The New Politics: Sarah Palin & William Russell

William Trower Russell III speaks to supporters as his wife, Katarzyna, and children, William Stanislaw and Anna Elizabeth, listen Monday evening in downtown Johnstown. Russell is hoping to unseat U.S. Rep. John Murtha. Photo: Dave Lloyd/The Tribune-Democrat, Johnstown, PA.

Link to story, photo, and video: http://www.tribdem.com/multimedia/local_story_324165353.html

Important Note: At the bottom of this column you will see what YOU can do to make sure a superb candidate, Lt. Col. William Trower Russell, is competitive enough to have a good chance of winning against John Murtha. Please read & respoond.

Brother and Sister Under the Skin -- William Trower Russell, Sarah Heath Palin

This will be the column for Friday and Saturday, November 24 & 25. Currently, I have a very good title. Never fear, however, because the entire column will appear -- as if by magic. You can find my other colunn on practical politics at SmartPolitics101.

I promise not to ask you to contribute immediately to the campaign of Iraqi Freedom veteran "Trower Russell," although I guess you could do so (please!) by clicking on his name. I recently wrote a column about some of John Murtha's minions writing nasty comments (to me!) about Lt. Col. Russell. Now, Murtha, cited recently as one of the "top 20" politicians in terms of moral corruption, criticizing William Trower Russell is a hoot. It's a little like Paris Hilton taking verbal pot shots at Barbara Bush.

Granted, some people believe Lt. Col. Russell has no chance of beating John Murtha. In their minds, it's as preposterous notion as, say, the Illinois football team defeating Ohio State. Yes, it's just as absurd as the notion that leading political analysts would start supporting Sarah Palin for the Republican vice-presidential slot, as many of them now are doing.

Modern politicians at the federal level are almost exclusively people who have "opinions" on the military and the War in Iraq. In fact, Trower Russell, a veteran of Desert Storm, the Balkans, and Iraqi Freedom, has seen the war "up close and personal." He has fought in Iraq and has seen comrades wounded and killed.

Wouldn't it be amazing to send someone to Congress who actually knew first-hand about the war? Wouldn't it be an interesting way to follow up on the universal refrain that we "support our troops" by actually voting for one? That's a notion which could begin to make a lot of sense to the voters in PA's 12th congressional district.

Sarah Palin has a lot in common with William Russell. In fact, they're both warriors, people who don't back away from a fight. I'm sure all 50 governors in the U.S. "support our troops." Sarah is probably by far the most supportive of them because her son, Track, age 18, is one of them. That makes her unique among the governors of these United States.

William certainly has a unique perspective on 9/11. Most of us saw it unfold on TV. In Russell's case, however, he was as usual on the front lines. When the terrorists hit the Pentagon, he was there with his then-pregnant wife Katarzyna.

Thus, on 9/11/2001, Lt. Col. Russell of the U.S. Army was getting ready to fight Islamic terrorists who want to destroy America. On 9/11/2007, Track Palin and his best friend, John Bates, were enlisting in the U.S. Army. Yes, they're all indeed "brothers and sisters" under the skin. Sarah Palin, Katarzyna Russll, Track Palin, William Russell, all people with strong bonds of decency and love of country.

Sarah and William are winners in the politics-of-the-supposedly-unwinnable. In Sarah's case, she took on a powerful incumbent governor, Frank Murkowski, a Republican, and she beat him. Then, in the general election, she beat former governor, Democrat Tony Knowles.

Oh, and she took on the oil industry in Alaska. She won in the struggle to raise oil taxes, something the industry had prevented by flooding the political system with money. When she was a high school basketball star, they called her "Sarah Baracuda." Now, they might start calling this incarnation of integrity, "Sarrah Incorruptible."

If Sarah were running against Murtha, it would be a classic case of "The Beauty and the Beast." But in western Pennsylvania, the Keystone States's version of a Political New Jersey, we're lucky to have William Russell (and his terrific campaign manager, former Marine Larry Stiles) standing up to Murtha.

I believe on Election Night, 2008, Lt. Col Russell will be congressman-elect from the 12th District. In saying that, I fully realize we're like a bunch of men (and women) looking up 26,000 feet to the top of Mt. Everest. The defeat of John Murtha would be more than a turning point for western PA. It would be a turning point for the country.

John Murtha has already raised a million dollars from "the usual suspects." He will raise about $4 million, most of it coming from the grateful beneficiaries of the federal tax dollars he doles out to big contributors. If William Russell raises a tenth that amount, he'll probably be overjoyed. But Russell has factors going with him that Murtha will find out about in what the Bible calls "the fullness of time."

