their party has failed to deliver its promised cleanup. “Many of the freshmen ran on a campaign of, as Speaker Pelosi would say, ‘draining the swamp,’ on ethics and ethics enforcement,” said Representative Ed Perlmutter, a first-term Colorado Democrat.

    Those promises to produce the most ethical Congress in history are looking lamer and lamer. I’m beginning to think they never meant it at all. . . .


  38. Jimbo DUDE says:

    #34… listen dude, I AM ULTIMATE COOLNESS DUDE and the real truth is
    i’m SO ULTIMATELY COOL, i happen to blow some people away, like you
    dude… that’s how i know i’ve overloaded someone with coolness dude :)
    when they tell me i’m full of crap, usually tells me my ultimate coolenss blew somebody away DUDE.

    now…. i’m back to hittin the chill pills dude, like dig man, I AM TOTALLY COOL dude


  39. Zooey says:

    Our two postings appeared about a minute apart. We are on the same wavelength…Like we said: No anger here.
    Comment by Exley

    We may both be anger-free, Exley, but we will never be on the same wavelength.

    Just sayin’


  40. Jimbo DUDE says:

    #35 oh, an a update to the scam of the 110th first 100 hours.

    do a search on every single one of those promises, they have not accompblished absolutely none. In fact the latest story about a week
    ago is lobbyist reform is totally dead and now they will stall it out until
    it dies.

    AS I STATED DUDE FAR FAR SUPERIOR SERVICE AT MCDONALDS

    DUDE……. THE 110TH HAS SOLD THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THEIR
    CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS OVER TO THE WAR LORDS and now the stage
    is set for dracula and what murtha has a history of, in fact every friggin
    one of them……. off to the slammer :)

    what i saying dude…. liar liar pants on fire and their ain’t nothin to put this fire out which the fire is the continuation as politics as usual – CORRUPT


  41. IraqVet says:

    Patrick1…

    Do YOU EVER think before you comment???

    Seriously, I would be willing to whoop your *ss just for GP!

    Are you UP for the challenge?


  42. Exley says:

    #39

    Zooey,

    Heh….Yeah…You’re probably right.


  43. beefeater says:

    An empty threat from an empty suit? Maybe Nancy knew what she was doing when she passed over Murtha for Hoyer. I called Nancy’s office to ask but they said she would be in Greenland for a week to watch ice melt, I’ll try back later.


  44. Mr. President says:

    YA SCRATCH/SMOOZE WITH ME AND
    I OWN A PRIVATE ISLAND AND I GOT A PRIVATE YACHT
    LIKE…. LETS MAKE A DEAL :)

    Comment by Jimbo DUDE — May 23, 2007 @ 3:55 pm

    Jimbo DUdE,

    this is the type of shit a like to see,

    KeEp up the good wOrk!

    Mr. F*cking President



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