Credo
"Sign on, young man, and sail with me. The stature of our homeland is no more than the measure of ourselves. Our job is to keep her free. Our will is to keep the torch of freedom burning for all. To this solemn purpose we call on the young, the brave, the strong, and the free. Heed my call, Come to the sea. Come Sail with me." -- John Paul Jones
"Pardon him, Theodotus; he is a barbarian, and thinks that the customs of his tribe and island are the laws of nature" --George Bernard Shaw, "Caesar and Cleopatra"
"And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music."--Friedrich Nietzsche
"A kind Providence has placed in our breasts a hatred of the unjust and cruel, in order that we may preserve ourselves from cruelty and injustice. They who bear cruelty, are accomplices in it. The pretended gentleness which excludes that charitable rancour, produces an indifference which is half an approbation. They never will love where they ought to love, who do not hate where they ought to hate."--Edmund Burke
"Μολὼν λαβέ" -- Leonidas
"Blogito Ergo Sum" -- Neptunus Lex
Kennedy
Murtha
Karma
I’m just glad he lived long enough to see most of the Marine’s acquitted and the war in Iraq brought to a successful conclusion.
I do have to wonder if there are Marine’s at 8th and I currently asking for leave… to avoid doing his service.
Dang, if only he’d had Obama-care he might still be here.
An Intel officer with a bronze star and two purple hearts? Tough crowd. The USMC doesn’t give out bronze stars unless there’s blood involved. One should not speak ill of the man, despite what objections we may have had for him, and we who know better should all be thankful for his service.
He stopped being a Marine when he put his butt out in front of a camera and called Marines ‘cold-blooded killers” and “murderers” Before any of the facts were known, investigations completed or charges filed and CM’s completed.
Besides, JF Kerry has three PH’s….
I have the utmost respect for veterans. But, Tim, I’m with you. Incendiary comments too early in the game of seeking truthful justice, besmirch not only the Marines, but all the other services as well. Yes, he earned with blood his right to voice his opinion, but it was so blatanly partisan politics, that he wasted his salvo and caused collateral damage as well. The whole affair can be summed up in one word: Sad.
Concur, Tim
Zane, I left a comment for you after your conversation w. Dust at the “Ladders” post. Go back and read, my friend.
Saw it, thank you. So hows about ‘dem Saints?
Agree the time for vilification is past…his reward, whatever that might be, is at hand…his honorable service, in uniform, shall always be there…RIP, Mr. Murtha. Best
The time for judging a man is not after he is dead; after all, he can longer defend himself. I’ve already said what needed to be said before he passed. Now that he’s gone, I’ll make my peace and say a prayer for his family.
The honor we accord those in our military service does not exonerate their subsequent dishonorable activities. (Abscam, et al.)
Randall Cunningham comes to mind.
Randy “Duke” Cunningham-not the former Eagles quarterback
Agreement in full, Zane. His judgment will come at the foot of the Highest Authority now. Any words we may add will fall as mere dust with his own.
All I can say is… I hope his replacement is not quite as bad……..
I had the same thoughts Lex. Better to say nothing if you can’t say something nice. And sometimes – it’s very difficult.
Murtha’s apparently valorous uniformed service was trumped by his selfish, pathetically unethical service in political office. Contrary to how it should be,some are better men in their youth…
Military decorations do not provide “cover” for the recipient’s life. Just ask Duke Cunningham. Our country is better without any of this ilk in office. Good riddance.
The rest is between him and his God.
Well some will mourn his passing. For others, take solace in the phrase from the old shape note hymn “A Beautiful Life” which has the phrase “And I must go to meet the deeds I’ve done.” We each have our own opinion on what price that meeting will exact.
So; he was so full of bile that his gall bladder exploded?
(This actually happened to a former neighbor of mind, and yes he was of a choleric disposition. The silly doodah went on a totally fat-free diet, which is apparently much worse for you than a high-fat diet.)
Rats! I was looking forward to his ignominious defeat in November.
Neighbor of “mine”, dammit.
Thankfully, I guess he’ll not be up for reelection. I’ll leave the judgment to He whose job it is.
well, in these troubled financial times, we should be grateful that we have avoided the needless expense of long trial and incarceration.
Thoughts and prayers to his family. May the Congressman rest in peace.
