Rep. John Murtha, D-Pa., stirred up an ethics storm for himself by threatening Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., on the House floor, promising to pay back Rogers for opposing a $23 million earmark for the National Drug Intelligence Center in Murtha’s district. Murtha’s alleged threat — to deny Rogers’ district any earmarked spending projects — would violate the new Democrat-backed House rules, and Rogers unsuccessfully sought a rebuke of Murtha over it on Wednesday. But that was Murtha’s second recent floor outburst. Earlier this month, he similarly went after Rep. Todd Tiahrt, R-Goddard, in a floor exchange blurrily recorded by C-SPAN and now viewable on YouTube.com and in a blistering anti-Murtha ad by the National Republican Congressional Committee. As the Hill newspaper described it, “Murtha vented his anger against Tiahrt for voting to kill NDIC by unleashing a loud, finger-jabbing, spittle-spraying piece of his mind”; his threat against Tiahrt involved pulling support for any Boeing deal involving new military refueling tankers.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., has defended Murtha’s reputation over the incidents, but they will test whether she and other Democratic leaders are serious about ethics reform.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
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40 Comments
Ethics? Congress? Politicians? Nah, those three words can’t be used in the same sentence. Who really cares if these clowns scream and threaten each other.
Politics as usual. You have to wonder how such arrogant jerks ever made it to such high office in the first place.
Where oh WHERE is the OUTRAGE on the Democratic Party side?
Remember that Murtha is the guy that was on video stating he would not take the bribe, … just yet. But he will consider it in thfuture.
“A loud, finger-jabbing, spittle-spraying piece of his mind.”
Sounds like some of our local WE Blog posters. ;)
Murtha does wander off into the weeds once in awhile, but those motivated to criticize him simply because he had a “D” next to his name need to review the videotape record for James Sensenbrenner [R-WI] and then report back. Can’t recall many conservatives telling him to dial it back a notch prior to 2007.
I am certainly no apologist for Tiahrt, but I have to agree that we have to stop behaving like we hate each other on Capitol Hill. It is OK to distrust the Bush Admin since they have proven time and time again that they are untrustworthy. I don’t recommend that the Democratic majority drop their guard or become push-overs. But we simply must restore civility on both sides of the aisle to political debate. As leaders of the Democratic Party, and of this country, we must remember that two wrongs do not make a right. We must establish a new ethical climate – as we have started to do – but we can’t fall off the wagon the first time somebody calls us a bad name, or a Republican Congressman starts foaming at the mouth.
“I don’t recommend that the Democratic majority drop their guard or become push-overs.”
Hey why stop now? The dems in congress are now bush enablers. It’s too late for them NOT to become pushovers.
And bush doesnt even have to foam at the mouth for the democrats to rush to wipe his little face and dry his little croc tears….
Pardon my ignorance of their “rules” but why is opposing ear marks an ethics violation? If others oppose Murtha’s earmarks, why cant he oppose earmarks in their districts?
Was his crime just saying it out loud? Exactly what ethics or rules has he violated. I’m sure the resident repukes here have the scoop.
I can’t imagine what you are talking about when you refer to the Democratic Party leaders in Congress being “Bush enablers”. You might be refering to the fact that a withdrawal deadline was dropped from the war funding bill, but the votes were not there to override a veto. Enacting a minimum wage bill for the first time in over a decade was a goal that also cannot be seen as “Bush enabling.” The real showdown on funding the Traq war will be in September.
Sorry to disagree kelly, but the democrats in congress folded like a cheap card table. Wonder why they are perceived as weak and spineless? Because they are.
And now they own the war too. They all serve the same masters, the military industrial complex. I do understand they didnt have the votes to override, but they had public support. For withdrawing funds, not just ending the war. If you want to play dualing polls, we can.
Yes, they’d have to take on dear leader, and they promised us in no uncertain terms that if elected they would. How’s that worked out so far? Let bush veto and veto and veto and veto. Make the repukes in congress support him and support him and support him.
Doing that wouldnt harm the troops any more than total capitulation will. NOW who’s playing politics with the lives of american troops?
Looks like ALL of washington. The dems just gave proof that they are all the same, dem and repub alike. They just switch jerseys once in a while, but the spectators are not fooled. The dems are dragging their feet on ANY meaningful change in American policy.
And if they think they can then blame the lack of progress on bush, they should all take poli sci 101 over. People voted for the dems for change. They arent even trying hard to change things. They are doing business as usuall and trying to brand it as change.
How’s THAT working?
Personally? I think the democrats thought we were too stupid to notice their slight of hand and the little pr dance that followed.
