John Murtha's call for withdrawal from Iraq launched full-on attack mode from many on the Right. I've waded through the sewers of RedState and FreeRepublic to bring you some of the more 'interesting' comments on Murtha.
The best, to kick it off:
From RedState:
my gut by RBMN
I don't know, but my gut instinct is saying to me that Murtha is a racist, who doesn't like wasting American lives on the freedom of "brown-skinned people." What else can explain it? Senility?
More of those crazy cats inside.
user francisurquhart
screams treason:
To indict some of these people for treason, put them on trial, and see to it that they are speedily put to death.
I'm sure that we can put together a good enough case, based on the exact wording of the statutes in question, and pick out a half-dozen people or so to make an example out of.
Later, in response:
I Think that Treason Should be a Hanging Offense by francisurquhart
And if "unpopular speech" which assists the enemy by demoralizing Americans and undermining the war effort constitutes treason, which I believe that it does, then yes, it should be a capital crime.
And, later still:
Why Should It Be? by francisurquhart
We used to know how to deal with traitors.
And yes, in the age of media war, those who speak out against the war are, indeed, traitors. This isn't a war which is being fought and won on the battlefield. This is a war which is being fought through the media, and those who oppose the war are giving direct aid and comfort to our enemies and should be punished accordingly.
The Constitution doesn't recognize an absolute right to free speech. In fact, treason is the one crime explicitly defined within the Constitution.
Eventually, RedState admins saved the day:
To the commenter: this kind of comment is absolutely ridiculous and has no place at RedState.
In another RedState diary:
A new member of the hall of poltroons, diary by hunter
This man has just spit on the service he did and on every soldier who ever trusted him.
This man is spitting on every soldier now in harm's way, and is helping to strengthen enemy resolve in fighting us, while weakening the resolve of Iraqis to fight for freedom.
http://www.house.gov/...
This bag of puss deserve every dihonor [(sic) available.
The slouching rally of slimeball defeatists needs to be give (sic) a boot in the rear and shove out the door.
Some replies in the diary:
Well by jsteele
Benedict Arnold served his country honorably at one time too.
Tim McVeigh too n/t by ConservativeD
What rancid pustules the defeatists are by hunter
We should remember that Lee Harvey Oswald was a vet as well, when the lefty hacks start trying to defend this congressman-poltroon.
On to the lovable Freepers:
White House slams Murtha defection on Iraq: "Not the time to surrender"
by baystaterebel
The DNC threw this old foot out to shed alligator tear aping what he has been saying for a while now. This is not news. This is the press latching onto anything that they can to get away from covering the democrats hypocrisy.
They closer we get to victory the louder they will be screaming "defeat!" The only ones who are loosing in this war is them. Well democrats and the mentally deranged Buchananites.
by OldFriend
Lee Harvey Oswald was a marine too.
by pleikumud
The Democrats must be receiving cash from the terrorists.
by BatGuano
May he live in shame that he deserves. He is going through the slow death that he has asked for. RIS (Rest in Shame) you Yellow B@stard. Murtha has sucked his last pipe for Pelosi.
by RichInOC
John Murtha can kiss my commoner redneck ass.
by Ma3lst0rm
Someone has Murtha's arm twisted good. Don't let anyone think this man is doing this because of his honor. He is going this to save his party from what he thinks could be his party's last battle. This is a calculated attempt to force the White House to stand down, it means that the White House is being effective. I say smack the senial (sic) mfr down, he sold his soul for the lies of his party the lies that I am so tired of hearing.
by tomahawk
Murtha is a brain addled idiot or a traitor, calling for the defeat of our country by calling for unilateral withdrawal from Iraq.
I think he wants us to be defeated to make his earlier "unwinnable" false prediction come true.
by DarthVader
Murtha's tirade is a last gasp effort, the Republican response, Woodward's testimony and Delay's immanent aquittal/dismissal of charges has them desperate. Their whole sordid plot is about to explode in their faces.
by Gritty
The enemy finally got to Murtha. Oh, wait a minute, he is part of the enemy. Forget it.
by LibLieSlayer
We have to destroy anyone that thinks like this. Murtha has declared WAR on America, and Conservatives will answer his volly with NUKES!!!
We are an army of citizens Brother tomahawk. I am proud to call you Brother!
by Chena
I STRONGLY disagree with your opinion of Murtha's angry, Liberal loony tune...aka, "rant". The man does not deserve any decent American's respect and ought to be booted right out of office along with all of the other lying traitors who call themselves Americans.
by AGreatPer
These Democrats are stepping over the line now of being traitors. Yes, TRAITORS.
by AnnArchy
Murtha sounded like a Frenchman! If he REALLY cared about the military, he would support their BOSS, The COMMANDER IN CHIEF to tell his fellow Demcrats (sic) to STFU and work for VICTORY NOT SURRENDER!!
by Windsong
Could care less if he was John Wayne. He is a democrat, as was Pat Tillman (who said "This was is so f&^&*ing illegal"). Borderline treason IMHO.
by Lakeshark
Just because he once served doesn't mean he still is. He's nothing but a Soros/Pelosi/Kennedy mouthpiece now. Benedict Arnold was a great hero once as well.
In another post, A Traitor's Tirade: Rep. John Murtha Soiols The Corps by Gunny Bob
The traitor, Democratic Rep. John P. Murtha, agrees 100% with Osama bin Laden abd Abu Musab al Zarqawi that the Marine Corps, which is mangling the enemy on a daily basis in Iraq and suffering comparatively light casualties, should lay down its arms, call it quits, and abandon the people they are defending in the fledgling democracy of Iraq.
Encouraging retreat is viewed as aiding the enemy by the Marines and is a violation of Article 104 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, which is punishable by death....Because Murtha is retired, he is virtually assured of not being prosecuted.
However, he will be celebrated by al Qaeda and other terrorists around the world. At this very moment, al Qaeda communications specialists are likely prepping pieces of propaganda using Murtha's traitorous tirade as a tool to recruit fresh killers by showing them that even an American Marines...believes his allegedly beloved Corps is so inept in battle that retreat and surrender are the Marines' best option and perhaps should, in fact, be added for the first time to the Leatherneck's vast, quasi-mythical repertoire of operational art and battlefield strategy.
John "The Jellyfish" Murtha should be shunned by all Marines and, if possible, legal steps should be taken to prevent this betrayer from being buried in a national cemetary upon his demise.
Oh, the humanity.