34 Responses to Alan Grayson takes on The Situation Room (and no apology was forthcoming)

1. Jim White September 30th, 2009 at 5:24 pm «

   “Nattering nabobs of negativism” — great job, Congressman! Using Agnew’s line in an appropriate context is brilliant.

   Thanks for sharing this, Karen.
• KarenM September 30th, 2009 at 5:29 pm «

  I loved that, too, Jim. And it is so timely, with the passing of Safire, who wrote that bit of alliteration for Agnew.
• Jim White September 30th, 2009 at 5:32 pm «

  Wow, I hadn’t realized it came from Safire. Grayson might just have quite a few layers to what he’s doing here…
• KarenM September 30th, 2009 at 5:41 pm «

  Yes, I especially loved that layered-meaning. Why use your own words to fight an opponent, when you can use theirs against them? I little verbal jiu jitsu suits me just fine.
2. bystander September 30th, 2009 at 5:25 pm «

   Grayson’s unique personality (Matt Taibbi) may truly work in his favor in these kinds of battles. If only Harry Reid had a similar one, eh?
• KarenM September 30th, 2009 at 5:27 pm «

  Harry Reid! And earlier on, because of his boxing background, I actually thought he might be more of a fighter than Daschle. I was never more wrong in my life.
• GregoriusU October 1st, 2009 at 6:52 am «

  Harry Reid has a personality?
• KarenM October 1st, 2009 at 7:12 am «

  Maybe back in his fighting days, but not now.
• Phoenix Woman September 30th, 2009 at 5:35 pm «

  Wow — he really is the Second Coming of Paul Hackett, isn’t he? Except much more progressive.

  Hackett’s the guy who called Rush Limbaugh a “fatass drug addict” and then when was called to apologize, said “Said it, meant it, stand behind it”, which shut up his attackers right quick.
• KarenM September 30th, 2009 at 5:42 pm «

  Let’s hope so. He’s a freshman congressman, so hasn’t had much time yet to get told his proper place.

  Of course, he’s also 6′4″ or something like that, and seems less likely to back down. The advantages of both height and size.
• bystander September 30th, 2009 at 5:51 pm «

  I had to go Google that up, Phoenix Woman. Well, Woo-Hoo. That’s the thing with bully’s. They don’t like being punched back. The great thing about Grayson, if Taibbi’s take has merit, is the Democrats were probably too frightened of him to even think about asking for an apology, otherwise given the comity principle, they might have tried. If only we had a bunch more like him.
• Gitcheegumee October 1st, 2009 at 9:50 am «

  If Harry Reid only HAD one…a personality,that is.
3. Jim White September 30th, 2009 at 5:49 pm «

   I also loved how Grayson was not intimidated at all when it was four on one for most of the segment. When “help” was brought in via Carville, he was just a figure on a monitor. Many freshman Congresscritters would have fainted dead away under those conditions.
• KarenM September 30th, 2009 at 5:51 pm «

  Agreed. I’m thinking that part of the BlueAmerican recruitment campaign for better Democrats really should include a height requirement.

  There have been research studies that demonstrate that height does play a role in one’s success in life. I’m hoping for much success in Grayson’s career and life.
• jazzyhill September 30th, 2009 at 8:22 pm «

  I cannot believe wolf attacking the congressman, you would think he is a republican by just listening to his attacks
• jazzyhill September 30th, 2009 at 8:24 pm «

  The democrats need a spine, the politicians been in congress for the longest time and got so comfortable that they forgot how to fight.
4. cocktailhag September 30th, 2009 at 6:10 pm «

   I loved your reference to Paul Hackett, Phoenix Woman. That hit the nail on the head. He was also punished for telling the truth.
5. SadButTrue September 30th, 2009 at 6:42 pm «

   The clip is most remarkable for the way the CNN regulars, Blitzer and Borger really expose their conservative bias in piling on the congressman. You of course expect that from Alex Castellanos and whoever that other guy was, but any claim of unbiased journalistic integrity from the Corporate Nattering Nabobs goes out the freakin’ window. Not that I ever assumed Blitzer to be unbiased, but he normally at least tries to present himself as such.
• Nathan Aschbacher September 30th, 2009 at 7:30 pm «

  I honestly felt like that was the most instructive part of this segment; especially balanced against the complete absence of similar outrage at the completely asinine things Republican Congressmen have been saying in the scope of this issue.
• SadButTrue September 30th, 2009 at 9:55 pm «

  The thing is, I think that CNN is more of a danger than FOX for a couple of reasons. First of all FOX doesn’t even try anymore to pretend that they don’t cater to the far-right fringe, “fair and balanced, no-spin zone, etc.” notwithstanding. Secondly, FOX viewers are already convinced Repuke lackeys, and are unlikely to change their minds whatever crap they’re fed. At least some of CNN’s viewers will be somewhere in the middle and will actually believe that what they’re watching is something like a fair representation. They could conceivably be swayed out of pure stupidity.