However, this campaign is going to transcend money. I'm sure Murtha agrees with Tip O'Neil that "money is the mother's milk of politics." Yet this time there's real hope that Murtha's "milk" is going to curdle. In politics, sometimes enough is enough. Murtha has become the moral version of a human landfill, and it's just not as easy to buy votes as it used to be.

Sarah Heath Palin and William Trower Russell are major players in the "New Politics." They have nothing to do with the mildly corrupt, longwinded people we normally associate with politics-as-usual.

They're a new breed -- honest, courageous, dedicated to serving their states and country. They are doers rather than mere talkers. They're people who can cleanse the governmental garbage-heap we now have in Washington, DC.

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How YOU can do your part to help Lt. Col. Russell win against John Murtha: In December, Trower Russell will be sending out thousands of e-mails seeking support for his campaign. You can help by submitting e-mail addresses of people on your mailing list who are likely to back Russell. If you have 5, 10, or more friends and acquaintances who are likely to want Murtha out -- and Russell in -- please submit them to the campaign manager, Larry Stiles. His e-mail address is Larry.Stiles@williamrussellforcongress.com. In responding positively to this request, you can help ensure that the "Murtha-era" finally comes to an end. Russell is going to run one of the most financially efficient campaigns possible, but he does need your help (which you can provide at http://williamrussellforcongress.com/. If you can give $100 or more, please do so. If you can donate only $10, then please do that. By submitting e-mail addresses to Larry Stiles, a Vietnam-era Marine, you can link up people concerned about America's future with a candidate who's scrupulously honest and a patriot of the highest quality. Please do what you can! If you have any questions, please e-mail me at: TalkTop65@aol.com.

Note: See the material below about the Political Pistachio radio show that will deal mainly with Sarah Palin -- but also a little about William Trower Russell, who will appear on the same show on November 28.

Heroes Who Will Change America: "The Revolt of the Nodders"

Tomorrow, Friday, Nov. 24, I'll be on Political Pistachio Internet radio three friends, moderator Douglas Gibbs, Alaskan political operative an analyst Trish Houser, and Colorado political organizer Adam Brickley. Here's how you can find us (at 7 p.m. Eastern):
Sarah Palin discussed on Political Pistachio
Douglas V. Gibbs
Date / Time: 11/24/2007 7:00 PM (Eastern Time)
Category: Politics/Conservative
Call-in Number: (646) 652-2940

Douglas writes, "There is a movement to convince the Republican Presidential nominee to pick Sarah Palin as the first female Vice President. Trish Houser, Adam Brickley, and Steve Maloney all join Political Pistachio to discuss this effort."

Tomorrow I'll move away for a day from my "all-William-Russell-all-the-time" and discuss Sarah Palin and why I firmly believe she can be America's first female vice-president and, eventually, first female President. I hope everybody tunes in -- and calls in.

Historically, we Republicans tend to be fairly docile figures. The "Party" (who exactly?) presents a candidate, and we nod our acceptance. The Palin Movement is part of a new effort for Republicans to have a real say in who the candidates are. Call it "The Revolt of the Nodders."

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Note: Please scroll down to the column beneath this. It reveals something about the "campaign tactics" of a certain congressman.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone -- and a special salute to all the people who keep returning here. Please click on the Thanksgiving link on the sidebar. You won't be disappointed.

I'm especially thankful to candidates like William Trower Russell (Congress, 12th District, PA), Melissa Hart (Congress, 4th District), Diana Lynn Irey (Commissioner, Washington County, PA -- a winner on election day, 2007), Jean Schmidt (Congress, 2d District, Ohio), and Heather Wilson (U.S. Senate, New Mexico). These are all great candidates, and they truly deserve the support of all Americans who love their country and want people in office who will protect it.

I hope you'll click on as many of these sites for candidates and bloggers as you can.

Congressional candidate Melissa Hart's web site will be up soon. If anyone wants to contribute to her effort or offer support of any kind, please email me at TalkTop65@aol.com. I'll pass along her mailing address. If any of you want to recommend to me other candidates who are truly exemplary people, please do so.

