I cannot possibly post this in Great Debates because I’m so angry, so instead, my first Pit thread. The most junior member of the House decided to imply that Rep. Jack Murtha, a thirty-odd year veteran of the Marines and Vietnam veretan, is a coward. Some soccer mom who only got her seat after the incumbant was snatched away by GWB for some other post, barely winning a Primary and then squeaking by a Democratic veteran despite living in one of the most Republican areas of the country dares insult someone who has two Purple Hearts and who makes regular visits to the Walter Reed Army Hospital to check on sick vets. When was the last time Schmidt visited a veteran in a military hospital?
It is surreal to me that the Republicans have been so successful in smearing those who view their warmongering ways with contempt are written off as cowards no matter how many years they have served to protect this country. This is just a continuation of how war veteran John Kerry was called a coward by war-dodging GWB. Criticism of the administration = unpatriotic. Yeah, that’s what this country is about…
At least GWB was in the middle of an election when he drew that line in he sand. What this very temporary Representative did was complete bullshit, violating House debate rules so badly she called for self-censure. Even other Repubs have said “I don’t think she knew Murtha served in the Marines.” You think?!?!?
This all is a continuation of the Neocons “you’re either with us or a traitor” philosophy that started immediately after 9/11. It’s McCathy all over again. No amount of logic will penetrate the Neocon minds about how calling someone like Murtha a coward is at best incorrect and at worst partican pandering, but even worse, there are wool-dyed Republicans thinking she is perfectly correct.
Yeah, that’s what’s worse here. Schmidt will go away as she probably won’t even win her own Primary for a full term in 2006. The moronic dittohead Righties who blindly blog everything the Neocons say - no matter how unethical, how stupid, and even factually wrong it is - not only don’t go away but they are breeding, apparently.
Two funny things to add about Jean Schmidt’s remarks. First, the Marine that she tried to use as a cover for her smear was really a right-wing operative who apparently happens to have been in the Marines at some point in the past.
Also, the Al Franken Show reported that in her first House speech, Schmidt made a vow to avoid engaging in personal or character attacks, which she felt did harm to the House.
The willingness of many on the right to lie and generally be asses is truly breathtaking to see. The oughtta make the stupid bitch an honorary Swift Boat Veteran for Lies.
I grew up in Murtha’s district (in fact his family home is about a mile away from my parent’s house), and the fact is, he is well enough thought of there that (until now at least) he’s pretty much guaranteed a position as Congressman for Life for the 12th district.
OK, a lot of that is down to his being percieved as being very good at finding ways to steer military funds to the district, but I’ll be a bit surprised if this attempted smear gets much traction with his constituents.
This is one of the most reprehensible episodes of a reprehensible era in American government. She should be recalled faster than you can say Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Adding insult to, er, further insult, did you see that horrible Stars and Stripes Forever outfit she was wearing when she starting throwing around the word “coward?”
I would love to see what happens the next time Danny Bubp is in a room full of marines! Danny Bubh
Military Service :
1978 - Commissioned as Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps
1978-Present - Continues to serve in United States Marine Corps Reserve as a Colonel of Marines
1997-Present - Serves on the staff at the National Defense University, Washington, D.C. as Team Leader for the Reserve Component National Security Course
2003 - Graduate of Naval War College, Newport, Rhode Island
2003 - Served on the J-3 Staff at United States Central Command, Tampa, Florida for General Tommy Franks in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom
Personal Military Awards and Decorations :
Joint Service Commendation Medal
Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal
Army Commendation Medal John Murtha
He learned about military service from the bottom up, beginning as a raw recruit when he left Washington and Jefferson College in 1952 to join the Marines out of a growing sense of obligation to his country during the Korean War. There he earned the American Spirit Honor Medal, awarded to fewer than one in 10,000 recruits. He rose through the ranks to become a drill instructor at Parris Island and was selected for Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia. He then was assigned to the Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. In 1959, Captain Murtha took command of the 34th Special Infantry Company, Marine Corps Reserves, in Johnstown. He remained in the Reserves after his discharge from active duty until he volunteered for Vietnam in 1966-67, receiving the Bronze Star with Combat “V”, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He remained in the Reserves until his retirement. This first-hand knowledge of military and defense issues has made him a trusted adviser to presidents of both parties and one of the most effective advocates for the national defense in Washington. At the request of Presidents and Speakers of the House, he served as chairman of delegations monitoring elections in the Philippines, El Salvador, Panama and Bosnia.
He was awarded the Navy Distinguished Service Medal by the Marine Corps Commandant when he retired from the Marines.
G/Sgt Murtha: BUB-PUH?! What the fuck kind of name is Bub-puh? You a typographical error, maggot?
Pvt Bubp:Sir! Yes I am a typographical error Sir!
G/Sgt Murtha: How does a fucken typo get into my Marine Corps, Bub-puh? Can you explain that?
Pvt Bubp:Sir! I volunteered Sir!
G/Sgt Murtha: *Great. Fucken great. A fucken Holy Joe maggot typographical error with a faggot haircut. WELL I AM GONNA HANG YOUR MALODOROUS BROWN-NOSING ASS FROM THE FLAGPOLE WHILE I PT THE LIVING SHIT OUT OF THE REST OF THIS PLATOON, BUB-PUH! AND MAYBE WHILE YOU’RE UP THERE YOU CAN DREAM A NICE WET DREAM ABOUT THAT WRINKLEDY, DESSICATED PRAYING MANTIS PIECE OF ASS OF YOURS WHO HAS THE EFFRONTERY TO CALL HERSELF A MEMBER OF THE UNITES STATES CONGRESS!!1!
Pvt Bubp: Sir! Yessir!
G/Sgt Murtha: And while you’re at it, think up a new name I can call you. I ain’t about to go around all day saying Bub-puh. YOU GOT THAT SHITBIRD?!??
Apparently, this piece of… work… was also quoted as saying:
“Islamic insurgents want to destroy us. They don’t like us because… we’re not Islamic. We can never be Islamic because we were not born Islamic.”
Is she honestly ignorant of the fact that Muslims (um, not Islamics or Islamists or whatever other erroneous term the, gentle-douchebag from Ohio might use) happily accept converts?
Oh man… And now it seems that her source is not only a shill, but he was a lawyer whose main pro-bono work was “was to fight the removal of Ten Commandment monuments from public grounds”. The link has the story and the smearing schmuck and the bitch accepting something called the “Ten Commandments Leadership Award.” She’s probably for the teaching of ID in schools too…
Gentlemen:
Be advised that I will be forwarding you a bill for the cost of drugs required to remove that image from my memory. Failure to remit will necessitate action by my attorneys, the firm of Dewey, Green and Gelding, whose reputation for rapacity is the stuff of legend.
You know, I should pony up the $14.95 just because if I don’t, I cannot read shit like this and reply. However, I now need a new monitor and keyboard, further stressing my ability to come up with the dough, so this is assuredly a mixed emotion for me…