MURTHA: "PORK" OR PIG-STY>

My comment today to someone who thought I might be too vigorous in my condemnations of John Murtha: "This will not be a pillow fight."

I stand by the veracity of every observation I've made about "The Prince of Pork," including my statement that "He has blood on his hands." Murtha has created his own political pig sty and calling attention to that is in no way "unfair."

Note: On my other blog, today's column is: "Ten Commandments for Conservative Activists." I urge you to read it. It shows, figuratively at least, how you can have a lot more than just one vote.

The Russell Campaign released the following today. If you have a blog, please consider reprinting this material. And be sure to join "Team Russell."

William brings to the race a conservative ideology, and willingness to tackle the difficult problems we face together. But he cannot do this alone.

Join the kick off challenge today.

Make your contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250 or $500. Don't forget to also send the request to your family and friends and ask them to help as well.

Finally, I wanted to let you know about a new and exciting application we launched today Join Team Russell. Team Russell is an online volunteer network for Russell where you can sign up your friends, donate online, and volunteer for Team Russell.

To sign up please visit my website. Join Russell.com. It's people like you that keep this campaign going, and we couldn't do it without your help.

Sincerely,

Larry Stiles (USMC Veteran)
Campaign Manager
William Russell for Congress Committee

P.S. After you watch the Russell speech, make your contribution of $25, $50, $100, $250 or $500.

Here's my comment on Larry's request:

There two things that didn't happen in the last campaign (2006) against Murtha that are happening now. One, the campaign keeps asking people for money, which is vital to our winning this tough race. The fourth or fifth time people hear the request will be the charm.

Second, we need to keep BUILDING support. Veterans are a critical support group, but we need to get their families (e.g., Bev Perlson and her band of mothers) and friends involved. We need to ask the vets and their families to talk to their neighbors and co-workers about the critical need to put William Russell in Congress.

In politics, if you aren't building your base of support, you're heading for a sad time on Election Day. If you ask people to "honor you" with their vote they'll very likely to do so. We need to make that request of 125,000-plus people in the 12th District.

In the last campaign against Murtha, we "hit the wall" -- and stopped growing. The support of the core groups, including veterans, was very strong, but we weren't "growing our base."

As the Russell Campaign is doing, we need to keep hammering Murtha when he says something stupid (as he's done about the surge). We shouldn't show an ounce of "mercy" when he makes statements that obviously play into the hands of what's left of al-Qaida in Iraq. The media is not going to pay attention to any "measured" comments we make.

Getting people's attention on what Murtha is saying and doing will sometime be like breaking up a huge block of ice. Sometimes we need to use a sledge-hammer.

Overall, we have to keep stressing -- truthfully -- what a great reception William's candidacy is getting. We need to convince people that, like the Pitt football team last night (Saturday, Dec. 1) in its improbable victory against West Virginia University, we can defy the oddsmakers -- and win!

In 2004, George W. Bush, not a big favorite in PA generally, got 134,000 votes in the 12th District. If we get anywhere near that number, we will the race. It's hard, but it's doable.

With a strong presidential and vice-presidential nominee, there will be a huge number of people posed to vote Republican. William Russell needs help from the top of the ticket, and there's every evidence he's going to get it. Current poll data shows at least two possible Republican presidential nominees beating the Democratic candidate -- and doing so handily.

Voters just love bandwagons, and we one that's chock full of supporters.

I've made some harsh statements about Murtha in my blog(s). I don't believe anything I've said is false or over the top.

He knew exactly what he was doing when he condemned the Haditha Marines on the basis of zero evidence. He was running for Majority leader in a Party that has too many (20%) people who want the U.S. to lose in Iraq.

The country is NOT going to lose in Iraq, and the Russell campaign is NOT going to lose in the 12th Congressional District of PA. With your help, Lt. Col. William T. Russell will be the next congressman from that District.

(Note: I said yesterday that I'd be writing about certain demographics of the 12th congressional district. However, the research is so explosive that I'll hold the information for the right moment. Suffice it to say that Murtha is taking credit for accomplishments that don't exist.)