Now for the good news. Diana Irey, who wasn't given a snowball's chance in hell to come close to defeating long time incumbant Jack Murtha, is getting out her mittens. The latest polls having her closing the gap:
Ms. Irey rolled up her sleeves and got to work. She has gained some recognition on her own as a staunch supporter of the armed forces, the mission in Iraq, an advocate for rigorous immigration policies and a fiscal conservative. She has also been drawing attention to Mr. Murtha's many failings. And she's producing results. The campaign has just commissioned another poll by Public Opinion Strategies and Ms. Irey has closed the gap to ten points as the race now stands at 55%-45%. She gained ten points and brought Mr. Murtha down ten--and the momentum is all in her favor.
Red State has the full story here. They include 11 good reasons why Irey should get your help:
The momentum in this race is with Diana Irey. She is poised to win if we all help, and here are eleven excellent reasons to go to her website and donate some time and money:
• Congressman Murtha said that U.S. Marines in Iraq had, and I quote, “killed innocent civilians in cold blood,” end quote, before any soldier had been charged and convicted. (12 percent more likely, 40 percent less likely)
• Congressman Murtha said we could redeploy U.S. armed forces from Iraq to Okinawa, Japan, 5,000 miles away. (11 percent more likely, 36 percent less likely)
• Congressman Murtha voted to strip U.S. intelligence and law enforcement authorities of stronger tools to fight the war on terror when he voted against extending the USA PATRIOT Act. (14 percent more likely, 43 percent less likely)
• Congressman Murtha’s brother is a lobbyist who represents at least ten clients who have received tens of millions of dollars in government contracts from the 2005 Defense Appropriations Bill Congressman Murtha wrote and pushed to passage. (6 percent more likely, 39 percent less likely)
• Since Jack Murtha became a Member of Congress 32 years ago, Congress has raised its pay 20 times – and Congressman Murtha voted 12 consecutive times to raise his own salary. (8 percent more likely, 43 percent less likely)
• Congressman Murtha’s starting salary as a Congressman was $42,500 per year; it is now $165,200 per year. (7 percent more likely, 37 percent less likely)
• Congressman Murtha tried to create a new law that would have required taxpayers to pay for the legal expenses of Members of Congress and congressional staffers who have been convicted of taking bribes. (8 percent more likely, 57 percent less likely)
• Congressman Murtha hosted a “welcome back” party in his congressional office for a powerful former congressional staffer who was guilty of taking money illegally from a lobbyist seeking legislative favors. (7 percent more likely, 48 percent less likely)
• In 1980, Congressman Murtha was named by the U.S. Department of Justice an “unindicted co-conspirator” in ABSCAM, the largest congressional corruption scandal in history. (8 percent more likely, 40 percent less likely)
• When questioned by the press about his role in the ABSCAM congressional scandal, Congressman Murtha insisted that FBI agents, and I quote, “didn’t offer me any money” – despite the fact that they had a tape showing them offering him a bribe. (7 percent more likely, 45 percent less likely)
• When undercover FBI agents offered Congressman Murtha a $50,000 bribe, he was heard on an FBI tape saying, and I quote, “At this point, you know, we do business together for a while. Maybe I’ll be interested and maybe I won’t … Now, I won’t say that some day, you know, I, if you made an offer, it may be I would change my mind some day.” (5 percent more likely, 49 percent less likely)
Diana Irey held a press conference today and again blasted Murtha. This time for letting down our wounded veterans. The man has no shame.
Irey Criticizes Murtha For Selling Vote, Selling Out Veterans
Diana Irey held a press conference today to call attention to the corruption in Washington and to John Murtha's selling of votes. First, here's what she said about teh various Washington scandals involving politicians:
"It seems you cannot pick up a newspaper today and read about what's going on in Washington without being disgusted at the corruption. Whether it's Duke Cunningham taking $2 million under the table from defense contractors seeking earmarked appropriations, or William Jefferson getting caught in an FBI sting with $90,000 cash in his freezer, or Bob Ney posing for photographs on a golf trip to St. Andrews paid for illegally by a corrupt lobbyist, or Alan Mollohan under federal investigation for directing millions of dollars in earmarked taxpayer funds to charitable organizations run by former staffers who then turn around and cut him in on business deals, the news is disappointing, disturbing, and disgusting.
"This is not a problem confined to Republicans or to Democrats, nor to conservatives or to liberals. It is a problem where the dividing line is far simpler and easier to understand, on the one hand are those found inside the Washington Beltway, and on the other hand are…the rest of us.
"This weekend's revelations regarding Mark Foley and his unconscionable behavior toward teenage children under the care of the U.S. House of Representatives is only the latest in a long line of cases of corruption in Congress, moral corruption in this case, but corruption nonetheless.It isn't possible for people of conscience to rationalize, much less justify, the actions of Mssrs. Foley, Jefferson or Mollahan. Their actions are reprehensible and then some. It's important that Republicans not attempt to justify Mr. Foley's actions. It's apparent that Ms. Irey made no such attempt. Her outrage is palpable.
Ms. Irey next directs her focus to 'Trader Jack' Murtha:
"Let us look at two examples in particular: As reported in yesterday's New York Times, Jack Murtha voted against a proposal to research prosthetic limbs for veterans, and also against $150 million for veterans' health care and job training. In exchange for his votes, he was rewarded with earmarks."
"So our Congressman, who styles himself the champion of the military, deliberately voted against providing funds to research prosthetic limbs for veterans, and against providing $150 million for veterans' health care and job training benefits…in exchange for money. I guess helping veterans, even those who had lost limbs in the service of their country, isn't quite as important as Jack Murtha wants us to think he thinks it is.
