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This belongs to you. Take it back...
massa 
Mon Mar 08, 2010 at 16:26:47 PM EST
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I like Eric Massa. I really do. So I feel a sense of dread and sadness when I see how this story is slowing but surely spiraling out of control. Massa's story is becoming more and more ridiculous, layered, angry, and scorned. This is a classic slash-and-burn tactic and it's very sad to see.
In roughly 12 hours, Massa has changed his narrative from "congressman resigning in disgrace" to angry, Howard Beale-esque truth-teller who'd simply had enough and will take his party to the woodshed. Left unsettled: the incredibly important issue of whether he'll resign today, as he said he would, or he'll try to bring down the health care bill by staying in Congress.
source
Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.) says the House ethics committee is investigating him for inappropriate comments he made to a male staffer on New Year's Eve - and that he's the victim of a power play by Democratic leaders who want him out of Congress because he's a "no" vote on health care reform.
"Mine is now the deciding vote on the health care bill," Massa, who on Friday announced his intention to resign, said during a long monologue on radio station WKPQ. "And this administration and this House leadership have said, quote-unquote, they will stop at nothing to pass this health care bill. And now they've gotten rid of me, and it will pass. You connect the dots."
source
In a heated, rambling monologue on his weekly show on Hornell radio station WKPQ-FM, Massa described the conversation that he said led to an investigation. The show is listed on Massa's official schedule, and a link to a recording -- http://drop.io/massa3710 -- was provided by WHAM-TV.
After dancing with a bridesmaid, Massa said, he returned to a table full of male staffers who he said had been drinking heavily.
"A staff member made an intonation that maybe I should be chasing after the bridesmaid," Massa said. He responded by saying, "Well, what I really ought to be doing is frakking you." He said the complaint came not from that staffer, but from another at the table. source
There's really not a whole lot I can add here. I think there's probably a lot of valid things that Massa is saying but the fact that he's decided now to go on the attack and is sitting down for an hour long discussion with Glenn Beck doesn't pass the smell test with me. It smells like conspiracy-paranoia-last ditch attempt to save his skin. And for that, I find the whole situation utterly depressing. When someone who comes across as straight forward, active, and bold as Eric Massa can get caught up in this sort of insanity, it makes me wonder how we can trust those that represent us. If not Eric Massa, then who?
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Wed Jan 28, 2009 at 16:15:28 PM EST
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Last Friday, when Senator Kirsten Gillibrand was appointed, I was busy in Rochester with some of my very favorite people:
Yes, the organic farmers of NY were all gathered for a spectacular conference....
Now, I expected that the choice of Congresswoman Gillibrand to take Hillary Clinton's Senate seat would be all the buzz at dinner-- after all, as a Freshman in Congress, Gillibrand had requested a seat on the Agriculture Committee, and served very ably on the Horticulture and Organic Agriculture subcommittee, too. She is a favorite of that crew. But, there was an even bigger, better surprise in store for the hundreds of people gathered together there: we were to be joined on that day by our OTHER representative to the House Agriculture Committee, new Congresscritter Eric Massa.
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Fri Nov 21, 2008 at 14:07:11 PM EST
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The NY blogosphere has been peppered with "fat lady warming up" posts for a while now. Well, folks, here you go.
Congratulations to Congressman-elect Massa on it finally becoming official, and also to Congressman Arcuri, who squeaked through again officially just a few days ago. Indeed, congratulations to the entire NYS delegation, and the people of NY, who will be well-represented by that delegation.
Election officially over, now, the new opera is set to begin: governing.
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Wed Nov 19, 2008 at 20:17:20 PM EST
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There's a bit of good news on our long, dragged-out congressional races here in Central NY/Southern Tier. Hanna has finally conceded, acknowledging that Mike Arcuri has narrowly won reelection. I'd link to the Oneida Observer-Dispatch article, but it hardly seems worth it-- it's only 1 sentence long, just says he conceded.
Still no words of concession from Randy Kuhl, though, even though he could not possibly win the seat even if he were to get every single absentee and military ballot still left to count.
Update: Sean, in comments, sends the link to a more complete Oneida Observer-Dispatch (correction to newspaper name noted) article.
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Sat Nov 15, 2008 at 17:13:47 PM EST
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The latest on the vote count in the NY-29 race breaks down like this:
Massa's lead: 5,740
Absentee ballots as yet uncounted: <6,000
Do you think Kuhl might be gracious and concede? Nah, that might be making it too easy for Eric Massa to handle his PR as he heads into the transition. That's ok, Massa and his staff can handle it. As per Rochester's Democrat and Chronicle:
Massa's news releases refer to him as "Congressman-elect Eric Massa" and he will attend orientation for freshman members of the House of Representatives next week, his campaign confirmed Friday.
On the flip, text of a message from Massa's campaign.
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Thu Nov 13, 2008 at 17:06:36 PM EST
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The Fighting 29th updates us on the progress of the Massa-Kuhl vote-counting court order, with Monroe County's ballots starting to be counted today, and other counties the 17th (Monday). If the Monroe paper ballot count is overwhelming, as it may be, we could see Kuhl's concession speech any time now. Can't wait!
Meanwhile, other interesting news tidbits about NY-29 continue to trickle in... like, the Corning Leader article announcing the overturning, on appeal, of trespassing charges against 5 anti-war activists for sitting in at Randy Kuhl's office when he would not see them or accept their petition.
The group was among some 20 people who went to Kuhl's Buell Street office Aug. 6, 2007 to deliver a petition with 3,000 signatures asking Kuhl to vote against more funding for the Iraq war.
When the five protesters refused to leave the office at closing time and were were each charged with third-degree criminal trespass. They were all found guilty after a two-day jury trial the following September....
