ALL WE NEED NOW IS A BRIDGE TO NOWHERE AND THE TRANSFORMATION IS COMPLETE:

Congressman Opts Out of Race Amid Inquiry (BRODY MULLINS, 3/04/10, WSJ)

Freshman Democratic Rep. Eric Massa of New York said Wednesday he wouldn't seek a second term in office, citing health reasons, and leaving his seat open in a Republican-leaning district.

The announcement comes as House ethics investigators look into an allegation that Mr. Massa sexually harassed an aide, according to senior House Democratic aides and a spokeswoman for House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer of Maryland.

Hoyer knew of Massa allegations (JOHN BRESNAHAN & JOSH KRAUSHAAR, 3/3/10, Politico)

[S]everal House aides told POLITICO that the House ethics committee has been informed of allegations that the New York Democrat, who is married with two children, made unwanted advances toward a junior male staffer.

A more senior staffer — Ronald Hikel, Massa’s former deputy chief of staff and legislative director — took the complaints to the ethics committee and was interviewed about them twice.

Massa sacked aide in '06 for drinking with boys (Glenn Thrush, 3/03/10, Politico)

Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY) -- now the subject of a reported investigation into charges he sexually harassed a male staffer -- blew the whistle on his campaign manager in Nov. 2006 after the staffer was caught providing alcohol to three underage boys.

Massa accused Sanford Dickert of luring three underage boys into his Corning apartment, providing them with liquor and beer. The group partied so raucously that water leaked from the apartment into an antiques store below, according to a report in the Star-Gazette of Elmira.

It took 14 years for the GOP to grow cynical in power. It took the Democrats three. Maybe that's why they call themselves Progressive?.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 4, 2010 6:45 AM