Ex-congressman who allegedly groped staffers claims Cheney wanted to institute ‘coup’

[RamboLiberal]

The same ex-congressman who claimed that there was no sexual intent behind his tickling of a staffer has a new one for ya.

"Gentlemen, what we have here is a constitutional crisis," then-Congressman Eric Massa (D-NY) told editors for Esquire Magazine in January. "If what I've been told is true — and I believe it is — General David Petraeus, a commander with soldiers deployed in two theaters of war, has had multiple meetings with Dick Cheney, the former vice-president of the United States, to discuss Petraeus's candidacy for the Republican nomination for the presidency. And in fact, that's more than a constitutional crisis. That's treason."

The tale is developed by Ryan D'Agostino on Esquire's website as part of a longer profile piece on Massa, who resigned in March after accusations that he had sexually groped multiple male staffers. Massa himself gave conflicting statements about the incidents, telling Fox News' Glenn Beck that "not only did I grope , I tickled him until he couldn't breathe," and then later recanting on Larry King, saying "it is not true" he groped anyone he employed. He appears to have a history of serial fabrications.

D'Agostino expands upon Massa's bold claim partway through his piece, writing:

One month before, in early January, Congressman Massa had called me and sketched out the bare bones of the tale he was now propounding. Four retired generals, he said — "three four-stars and one three-star" — had picked up disturbing reports that Petraeus, the commander of United States Central Command, whose portfolio contains the worst trouble spots on the globe, including Iraq and Afghanistan, had recently met with Cheney — twice — and Cheney was trying to recruit him to run in 2012. Were he to be the nominee, Massa said, Petraeus would be in the unprecedented position of a military man running for president against his own commander in chief.

http://rawstory.com/rs/2010/0524/excongressman-claims-cheney-wanted-institute-coup/

[BootinUp]

1. Massa is out of control, methinks. nt

[Canuckistanian]

2. Hmmmmm...

I'd like to hear confirmation of this from another source.

[FBI_Un_Sub]

3. Check out

The Plot to Seize the White House: The Shocking True Story of the Conspiracy to Overthrow FDR by Jules Archer. It is mentioned in a Howard Zinn book.

[MidwestRick]

4. Too funny...

The general would have to resign his commishion to run for the office of president, thus making him a retired military member. How exactly is that a coup again?

-MR

[zipplewrath]

5. Not for long

First hint of a political campaign, and he'd be out of the Army. He wouldn't be the first Army general with eyes on the White House during a war. They always end up without a job.

[gateley]

6. I wouldn't doubt this, but I'd like another source. This is what

happens when you prevaricate, Massa, you have questionable credibility.

[rfranklin]

8. It's probably true...but they are using this guy to inoculate themselves...

This m.o. has been used many times, very notably with Fortunate Son which detailed Bush's drug sprees. The author was then discredited because he had a shady past. Then he was found dead.

[gateley]

10. Yikes. Massa better watch it - Cheney is one person I'd hate

to piss off.

[jberryhill]

7. He can discuss resigning his commission and running for president

If he's over 35 years old, a natural born citizen, and 14 years a US resident, then he can run for president, but would have to resign his commission first.

Was there some problem with George Washington, Ulysses Grant, or Dwight Eisenhower?

Wooden teeth optional.

When persons with a military background run for public office, we call it an "election", not a "coup".

[RamboLiberal]

9. Yep that is my take - I'd like a better source than Massa

though I don't doubt Cheney is recruiting the general to run. They'd love nothing more than an ex-military man Republican running the U.S. Of course he'd have to resign first.

[pinboy3niner]

11. That's the only sane way to read this

Your last sentence is spot-on:

"When persons with a military background run for public office, we call it an "election", not a "coup"."

[msanthrope]

12. Somebody needs to get Massa stabilized.....n/t