My understanding is that he had over a 1000 signatures, but that a bunch were thrown out because they were Independents or unregistered, and they had to be Republicans, but I have yet to find an article confirming that.  Russell ultimately ended up seven short in his tally.

So who pushed to have him thrown off the ticket?   Seems we have a few Republicans, alongside Murtha's sitters.  Typical, I wonder if they too feed from the vast trough Murtha has built for himself. Wouldn't surprise me, PA loves pork, and Murtha's the least kosher guy in DC. 

The challenge to Russell’s petitions came from two local Republicans and was backed by Murtha’s campaign.

Russell can still run as a write-in candidate if he collects 1000 signatures, and he's weighing that option, but I'm thinking its pretty much a done deal, the guy was struggling on his own with party support in a strongly Democrat district, and Murtha has that district bought, so it was gonna be a huge uphill battle anyway.  So, looks like were stuck being embarrassed by the jackass for another two years, at least.

1 That's a real shame. Someone at the state party should have lost their job for that one. Certainly they could have identified 1000 Republicans in that district from databases.

2 Yeah...sucks.

3

Ugh. The Republican party sucks.

Do you have any idea how disheartening it is to be a Rhode Island Republican? The GOP up here is the stupid party on steroids! They don't even try. Every four years, some hapless boob goes up against Patrick Kennedy and the Party doesn't lift a finger to help. Last time, two guys ran on their own dime...and the Party acted like it was in bad taste to run against the dumbest man in Congress who just had two DUI's in a row and admitted a drinking problem.

But, Oh! The NRSC sure found some money to interfere in the primaries when a conservative challenged the biggest RINO in the Senate. Got to protect our boy, don'tcha know?

I'm starting to think McCain is a symptom, not a problem. That the GOP is genuinely happier looking left than looking right for solutions.

Sorry to unload on your blog. This election is really getting to me. I've got a hair across my ass the size of a suspension bridge.

4

S. Weasel, you and me both. I want a bumper sticker that says, "Election '08: Embrace the Horror". We're doomed.

I forget who said it, but we've figured out that we can vote ourselves bread and circuses and we're going in captain.

Actually, we've forgotten that we can't vote ourselves bread and circuses, but that's just semantical quibbling.

I came in intending to comment on the Murtha pic and now S. Weasel has me all agitated again. This election is not even funny except in the dark, "We're doomed, doomed I tells ya" way. I'm also interested in seeing how it happens.

I figure, a civil war where the commies from China and Russia come in to "help". I really look forward to the NY Times' editorial calling me a hypocrite for backing the invasion of Iraq by the US yet being against commie China invading the US. That'll be hysterical as I'm hiding in my hole in the ground.

(Deeeeeeeeeep Breeeeeaaaaaatttthhhhhhhh)

As for the Murtha pic, I love Allah's photoshop of that pic where he has a funny hat on with a flag sticking out of his finger that reads "Bang!".

That's just funny and perfect for that pic.

 

5 Yeah...I'm starting to think the GOP is gonna spend another 40 years in the wilderness.

6 My understanding is that it had to be a Republican challenging his petition (for the Repub primary.)

Anyhow, much as the PA-GOP has their heads up their butts, Russell is mostly to blame for this. He replaced his campaign manager in January when the petition period ran Jan 22 - Feb 12.

I was supposed to be a volunteer for the campaign, but never heard from them again after the campaign manager was booted. The ex-CM called me about a week after it happened and told me what was up.

The replacement camp manager was well-known political martyr Peg Luksik; a multiple attempt 3rd party candidate for Governor and admirer of Ron Paul. (I get the impression that Russell favored Huckabee, tho I may be wrong.)

After Luksik took over, the focus shifted from the economy and the war to education and abortion, which -surprise! - are Luksik's pet issues.

The candidate meet & greet event drew only a handful of people and was widely reported to be a failure.

He apparently tried getting signatures mostly in Johnstown which is not only Murtha-ville but is the most Dem part of the district.

He didn't file on Feb 12 but relied on Gov Rendell's "Hillary Special" "weather" extension. I wondered whether he would even file at all.

Frankly, there was a plan in place, a long shot for sure, but Russell threw it out the window.

7 Yeah, I normally pay more attention to national news, but I've been dipping into state politics a bit this year.  Beyond that, I'm in Northcentral PA, so Murtha's district is a bit away.

8 5th Congressional District?

Any thoughts on the nine dwarves?  I'm at the southern tip of the 5th here in Lewistown.

9 Nah, I'm up in 10th, we have Hackett and Meuser to choose from.  I'm leaning Hackett.

10 We've really gotta get Carney out.  It was a fluke that he got in in the first place...stupid damn Sherwood, but we need to get him out.  Oh yeah, wanna blogroll exchange?

11 exchange sounds good.

12 Cool, I'll do that now.

13 http://http://www.topdesignerhandbag.com