# To the U.S. Navy - the USS John P. Murtha is going way too far. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [April 15, 2010, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219 "2010-04-15T15:42:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/21 "2010-04-15T17:09:07Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > I sense a new trend. > > Headline in 2025: “US Navy dispatches Titty Fuck, Dirty Sanchez to Persian Gulf” Gotta be a way to fit “USS Teabagger” in there somewhere. Or “USS Cleveland Steams to Venezuela”. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/22 "2010-04-15T17:12:20Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > I think the OP is exaggerating the break with tradition that this represents. I thought my OP made clear that this was very much tradition (I mentioned the _Carl Vinson_ and _Stennis_) - but that it is time to rein it in. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/23 "2010-04-15T17:15:57Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Reagan was a two term President of the United States. If you’re going to name a U.S. Navy ship after a person, it’s hard to think of a BETTER choice. > > Seriously, John Murtha, whatever you think of his personal politics, is not one of the 500 most important Americans you could name a warship after. He might not be in the top thousand. Maybe to you. But don’t you see how people, currently in the armed forces, who were very recently funneled dumptrucks full of money by Murtha might feel differently? -Joe ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/24 "2010-04-15T17:15:57Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Reagan was a two term President of the United States. If you’re going to name a U.S. Navy ship after a person, it’s hard to think of a BETTER choice. How about anybody or anything who didn’t commit treason? > [@](#): > > Seriously, John Murtha, whatever you think of his personal politics, is not one of the 500 most important Americans you could name a warship after. He might not be in the top thousand. I don’t think there really are that many who don’t already have ships named after them, but Ronald Reagan was even less suitable an option than Murtha. I’m indifferent one way or the other, though. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/25 "2010-04-15T17:20:22Z")
Why not sell the naming rights to corporate sponsors? It could be some nice revenue for the military. USS Google? USS Doritos? It could work. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/26 "2010-04-15T17:21:19Z")
> [@Mr. Moto](#): > > I thought my OP made clear that this was very much tradition (I mentioned the Carl Vinson and Stennis) - but that it is time to rein it in. Well, if this particular decision is in line with tradition, I don’t see why you’d consider it as “going way too far”. Like I said, I don’t see that naming this ship after John Murtha is in any way more “absurd” than naming a submarine after L. Mendel Rivers in the 70’s. As you note, the Navy’s been naming vessels after political patrons for quite a while now; I don’t think anyone’s going to seriously consider abandoning that tradition. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Moto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de0a6/32.png) [@Mr.Moto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Moto)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/27 "2010-04-15T17:32:01Z")
> [@Kiber](#): > > Here are some other US Navy ships named after people. How many of these meet the Ops criteria? > > A1C William H. Pitsenbarger > Abraham Lincoln > Admiral W.M. Callaghan > Alan Shepard > Albert David > Albert J. Myer > Alexander Hamilton > Alfred A. Cunningham > Allen M. Sumner > Amelia Earhart > Andrew J. Higgins > Andrew Jackson > Arleigh Burke > Arnold J. Isbell > Arthur L. Bristol > Arthur W. Radford > Aubrey Fitch > > OK - those are just the ones beginning with “A” - but you get the idea. I think some people might quibble with the USS Andrew Jackson for various historical reasons. I will note that this ship has been decommissioned for some time. The rest are perfectly defensible - they are military or national leaders and heroes. No real controversies in that list. ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/28 "2010-04-15T17:37:48Z")
I’d like to see: USS Buttafuoco USS The Situation USS Lewinsky ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/29 "2010-04-15T17:38:17Z")
Murtha is both a military figure and a national leader. What’s the problem? ---
**Author:** ![MOIDALIZE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@MOIDALIZE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MOIDALIZE)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/30 "2010-04-15T17:40:05Z")
I was going to seriously suggest James Stockdale, but Wikipedia says he recently had a guided missile destroyer named after him. Here’s a good quote from Stockdale for today: > [@](#): > > This is a very important lesson. You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be. ---
**Author:** ![Kimstu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ecd19e/32.png) [@Kimstu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimstu)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/31 "2010-04-15T17:42:03Z")
Murtha was a politician rather than a career servicemember, although he did serve in the military. I don’t think there’s any question that this decision would be acknowledging his patronage of and support for the Navy while in political office, rather than his military service _per se_. ---