I certainly hope that he bade forgiveness to his Marine brothers before he passed-on.
So long Jack and thanks. You alone kept alive IUW for over 20 years. Of the 7000 of us today I’m probably the last to know and appreciate your role. Adieu.
I bet his dog liked him.
“Nothing”…
To log under the “karma” column, some of you may remember that my elder sister worked on Capitol Hill for many years. She worked closely with Mr. Murtha, and considered him a friend, although they came from separate sides of the aisle. She raised funds for his re-election campaigns, and helped craft language in legislation that greatly aided his constituents.
People make good livings in DC sailing pretty close to the wind, and few did it as gladly as my sister did. Towards the end of her life, she got involved in a politically motivated prosecution that showed her who her true friends were – long story. After successfully defending herself from a rapacious federal prosecutor, she was just getting her life back together again when she fell ill and quickly passed away.
Because of her decades long friendship with Mr. Murtha, he was asked to speak at a ceremony honoring her memory at the Capitol, all her many friends and family were there. When it came to his turn to talk, Mr. Murtha dwelt entirely – and negatively – on her recent past. Not one word about all the work she had done for him or the citizens of Pennsylvania. Her brother was there, her sister, son and grandchildren. It was the meanest thing I’ve ever seen a man do. You could have heard a pin drop, and with the skeletons he had in the closet, it took all I had not to punch him in the mouth.
So yeah, Haditha, PMA and Abscam aside, it’s fiercely personal to me. And I’m doing the best I can to take the high road.
Lex – I remember you mentioning this in the past. Taking the high road is notoriously difficult, and in the end rewarding. You only have to be happy looking at yourself in the mirror. People like Murtha will answer for themselves.
I’ve made mention elsewhere from time to time of a madness that strikes down some, some in their prime, some post prime, some at a tender age. They started out good and then they go bad. It’s devastating to witness and surely no joy to suffer. I don’t doubt for an instant that Murtha was one of those who got slammed almost overnight. I’d like to think that your sister knew that Jack that served honorably as a Marine and did what she did for the man that she considered honorable. It was the man in this case that died a little long before he died. It isn’t Alzheimer’s it’s something far worse that leaves the victim unaware of the damage wrought on the mind and intellect.
It is one of the saddest things I’ve ever seen.
Sometimes the high road required extra character. You did well. Class, like cream, rises to the top.
Congressman Murtha did not go out in shtyle.
Today, I got to welcome the return of 16 local Marine Reservists from the ‘Box. That’s all I cared about, and I’ll bet not one of the Marines had ANY thoughts of the Congressman during their return celebration.
Part of Mutha’s enduring legacy in video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2ehCmaQ3Dg
Bill, if I may add this to yours: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywgUCdefSW8
As I said before,I bet his dog liked him.
Joe, where you from? We have to exchange bourbon recipes some day.
Bill, I spent the first 21 years of my life in Vista, San Diego County. Then a few years in Chico. Followed by about 25 in Sonoma County, and now , a year and a half in Lake County, CA.
Burbon? Dickle Green Lable. Or Wild Turkey. Neat. Although I’m more a single malt scotch guy.
Or, at church, dilled vodka.
I recall the story and even wrote you a note about some of my run ins with the lobbyist lately tied to the ongoing investigations of the man.
I thought when I first heard the news – “I wonder how Lex will react?”
With class and grace as usual – better man than I, better man than I.
RIP Congressman – my judgment of you is meaningless and may your family find comfort in their time of grief.
Ditto, OT6F. “Grace and class,” indeed. Not many among us would be so kind.
I’d say your “best” appears to be extraordinarily good, Lex.
Lex, you are a better, more disciplined man than I.
Jeez Louise, Lex. I stayed away from comments here because I’m not “family” in this affair, but after reading your comments I feel compelled to note that I would not be surprised to learn that your sister’s untimely death, so soon after her successful defense of her reputation, was due in large part to the prolonged stress of the affair, showing what constant stress can do to a person. I would only note in passing the remarkable numbers of Generals and Admirals who died shortly after the end of WWII–most seemingly worn down by the stress of it all, having held on just long enough to see it through. Prolonged stress can be deadly indeed….more powerful stuff than most people commonly realize…
And yet you’ve done a fine job saying nothing which might hurt his loved ones.
Who’s the bigger Man, then?
