Thomas Manion, a corporate Vice President at huge pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson, has announced he is running for Congress against Patrick Murphy in the 8th Congressional District. Manion, head of the Information Systems operations at the Big Pharma corporation, moved to Bucks County in 1990 after thrity years in the Marines. He is still a Colonel in the Marine Reserves and supports the Iraq War and President Bush. He lost his son in the war.
Manion seems to be running for two purposes: to vindicate the loss of his son's life and to stop national health care. Iraq and health care are two of the four biggest issues this year and Manion is on the wrong side of both. We do not know where he stands on the economy or immigration but I suspect he will not look good on those either.
Why would the people of th Eighth Congressional District elect someone who supports the failed policies of the past when Congressman Patrick Murphy, one of the shining lights for the future, has made a deep, positive, lasting impression in Washington? Murphy has shown the courage he first displayed while serving in Iraq to take a strong stand to end the occupation.
Tom Manion, to me, seems to be running so he can justify why his son lost his life. Travis Manion, like the other 3,000+ American soldiers killed in Iraq, died for nothing and nothing Tom Manion can do can change that fact. He is grasping at straws thinking running for Congress so he can vindicate the disaster in Iraq and honor his son can accomplish anything positive. He will be one more tool of the health care establishment blocking access to health care for all while he votes to send more sons and daughters to their premature deaths in Fallujah, Ramadi and Baghdad. Bad choice.
Gee, John, why don't you just spit in a glass so the Indians of South America will have something to dip their poisoned arrows into? You are hilarious. Why don't you hit Manion with your purse!
Posted by: one nasty beast | January 21, 2008 at 10:20 AM
You certainly live up to your name One Nasty Beast.
Posted by: John Morgan | January 21, 2008 at 11:02 AM
I do not, shut up.
Posted by: one nasty beast | January 21, 2008 at 11:09 AM
I think repub candidates like him are all about keeping all profits high in heathcare and pharma industries. They are very desperate to win back some seats in Congress.
Finding a former military person with a son who died in the Iraq War just adds to the resume.
Its all about candidates who favor big corporate profits!
Posted by: ap | January 21, 2008 at 06:09 PM
I think repub candidates like him are all about keeping all profits high in heathcare and pharma industries. They are very desperate to win back some seats in Congress.
Finding a former military person with a son who died in the Iraq War just adds to the resume.
Its all about candidates who favor big corporate profits!
Posted by: ap | January 21, 2008 at 06:09 PM
I find it deeply disturbing that you have decided to hit so low below the belt before this campaign has even got under way. To say that Manion's son "died for nothing". Real class. He died so you have the freedom to sit at home and spew your venom on the internet.
Posted by: Joe C. | January 22, 2008 at 01:44 PM
No one died in Iraq defending my freedom. Iraq was NOT a clear and present danger to our country or me. This is an illegal war under international war. It was a war of aggression and imperialism.
It was up to the people of Iraq to change their government if they were that unhappy. We aren't the ones who decide what governments other nations have. Sovereignty allows that decision to be theirs unless they attack us. Iraq did NOT attack us.
Why does Mr. Manion want to inflict the same grief they went through on other families? That is his objective by running for Congress and trying to extend this war and occupation. He must answer to that in this campaign.
Posted by: John Morgan | January 22, 2008 at 02:15 PM
Murphy is a disgrace. All he wants is a lifetime career on the taxpayer's dole. He has done nothing for Bucks county, and spends all his time Kow- Towing for Pelosi and her mignions.
Bucks county needs real businessman like Thomas Manion, and not populists like Murphy.
Posted by: Bucks_County_TaxPayer | February 11, 2008 at 02:03 PM
"On the taxpayer's dole" like he was when he was serving in Iraq? In that case Mr. Manion is also on the "taxpayer's dole" also because he is in the service. Remember, taxpayers also pay the wages for our armed forces people. That isn't necessarily a bad thing to be on. Our senior citizens are also "on the taxpayer's dole" if they collect Social Security and Medicare. The amount of public monies channeled to the business and corporate communities dwarf the amounts spent on Congress. Agricultural welfare alone is a staggering amount.
If Mr. Manion is against people being "on the taxpayer's dole" are you advocating that he not accept any salary or benefits if he becomes a Congressman?
You know, some people are dedicated to public service. They are called to it because they feel a deep obligation to help their communities and fellow man. It is an honorable profession. You should not demean those who choose to serve.
Posted by: John Morgan | February 11, 2008 at 02:12 PM
I may not be with him on all the issues, but Pat Murphy has been working hard for Lower Bucks, and for our veterans.
Seems like this Manion fellow is one of those ritzy McMansion types. Don't know how well that'll play in Levittown.
Posted by: Jack | February 13, 2008 at 11:47 PM
You comments about Tom Manions son Travis are about as misguided as you are about Murphy's lack of light. Murphy is a tool of his party and totes the left wing (Moveon.org) crazy agenda, not a Democratic one. Murphy is trying to prime for bigger office. For his brief military service, as an attorney, he repeatedly votes not to fund the troops, disgraceful. Even Rep. Sestak, disgrees with the war, has never voted against funding for the troops. Murphy is a hypocrite and does not deserve to be mentioned in the same breathe as Travis Manion..and yes, I am a veteran as well...
Posted by: don | February 17, 2008 at 08:15 PM
Murphy was in Iraq and understands the war was misguided. Nearly 4,000 Americans have died for the corrupt puppet govt. I'm sorry Manion's son died in vain but forcing other5 families to suffer the same grief is not smart, good policy, or even sane.
The difference between Murphy and Manion is that the Congressman wants to end the suffering and his challenger does not.
Posted by: John Morgan | February 17, 2008 at 08:26 PM
I think your observations are astute and brave. When folks like "Joe C." have nothing substantive to defend their indefensible positions, they attack their opponent’s integrity, patriotism, honesty, etc. In doing so, they often lack integrity and honesty and their behavior is itself unpatriotic. For the first time in my life (I'm 39), people like Patrick Murphy, Donna Edwards, Barack Obama, etc. are speaking loudly and forcefully about the ills of our government and the problems we face as a nation. Now it seems people are actually listening. We should all be grateful to George Bush for making things so terrible in this country that complacency is no longer an option. Thanks for your website.
Posted by: T. Allen | February 21, 2008 at 11:13 AM
Thank you for visiting and commenting T. Allen.
Posted by: John Morgan | February 21, 2008 at 11:17 AM
Murphy is all about towing the Nancy Pelosi line...evidenced by his co-sponsorship of the SAVE ACT ...which is what the American people have been asking for for the last three years...but then, Pelosi has strong-armed Democrats like Murphy and has prohibited them from signing the discharge petition to get it onto the House floor for a vote. Murphy doesn't have the courage to do what his constituents want on this issue...he refuses to do against the orders of Pelosi. For what? To grant another amnesty (Pelosi has this in the works again..as is they didn't get the message from the American people...when both Senate Amnesty bills failed) to illegal aliens? Murphy is now star-struck with Obama and of course, Obama is a radical, open-borders, pro-illegal alien supporter...Murphy will not go against Obama's stance...in the hopes of attaining some type of political payback for his loyalty. Shameful.
Posted by: legalatina | April 06, 2008 at 09:21 PM
..and so Manion is going to go with the majority of these constituents who are against the Iraq War? Don't insult my intelligence with such drivel. 67% of Americans are against this war but you're supporting someone who represents the other 33% and say Congressmen should go with the majority of their constituents on all issues? You don't want a Congressman you want a robot.
Posted by: John Morgan | April 06, 2008 at 09:42 PM