Blue America Welcomes Our Old Friend Alan Grayson Back For A Live Chat
Congressman Grayson's clip above is positively existential. It's hard to believe it's coming from a Member of Congress. Of course, it's hard to believe there's a Member of Congress of Alan Grayson's calibre. And I get the feeling there are an awful lot of people in the Orlando area who know just how lucky they are. On the other hand, Alan has drawn a veritable circus sideshow of opponents, each one fringier and more insane than the other. Tomorrow is primary day in Florida and we'll be watching with interest as a small number of disheartened and disillusioned Republicans pick over the 4th and 5th tier candidates hoping for the nomination-- from Patricia Sullivan who (publicly) claims Sarah Palin as a role model, Dan Fanelli who proudly (and publicly) flies his racist flag for everyone to see, to the kook, Ross Bieling, whose platform is impeaching President Obama and the hate talk radio guy, Todd Long, who was found passed out drunk one morning in front of a local elementary school to a state legislator, Kurt Kelly, who disgraced himself last month by interpreting Rep. Grayson's efforts to bring the troops home to safety as wanting them to die and then to the feeble fave of the Establishment, Dan Webster, who's best known for pushing a radical religious agenda that has included ending the right of divorce and introducing the legislation that started the whole tragic Terri Schiavo debacle. And on top of that the Florida TEA Party has nominated Peg Dunmire, someone even nuttier than that crew -- well, not nuttier than Fanelli -- running as well.
And then there's Alan Grayson, probably the most beloved and effective champion of ordinary working families of any Member of the House. Today's the climax of a moneybomb his campaign launched a few days ago. Blue America has our own goal for Alan's campaign, an even $50,000. As you can see from the thermometer on the right, we're more than two-thirds there. I hope you watched the video up top. It knocked me out. Here's some of what Orlando's greatest gift to America had to say:
There are two groups in this country right now. I call those groups Us, and Them.
We want more jobs, better schools, better health, better pensions, and we want to keep our homes. We want not just jobs but jobs that mean something, jobs that pay a decent wage. We want to live a good life.
And then there's them. They simply have one goal and one goal only. And that is to destroy the government. They're not conservatives. They're anarchists.
I don't know why they want anarchy. In fact, they don’t know, either. Even they don't know what kind of inner darkness causes them to seek wars without end, to burn the planet, to welcome poverty for so many, to leave the old and the sick helpless, to cheer oil in the Gulf. I've spoken to enough of them to be able to tell you that they themselves don’t know why.
But that's what they want. So, now we have to decide who is going to run this country. Is it Us, or is it Them? And what's at stake is the future. The future in a country that my five children will live in, that your children will live in, that you'll live in for the rest of your life.
Are we going to have a country with a decent middle class life for everyone-- jobs, health care, roads, schools? Or, are we going to have poverty, cheap labor, helplessness and hopelessness? The choice is yours.
I think President Obama feels much the same way. I wish he had the guts to say it the way Alan Grayson does. Please, if you only contribute to one campaign this year, it's Alan Grayson who has earned that honor. Please join us below in the comments section to participate in a love blogging session with Congressman Alan Grayson.
Rep. Grayson, you've come out very strongly against continuing the occupation of Afghanistan. From previous talks I know you've traveled extensively all over the world, probably more than any other member of Congress, including in central Asia. I'm sure that first and foremost you're thinking about the security of America and our people. How have your sailing forbidden seas and landing on barbarous coasts, to paraphrase Herman Melville, helped you come to your conclusions about American policy towards Afghanistan, even when you find youself in what must be the difficult position of opposing the President you helped elect just two years ago.
Is there anything that can realistically be done to start supplanting "free trade" with "fair trade" and bring jobs back into this country? And thanks for being here!
You will hear an awful lot of nattering in the next ten weeks about "Made in America," because the polls say that people want to hear that. What you will not hear is much in the way of practical suggestions about how to accomplish that. Like, for instance, fair trade agreements, which won't leave us competing against prison labor and slave labor in other countries.
So when you hear someone talk about "Made in America" (and you will, believe me), ask him or her, "what are you going to about it?"
So good to see you today. What a start to the week...
I like this crowd. Lots of nice people.
What I've learned from my travels is that there are certain things that are universal. Everywhere in the world, people want to fall in love. Everywhere in the world, people love children; not just their own children, but all children. Everywhere in the world, there is a taboo against violence. And everywhere in the world, people want to be left alone.