So… enabling bush’s war and his merry band of profiteers was worth passing the minimum wage bill? I dont think so, and I am pro organized labor and a strong advocate for increasing the minimum wage.
Hell, they’d rather take the heat on this funding issue than own up to the secret trade deal they just cut with bushco. A little bait and switch and a few bright and shiney objects to distract from the fact the dems are NOT delivering the change they promised.
Sorry kelly. Now the congressional dems have the blood of war on their hands too. I hate to admit it, but paulie rossell was correct.
If the dems cant stand up to bushco when the nation is BEHIND them, how can we expect them to stand up in any meaningful way on decisions that might be unpopular but correct?
A sad week for democrats. They really earned their “party of wimps” designation.
Oh yeah, and one more thing kelly…
“The real showdown on funding the Traq war will be in September.”
I certainly hope so. But how many troops will die in supporting the MIC before then?
Ya know, we’ve heard this shit before. From both sides of the aisle. Does anyone remember Charlie Brown and Lucy and the football?
How long do the democrats think that “we’ll get ‘em next time” meme is gonna fly? Not very long if there never is any “next time”.
Meet the new boss same as the old boss.
If you want a peek into the conflict between “DLC” democrats like kelly and other democrats who feel betrayed by congress, here’s a little linky.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389×978613
I love the comment that “Bush is swaggering because even if he cant beat the Iraqis, he can still beat the democrats like a rug.”
Your “WHO” reference (”same as the old boss”) was interesting, but the most salient aspect of your response was your cynicism – not that I can’t see your perspective – I just don’t agree that the new Congress has demonstrated any substantial rationale for such an epithet. I fully realize and appreciate your despair when asking “how many more will die by September”. I have been asking that question for 4 years. But 50% of the people who bothered to vote in this country decided to keep Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld and the military industrial complex in 2004, and even the national mandate in 2006 has not disuaded Bush/Cheney from their myopic vision of the Iraq War. Aren’t those voters – and those who didn’t vote – the proper place for some of this blame? I think you are guilty of the same myopia when you say it has become the “Democrats War” because they fielded good candidates and won the 2006 election, passed a funding bill with a deadline, forced Bush to veto it, forced a number of Republican apologists for Bush to vote to sustain the veto, and then instead passed the minimum wage when they knew they could not effect another result?
I’m sorry, but I think your cynicism is causing you prematurely to throw the baby out with the bath water. Time will tell, of course.
“A loud, finger-jabbing, spittle-spraying piece of his mind.”
No doubt the “phrase of the year” and it describes the foam-at-the-mouth Democrats perfectly.
I understand your perspective too kelly, and I have been saying for months that it took six years to get things this screwed up, so the democrats cant possibly fix EVERYTHING in six months.
However, good faith efforts, not all for show blow would go along way toward reassuring voters that they were not duped in 06. I think the election results speak for themselves about them knowing they were duped in 2000 and 2004.
Democrats can blame bushco and the republican congress for a while, and get away with it. But that cant go on forever, just like the repukes blaming Clinton for everything. Sooner or later, they have to put on their big girl panties and focus on results, not whining.
If the democrats in congress were REALLY willing to take control, solve some problems, and generally do what they were elected to do (end the war) I dont think you’d be seeing any blue dogs defect.
But some of us are serious about change, and not the incremental kind. Triangulation should be dead from political strangulation.
Just my opinion of course, but just because “I’m not bush” worked for the dems in 06, I dont think it will necessarily work for them in 08. Maybe that is a risk rahm emmanuel is willing to take, but anyone closer to the grass roots than bush ought to know the dems are being watched by EVERYONE, including their own base.
Again, in my opinion, I’d rather see the dems take a stand, without the usual bluster and posture, and stick with it, even if they lose. What is so wrong about making the repukes do bush’s dirty work in public? What is wrong with really trying to DO something and let the repuke pay for being obstructionists.
If LIEberman and his merry bunch of bushlickers keep doing the same old things with the same old results, that would play a lot better for the dems with voters than this handwringing and finger pointing which is now business as usual on BOTH sides of the aisle.
All in all, I think the democrats are so terrified of the word “pussy” that they made it a self fulfilling prophesy.
If congressmen being pissed at each other causes them to cancel each others pet projects, that not necessarily a bad thing, Saves Taxpayers money
KFG – I don’t disagree that much with what you said. I’m just not willing yet to give up on the new Congress. I’ve enjoyed this discourse with you, and appreciate doing so with civility.