I take a lot of strength from the many wonderful people I've met online and offline this year, including: Brad Marston, Trish Houser, Adam Brickley, Douglas Gibbs, "Mrs. Pistachio," Malia Nash, Christopher Wensley, Eric Dondero, Larry Stiles, Chris Voccio, Susan Duclos, Cindy Reidhead, Bob Guzzardi, Mayor Sam, Bruce Eric Sherman, Han & Ciel, Leo Pusateri, Dr. Bill Smith, Chip Wood, Drs. Kathleen Osten, Donna Craig, and Michael Karp, James H., Sandra Wise, Jerry Bowyers, Peg from Johnstown, Marine J.J. Rodriguez and his dad, Melanie at City View, Paul Kengor, Tim Sumner, Craig Minnick, Wil Keepers, and many others -- including those I know only by their screen names, such as HillaryNeedsaVacation and genxdad. Those of you with blogs who don't have your names linked yet will be tomorrow.

In my efforts on behalf of William Trower Russell's campaign, I'm making a lot of new friends. I have one regular reader from Queensland, Australia, a very fine man who keeps me up to date on Aussie politics. I've had visitors from all 50 states (including of course Malia's Hawaii and Sarah Palin's Alaska. When I get a visitor from Sarah Palin's hometown of Wasilla, as I often do, I always say, "Gee, Sarah, leave a comment and say hi."

To my Republican and conservative friends: let's continue working together. As Benjamin Franklin put it at the Constitutional Convention: "Let us all hang together, or more assuredly we will all hang separately."

The people I'm referring to in this piece are the ones who will change America, make a great country even better. If you do one political good deed this Thanksgiving week, please go to William Trower Russell's site and make a contribution of $25 or $50. If you can give more, please do so. Trower is a fine and decent person, an American Warrior, but he needs your help to win this nationally important race.

We can't outspend Murtha, but we can -- and will -- outsmart him.



P.S. I also have several readers from Washington, DC, some of whom are in John Murtha's office. For them, I always hold out the possibility both of conversion and salvation, politically speaking of course.

NASTY COMMENTS FROM THE BULLY: JACK MURTHA

NOTE: I'VE BEEN GETTING SOME NASTY COMMENTS (ANONYMOUS OF COURSE) THAT MAKE FALSE STATEMENTS ABOUT LT. COL. WILLIAM TROWER RUSSELL AND HIS FAMILY. MY SOFTWARE SHOWS THEY COME FROM THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES SERVER. FRANKLY, IF CONGRESSMAN MURTHA OR ANY OF HIS MINIONS WANT TO MAKE COMMENTS, THEY CAN DO SO AS LONG AS THEY IDENTIFY THEMSELVES. OTHERWISE THEY WILL BE DELETED. JOHN MURTHA IS A COWARD AND A BULLY, AND IF HE THINKS HE CAN INTIMIDATE EITHER ME OR WILLIAM RUSSELL, HE'S EVEN STUPIDER THAN WE THOUGHT. MURTHA HAS BLOOD ON HIS HANDS, AND HE NEEDS TO ANSWER FOR THAT.

IN THE 12TH DISTRICT MURTHA HAS HELPED CREATE A CULTURE OF DEPENDENCE. AMONG SOME DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESS, HE HAS HELPED CREATE A CULTURE OF SURRENDER. BOTH THESE CONDITIONS MUST END.

Stephen R. Maloney
Ambridge, PA

Note: You may contribute to or volunteer for the Russell Crusade by going to http://williamrussellforcongress.com/. Another site you will want to see is: http://murthamustgo.blogospot.com/. When you go to the latter, scroll down to see the comments by USMC hero Justin Sharratt, whom Murtha falsely accused of murder. You can contribute to Russell by going to directly to this link. Anyone who'd like to learn how to assist Lt. Col. Russell should email me at: TalkTop65@aol.com. Thanks.

Radio Appearance: On November 24, 2007, at 7 p.m. (Eastern) Trish Houser (Alaska), Adam Brickley (Colorado), and I (PA) will be on Political Pistachio Radio with Doug Gibbs and his wife (Mrs. Pistachio). It's Internet Talk Radio at its best, and you can find it at http://politicalpistachio.blogspot.com/. The main subject will be the meteoric rise of Gov. Sarah Palin, but I may shoehorn in a couple of comments about the Russell-Murtha race. William Russell will be on the show on Nov. 28. Tell everyone you know in the Western world about these shows. You can call in if you like.

Heather Wilson Blasts Schumer, Russell Battles Murtha, Corruption

Rep. Wilson Angry about Senator’s ‘Free Lunch’ Comment
Schumer Should Apologize to the Troops

Albuquerque, NM – Congresswoman Heather Wilson today called on Sen. Chuck Schumer to apologize for equating military funding for our troops to a “free lunch.” Schumer’s comment was reported today in an Associated Press article about the military funding bill that the House and Senate are currently debating.