That certainly does include Afghanistan, from what I could see when I was there. They want to be left alone. And they want us to leave them alone. Because they are human beings.
I have a new flag tie on today. Do you like it? What do you think?
Be honest.
Yes, but WHO'S flag?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
let me guess, USA?
Let us auction it off to help elect progressives who will help you change Congress.
I think that I can spare one. There is no shortage of flag ties in my wardrobe, believe me.
I have neon nekkid lady ties who do the hula...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I don't want to lose the hula vote.
We are so happy to have you here this morning.
Congratulations on that amazing video. I wish everyone in the country could see it.
We've had one YouTube video go triple platinum -- 3,000,000 views. Because you, and others, made it happen.
First off, thanks for giving us the chance to talk one-on-one with you like this--and my compliments to your hard work in Congress giving progressives a voice, and, most importantly, calling out some of the incredible bull we see on C-Span some days. Watching your statements is always a breath of fresh air.
That said, I have to ask, are you involved at all with ANY effort in Congress to give power to the FCC to enforce Net Neutrality, and if you aren't, do you know if any exists? This Verizon-Google deal is incredibly out of line, yet only sites like CrooksandLiars and Huffington post seem to be trying to raise hell about it--Congress and Corporate media haven't seem to have touched it.
I've told Congressmen Waxman and Boucher that I think we need to move it along, and I know that Congressman Markey is waiting for the right moment to bring back the net neutrality amendment that he offered in 2006.
Speaking as someone who's been involved in developing core internet protocols since 1989 and who works day to day with Internet technologies, I must say, there's no time to wait. Corporate interference with the basic functioning of the internet is and will continue to kill the only economic engine the U.S. has left.
There's no time for "wanting" or inaction and your past, vaguely pro-corporate statements on the matter have been a great disappointment.
But I didn't make any "vaguely pro-corporate statements." If you're going to blame me for something, then blame me for something that I actually did.
Your statements regarding the title II framework and regulation by the FCC strike a sour note. While it's all well & good to support legislated net-neutrality as a more permanent fix, I don't think you're naive enough to think that such legislation would be easy or quick to pass in the current congress, dominated by corporate (read: right-wing) Democrats and Republicans. This I regard as a "vaguely pro-corporate" statement.
I regard it so because, we need both regulation (first) and legislation. I can tell you from personal experience that the actions of the telecoms and their partners are already hurting my small business clients and their customers and are in danger of stalling an engine that, from my anecdotal point of view, seems to be the only semi-thriving industry in the U.S. We cannot wait for the possibility of a congress supportive of a net-neutrality act. The corruption of net-neutrality is a process that can't be undone because of the HUGE number of small businesses that will go under because of the corporate greed for profits.
Now, let me make myself clear: My disappointment towards you is on this issue only and I am generally supportive of your positions and actions.
(sorry for the delay in replying, had to save a client whose website had been hijacked by a hacker!)
Oops...
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of American Flag ties.
what is the most important thing the congress can do to reduce the great economic inequality divide in america? and, what chances do you give such a endeavor?
and, as you will hear a lot, thank you for doing what you do
(1) Strengthen collective bargaining. It worked after WWII.
(2) Defend and strengthen progressive taxation.
(3) Much higher working standards, including pensions.
(4) Improve education, since 1/3 of all high school students drop out.
Make "share market" illegal. Then regulate USURY with a SWIFT hand.
Get your lemonade, watch the traitors hang.
Congress' TREASON have no boundaries, so does M$M's brainwashing/sidetracking.
Republicans for Voldemort.
Govenment does work, just not for YOU. Govenment work ONLY on the behalf of the Tycoons.
Along the lines of JA's question,
Is there a way of treating the products of American corporations who outsource X amount of their labor, and/or relocate their hq like to Dubai, as if their goods were imports and tariffed and taxed accordingly?
I also understand that the Chinese are dumping products still in defiance of trade deals, thus hurting domestically produced goods, what can be done about that?
And what can be done to fix up Jake and Vienna? (what America seems to be concerned about).
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
If you're talking about goods, then something has to cross the border at some point, and tariffs apply to whatever crosses. But the real action is in services, like Bombay call centers. That's hard to tax at all.
