s skippy the bush kangaroo: rip john murtha

skippy the bush kangaroo



Monday, February 08, 2010

rip john murtha

rep. john murtha has died from complications from his gall bladder surgery. washpost:

rep. john murtha (d-pa.), 77, a vietnam veteran who staunchly supported military spending and became a master of pork-barrel politics, died today following gallbladder surgery at virginia hospital center.

elected to congress in 1974 from a southwestern pennsylvania district that has been economically devastated by the decline of america's coal-mining and steel industries, the gruff and jowly murtha was beloved by his constituents for tapping billions of dollars in federal funds to seed new industries there.

he was revered among democrats -- and even some republicans -- for his skill over 19 terms in using the power of the federal purse to make kings and deals. a right-hand man of house speaker nancy pelosi, he was considered one of the most influential lawmakers on capitol hill and credited with her ascension.
posted by skippy at 12:16 PM |

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