“Senator Schumer only wants to fund pay, body armor and chow for the troops if he can put conditions on the money so that they cannot do the mission they have been ordered to do,” said Congresswoman Heather Wilson (R-NM). “Chuck Schumer’s comments about a "free lunch" were offensive, and he should apologize to our men and women in the military.”

Steve's observations: Congresswoman Wilson, from New Mexico's 1st congressional district, is a graduate of the Air Force Academy and an Air Force veteran. Schumer, in contrast, is a life-long politician from New York City. Schumer regularly talks about how he "supports our troops" -- but without actually doing so.

Elected officials who claim to support men and women fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan but in fact oppose their mission, which is to win those wars, are in effect supporting the enemy.

You can support real patriots in this election by going to their web sites and making a small (or, if you wish, a large) contribution. Congresswoman Wilson's site is http://heatherforsenate.com/, and William Trower Russell is at: http://williamrussellforcongress.com/. Consider making a contribution in remembrance of the heroes of 9/11/2001

Specifically, contribute either $9.11 or $20.01 -- or both, which would add up to $29.12. I'll be contributing $58.24 today -- two contributions based on 9/11 -- on top of a large contribution made last month. I hope you'll do the same.

The Russell Campaign will be one of the most financially responsible you'll ever see. Lt. Col. Russell has NOT and WILL NOT, unlike John Murtha, sold out to people bearing bags-full of cash. Murtha attracts fat-cat donors by handing out huge amounts of taxpayer dollars, which has resulted in his being identified as one of the most corrupt members of Congress.

It's time to elect real American Warriors --Heather Wilson and Trower Russell! One of the best ways to support our soldiers is to vote for them.

(Note: Read the post below this one about the critical importance of voter registration in winning tough races.)

IF YOU LIKE WHAT YOU SEE HERE, PLEASE VISIT MY OTHER BLOG SITES: http://smartpolitics101.blogspot.com and http://murthamustgo.blogspot.com.

Sending John Murtha on His Way: Political Guerilla Warfare

One of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington's "Most Corrupt"

Here’s a major mystery for you.

In my own Pennsylvania congressional district (the 4th, west and north of Pittsburgh), the number of votes cast in 2006 were just over 230,000. However, in the 12th District (south and west of Pittsburgh) – the one represented by John Murtha – there were only 200,000 votes.

What happened to the other 30,000 votes in the 12th? After all, every congressional district has about the same number of people (just under 700,000). So why are there dramatically fewer votes in the 12th?

There are several related reasons. One is that there more unregistered adults in the 4th. Another is that many people there don’t exercise their right to vote.

Why don’t they? In their heart of hearts, many residents don’t believe their votes really count. Sadly, they’re more right than wrong.

In John Murtha’s own Johnstown and surrounding Cambria County, the only people – with rare exceptions – who get elected to office are Democrats. In most cases, Democrat officeholders run either unopposed or with token opposition.

In Murtha’s case, he’s “served” the people of the 12th District for 35 years. He almost never has anything like serious opposition. A partial exception was in 2006 when Diana Lynn Irey ran an intense campaign against Murtha, getting nearly 80,000 votes. Murtha got roughly 120,000 votes.

In many ways, Diana, my friend and political ally, out-campaigned Murtha. For example, she got a total of 7,000 contributions that came from every state in the Union. In contrast, Murtha got 6,500 contributions, although his average donations were much larger than Diana’s.

How on earth can William Trower Russell compete with Murtha? One way is to focus on all those unregistered (or registered but non-voting) people in the 12th.

In my previous column, I mentioned “Mel” (Melanie), an unregistered voter who favors Trower Russell. There are tens of thousands of people like her in the 12th. Trower and his supporters need to get them identified, registered, and committed to his campaign.

People like Melanie recognize that much of what Murtha has supposedly “done” for Johnstown and the 12th consists of government handouts. When Murtha is gone, the annual handouts will go with him.

In short, he has done nothing to help ensure that communities get permanent, sustainable jobs. What he’s “accomplished” is to hand out hundreds of millions in taxpayer money to companies that pay him off with lavish campaign donations. (Read the Seattle Times "favor factory" story on how Murtha trades your tax dollars for campaign contributions.) What he does is legal, but of course it's highly immoral.