My money’s on you, sir.
As for the good Congressman:
From the Halls of Montezuma,
To the shores of Tripoli;
We fight our country’s battles
In the air, on land, and sea;
First to fight for right and freedom
And to keep our honor clean;
We are proud to claim the title
Of United States Marine.
Our flag’s unfurled to every breeze
From dawn to setting sun;
We have fought in every clime and place
Where we could take a gun;
In the snow of far-off Northern lands
And in sunny tropic scenes;
You will find us always on the job
The United States Marines.
Here’s health to you and to our Corps
Which we are proud to serve;
In many a strife we’ve fought for life
And never lost our nerve;
If the Army and the Navy
Ever look on Heaven’s scenes;
They will find the streets are guarded
By United States Marines.
I believe Mr. Murtha will have to answer to the sentries at the Pearly Gates for the passages listed in bold. St. Peter shall be the one to request admittance from. The thoughts of the Marine Sentries in Heaven will weigh heavily in the balance, I am sure.
And for whatever Honor you gave the Marines, Mr. Murtha, God Bless You. For whatever Dishonor you brought on them or yourself on their behalf, God Forgive You.
Subsunk
You’re doing better than I would.
grrrr
Not that Murtha is in this class, but look at how Solomon started, asking for wisdom, blessed by God, then writing much of Proverbs in his middle years, perhaps without quite as much dedication as when he started. In his old age, he wrote Ecclesiastes, after ~600 wives, who we are told, led him astray to the point where “all is vanity”… Methinks it is a fault of old age to become too cynical, and I hope the Lord pulls me offstage before I pull a Murtha. But as Paul said to Timothy, “The sins of some men are quite evident, going before them to judgment; for others, their sins follow after.“
Bile overpressure, I say again. There’s something to the old four-humor theory.
OT6F ~ I thought the exact same thing. Remembering the story about Lex’s sister’s memorial ceremony, I wondered how this would go over.
Lex, you are a far better person than I could ever hope to be.
I am grateful for Mr. Murtha’s service to his country and I will keep his family in my prayers.
as i have said elsewhere, my condolences to those that loved him.
Murtha earned his disrespect and contempt. The true measure of character is not what one does under stress or under trial. If you want to see who a person truly is, observe what they do in, around and with power. And Who they answer to.
I had no respect for the Congressman but I wish no one in Hell but the preternatural creatures who uttered “Non servium”. May God have mercy on Murtha.
Seems like Eisenhower said something about being remembered for how we finish (or die), not for how we lived.
Dust,
It is hard to take the measure of a man. Some are grasping little weasels from birth. Other’s suffer change and wear and tear. It is actually possible to live too long.
I did not like the man that accused falsely. On the other hand, I have unshakable contempt for the FAST and first of the fifth Marines. I think Jack was a complicated man who probably got a God shot to the head about 15 years ago. I don’t know if you’ve ever met/dealt with the ones that shined so brightly and then, almost overnight, were snuffed like a candle.
Curtis,
I have seen what time and genetics does to someone. My father in law was an outstanding career Combat Arms officer and the same age as Murtha. Was in Kontum Province during Tet 68 with MACV advisory group and he shared his experiences with me and my sons. He was a warrior in every sense of the word. We have noted with some sadness that his intellectual capacity is diminishing noticibly in the past 3 years and his world is shrinking- no longer engaged in many activites he loved including a veterans group in Maine and he has quit sailing, another love of his. His elder brother went downhill quite rapidly in the same manner so I suspect there is a hereditary component to it.
I understand my comments above were critical but in no way am I passing judgement on the soul of John Murtha. Way out of my lane. Apparently my attempt to comment on my distain for the congressmen wasn’t sufficient to distance that individual from the marine. Perhaps they weren’t the same man.
Dust
Outside my NATO building, the US flag is at half mast today. My NATO cohort suspects it is for the dead at the power plant explosion. I’m not going to disillusion them.
I will not post ill of the dead. On a personal note, I will surely miss the dancing in the streets that would have surely followed Bill Russell’s victory in the next election. (Including Murtha’s racist, er, he meant, redneck constituents.)
All due repect, does “nil nisi bonum” mean I can’t think ill of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, etc.
To heck with the high road…
Where they planting him? I gotta take a leak…
Sometimes petty rantings are thereputic. It works for me.