(Alan Grayson interview) Enter: Swinging. Exit: Much the Same Way.

[alp227]

Source: The New York Times

ORLANDO, Fla. — He has zero faith in the incoming speaker of the House, John A. Boehner, whom he calls a “tool of special interest.”

He derides the Tea Party’s successes as “bought and paid for by the enormously rich and the selfish.”

And he can barely contain distaste for his Republican successor, whose views he sums up as “bizarre fundamentalist.”

Representative Alan Grayson, a Democrat from Florida’s Eighth Congressional District, is leaving office on Wednesday much as he entered it two years ago — as the pugnaciously partisan, verbal-bomb-tossing, liberal folk hero of the 111th Congress.

But in a wide-ranging interview as his term drew to a close, he repeatedly aimed his artillery in an unexpected direction: toward his own party.

Not for overreaching, in this age of hand-wringing over big government and creeping “socialism,” or for ideological purism. Instead, while surveying the wreckage of the November elections that cost him his seat and looking to the Congressional term ahead, Mr. Grayson posits that many Democrats have not been acting Democratic enough.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/03/us/politics/03grayson.html

[givemebackmycountry]

1. Alan Grayson will....

Well, you know...

[molly77]

24. Alan Grayson and Russ Feingold were targets because

they told the truth. Russ Feingold was the only senator not to vote for the patriot act. Truth is not allowed in fascist land.

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. He has it in his power to do something about it.

We could only wish to be so lucky.

[abq e streeter]

3. More MSM stupidity and subtle wielding of the corporate agenda by that reporter

First, the old "unapologetic liberal" B.S. again. Of course, being a liberal is something that all reasonable Americans would instantly apologize for, right, Mr. Barbaro?. I wonder when the last time he used the term "unapologetic conservative" is. And the statement , not backed up by one shred of evidence by Mr. Barbaro, that the Democratic leaders are not being "Democratic" enough is a sentiment that is "not exactly widespread"... I have no empirical evidence beyond the people I know and talk to, but know very few who DON'T think the party's leadership has been either gutless or just plain bought and paid for and therefore working for the same corporate interests as the repubs. Even those I know who remain strong Obama supporters generally admit that our party has been too often just republican-lite for years.

[pacalo]

4. +1. The writer was so slanted: "...in this age of hand-wringing of big government

& creeping 'socialism', or for ideological purism."

Only the baggers & their ilk are wringing their hands & they sure aren't the majority in this country, but this writer (& the media) lifts them as though the baggers' pov is what matters.

:grr:

[Dappleganger]

5. The democratic party in FL is in terrible shape.

And there are many who behave not all that differently than their republican counterparts. I would imagine that Mr. Grayson has some choice words for them.

[molly77]

25. The most election fraud going on in the US is done by

the most corrupt racist states.Ohio is very racist and has quite a few mafia. Fl. is popular with the mafia as well. It takes a village.

[alp227]

7. The author cited the midterm election

as proof that not many voters believe that the Democrats aren't liberal enough...I mean look at what happened in Grayson's own district! Maybe Michael Barbaro should take a trip to DU, where some even advocated not voting this year in response to the Dems being Republican-lite.

[patrice]

23. 1+

[wial]

30. they use the term "staunch conservative"

which I find loathsome -- as if being conservative is something noble, when it's about the most ignoble thing a person can do, since it's all about selfishness, greed, hate and fear.

"Craven conservative" would be better.

"should-apologize conservative".

[abq e streeter]

31. Exactly

:thumbsup:

[Turbineguy]

35. Conservatism did not used to be about

selfishness, greed, hate and fear. It used to be about responsibility, enlightened self-interest and moving society forward.

[SoapBox]

6. Alan...I loves ya man!

...PLEASE...come to my area of Los Angeles and kick worthless
Jane Harman out of office.

We need people like you.

[BonnieJW]

34. Not to worry.

Alan will be back. Maybe next time as senator. He won't desert us, especially as we go into the tunnel of despair. It's bad times that make people like Grayson become heroes.

[DesertFlower]

8. don't get lost alan. we need you.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

9. Alan will be back

[watajob]

10. I'm wondering ...

... if moving to a state where he could win and run for the Senate wouldn't be a bad idea. He'd kick Scott Brown's ass out into Boston Harbor or maybe that lyin' bastard Lieberman into Long Island sound!