Ditto Kelly. And being critical doesnt mean I have given up on them. Hell, they’re the ONLY chance we’ve got to rescue democracy from the jaws of bushco. But they dont have much more time to prove themselves.
They better not hose us in September. A little fancy DLC dancing isnt going keep the voters in line.
God Dammit! Why cant ANYONE in this country lead boldly and confidently and SANELY to the future, with consideration for the clear will of the people?
Sorry, I still need to rant a little more:)
I’m sick of both parties leading us right back into the past, not the future. Watching our government live in the past, over and over, is like watching some bad porn on an endless loop from the seventies. Just when you think it’s over, everyone’s too stoned to change the tape, so it plays, and plays and plays…
It’s worse than just not learning from our mistakes and then repeating them. It’s like every god damn action our government takes is designed to get even for some past mistake.
Bush is still fighting his daddy’s gulf war, and avenging his father’s second term defeat. Oh, and just for kicks, he keeps doing mouth to mouth on the unitary executive theory, even though we all thought it died with nixon.
And with the return of robert gates and the rest of the iran/contra gang, and the strange things going on in our southern hemisphere these days, you gotta wonder if they arent trying to bring back the good ol’ days when ollie north and the boys funded their operations with the sale of cocaine and arms in the mideast. Only this time around it’s food and oil.
cheney is still reliving the oil crisis of the seventies, fighting that first gulf war AND the viet nam war even though he had five deferments, and pushing the unitary executive thing like he’s trying to not just revive but also avenge the ghost of nixon.
Ditto for rummy and fred fielding and all the other freakin’ nixon era guys that snuck back into the hen house after we LET NIXON OFF EASY. See any parallels if the crimes of bush/cheney go unpunished? Unimpeached?
Meanwhile, the congressional republicans and, well, hell, the whole republican party keep trying to lead us BACK to the days of saint ronnie raygun in some misguided attempt to relive their god damn glory days.
Just like an aging high school pitcher who still pulls beers and sweeps floors at the local tavern for a living. But by god, he can still recount every pitch he threw in the state championship game and how the crowd cheered. Even if they lost the game.
Hint. Reaganomics, supply side econmics, trickle down, voodoo, and the very laughable laffer curve didnt work then. It wont work now. Get the phuck over it!
Of course the democrats are not much better. They are still trying to shake the thumpin’ they got in 2000, 2002 and 2004. Instead of looking to the future, they are like a buncha little kids stomping their feet and saying “we are not flip floppers. We are not weak on defense. WE ARE NOT PUSSIES!”
Even though the rest of the country has moved on, and given them another chance at leadership to the future, they are still fighting past battles and playing the game the way it was played in 2000 and 2004.
And they STILL havent caught up to the voter fraud tricks. And they are still afraid of the evangelicals, afraid of the swiftboaters, and afraid of raising taxes like adults who admit SOMEBODY has to eventually pay the bills.
Jesus wept. Could somebody remove ALL the rear view mirrors in washington AND topeka? Could they all possibly quit fixating on ALL their past failures? Could we give them blinders so they can ONLY focus on the future?
Because it’s coming. Ready or not.
As predicted, the Democrats are eating their heads and some are taking stances just because they are running for the office of the President.
Some things just never change…
Well, Try This:
President Bush: Tell us why US Tax Dollars Fund Israeli Prostitution Business?
AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
Israeli government must stop human rights abusesagainst trafficked women
http://web.amnesty.org/library/Index/engMDE150242000
Fox News
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,129157,00.html
U.S. Report: Israel not doing enough to fight human trafficking
By Ruth Sinai, HAARETZ
“Israel is a destination country for traffickedpersons” according to the U.S. State Department’sAnnual Trafficking in Persons Report, released inWashington yesterday. Throughout the world, some800,000-900,000 people are victims of traffickingeach year, a global business that yields $7-10billion in profits for those who conduct thishuman trade, the report states.Israel is ranked among the “Tier2″ countries in the report,
http://www.kavlaoved.org.il/katava_main.asp?news_id=537&sivug_id=24
Murtha is a corrupt traitor. How sad that he’s typical of the scum who inhabit congress.
My word, Friedmann using Fox News as source.
My life is complete now.
If we get the immigration bill, no one running for their old office better take it for granted, not even Republicans from Kansas!
Maybe you can believe your Ha’aretz Newspaper. They broke the news.
I have to disagree just a bit Kelly – there is an old saying “what goes around comes around. Tiahrt has been a cut-throat GOP diehard for a long time; there will be a certain amount of payback.
Sam Brownback has developed ties across the aisle on a number of issues. Tiahrt, on the other hand, has been an extreme partisan. therefore, now being in the minority, he is becoming increasingly irrelevant.