Attorney Ray Schlather, the legal advisor for the protesters, said the push by the county District Attoney's office to make the offense "a fingerprintable crime" showed a lack of judgment and allowed the protesters to turn the charges into political theater.
"This should never gone before a jury," Schlather said. "That lack of good judgment effectively played into the protesters' hands."
...And some excellent political theater it was that my neighbors executed, too. I guess that was the beginning of Randy feeling he had to pack heat to protect himself from his constituents.... good to see justice done.
More interesting tidbits on the flip...
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Wed Nov 05, 2008 at 08:52:00 AM EST
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I live a few miles from the NY-24/NY-29 border, and I worked pretty hard on both races. Good thing that, I guess. I am quite confident that we will pull both these out-- we lead in both. But, neither Republican intends to concede until after absentee ballots are counted.
Arcuri's race is at the Utica Dispatch:
One-term incumbent Michael Arcuri, D-Utica, appeared late Tuesday to have a nearly 6,000 vote lead over Republican Richard Hanna - 118,137 to 112,308, according to unofficial election results from across the 11-county district.
Massa's race can be read about at The Corning Leader for the more conservative approach, or, The Rochester Democrat and Chronicle for the "he won already" approach. DKos has the final numbers as:
Massa- 131,646
Kuhl- 127,232
Meanwhile, Rottenchester has this excellent post over at The Fighting 29
In case you missed it last night, Sean Carroll of WHAM reported that Amo Houghton and Eric Massa met last night:
Sean Carroll: Just got done talking Amo Houghton - and he just got here after visiting with Eric Massa!
Evan Dawson: Sean -- WOW WOW WOW. And why was he with Massa?
Sean Carroll: said he respects him - "stands for the right things" even though he's on the other side of the aisle. said he's still pulling for Randy, but after all "we're all Americans"
Amo Houghton would have racked up another 60/40 or 70/30 win last night against almost any Democrat, probably with my vote. If Republicans want to come back in New York State, they need to take a serious look at what Amo did right and what Randy Kuhl did wrong.
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Tue Nov 04, 2008 at 23:19:55 PM EST
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Ok-- Rottenchester over at Fighting 29 says Massa is now far enough ahead that the absentee ballots can't change it. Whadda night, whadda night.
Folks here are whooping and hollering so hard that my eardrums hurt!
Now McCain is conceding here. This is some loud and expressive crowd here!
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Sun Nov 02, 2008 at 18:05:13 PM EST
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I was in Horseheads this afternoon making GOTV calls for Eric Massa-- with a small but enthusiastic crew. We worked our way through our lists, took a break for some pizza... and then got back to work making sure that everybody knew where to vote and had a ride to the polls if they needed one.
We were just about ready to pack it in for the day, when a phone call came in-- it was the campaign, asking if we would please stick around for just ten minutes, as Massa's RV was on its way from Elmira to Horseheads, and Eric wanted to stop in to thank us personally for making calls! Talk about above and beyond the call of duty!
Well, the RV caravan (there is also a flatbed trailer with a giant sign) is truly spectacular, sorry I didn't get a photo. And, Eric did have a message for us to convey to our friends and allies: we are almost there, he says-- and it looks really good... but, we have to make sure that every supporter gets out there to the polls. Put out a few more signs, and make a few more phone calls tomorrow and Tuesday, please...
He's right, of course. Spoke to a woman today who said "Oh, isn't election day next Tuesday"? So, we still need your help. Find our where you can go to make Massa calls on the flip.
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Tue Sep 02, 2008 at 15:49:14 PM EDT
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NY-26 & NY-29: Major General John Batiste, U.S. Army, Retired and Major General Paul D. Eaton, U.S. Army, Retired showed their support for Democratic candidates for Congress Jon Powers (NY-26) and Eric Massa (NY-29) today. I will have the write-up of this later today or early tomorrow as I'm on the road much of today. In the interim, here are a few photos from today's event.
  
To say that I was awed by General Batiste and General Eaton is an understatement. They are both highly intelligent, well-versed in the issues of the military and in particular the war in Iraq, and they are both true American heroes. It was an honor to meet with them and it was inspiring to see how dedicated they are to supporting veterans.
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Thu Mar 13, 2008 at 10:19:26 AM EDT
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VoteVets.org PAC has $5,000 to contribute to the vet candidate who gets the most votes on their web site:
Each of the candidates is now a VoteVets.org PAC endorsed candidate, and the group is sending them a $1000 check, today. But, your vote will determine which of them gets the maximum $5000.
VOTE HERE FOR YOUR FAVORITE VETERAN CANDIDATE!
Eric Massa so deserves it -- not to mention any other cash we can send his way.
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Sun May 06, 2007 at 16:16:54 PM EDT
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( - promoted by lipris)
Also posted at DailyKos.
Eric Massa is one of the 2006 Fighting Dems who fell just short (51-49) in his challenge to a nondescript Bushite Republican, Randy Kuhl in NY-29.
He's announced that he's in again, and last night gave a rousing talk to the New York state DFA conference dinner.
Massa also screened, and commented on, the DVD "Taking the Hill," about the experiences of four Fighting Dems in 2006 -- himself, Tammy Duckworth (IL-6, which was an open seat after Henry Hyde's retirement), Patrick Murphy (PA-8) and Rick Bolanos (TX-23, withdrew after winning the Democratic primary for personal financial reasons).
Murphy was the only winner of the four, and the DVD notes that only four of the 62 Fighting Dems won.
That has gotta change next year.
Massa is right on all the issues, and with the strong netroots support he deserves, he will win next year.
Details, including how you can help and a two-for-one deal, below.
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