**Author:** ![Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e99b99/32.png) [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diogenes_the_Cynic)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/32 "2010-04-15T17:49:35Z")
> [@Kimstu](#): > > Murtha was a politician rather than a career servicemember, although he did serve in the military. I don’t think there’s any question that this decision would be acknowledging his patronage of and support for the Navy while in political office, rather than his military service _per se_. He served in the Marines for almost 40 years. If that’s not career, I don’t know what is. He also served in Vietnam and received a Bronze Star and two Purple Hearts. He didn’t just give some token service. He was hardcore. He was also the first Vietnam Vet elected to the House of Representatives, by the way, which is a unique distinction all by itself. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/33 "2010-04-15T17:50:14Z")
Which would a sailor rather have a tattoo of? John P. Murtha or a Titty Fuck? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/34 "2010-04-15T18:02:22Z")
> [@Mr.Moto](#): > > It is 684 feet long, carries a crew of 365 officers and enlisted Cool! Do they each get to run the ship one day a year? > [@DtC](#): > > USS Google? USS Doritos? It could work. “Where’s the Google?” “We can’t find it, sir!” “Contact the Bing!” ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/35 "2010-04-15T18:08:50Z")
I’m against it. Not because of the person - I’m not entirely sure who Murtha was - but because it lacks poetry. Ships should have names that are fundamentally cool. “Constitution” - that’s a good name for a ship. So are “Monitor”, “Hornet” and “Enterprise.” “Murtha”, though… the thing about a ship’s name is that it’s also the “team name” of its crew. Who the hell wants to be a member of Team Murtha? ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/36 "2010-04-15T18:10:39Z")
> [@42fish](#): > > I sense a new trend. > > Headline in 2025: “US Navy dispatches Titty Fuck, Dirty Sanchez to Persian Gulf” This sounds like a true American spin on the British tradition of putting glorious or intimidating names on warships. I think we can make a British-to-American translation of ship names: HMS Illustrious = USS Titty Fuck HMS Triumph = USS Dirty Sanchez HMS Archer = USS Get R Done HMS Dauntless = USS Can o’ Whoop Ass HMS Invincible = USS America… Fuck Yeah ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/37 "2010-04-15T18:11:29Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’m against it. Not because of the person - I’m not entu\irely sure who Murtha was - but because it lacks poetry. Ships should have names that are fundamentally cool. “Constitution” - that’s a good name for a ship. So are “Monitor”, “Hornet” and “Enterprise.” “Murtha”, though… the thing about a ship’s name is that it’s also the “team name” of its crew. Who the hell wants to be a member of Team Murtha? I don’t know, it might be kind of fun to say “We’re going to berth the Murtha”. ---
**Author:** ![Terraplane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@Terraplane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terraplane)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/38 "2010-04-15T18:20:55Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > I’m against it. Not because of the person - I’m not entu\irely sure who Murtha was - but because it lacks poetry. Ships should have names that are fundamentally cool. “Constitution” - that’s a good name for a ship. So are “Monitor”, “Hornet” and “Enterprise.” “Murtha”, though… the thing about a ship’s name is that it’s also the “team name” of its crew. Who the hell wants to be a member of Team Murtha? Even worse is when they use the full name with initials. USS Murtha isn’t a great name but I like it better than USS John P. Murtha. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/39 "2010-04-15T18:23:49Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Why not sell the naming rights to corporate sponsors? It could be some nice revenue for the military. > > USS Google? USS Doritos? It could work. This is the best idea you have ever had. I anxiously await the launch of the LCS _[GoDaddy.com](http://GoDaddy.com)_. Plus I could totally see an aircraft carrier named USS Just Do It, or a cruiser named USS Must-See TV. ---
**Author:** ![jonesj2205](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ecc23a/32.png) [@jonesj2205](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonesj2205)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2010, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219/40 "2010-04-15T18:26:44Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > Why not sell the naming rights to corporate sponsors? It could be some nice revenue for the military. > > USS Google? USS Doritos? It could work. You know that’s not the worst idea ever, but you’re thinking too small. A ship steaming out of the harbor should look like NASCAR starting line. Tide, Viagra, Godaddy, Pepsi, Coke, have them all plastered on there. Naming rights to the biggest sponsor. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/to-the-u-s-navy-the-uss-john-p-murtha-is-going-way-too-far/536219.md?page=3)