I will shed to tears for him.
Ditto Ben. After all, if Dick Cheney can ues the F word in the Senate, then how can Republicans even bring up the issue of ‘ethics’.
Yep – Todd can go Cheney himself for all I care. Maybe after a while things can get a bit more civil but there are too many memories of how Todd acted toward Democrats for the past 12 years.
Mr. Friedemann,
What is a Ha’aretz?
Payback’s a bitch!
Ha’aretz is the name of an Israeli newspaper.
Haaretz.com
KFG–
Gotta go with you on this one.
Why was the minimum wage bill even linked to funding the war?
The DNC asked me for money the other day . . . well, they’re going to get my opinion.
Do what they were sent to Congress to do–END THE WAR–and then grassroots people like me will send the money.
Kelly says that 50 percent of Americans don’t even bother to vote when war is at stake.
My feeling is that those 50 percent don’t see any difference between the Republicans and the go-along-to-get-along Democrats.
And a few more bills like the last one and I’m going to start feeling that way too . . .
Haaretz in Hebrew means “The Land.”
Capn,
DNC is doing great work in the states, funding field operations in congressional districts across the nation. DNC doesn’t set policy, and in fact is often at odds with DLCC.
But if you can’t bring yourself to donate to DNC this election cycle, there are quite a few state legislative candidates who could use the money.
I meant DCCC, not DLCC. Damned Democratic Party acronyms… :>
Good points, Tom.
Perfection is the enemy of the good, I know.
But I’d sure like to see the national Dems enunciate a clear, unified message and stick to their guns.
I still say that Kerry lost because the only way to tell what his positions were was to go to his website.
He should have had half a dozen major goals that every American could recite by the time the election rolled around . . .
You know, for such a great political strategist Rove beat Kerry by a pretty small margin given that Kerry’s whole campaign was “I’m not Bush” – “I won’t tell you what I stand for – I’d rather sneak into the White House while no one notices.” Any REAL candidate and strategist should have seriously kicked Kerry’s ass – didn’t happen. It was the beginning of the ‘06 revolt. I am so looking forward to ‘08!
I also fail to understand the Dem roll-over on the war. I hope there is some strategic angle to this; Such as, they interesting photos of Dick Cheney and GW doing interesting things with interesting animals and people.
heeheh Steven. A sheep, a midget and a trampoline are rumored to be in the photos as well….
Oh and Tom, god bless Howard Dean and his fifty state strategy. It’s working, despite the efforts of the good DLCers who keep trying to undermine him and the party and any strategy that would create democratic grass roots winners and dilute the power of the almighty DLC.
Too bad the sebelius people dont follow a similar model in kansas. Of course, it could just be poor to non-existant leadership from tim (I heart republicans) peterson, who keeps the party barely on life support in western kansas.
But timmy is governor leadership’s lead butt boy, along with glen staab and the rest of the hee haw gang. They exist only to serve the queen, not to do any party building.
They are more focused on electing timmy to the senate than they are building any kind of party infrastructure. And they are too stupid to see that little timmy (I heart republicans) peterson will NEVER get elected dog catcher without some infrastructure.
But the kansas democratic party just writes off western kansas, and I’m tellin’ ya, it’s ripe for the taking if the democrats act like democrats, and actually press the flesh and TALK to people out here. I thought “retail politics” were less than chatty kathy’s specialty? You sure couldnt tell it out here.
Playing the eastern kansas numbers might work for governor “leadership” but it isnt working for the kdp. In a year when dems kicked ass all over the nation, her strategy of ignoring everyone and everything west of salina, hell, ignoring everything west of wanamaker road, isnt working for the party, just for her.
In a year (2006) when dems won impossible races all over the nation and took back both houses of congress, the kdp STILL picked up very few seats in the Kansas legislature. Worse than no coattails, sebelius just sucks the life and money out of the party, and screw everyone who isnt her.
And that giant sucking sound will continue as she seeks national office.
If she and the kdp were to implement a state wide strategy similar to Dean’s fifty state strategy, they could pick up some of these little pissant seats out here. And those little pisant seats out here could have gotten her the needed votes on some key issues.
No, but hell no, she’d rather kiss ass with the republicans than build her own party. Dean’s strategy works, and it could work in kansas too. But we’d need a REAL governor leadership, not just a governor who is more committed to the gospel of republican light.
Ha’aretz is actually a rather good paper. Definitely NOT an extremist one like Hatzofeh that openly calls for the ethnic cleansing of the Territories and all of Israel.