William Russell differs from Murtha in that he wants to bring REAL jobs to the 12th District – not government-financed, make work jobs. Frankly, most companies – the ones that provide lifetime employment – want nothing to do with a district represented by a corrupt, bullying tax-and-spend liberal like Murtha.

In my chat with Melanie last week, I said, “You know that eventually all those ‘jobs’ Murtha created are going to dry up?” Melanie, a wise young woman, said: “Bingo. You got that right.”

If William and his supporters – of whom I’m certainly one – establish a strong, continuing voter registration program, it will be possible to eliminate a significant portion of Murtha’s lead.

In short, voter registration is a key. The Russell campaign can do so by telling potential voters this: “It’s true that in the past your vote didn’t count. But there’s a ‘new Sheriff in town,’ and this time your vote is going to make a real difference."

Every weekend between now and the election, Trower and his supporters must be out registering -- and energizing -- potential supporters. There will have to be some handholding that might involve taking people to registration centers through the 12th.

In general, every new voter added with bring along at least one more voter -- sometimes a spouse, sometimes a friend from work or school, and sometimes a neighbor. Register 10,000 new votes and, almost magically, the "synergy" results in about 20,000 votes The approach I'm outlining should appeal to people who are registered but have assumed that voting against Murtha is a hopeless cause. Diana Irey brought a good chunk of those people to the polls in 2006 – and Trower needs to bring the rest of them.

To win in the 12th, Trower will need approximately 115,000 votes. That number assumes he will take roughly 8,000 votes from Murtha. It also assumes that most of the new registrants will vote for Trower.

It’s a steep uphill climb, but with a tremendous effort led by Trower and his campaign manager, Larry Stiles (former Marine), it is doable.

Note: I will reprint this on two of my other blogs: MurthaMustGo and SmartPolitics101. In general, my contributions to those sites will be distinctive, but in this case I'm cross posting.

In remembrance of 9/11/2001, I'm asking all my visitors to make a contribution to Trower Russell at his site. I'm suggesting either $9.11 or $20.01 (or more, if you wish). Thanks for your support!

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One of the arguments used to support the idea Murtha is unbeatable derives from the very large registration edge held by Democrats in the 12th congressional district. However, a good-sized number of those "registered Democrats" rarely vote Democratic.

The same is true in my own district, the 4th. There are about 50,000 more registered Democrats than Republican. However, Republican Melissa Hart won three congressional elections in the 4th -- and lost only by a slender margin in 2006, a very bad year for Republicans nationally.

In the state of Kentucky, there are 1.6 million registered Democrats and barely one million GOP registrants. Yet Kentucky has four (out of six) Republican congressional representatives, and two Republican U.S. Senators. Until recently, the Govenor of the state was also a Republican, although he was unseated because of a hiring scandal.

Yes, there are more Democrats in the 12th congressional district, but that fact alone will not determine the election results. If Trower Russell can sell the idea that he is a superior candidate -- something that's absolutely true -- he will win.

John Murtha: Bringing Home the Bacon or Bringing Home Soldiers in Body Bags?

NOTE! I'm starting a new daily column called Smart Politics 101, which you can see here. It deals with practical politics and specific campaigns. Please visit. (http://smartpolitics101.blogspot.com)

Urgent Bulletin: Please go to the MurthaMustGo site (click) and see the column I just put up (Saturday). I'm quite candidly asking people to send contributions to Lt. Col. William Trower Russell. He and his campaign manager, Larry Stiles, are not going to waste a dime in this campaign. I'll also be asking people from all over the country to spend a couple of day's "vacation time" going door-to-door in the 12th congressional district of PA. This campaign is going to be won by "retail politics," confronting Pennsylvanian's face-to-face and asking them sincerely to vote for Trower -- and to contribute whatever they can afford to him. God bless you all! I'll be contributing $29.12 (in remembrance of 9/11/2001 (see below for significance). That will be in addition to my earlier contribution of $100.00. I urge everyone reading this to go to Trower's site to make a small (or, if you want, a large) contribution today.

Coming Next Week: "John Murtha: Bringing Home the Bacon -- or Bringing Home American Soldiers in Body Bags?" John Murtha looks at politics as a game in which he always wins. But it ceases to be a game when he makes statements that encourage Al Qaeda and result in the deaths of men and women serving their country. America is winning the war in Iraq, and that has people like John Murtha very worried. (That will be the subject of Monday's column. Scroll down to see how you can contribute to Trower Russell's campaign.) If you want to know exactly what I'm talking about please proceed to MurthaMustGo, scroll down and read Sean Hannity's interview with Justin Sharratt (USMC), one of the "Haditha Marines.