[sabrina 1]

13. Yes, I think that's what he should do. Leave that district to the

insane fundie they elected. He needs to be in a more powerful position and not have to run for office every two years. The Senate would be a great place for him and then, the WH.

We need fighters in this country. All this 'let's play nice' garbage is what got us where we are. And maybe he should run as an Independent. The Dem. Leadership doesn't like Liberals and would not lift a finger to help him. He should talk to Bernie Sanders who would probably love to have someone like Grayson to back him up in the Senate.

Maybe we should start a 'draft Grayson for the Senate' campaign NOW.

[freshwest]

14. Like to see him run for POTUS in 2016.

But anything before that would help.

[NorthCarolina]

48. I don't think America can afford to wait that long. nt

[Roland99]

21. I'd just as soon be able to vote for Rep. Grayson again in two years, thanks.

-signed, a not-thrilled-at-all non-fundie member of this district.

[sabrina 1]

53. I'm sorry, I wish there were more of you in that district.

I know there are great people there, he was elected there after all.

But if he can't get elected there, would you mind sharing him with the rest of us? Maybe for president?

Unless the people have enough of the fundie by 2012. Then you can keep him :-)

[Paper Roses]

20. Great idea, wish it would happen. n/t

[Autumn Colors]

37. Yes .... come to Connecticut, please! K&R (nt)

[Myrina]

43. The GOP shouldn't have a corner on the carpetbagger market ...

.... I agree, Grayson should relocate! :D

[midnight armadillo]

54. oh 2012 will be a tough year for Brown.

There are a whole bunch of candidates likely to take him on, and none of them are going to run a half-assed campaign like Coakley did.

[DallasNE]

11. One Things Democrats Overlook At Their Own Peril

Is the power of the sound bite. The sound bite that they missed that resulted in 60% of voters 65 and older was that the new health care law would cut Medicare benefits and if you want to save Medicare you had to vote Republican. The Democrats need to get their own Frank Luntz to focus group test for sound bites that work. I couldn't believe how Democrats allowed that sound bite to kill them at the polls. While I have no bone to pick with the points Grayson brings up he too misses the importance of a message sure to resonate with voters because it has been focus group tested. Note: focus group tested messages do not have to stick to the truth. They only have to test ouy well.

[ooglymoogly]

26. You are right....It was the seniors that cost the Dem's the election.

And that is a sad thing for me, a senior, to say. That is why Florida is so adamantly against Democrats for the near future; as Florida is predominantly a retirement state. I do beg to differ with you, however, on the age bracket for seniors.

AARP, the insurance fraud, considers anyone over 50, a senior; and it is this group 50 and older or even 55 and older, that is the largest voting block in the U.S. It is also the fastest growing demographic in the U.S.

The seniors that I speak with are neither Dem's nor pugs when it comes to SS; most already retired and the rest looking forward to enjoying the savings they have put away in SS for all their lives.

Anyone threatening ss is dead meat to them. That plus the bogus wars, the NOT PAID Back bailouts that the fed and Treasury are falsely propagandizing is close to being paid back and will make a profit. The perception is, of a catering almost solely to the rich, while stealing from SS to pay for it and is the basis for 0's being. Plus further, the seeing through the smoke of paid back bailout money (easily Googled) from further under the table bailouts and accounting fraud.

[xxqqqzme]

44. We did. His name is George Lakoff.

The only Democrat to pay attention to him was Howard Dean. He offered to help Kerry and was ignored.

Don't Think Of An Elephant! How Democrats And Progressives Can Win: Know Your Values And Frame The Debate: The Essential Guide For Progressives George Lakoff

[defendandprotect]

12. K/r --

[xchrom]

15. awesome, mr grayson. nt

[BumRushDaShow]

16. Grayson is a true rebel without a pause! K&R n/t

[The Wizard]

17. A powerful voice of reason

in the face of reich wing douchbaggery. The Repubes spent a fortune to silence Alan Grayson. All they got was a reich winger representing a district that is predominantly Klan.
Alan Grayson hasn't been silenced. He's just changed venues.
Truman was right.

[Enthusiast]

18. I sure do agree with

his allegation that many Democrats have not been acting Democratic enough.

I hope he remains a future alternative.

