Video: What if Murtha’s cronies advertised?
posted at 10:55 am on July 23, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
One great perq from having Congressmen in your pocket, if you’re a lobbyist, is that you don’t have to spend much on ad campaigns to attract clients. A lobbyist with a proven track record of reaping Congressional pork will have the Emersonian path beaten to their door. But what if they did have to advertise? PMA, the group tied to John Murtha and a series of not-coincidental federal investigations, might have a commercial that looks something like this:
We’ve written plenty about Murtha, Pete Visclosky, and Jim Moran and their ties to PMA, so this doesn’t really need much explanation. Great idea and good execution, but the ad has kind of a 1980s feel to it, I think. For now, you either need a Sham-Wow pitchman, or a softer motif with parks, sunny days, couples strolling hand in hand, and a Congressman or two selling themselves as “electoral dysfunction”. I sense an opportunity for an entire series of web ads …
Blowback
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Niiiice. Like it. Short and to the point.
Sugar Land on July 23, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Love to see ol’ John in an orange jumpsuit. What are the chances, ya think?
Akzed on July 23, 2009 at 11:00 AM
Can’t wait for their IPO. I want some!
Shy Guy on July 23, 2009 at 11:01 AM
Great idea, but you are right about the 80′s feel.
myrenovations on July 23, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Moran is my congress critter. It’s a pitiful thing.
perries on July 23, 2009 at 11:04 AM
“…but the ad has kind of a 1980s feel to it, I think.”
Ed, is there anything you appreciate as it is or is your ego so vast there isn’t a thing you see that you couldn’t improve on? I’m amazed that God was able to design the universe without your help…or am I assuming too much?
SKYFOX on July 23, 2009 at 11:07 AM
Ouch!!!
robo on July 23, 2009 at 11:08 AM
Most ethical congress EVAH!
wildcat84 on July 23, 2009 at 11:08 AM
I understand that he consulted Obama instead of me. Which would you have preferred? ;-)
You do realize that this is an opinion site, right? And that I give my honest opinions?
Ed Morrissey on July 23, 2009 at 11:13 AM
You do realize that this is an opinion site, right? And that I give my honest opinions?
Ed Morrissey on July 23, 2009
My question stands. Of course we want your honest opinion, but do you think that requires you to nitpick everything?
SKYFOX on July 23, 2009 at 11:18 AM
Skyfox sounds like a Palin apologist-type who, being so blinded by their undying love for everything Republican, does not know how to take constructive criticism….sad, really…
TheGreatWhiteFleet on July 23, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Lots of blogs out there to pick from. Some even have moderators who ban posters for being disrespectful. Be thankful.
a capella on July 23, 2009 at 11:24 AM
Got nothing to do with Palin supporters but a lot to do with irrelevant whining.
a capella on July 23, 2009 at 11:26 AM
OT:
Fox is reporting the Democrats may forego their August vacation, and stay in DC to get the health care bill passed.
Looks like someone doesn’t want to go home and face their constituency.
fogw on July 23, 2009 at 11:33 AM
“Chill brah.” I’m sure we all agree with the message, and that’s the important thing. So what if Ed makes a comment about the poor quality of the video particularly when the quality did suck? BFD my friend.
Shock the Monkey on July 23, 2009 at 11:33 AM
Mine too. Might as well live in the District for all the good my opinions matter to the socialist pig.
highhopes on July 23, 2009 at 11:34 AM
A little OT
More FBI roundups in NJ. Most are Dems, naturally, but at least one Repub (Van Pelt) thrown in for good measure.
As bad as Murtha and his cronies are (and they ARE bad,) they don’t hold a candle to the statewide, stinking sewer of corruption that is NJ.
*sniff*
IrishEi on July 23, 2009 at 11:38 AM
I think their only shot is watering it down for public consumption but keeping the framework in place, ramming it though, and adding back on to it later. The whole thing needs to be dumped and start over, but that’ll never happen.
a capella on July 23, 2009 at 11:41 AM
Continuing the O/T with respect to Mr. Morrissey’s post on Murtha’s “mishaps”……this health care bill being “crammed/rushed” through by Nancy Pelosi and the House is possibly the single most important piece of legislation that will effect all of us for a lifetime. As Fogw suggest, Democrats don’t want to go home without having “something” to say that they’ve accomplished, (right or wrong). They also know that given time and reflection to READ THE CONTENTS OF THE BILL, the constituents will begin to understand what a waste taxpayer money and the amount of government control the Democrats and the President is attempting to gain. Write, email, or call your local representatives and let them know that they should scrap this whole process and START OVER.