NOTE: On my blogroll, note the rapidly growing number of bloggers listed "4 Russell," which means they have endorsed the candidacy of William Trower Russell. By next spring, we hope to have 200-250 bloggers. Let me know if yuo want to join!









NOTE: THIS WEEKEND (AT THE TOP OF THIS COLUMN, I'LL BE PUTTING UP SOME PICTURES FROM MICHAEL YON, WHO WRITES ABOUT AND PHOTOGRAPHS THE RE-OPENING OF ST. JOHN'S CATHOLIC CHURCH IN THE DORA SECTION OF BAGHADAD. DORA WAS ONCE A CENTER OF AL QAEDA-INITIATED VIOLENCE BUT IS NOW PEACEFUL. WE ARE WINNING THE WAR IN IRAQ! AND THESE BEAUTIFUL CHILDREN ABOVE WILL BE THE MAIN BENEFICIARIES. NOTE THE PHOTO OF AN IRAQI GIRL PLAYING WITH HER SISTER'S PIGTAIL. I STRONGLY URGE YOU TO VISIT MICHAEL'S SUPER SITE.



In a chat last night (Thurs.) with Russell Campaign Manager (and former Marine) Larry Stiles, I said this: "Larry, when I contact people about the campaign I'm very blunt. I say, 'In lieu of flowers, please send money!'"


Jim Fryar sent me an e-mail this morning. His comment about Lt. Col. William "Trower" Russell was: "This guy is worth fighting for." And how! Jim mentioned he had "borrowed" some of my material -- something I hope many people will do. This is my response to Jim regarding last night's well-attended meeting in Johnstown in support of Trower's candidacy.

Jim, God bless you for your support of Lt. Col. Russell. I was at the meeting in Johnstown last night where "Trower" and others spoke, and I found it one of the more inspiring nights of my life.

Trower is a warrior with a distinguished record of service to his country, but he's also "normal American" who can identify with the people of the 12th District. You're very welcome to borrow anything I do.

If you can see your way to making a small contribution to his campaign, doable at his web site, that would also be helpful.

Because of William's (and his wife's) direct experience, I've suggested people might want to make contributions based on 9/11/2001 -- either $9.11 or $20.01 (or both, which would add up to $29.12. The best way to do is to go to Trower's web site (and bring your credit or debit card.)

Larry Stiles, the campaign manager, wisely said last night that, Moneybags Murtha, they're not going to spend the usual "gazillion" dollars on the campaign. Murtha has sold out to every lobbyist with a handful of cash, whereas Trower is NOT FOR SALE.

They hope instead to get 1,000 volunteers to go out and win this effort. As last night showed with the many enthusiastic people in attendance, the campaign is well on its way to that 1,000 number.

I met young Marine who was "in the building," J. J. Ramirez, who was there with his dad (and Army veteran). I pried out of J.J. that he had been in Iraq for THREE tours. He served mainly in Al Anbar province, perhaps the major success story for the U.S. military.

J.J., a quiet guy, was not bragging or asking for praise. He's the kind of man responsible for the freedom and security we enjoy, and the same is true of William Russell, Larry Stiles, Craig Minnick, and many others in attendance.

Again, Jim (Fryar) I'm honored that you found my material useful. I'm writing a lot about exactly how this election can be won.

Before the dinner/meeting, my wife and I talked a lot to the young bartender, Melanie -- even though I don't drink -- and found out she was very impressed with Lt. Col. Russell and not impressed at all by Murtha. She mentioned that she wasn't registered, and I told her we would rectify that soon.

There are a lot of "Melanies" out there (and I talked to a few of them last night), and we need to get them registered and then get them to the polls.

As my wife and I drove down the long, windy hill into downtown Jamestown, we saw a new building that said "UPMC John Murtha Cancer Center." As far as I know, John Murtha did not contribute a dime of his own money to that facility. Instead, it came from taxpayer dollars, so I thought it might be a good idea to rename it "The U.S. Taxpayers' Cancer Center."

UPMC has contributed more than $192,000 to John Murtha's campaigns. In short, they took some of the taxpayer dollars they got through Murtha and transferred them back to him.

That's the kind of cornyism and cynicism that has soured many Americans on government. We need to get these points across to voters who care about good government. I think on Election Day, 2008, we will all be up past our bedtime, but I believe William has a good chance of emerging victorious.

steve maloney
ambridge, pa