JUST A BUBP IN THE ROAD....Last week, Rep. Jean Schmidt (R-Ohio) lashed out at Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.) on the House floor, and relayed remarks she claimed to have received from Marine Colonel Danny Bubp: "[He] asked me to send Congressman Murtha a message, that cowards cut and run, Marines never do."

As Avedon noted yesterday, Col. Bubp's background suggests he's a fairly predictable right-wing activist, a point which seemed to have been lost in the shuffle. But the story gets even more entertaining today -- Bubp is hanging Schmidt out to dry.

[A] spokeswoman for the colonel, Danny R. Bubp, said Ms. Schmidt had misconstrued their conversation.

While Mr. Bubp, a Republican member of the Ohio House of Representatives, opposes a quick withdrawal for forces, "he did not mention Congressman Murtha by name nor did he mean to disparage Congressman Murtha," said Karen Tabor, his spokeswoman. "He feels as though the words that Congresswoman Schmidt chose did not represent their conversation."

In fact, he also told reporters that there was "no discussion of him personally being a coward or about any person being a coward."

Apparently, everyone on the right is in full retreat from their Murtha attacks. Is it possible that some folks just can't be Swift-Boated?

And speaking of last week's floor theatrics, some House Republicans seem anxious to do the whole thing all over again.

The Republican who initiated last week's overwhelming House vote to keep U.S. troops in Iraq said he will do it again if Democrats don't cease their calls for withdrawal.

"If they start this again, we'll call the vote again," said Rep. J.D. Hayworth, Arizona Republican, whom members credited with suggesting holding a vote. "As far as I'm concerned, if they haven't learned from this, if they go back to this cheap talk, I would be more than happy to call for another vote."

Something to look forward to.

—Steve Benen 11:22 AM Permalink | Trackbacks