Our thoughts are with the family, friends, staff and colleagues of Rep. John Murtha (D-Pa.), who passed away today at Virginia Hospital Center after suffering complications from gallbladder surgery. He was 77. Murtha was a decorated Vietnam War veteran who rose to prominence in Congress by earning a reputation as the “King of Pork,” a nickname bestowed upon him due to his ability to expertly funnel earmarks to his home district. More recently, Murtha…

Are the stars aligning? We’re slow to trust Tom Davis after he toyed with our heart last week, saying first that a vote for D.C. was a sure thing, then warning us that the road was still quite long and fraught with danger. One thing’s for sure, however. Davis is doing his damnedest to build momentum (Tomentum?) for the bipartisan bill, and he’s close to convincing us it’s a real possibility. Yesterday, with District officials…