As for the Chinese, we just need to recognize reality, declare them to be currency manipulators, and put an end to that.
Why aren't we levying a per call tax on calls to non-U.S. call centers on companies with U.S. operations?
Rep. Grayson: Do you think there is any effective way we citizens can pressure the Senate to change the filibuster rule? Is that worth our efforts in your opinion?
Yes. Daily Kos has a petition going. Sign it, and spread the word. If I win in November, I'll be working hard on that.
He's a huge target of the teabaggers. He tells the truth and they hate him for it.
Click here.
At CongressmanWithGuts.com. I'm the first Democrat to represent Orlando in 34 years, and I won with 52% of the vote. So I need the help. So far, over 6000 people have contributed for today.
You, sir, are my hero !
The one person really letting them have it during the whole health care debate. I spent my entire life working in healthcare, the past 12 in a big city teaching hospital. Our top docs were doing their best to influence the debate. Most of my colleagues agree, we'd love to see medicare for all but the public option as the next best and to see it fall away was disheartening. It was a victim of the party of no's falsehood campaign. But I appreciate the effort you made to steer the debate strait. The worst was when I had a little gentleman, one day, here for surgery and he actually told me he was afraid of being on a death panel. It just made me so furious I wanted to scream. And you screamed for me. Thank you !!!
a Hospital of University of Penn employee
With our Medicare You Can Buy Into Act, HR 4789. A four-page bill that says that if you want Medicare, and you'll pay for it, it's yours.
It's called TAXES.
I'd prefer to cut the military budget by about 40% and use the money for "Improved Medicare for All".
"The US has an army of 90,000 soldiers in Afghanistan and is spending $100bn a year, but has still been unable to defeat 20,000-25,000 Taliban who receive no pay at all." - Patrick Cockburn
We've had a recent thread about how well President Obama is doing.
Now I know what Factcheck.org has said where he's succeeded and where's he's pending, but what would you say?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
(1) Passing the Recovery Plan, which staved off a second Great Depression.
(2) Reducing our forces in Iraq to 50,000 troops.
(3) Passing a bill to provide health care to all Americans.
(4) Cutting taxes on all but the wealthy, and giving cash to seniors, when the economy needed it.
(5) Holding BP accountable during the Gulf spill, rather than apologizing to BP, as the Republican crackpots did.
What do you thank of Robert Gibbs.
I swear he doesn't point out the president's successess nor explain he's policies very well.
I think he ought to go.
Even in bush's White House where they had low turn-over they had Ari Fleischer, Scott McClellan and Tony Snow.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
I said that he should be fired. I think that's clear enough.
staff long after they should be gone. But fires the good ones upon command from Rethugs and big mouths like Beck.
seemingly free hand in their response to the spill.
Why were they allowed to dump so many dispersants ? I fear the long term effects not just of the oil, but of those toxic chemicals even more.
That's what we get.
Dat
what BP was doing to prevent petroleum and dispersants from entering the food chain. He said "nothing."
At least he was honest.
Hi Alan,
What I like the best about you is you are not afraid to go after your own. Bozo the spokesman was great! (and so true!)
I was just wondering what opinion on socialism is. Myself I think capitalism spells doom for our planet, especially crony capitalism and just wondering what you thoughts about socialism are and some of it's heroes like Eugene Debs.
IMO the dems could learn a lot by rweading up on it and what Debs had to say and write!
Thanks and keep fighting!
Debs wanted an end to child labor. We've ended child labor. Debs wanted a 40-hour week (actually, he wanted a 44-hour week). We have a 40-hour week. Debs wanted an OSHA. We have an OSHA. Debs wanted a progressive income tax. We have a progressive income tax. Debs wanted universal suffrage. We have universal suffrage.
We've come a long way, baby.
Yes we have but it is still disappointing to me to see what the modern dems have become. NAFTA which was pushed by Clinton and other "free" trade agreements that a lot of dems supported really have hurt the working man and would have Debs spinning in his grave. It just seems to me the since Lyndon Johnson the dems have become more and more timid and allied with the rich. (Beside you of course)
Anyway thx for the reply
Because populism is popular. That's why it's called populism. And corporatism is not. Big Business is no more popular than skin rashes.
How do you deal with those who say something is not in the Constitution?
I deal with that on the Dallas Morning News Blog site. I point out that there's no reference to a standing army, signature statements, implied powers of the presidency or executive priviledge among others.