[Kingofalldems]

19. Grayson is a real Democrat---That's why freeper republicans

hate him so much. :shrug:

[Jefferson23]

22. His own party not acting Democratic enough....that is an understatement. Thanks for trying Grayson !

[ooglymoogly]

27. We are speaking of a future president of the United States; sooner I hope than later. kr nt

[Sparkly]

28. "Judging by the results..." (Author maintains the "common wisdom")

About the idea that "many Democrats have not been acting Democratic enough," the insightful author remarks:

"Judging by the results of the midterm elections, it does not exactly seem to be a widespread sentiment."

Or, judging by the results of the midterm elections, it DOES seem to be a widespread sentiment. But as usual, there's always one side to every story. :eyes:

[ooglymoogly]

29. +1 You got that right. nt

[Jackpine Radical]

33. Oh, come now. You've been hanging out with Stinky for too long.

TWO sides to every story. The far-right side and the totally-loony-far-right side.

[Uncle Joe]

32. I hope Grayson does run for Congress again.

Thanks for the thread, alp.

[grahamhgreen]

36. I motion that we support Grayson as a primary challenger in 2012, not to win, mind you, but

To give voice to the progressive ideas (such as taxing the rich like FDR did).

This is the only way we will have a voice in the next election, otherwise, it will be Obama arguing inside the Republican framing, as usual.

Plus a primary run will make Alan a national figure, setting him up for a strong run in 2016.

[NorthCarolina]

49. Why not to win?

He'd have my vote for sure. I'd be like...Obama who?

[grahamhgreen]

52. Your right!

[surrealAmerican]

38. It's just plain depressing to read the Times nowadays.

"in this age of hand-wringing over big government and creeping 'socialism,'";"pugnaciously partisan, verbal-bomb-tossing, liberal folk hero" ...

They simply can't resist giving the article a right-wing slant.

[alp227]

45. the first quote you cite is slanted yea but you can't deny Grayson's outspoken views

riiight? how DU threads about Grayson always seem to get 100+ recs each and how Grayson has said "Republicans want you to die quickly"? Or am I missing the truth behind what he says?

[surrealAmerican]

46. It's more in the way they said it than in what they said.

"Partisan" and "bomb-tossing" certainly sound more pejorative than outspoken and principled.

[colsohlibgal]

39. A Rare Species These Days - Non Corporate Tool Real Dems

Way too many democrats are either up front so called "blue dogs" or smoothies who like to talk populist while scewing us behind our backs as they rake in the cash.

If only more people really got what has been really going on and continues to go on. If only more people paid more than superficial attention to our government. I highly recommend Matt Taibbi's bew book "Griftopia". He lays out the big con in an entertaining Hunter Thompson type manner. He has a great section comparing Obama's campaign rhetoric and opinions about health care compared to how he, with the help of dear old Rahm, completely sold us out, going back on most every principle he clearly testified to in campaign mode. There is great detail on how once again the Insurance giants retained their unbelievable anti trust exemption.

We are all being played every day of our lives and it's breathtaking in it's scope.

[valerief]

40. Grayson needs to move to a state that will re-elect and not let the

electronic voting fraud eliminate real votes for him. He needs voters that will vote him in by a wide margin to guard against electronic voting fraud. We need him in Congress!!!!

[DainBramaged]

41. I wonder where everyone was when I posted the Case for Alan Grayson

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x91318


I got buried by the kool aid drinkers, and here we get a gazillion recs.


Shameful.

[zonkers]

42. I love this man.

[NorthCarolina]

47. Grayson represents what I consider to be a Real Democrat.

DLC New Dems, and Blue Dogs on the other hand.....not so much.

[unkachuck]

50. Run, Alan, Run!

...for the presidency....'Republicans "a hopeless sellout party that will never do anything constructive for ordinary people in this country."'....amen

....after two more years of no-growth, high-unemployment with corporate-Dem and Nazi-puke rule, the American people will be begging for an honest straight-forward, tell-it-like-it-is Progressive who will once-and-for-all work for them....some of us are begging already....

....the building for our Progressive future should begin NOW....run for president Alan, we've nothing to lose and with a strong message, a powerful messenger and two years of perpetual puke witch-hunting, there's at least a 50/50 chance Obama won't even run....he's okay with being a one-term president, he's said as much....

[robcon]

51. One term congressman; his 15 minutes are up.

No one should trust him after his intentional lies during his campaign.

Dennis Kucinich and Russ Feingold are real Democrats. Grayson was an amateur.