  Every time I see Blitzer or John King on my TeeVee, I want to throw a brick at the screen. Good thing I no longer keep stacks of bricks in my living room.
• jazzyhill September 30th, 2009 at 8:27 pm «

  They are so worried about what the congressman said that they are not even considering why he said it. The republican strategist didn’t even have to say anything because wolf and the gang tried to ambush the congressman.
• SadButTrue September 30th, 2009 at 10:02 pm «

  Arguing against the tone of someone’s statement is very near the bottom of the hierarchy of disagreement, and indicates that you don’t have a valid response to the content of what they say. I find the hierarchy diagram to be a useful tool. Only the top three techniques indicate a valid argument, the bottom four indicate nothing more than desperation.
6. Elliott September 30th, 2009 at 7:26 pm «

   oo thanks KarenM
• KarenM September 30th, 2009 at 7:29 pm «

  It was my pleasure, Elliott. Thank you! I love it when disparate posts’ POVs converge.
7. Putnik September 30th, 2009 at 8:45 pm «

   Was so moved by Grayson’s combativeness that, as a Florida resident but not in his district, I immediately went over to his site and gave him a hearty “Ata boy!”

   This is the kind of Democrat we need far more of. NO more spineless Reids!
• greenharper September 30th, 2009 at 9:38 pm «

  Money is good, too.
8. myhaven September 30th, 2009 at 9:35 pm «

   I just gave Grayson $10 on ActBlue today. Then I saw the video. I think I’ll double it tomorrow. I live OH-8 (Rep. John Boehner), and it does my Democratic heart good to just hear a live Democrat with the courage to take on that gang of vipers.
9. KarenM October 1st, 2009 at 4:19 am «

   Thanks for the link to that hierarchy. Interesting how often the Republicans use that arguing against “tone.” Of course, substance is often not on their side.
10. bluebutterfly October 1st, 2009 at 6:29 am «

    “And now the Republicans claim they are going to introduce a resolution “disapproving” of my behavior.

    What is this, junior high school? Do they think my feelings are hurt? Just what do these people think health care means? It’s not some abstract “issue”, we’re talking about life and death! And the Republicans, who ran the government in full or in part from 2001-2009, chose to let those 44,000 people die, every single year when they were in power. And George W. Bush, whom the Republicans somehow pretend was not President for the last eight years, just let them die. He even vetoed health care for poor children.

    So apologize? I don’t think so.

    Now, my office is getting slammed with calls. Some people are saying “I will do anything in my power to get you out of office.” But many of you are calling and saying “Thank you for speaking the truth, and don’t you dare apologize.” “

    http://www.dailykos.com/storyo…..$70,000%5D
11. dosido October 1st, 2009 at 7:58 am «

    Awesome!!!

    Grayson was running circles around those idiots while they tried desperately to get him to play their game, trivialize his point, and talk about anything other than people dying.

    You called us names!
    Don’t you care about your political career?
    What was going through your mind? This is calculated. (duh).
    You make great television!

    He just swatted all that away. Masterful.
12. libbyliberal October 1st, 2009 at 8:58 am «

    Grayson takes on the Repub hissy-fitters!!! Gratifying. The folks who can’t take what they give out so intensely.
13. tmullins October 1st, 2009 at 9:32 am «

    HOLOCAUST is pretty darn accurate !

    As a former embalmer, I am concerned and have been concerned for over five years of MRSA ( methicillin resistant staphylococcus aureaus ) in these deaths from a flu bug. Hospitals in America are filthy bacteria breeding grounds and the very health care system we trust, believe and depend on to keep us safe and healthy is infecting our communities with a disease that used to be an only hospital acquired infection that is so common in our homes, schools, businesses. I really believe the mix of MRSA and flu will cause more deaths than AIDS. I watched my father rot for ten months because of the status quo http://www.wisecountyissues.com/?p=62 which I am not saying is medical malpractice, what I did for a living was legal mutilation. But what is deemed, defended and supported as quality health care in America is going to kill more and more innocent people, mostly children right now, but the vunerable elderly are the next target and I can only imagine what will happen when this affects the US economy and health care system.
• KarenM October 1st, 2009 at 10:47 am «

  I blame it on those damned gloves, and perhaps the indiscriminate wearing of scrubs all over the place.

  Just as soon as someone puts on those latex gloves, the whole emphasis, whether conscious or not, becomes about protecting their own hands. Who cares what they are picking up on the gloves and transferring between patients.

  When I was a kid, I loved the books about Cherry Ames, which began with her student nursing days and followed her through all kinds of nursing jobs. One of them was as a Visiting Nurse, and one of her cases required quarantine protocol. The description of what was involved was nothing like you see today, which is why I detest seeing people walk around in non-clinical settings in scrubs, and also why I blame those damned gloves.
14. Gitcheegumee October 1st, 2009 at 9:52 am «

    Being Jewish himself, Grayson probably had more insight than any,when he chose to illustrate his point that way,imho.