I also point out the Necessary and Proper clause (elastic), Article VI of the Constitution, and the difference between exclusive power, expressed power, enumerated powers and reserved powers (of the state),
And they act like I'm Regan MacNeil when she's possessed by Mercedes McCambridge.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
It depends. They're absolutely right about a standing army; you can read it, and see for yourself. They're right about signature statements. They're wrong about implied powers (of course they're not in there; that's why they're "implied") and executive privilege (the Supreme Court has said that it's necessary to carry out the President's enumerated powers).
The real wackos argue that Social Security and other entitlements are unconstitutional. I normally refer them not only to what you cite, but other provisions as well.
They actually sympathize when the crazies fly planes into government buildings.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-CAcdta_8I
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Up to and including death threats, not to mention offering $100 to anyone who will punch me in the face.
It's a powerful emotion. And fearful people vote. That's why They keep pushing the Fear Porn; it's the only kind of stimulation that gets through to the jaded masses.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
Over and over again.
and you stimulate the Lust For Power ..
Why?
They want control to conquer whatever they fear, instead of actually conquering their fear itself.
Primitive brain types.
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Have you thought of punching yourself so you can put the 100 bucks in your campaign funds?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
They accomplished a lot when they wanted to, but it all stopped when they passed Prohibition.
Now we really need to end the current form of Prohibition and the ridiculous, expensive, damaging War on Drugs.
I suggest that hemp farming is easier to pass than drug legalization, but it needs a blitz of information. How do you stand on that? It doesn't get the attention that marijuana does, but it's an important crop that can improve marginal land, stop clear-cutting, and save family farms.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
They block everything as a minority party.
The conservative answer to all of society's problems. Boy, did it backfire! That's where their reign as Progressives ended.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtMV44yoXZ0
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
Under Palin, the party of Lincoln has become the party of winkin'.
(Wink wink, nudge nudge.)
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
I wonder how McCain views her endorsement? In some races she has provided the "kiss of death".
But his opponent is even too radical for Arizona (if you can imagine such a thing)
That's the biggest voting bloc in the state.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
is Mexican-Americans. Which is why the Republicans are so desperate to get rid of them. As I said on HBO, if they make them miserable enough, maybe they will move to California.
I lived in different parts of AZ for two decades. The "Mexican-American" is rather a misnomer; there are a lot of Hispanic voters there whose families have been there for generations; the Native Americans-- when they can get to the polls-- are a large, usually Democratic vote; and the LDS people control nearly every rural precinct. But still, there in the populous Maricopa County, the retired white Republicans have huge numbers and they all vote.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
Party of Lincoln turned into its opposite when it embraced the "Southern Strategy" ..
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Embrace the racist agendae. Get elected. Hold fast. Don't worry about the disenfranchised; they probably can't afford to miss a day's work to go vote, anyhow.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
And then inevitably the racist rabble they embraced get real upset when their agenda has not been fulfilled (Bush & the Republican Congress did nothing about immigration, abortion is still legal, etc) so they formed the Tea Party to push the GOP in their own crazed direction ..
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
don't only live in the South.
I'm Southern born and bred but come from a liberal family background. I was shocked when the Repubs took over. They embraced the absolute worst of attitudes that should have been allowed to die off.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
I wrote this on my blog earlier and I hope everyone understands how important it is that we continue to support Congressman Grayson and work hard to ensure his re-election:
Part of what makes him able to talk straight is the fact that Grayson has an army --- us. But anyone who has his own national constituency is a powerful independent force that threatens the existing order. It's why the Democratic Party gives money to corporate Democrats like Suzanne Kosmos in Grayson's neighboring district so that she can run ads undermining Grayson's progressive message in their shared TV market.
But that's also why Grayson can continue to speak the truth and operate independently from the corrupt system that's killing our political culture --- as long as we make up the difference.
Please give to Congressman Grayson's campaign today if you can. He is our voice in the congress.
Digby.
The National Republican Congressional Committee already has peeled off something like a million dollars of their corporate money, and they are using it against me. For goodness sake, they spent $2 million last time, just to keep me out. Imagine what they'll do this time, since they've named me their #1 target for 2010.
So we need people to participate in the moneybomb today, at CongressmanWithGuts.com.