I will continue this important/critical debate in a proper forum.
Rovin on July 23, 2009 at 11:53 AM
Stick to blogging, Ed.
Advertising, especially headed for the young, needs that Ron Burgundy feel.
Just watch.
bluelightbrigade on July 23, 2009 at 11:56 AM
I think their only shot is watering it down for public consumption but keeping the framework in place, ramming it though, and adding back on to it later. The whole thing needs to be dumped and start over, but that’ll never happen.
a capella on July 23, 2009 at 11:41 AM
—–
I’m wondering if the disaster can be held up in court long enough for the congress to turn over in 2010 and 2012…..
Mew
acat on July 23, 2009 at 11:57 AM
I like it.
Dopavash on July 23, 2009 at 12:03 PM
I see Colonel Bill Russell is running against Murtha again. He almost took Murtha down last time, until lots of big money funded lots of ACORN get-out-the vote action.
By the way, upon learning that Russell would go at it again, Murtha’s chief of staff told him – to his face,
“What are you going to do when we get a new Secretary of the Army seated and have your ass recalled to active duty?”
guntotinglibertarian on July 23, 2009 at 12:05 PM
SKYFOX, you’re entitled to your viewpoint.
Ed and Allah tick me off sometimes, too.
But let’s give them credit for their hard work, too. They helm the best political blogsite on the web. It would be unnatural for them to do what they do and not ever express their own opinions.
guntotinglibertarian on July 23, 2009 at 12:10 PM
The Murtha gang is bad. William Jefferson’s family down in Louisiana is probably worse because they operated at all levels of government. These NY/NJ people are worse still. BUT NOTHING COMPARES TO THE FILTHY LIAR IN THE WHITE HOUSE AND HIS CHICAGO GANG OF STREET THUGS.
highhopes on July 23, 2009 at 12:14 PM
Oh Nice! As if a Congressman could pull that one off. Not even the filthy liar in the White House would be able to justify the ensuing media storm if politics are taken to that level.
That being said, the best comeback Russell could make would be: What are you going to do when Murtha’s ass is in jail?
highhopes on July 23, 2009 at 12:17 PM
Ed, you don’t even know the half of it. A guy like Paul Magliochetti gets business because Jack Murtha tells people to hire him. The really well connected Hill staffers who leave to start lobbying firms never have to do any marketing. Their old boss does it for them.
I’ve seen this firsthand. When I was lobbying, I represented a very large company and my firm had a very large retainer contract with them. We met with a powerful Congressman who, behind my back, sent messages to my client that they should fire me and hire his former chief of staff who was a lobbyist. Luckily for me, they didn’t. That Congressman and his former CoS are now in jail. And Jack Murtha ought to be there too.
rockmom on July 23, 2009 at 1:37 PM
The problem with Russell is that he isn’t from western, pa.
I am from Johnstown, PA and I have previously worked at one
of the defense companies that he helped bring to Johnstown.
Russell also has to fight the local Republican party in Johnstown. The Gleasons have always helped Murtha by running
a nobody on the Republican side.
It is sad to see my hometown held hostage by Murtha. Many would like to vote out Murtha but out of fear of losing some/all of the Defense contractors that Murtha’s pork has brought in they like it or not still vote for the guy.
What they fail to understand is how little Murtha has done for the area minus the defense pork companies.
If I could find a job back in the Johnstown area I would consider attempting to run against Murtha. Anyone that goes up against Murtha and the local republican party has to accept being thrown in the mud by Murtha and his ardent supporters.
joest73 on July 23, 2009 at 1:46 PM
Thank God nobody on the GOP side is bought and paid for. Godless B*stards!
RufusW on July 23, 2009 at 3:01 PM
Iliked the ad.Right to the point.After all, there really isn’t any difference between Congress and the Mafia, except I believe, the mafia has more honor.
Jeff from WI on July 23, 2009 at 3:50 PM
I like the ’80s feel, as you say. No pitchman means less information. You want more information. But in the case of PMA you shouldn’t ask. Specifics will get you indited. In fact, they should give a little fine print scroll at the end:
Don’t ask questions.
Specifics will get you indited.
Nepotism encouraged.
I do think the 3 Musketearmarks could be made more clear on what position in govt they hold, for how long, and their state (print is hard to read). Also, a scroll of govt committees would be truth in advertising. I like.
FeFe on July 23, 2009 at 6:44 PM