Forget Congress, Alan Grayson Should Pull a Palin

Posted on Jul 12, 2011

Pablo Manriquez (CC-BY-ND)

Every progressive’s favorite loudmouth is running to reclaim his seat in the House of Representatives, where he wants to fight Democratic “appeasement” of Republicans. Alan Grayson told Talking Points Memo, “It’s exactly like I said, the Republican health care plan: Don’t get sick. ... The Republican unemployment plan: Go find a job. The Republican homelessness plan: Move in with your relatives. They have no answers to anything.”

With lines like that, you can see how Grayson became a national figure and raised almost $6 million the last time he ran. He lost that race, but hopes redistricting will help swing Orlando, Fla., back to the Democrats.

Grayson tells TPM he’s “appalled” that Democrats are even discussing cuts to Social Security and Medicare, adding this: “Let’s face it, [Republicans] led the country to the brink of ruin in eight years of power and now they’re trying to finish the job. I think appeasement doesn’t work and we need to be tough.”

As much as the Democrats could use a thorn in their side, wouldn’t Grayson be much more effective on a bus tour than C-SPAN?

Sarah Palin’s inexplicable rise to power may be bizarre, but she is the de facto leader of a horde that terrifies her party. Palin wields much more influence over the Republicans from her Twitter account than she did sitting in the governor’s office in Alaska.

The Democrats desperately need a hell-raiser on the left flank and Grayson would be too easily controlled within the caucus. He should skip the election and apply his rhetorical talents to the work of building a movement to counter the tea party and those Democrats who so often yield to them.  —PZS

TPM via Political Wire:

Grayson said he’d be running on an anti-war platform, calling for a US withdrawal from conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya. His top domestic priority would be protecting Democrats from themselves by trying to block any deal that cut Social Security and Medicare benefits.

“I am appalled that this is even being discussed,” he said. “Let’s face it, [Republicans] led the country to the brink of ruin in eight years of power and now they’re trying to finish the job. I think appeasement doesn’t work and we need to be tough.”

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