The DCCC didn't get behind Grayson in 2008 until he had already won the election on early voting. And they're actually afraid of him now. The powers in both parties hate it when a leader has an independent base (in this case, like Digby said, us) and aren't manipulable by Big Business. How many politicians on the House Financial Services Committee don't take contributions-- the polite way of saying BRIBES-- from the banksters? Many of the members, like the aforementioned, Kosmas, get on the committee for only one reason: so they CAN get those "contributions."
Republican Party expenditures against us: $2 million.
Democratic Party expenditures for us: $300,000, all in the last week, just as Howie points out.
Average DCCC expenditure for every single other candidate they backed: over $1 million.
And, while DCCC has been pouring cash into races to support Blue Dogs who oppose Choice, gay equality and healthcare reform, as well as Wall Street reform, Alan was the FIRST Democrat to go beyond muttering about how Boehner is a bad man and actually endorse his opponent, Justin Coussoule. You know those billboards and ads with the golfing motif Blue America has been running against Boehner? Guess who's idea that was!
...can go with the flow. Swimming upstream takes a lot of energy, but it's worth it.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
is what that is!
That's why I refuse to donate to the DCCC or DSCC and (if I had money to give) give only to groups like Blue America PAC or directly to candidates. It's insane what the Dem Party is doing in our names.
Congressman, thanks so much for joining us today.
One of the messages that John and I have been trying to emphasize when we do appearances for Over the Cliff (which you kindly blurbed for us) is that the book demonstrates, I think clearly and irrevocably, that Democrats have to abandon the old model of "bipartisanship," because it's become eminently clear the conservative Right no longer considers the Left, even mainstream liberals, an acceptable partner in power -- it's become their clear intent to destroy us utterly. In other words, the longtime left-right coalition that has ruled this country since the days of FDR is now defunct.
We've been trying to emphasize to mainstream Democrats that it's no longer Politics As Usual. Yet Pelosi, Obama, Reid et al. behave as though we can still "reach out" to Republicans and expect anything back besides a bloodied stump.
We know you get this. Is there any sign that other Democrats are starting to get it yet?
They held up both the energy bill and the Citizens United bill, to name two of many, while they tried to round up one or two Republicans so that they could call these bills "bipartisan." It's a foolish waste of time. Republicans in Congress are good at only two things: prevaricating and procrastinating. But definitely not legislating. As I said last year, no one elected Olympia Snowe president.
The Obama administration. Simply, Insane.
But that may be their own undoing. The name of MoveOn.org comes from the fact that when the Republicans were obsessed with a stain on a blue dress, most normal people thought that we should move on. Which gave us MoveOn.org.
If unemployment is at 10%, and the Republicans start subpoenaing Obama's birth records, you're going to see a wicked, wicked backlash against them.
They have no solutions only teh Crazy.
What's it gonna take to get the White House to "reach across the aisle" to the PROGRESSIVES in the Democratic Party?
.. or do we have to break away and pull a "Tea Party" on the Democratic Party?
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
I prefer Coffee Klatch.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
We are Democrats, you know.
Than wouldn't it have to be imported than?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
If you call it the "G&T Party", I'm in!
I dunno, sounds like Van Gogh and Edvard Munch would be innit.
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
?
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
Expresso(nistic)...
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
.
Your right to earn billions of dollars does not trump my right to drink pure water and breathe clean air.
Sapphire gin, a smile from the vermouth bottle, two olives and a shaker. We're good to go! :)
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
But consider how much more civil our political discourse would be of everyone took this approach.
is a new White House staff. Roosevelt wised up half way into his first term. So such a thing is possible.
So, you believe it's time for Rahm to go?
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
Not only on that point (about a new WH staff -- let's start with Rahm & Gibbs, and then move on to the Cabinet beginning with the gang at the Treasury), but on all you've said here today!
So .. if Obama doesn't wise up and throw out Rahm, Bozo, Geithner, etc, what are the chances we'll see Grayson running for the Democratic nomination for President in 2012?
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
redeemable, but I think he truly has the corporate tools he wants in there. And is resisting appointing the ones, like Liz Warren, who would do a great job and actuallly work for the taxpayers, not the banksters.
He's a huge disappointment.
Congressman Grayson,
We wish we had you representing us down here in South Florida!
What can we do about the HAMP program that is NOT helping those of us underwater in our homes refinance?
