Rep. Murtha vs Sen. Graham on MTP. Quite a contrast in military service.

[trof]

Murtha: Decorated combat veteran.

Murtha left Washington and Jefferson College in 1952 to join the Marine Corps and was awarded the American Spirit Honor Medal for displaying outstanding leadership qualities during training. Murtha rose through the ranks to become a drill instructor at Parris Island and was selected for Officer Candidate School at Quantico, Virginia. Murtha was then assigned to the Second Marine Division, Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Murtha remained in the Marine Corps Reserves, and ran a small business, Johnstown Minute Car Wash. He also attended the University of Pittsburgh on the G.I. Bill, and received a degree in economics. Murtha later took graduate courses from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Murtha married his wife Joyce on 10 June 1955. They have three children and live in Johnstown.

In 1959, Murtha, then a captain, took command of the 34th Special Infantry Company, Marine Corps Reserves, in Johnstown. He remained in the Reserves after his discharge from active duty until he volunteered for service in the Vietnam War, serving from 1966 to 1967, serving as a battalion staff officer (S-2 Intelligence Section), receiving the Bronze Star with Valor device, two Purple Hearts and the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. He retired from the Reserves as a colonel in 1990, receiving the Navy Distinguished Service Medal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Murtha


Graham: Desk job

Graham has served in the United States Air Force since 1982, serving on active duty until 1988, and then in the South Carolina Air National Guard and as an Air Force reservist. During the Gulf War, he was recalled to active duty, serving as a Judge Advocate at McIntire Air National Guard Station in Eastover, South Carolina, where he helped brief departing pilots on the laws of war. In 2004, Graham received a promotion to Colonel in the U.S. Air Force Reserves at a White House ceremony officiated by President George W. Bush.

While in the Air Force Standby Reserve, Graham served as an appellate judge on the Air Force Court of Criminal Appeals. In September 2006 the United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces ruled that it was a violation of the Incompatibility Clause of the Constitution, which states that "no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office", for Graham to have been a judge on the criminal appeals court.<1>
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindsey_Graham#Military_service

[TheVirginian]

1. That's not really fair

Given that Graham was too young for military service in Vietnam. He was active duty for six years; its not his fault that those six years were in peacetime. That experience is a lot more than many members of Congress, both Democratic and Republican.

[JNelson6563]

2. And yet

he loves him some war! The fact remains, he's never seen action and doesn't seem to have any issues with continuing to send our brave men and women into the meat-grinder.

Then there's Murtha. Been there, done that and has a care for our soldiers as well as the damage this dibacle is doing to our country.

Julie

[LiberalFighter]

3. Lindsey Graham lied about the United States Constitution

He stated that the Constitution took from 1776 to 1789. LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR LIAR

The truth?
14 May 1787 - Federal Convention called to revised the Articles of Confederation
29 May 1787 - Proposal to draft Constitution
17 Sep 1787 - Convention adjourned with Constitution signed by the delegates
21 Jun 1788 - Constitution ratified by requiste number of states.

Prior to the United States Constitution it operated under the Articles of Confederation.


Differences between Articles of Confederation and United States Constitution

Formal name of the nation
Articles: The United States of America
Constitution: (not specified, but referred to in the Preamble as "the United States of America")

Legislature
Articles: Unicameral, called Congress
Constitution: Bicameral, called Congress, divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate

Members of Congress
Articles: Between two and seven members per state
Constitution: Two Senators per state, Representatives apportioned according to population of each state

Voting in Congress
Articles: One vote per state
Constitution: One vote per Representative or Senator

Appointment of members
Articles: All appointed by state legislatures, in the manner each legislature directed
Constitution: Representatives elected by popular vote, Senators appointed by state legislatures

Term of legislative office
Articles: One year
Constitution: Two years for Representatives, six for Senators

Term limit for legislative office
Articles: No more than three out of every six years
Constitution: None

Congressional Pay
Articles: Paid by states
Constitution: Paid by the federal government

When Congress is not in session...
Articles: A Committee of States had the full powers of Congress
Constitution: The President can call for Congress to assemble

Chair of legislature
Articles: President of Congress
Constitution: Speaker of the House of Representatives, Vice President is President of the Senate

Executive
Articles: None
Constitution: President

National Judiciary
Articles: Maritime judiciary established
Constitution: Federal judiciary established, including Supreme Court

Adjudicator of disputes between states
Articles: Congress
Constitution: Supreme Court

New States
Articles: Admitted upon agreement of nine states (special exemption provided for Canada)
Constitution: Admitted upon agreement of Congress

Amendment
Articles: When agreed upon by all states
Constitution: When agreed upon by three-fourths of all states

Navy
Articles: Congress authorized to build a navy; states authorized to equip warships to counter piracy
Constitution: Congress authorized to build a navy; states not allowed to keep ships of war

Army
Articles: Congress to decide on size of force and to requisition troops from each state according to population
Constitution: Congress authorized to raise and support armies

Power to coin money
Articles: United States and the states
Constitution: United States only

Ex post facto laws
Articles: Not forbidden
Constitution: Forbidden of both the states and the Congress

Bills of attainder
Articles: Not forbidden
Constitution: Forbidden of both the states and the Congress

Taxes
Articles: Apportioned by Congress, collected by the states
Constitution: Laid and collected by Congress

Ratification
Articles: Unanimous consent required
Constitution: Consent of nine states required

[A wise Man]

4. I'm a Nam vet

If we knew that our lives were in the hands of jackasses like Graham we would have packed up our M16's and left Viet Nam and used them on him.