"Sack Jack" Picks Up Steam- Irey Gains on "Cold Blooded" Murtha
The father of Flight 93 hero Todd Beamer is speaking out against Jack "Cold Blooded" Murtha.
David Beamer, whose son, Todd sounded the rallying cry "Let's roll" before the crash of United Flight 93 on Sept. 11, speaks Sunday during the "Boot Murtha" rally at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena in Johnstown. (Tribune-Democrat)"Does it require another battle in Shanksville?" Beamer asked as he wondered aloud what it will take for America to become united in the war on terrorism.
......Murtha cried at his rally this weekend that he was being "swiftboated". What a crock!
No one is targeting his war record, just his "cold blooded", defeatist, anti-military stands against this country, our soldiers, and this war effort.
Wrap ups on the Boot Murtha Rally held this past Sunday can be found here and here.
And don't forget to check in regularly with:
Support Diana Irey Visit her website and sign up for her email updates. A contribution to her campaign, or to Vets4Irey.com, would help her get her word out and defeat Rep. John Murtha.
And Diana Irey is one of the approved candidates on the new Rightroots list, so this is one more way you can donate and help her campaign.
As most who attended the rally know, I was there. After the dust had cleared created by some moonbat among the bootmurtha crowd who called in a fake police report that a fight had broken out, Larry Bailey came out to speak with me.
I complimented him from the bottom of my heart for the contributions he has made to our country's national security while he was serving active duty in the US Navy.
He made it clear my request to speak would not happen. He then proceeded to suggest he has no memory of the email he wrote me on 8/20/2006 2:59:30 P.M. Eastern Standard Time stating that our current Commander in Chief made stupid mistakes in Iraq.
Larry then proceeded to illustrate stupid mistakes made in passed wars. After he mentioned 3 or 4 examples I interjected that there is a difference between those wars and this one.
In the past it took weeks, months, sometimes years for mistakes to be discovered and reported. Today is the information age where mistakes are reported within hours of their occurrence. I reminded him this war was still going on. I also reminded him of the glaring mistakes he had acknowledged President Bush had made in Iraq, and our respective use of the Internet to support our respective views and that is where our conversation ended.
I waited outside the Arena with a Johnstown police officer who had stayed behind after the bootmurtha hysterics caused 3 squad cars and a sergeant to arrive with sirens blaring. I was debating Steeler football with him when a motorcycle officer stopped by, who had been inside. When I asked how many were inside he said, "not many at all" When I asked "500?", he responded, "na ... well maybe 500, at most."
At the end of the event when Larry Bailey came out for a photo op next to the bootmurtha.com sign on the sidewalk outside the War Memorial Arena. I handed Larry the speech I had waited to deliver. He put it in his outside left coat pocket.
This is my speech Larry Bailey has in his coat pocket ... the words he was not man enough to let me say:
"Please join me in Prayer.
Heavily father we pray today for you to continue to protect the men and women of the armed forces of the United States and other countries who are in harms way in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other countries throughout the world. We thank them and their families for their sacrifices.
We pray for the souls of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice in all wars. We pray for strength and courage for the POWs and MIAs and those held hostage.
We pray for protection and safety of relief workers helping those in need.
We pray for the protection of children and innocent civilians. Lord we especially pray for our nation and our leaders."
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Below you will find the press release that went out on October 29th of this year.
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LARRY BAILEY (BOOTMURTHA.COM) OCTOBER 1ST RALLY IN JOHNSTOWN, PA.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Cliff Hancuff
September 29, 2006 (202) 247-1418
[email protected]
"American troops could be home now, except for critical mistakes made by our current Commander in Chief," charges Cliff Hancuff, Director of The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too.
"Media and right-wing bloggers are ignoring this fact. For weeks I have been challenging political activists and journalists to act with a minimum of ethical standards," continued Hancuff.
"I became involved when the Sun-Sentinel in Florida reported that Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) said the U.S. poses the top threat to world peace. I watched in dismay as the media and bloggers worldwide reported on this misquote."
"My involvement continued when I discovered Diana Irey, John Murtha's political opponent, had attacked Murtha using a fictional quote attributed to Abraham Lincoln."
"Larry Bailey of bootmurtha.com is continuing his three year blind support of our current Commander in Chief's incompetence in war. President Bush declared war in Iraq without the 4th Infantry, our most lethal, modern, and deployable heavy division in the world," added Hancuff.
This mistake lead to the atrocity of Al Qaqaa. Iraqi insurgents stole hundreds of tons of high explosives to be used as weaponry.
"These are the explosives being used by Iraqi insurgents and al Qaeda to perpetuate the war in Iraq."
"I am distressed that the same issues ignored by Swift Boat Veterans for Truth in 2004 are being ignored again in 2006," said Hancuff adding, "Americans, American soldiers, and their families deserve better."
"Without these critical mistakes made by our current Commander in Chief, our American troops would be home with their loved ones, with honor, right now."
On October 1, 2006 Hancuff be at the Cambria County War Memorial Arena located in Johnstown Pennsylvania for Larry Bailey's Swiftboating of John Murtha rally. It is there Hancuff will continue his wait for Mr. Bailey to recall the values of honor and integrity taught him by our US Navy.
There is a youtube.com video online at:
YouTube - Rovian Architecture Unplugged
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5jcyHokFyE
The World of Journalism Is Flat, Too
(202) 247-1418
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Posted by: chancuff | 03 October 2006 at 08:58 PM