And what can we do to get Elizabeth Warren appointed to head the Consumer Finance Protection Agency?
succinct and beautiful. Thank you Alan!
Hello Mr. Grayson,
I was just wondering if you could clarify your stance on net neutrality, as there was recently a confusing article on Huffington Post about you being on the side of the telcoms? Thanks, and keep up the fight!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/08/05/alan...
I'd like you to hear it directly from the horse's mouth (me being the horse), rather than "framed" by a reporter with an agenda. Here:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-alan-grayso...
HuffPo: "Verizon-Google: There's A Hard Rain Coming"
MAN!!!
I think I've heard of a Health Bill of Rights
But is there a Worker's Bill of Rights?
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
We promise workers a minimum wage that hardly budged for a quarter-century, a safe workplace if there happens to be an OSHA inspector nearby, and time-and-a-half for overtime unless Bush Administration regulations took it away. We can do better than that.
Hi there, Mr. Grayson. I'm a Florida person on the Treasure Coast and I would like to know if you might clone yourself and send that cloan over here on the east coast?
Are you supporting Greene or Meek?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
I have not endorsed Greene or Meek. But I will say that I think that Kendrick has done a good job as an elected official, particularly on the Florida class size issue. (Which matters a lot to me personally, since I have five children in public schools in Orlando.)
For the past week we have received four to five ads a day in the mail from Greene. These are big glossy expensive ads. He is running an ugly smear campaign against Meek. I have no respect for Mr. Greene and Mr. Meek will be getting two votes from my house tomorrow. I have heard Meek say he will fight for women's rights and I've heard nothing from Greene on that subject. Plus as you say Meek is all about school class sizes.
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Everyone thinks Kendrick was good in the state legislature. It's since he's been in Congress that he's turned out to be kind of horrible, not quite a Blue Dog but a very mediocre legislator and non-leader. He was the only Member to hook up with Wasserman Schultz when she refused to back the 3 Miami-Dade Democratic candidates in 2008. Then when the reaction was hotter than he thought, he jumped ship and left her looking like the shill for Big Sugar and right-wing Cuban interests that she's always been. That said, he's so much better than Greene that it should be a no contest for any Democrat. Greene isn't even a Democrat. He ran for Congress as a Republican and gave tons of money to Republicans. Blecccchhhh...
and he got my vote in the primary! Meek was my Congressman (I live in the 17th District), and was unimpressed... I've interviewed him many times and he never gave me a straight answer on a tough question!
This Peg Dunmire woman is running as an official TEA Party of Florida candidate, She seems like even a bigger crackpot and sociopath than some of the Republicans. I read they have some kind of fake tea party being financed by the Tallahassee GOP to put the real TEA Party out of busy and tie them up with law suits and harassment. Friends tell me the teabaggers hate that Daniel Webster character so much they would never vote for him under any circumstances. It sounds like a real mess down there on the right.
The less organized they are, with infighting and "purity tests" and ideological arguments, the better to encourage poor working voters to take that time off and vote. Are write-in ballots allowed there? At least they leave a paper trail.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
whether they belong to the People's Party of Judea, or the Judean People's Party (for old Monty Python fans; maybe someone can provide a YouTube link).
here
When will government of the people, by the politicians, for the corporations perish from this Earth?
Not soon enough!
This is what Congressman Grayson was referring to above... Classic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gb_qHP7VaZE
I was beaten twice on that one but here's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHUiCYAE2DY
Diabolus est Deus Inversus
minds think alike
I don't WANT to be the messiah."
Life of Brian
Sen. Grayson, this is more a comment than a question...but what is going on inside the Democratic Party? Is there even a discussion that the DLC agenda has not worked? Is there even a discussion that after 30 years of alienation of unionized working people in this nation, that the Democratic Party cannot build any sensible and long lasting coalition without the unions and without promoting worker rights?
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
I understand not wanting to answer these questions. So, I will end with one other comment.
Until the Democratic Party sees the folly of it's right/centrist positioning, they will continue to operate only on the margins, become a vehicle for "mainstreaming" hard line GOP positions, and completely marginalize themselves as a real party of progressive advancement of American society.
The truth is...maybe that IS the agenda.
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
I am not working but I just chipped in $25 for your campaign. WELL worth it! I'd much rather spend that cash on a congressman of your caliber than someone like, say John Boehner.
