Murtha

by digby

Democratic Rep. John P. Murtha, who represented Pennsylvania's 12th district for 36 years, died today at the age of 77. He died in an Arlington, Va. hospital with his family at his side after suffering complications from gallbladder surgery.

He was a complicated political figure, but he will be remembered for something very brave: it's impossible to overestimate how important it was to have this conservative, ex-marine, super patriot Democrat step up on Iraq at a time when the country needed him. He led the way for the Democrats to finally find the courage to oppose Bush and I'm not sure it would have happened without him.

RIP

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