GRACIOUSNESS AND WARMTH – AT 7:33 P.M. ET:  Another Democratic congressman bites the dust, but goes out in a blaze of fury.  No quiet withdrawal "to be with my family" for this worthy.  From The New York Times:

WASHINGTON — Representative Eric J. Massa, a New York Democrat accused of sexually harassing a male aide, has charged that Democratic Party leaders were behind an effort to drive him out of office and called the White House chief of staff the “son of the devil’s spawn.”

Problem is, Rahm Emanuel probably thinks that's a compliment.

In a radio interview on Sunday, Mr. Massa also provided his first detailed account his interaction with the male aide whose accusations are being investigated by the House ethics committee.

Mr. Massa said that he made an inappropriate remark to the male aide during another staff member’s wedding in January while the two were sitting at a table. He said he grabbed the aide, joked about having sexual relations with him and mussed his hair before getting up and leaving.

Since it was Washington, it was the hair mussing that probably got him into trouble.

Mr. Massa said that Democratic leaders, including White House officials, had orchestrated a campaign against him because of his opposition to health care legislation in the House.

“Mine is now the deciding vote on the health care bill,” he said, “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.”

And furthermore...

Mr. Massa singled out Rahm Emanuel, the powerful White House chief of staff, for criticism, calling him the “son of the devil’s spawn” and “an individual who would sell his mother to get a vote.”

In Washington that's called a fair trade.

COMMENT:  And just last week, after forcing Charlie Rangel out of the chairman's chair at the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Dems refused to let the next guy in line, Pete Stark of California, take the job because he's too volatile.

What a party!  These guys must have a lot of fun when they go on those retreats. 

In New York, we still have a death watch over our corrupt governor, David Paterson.  Indictments may come down.

March 8, 2010