Thank you for everything you do. Best of luck, sir.
Your right to earn billions of dollars does not trump my right to drink pure water and breathe clean air.
It's really important to demonstrate, not only to Republicans but also to other Democrats, that People Power can work.
Could we borrow Mr Grayson. It gets pretty cold up here and we could use a little fire.
Hasa Diga Eebowai
in Canuckistan to handle "them"?
"3 protesters barely on our property chained to a...drum...not causing any problems so I told the guys to just monitor them and let them freeze."
Shocking document revealing Fed attack on Occupy Portland 11/6/11
as the hosers they are.
thank you for being here. Just think, if you were with Boner, you could be playing the 5th or 6th hole by now.
he could be on his 5th or 6th drink.
you could be on your 7th or 8th drink and still finish the round of golf.
Thank you for all your hard work, Mr. Grayson.
One of the most sensible ideas I've read recently, by a blogger named Slacktivist, is to ameliorate three problems at once: unemployment, aging infrastructure, and the economy. Can we get an initiative to spend billions on jobs for infrastructure repair? Water, sewer and the electrical grid are decades beyond their design lifetimes. Millions are unemployed. Interest rates are down, so there's never a better time!
Although I'm a scholar, I believe that kids should have more options for learning serious job skills at the high school level. Not everyone wants to go to college.
"Courtesy is owed. Respect is earned. Love is given." --Unknown author, found in Guide to Texas Etiquette by Kinky Friedman
Figuring out what makes each student special, and then nurturing it. Not factory schools.
That's nice. How? What major changes would you like to see?
Vote GOP and move forward to the 18th Century.
But where's the political will?
Which the Republicans in the Senate almost excluded entirely from the Recovery Plan, in favor of tax cuts.
THIS IS A MUST SEE VIDEO !!!
Bill Moyers - Dissecting the Talking Heads:
Part1
Part2
(This one is very interesting)
Part3
Get your lemonade, watch the traitors hang.
Congress' TREASON have no boundaries, so does M$M's brainwashing/sidetracking.
Republicans for Voldemort.
Govenment does work, just not for YOU. Govenment work ONLY on the behalf of the Tycoons.
I know they're complicated, but any thoughts on these two questions?
What can we do about the HAMP program that is NOT helping those of us underwater in our homes refinance?
And what can we do to get Elizabeth Warren appointed to head the Consumer Finance Protection Agency?
There will be NO progress UNTIL politicians and CEOs start going to JAIL - until those fuckers start getting AFRAID there will be NO change !!! Until then we will have 1000s of programs that don't do nothing. Until then the country will move more and more to the motto "a Government for the Confederates/Corporations/Kings by the Confederates/Corporations/Kings" - a future that will look a lot like "Freejack" and "Repo men" movies.
What can you do to get Elizabeth Warren - a freaking rally at Washington D.C.
P.S. Senate hearings is the way to MAKE SURE that they will NOT go to jail - so bring them all to court !!!
Get your lemonade, watch the traitors hang.
Congress' TREASON have no boundaries, so does M$M's brainwashing/sidetracking.
Republicans for Voldemort.
Govenment does work, just not for YOU. Govenment work ONLY on the behalf of the Tycoons.
Thank you for being a consistent reminder to me that there are still good people fighting for us in Government.
With all the awful rhetoric thrown around by "them" these days, it's easy to be swept up in the feeling of hopelessness.
Thank you for being who are you.
"us" or "them"?
"3 protesters barely on our property chained to a...drum...not causing any problems so I told the guys to just monitor them and let them freeze."
Shocking document revealing Fed attack on Occupy Portland 11/6/11
Is a "quare" smaller or larger than a bread box?
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
I can't remember which show you were on last week or the week before but you blistered Fox in such a delightful way. It was a thing of beauty!
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
Here's the video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zTPKk1hdDo8
I really enjoyed the time here. And to Howie, John, Digby and everyone else, I appreciate your friendship.
Thank you for your time. This was fun. Now go get 'em and don't let the bastards get you down!
Say what you mean. Mean what you say. But don't say it mean.
ditto!
Good luck with everything. You have our support!
I'm a big fan of yours from the U.K - shame i can never vote for you....
But i wondered if you had any further political aspirations?
Maybe a run for Florida Governor, Senate or President?
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