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Are you are one of those Progressives that feels uncomforatable by Grayson’s "Tell It Like It Is" speech on the house floor.
Perhaps that his speech was lowering the level of discourse to the domain traditionally held by the wackos on the right?
Do you think "We’re Democrats, we don’t need to lower ourselves to that tasteless level."
Well then, count yourself as one of those who cannot see the forest for the trees.
Model This…
Redeem your intellectuality by considering the following model:
Assumption 1: American media, both right and left, is saturated with news stories about the right-wing behavior. Simple. Ok?
Assumption 2: The statistical mean of the political rhetoric in the media with regards to Conservative vs Progressive is influenced by the context NOT the content of the news. What? The more news stories about conservatives, the more "Right-wing" the discourse in the media and therefore in public. Why? (this is where your intelligence is tested) The opinion generated by one piece of media coverage would be clear cut to strict liberals and strict conservatives (liberals take the liberal view point and vice-a-versa). However, a topic of conversation around the water cooler that is generated from the media will always have the proverbial "two sides of the story"; where, when a topic is introduced ,e.g. "You, Lie!", ( and once the "shock factor" has worn off in a few seconds) people who don’t have strict political opinions will start to probe "both sides of the story". They will start to CONSIDER, both sides of the argument, even if they eventually don’t agree with one side. Which leads us to Assumption 3.
Assumption 3: When an idea, news story, media coverage is CONSIDERED by someone who doesn’t have strict political views, they have a tendency to consider both sides of the story, hence; a median political view point is established which based on how politically intense the story is. i.e. When the story is highly contriversal like "You, Lie!" that median rhetoric is set to a more conservative value.
Assumption 4: People who don’t have strict political views are those who make up the "Swing Voter" population. And Swing Voters is the segment of the population who determines which political party is in power.
Let’s put it togther…
The more stories out there about Republicans the more Republican the country gets. When all swing voters have to talk about is Conservative’s behavior the more conservative swing voters get.
Conclusion
Republicans win more elections.
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So when you think you’re above Grayson’s approach (which so much progessive media seems to have been), you’re just really shooting yourself in the foot and the Republicans will be laughing there way into the majority.
Grayson’s got the right idea. Progressives need to start taking back media coverage. If it seems a little "over-the-top" (Josh Marshall) or your uncomfortable with some terminology (Olberman and Maddow) remember this…Grayson and others are doing to take back the media and save our beloved country from another eight years of having the Country, Troops, Constitution pissed on.
GOT GRAYSON?
10 Comments
Yeah, definitely not above Grayson’s approach here. Go Grayson!
And Miss Nancy agrees: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/…..06338.html
“Apparently Republicans hold Democrats to a higher standard than they hold members of their own party,” Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference on Thursday. “There’s no reason for Mr. Grayson to apologize. If anyone should apologize, everyone should apologize.”
I want to know what’s in the air down there or if Mr. Grayson is viral or something because we’ve definitely got spinal regeneration going on in the House and Senate among Democrats. I mean – Jello Jay Rockefeller turning into Jay the Rock? Somewhere, a Rethug is putting his head through the wall.
I know, I hope it spreads and it holds firm! I think the Democratic leadership is just weak, they are selected based on their seniority, rather than on their leadership skills–and that is a huge mistake. I think Grayson needs to be the Speaker of the House. Just look at what he did with showing some leadership and cojones? His courage even helped Speaker Pelosi stand up a little straighter!
I also think that many of us have been writing to our Congress people demanding that they stand up for us, and promising that if they don’t fully support a strong public option for all Americans, that we will actively campaign against them come next election. I think that message is finally getting through, so don’t let up, keep the pressure on them until they pass a bill that makes sense for all Americans!
I’m for Grayson too. We need more fighting back of this kind. We need to tell the truth about what Republicans do and use emotional framing. That’s what people understand.
Grayson’s grilling of the Fed’s general counsel recently was a thing of beauty. His apology to those Americans dead of lack of health insurance, instead of to the thin-skinned Republicans, was terrific. It is such a pleasure, at long last, to see a Democrat stand up without apology for ordinary Americans, common sense, and accountability.
Fact is..the Rs don’t have anyone who can, or will, go head to head with Mr. Grayson. They’ve coasted on weak kneed dems, easy BS, and the corporate press for years. They’re bloated, arrogant, used to easy victories, and have forgotten how to think. Grayson won his fights with the Rs handsdown. Let’s hope some other dems sit up and notice.
I don’t agree that Grayson “lowered himself” to the level of the Republicans, I believe what he did was badly needed. First of all, the Republicans spout out insults and garbage that have no basis in truth, Rep. Grayson spoke the truth, and it needed to be said. I have had it with the (Supermajority) Democratic Congress acting like they can’t counter the Republican attacks with the truth, I am tired of them behaving like scared little kids hiding from the school bully. One could still be respectful while speaking the truth, and standing up for what one believes–a notion apparently unknown among many Democrats.
Grayson is intelligent and has yet to be bought by special interest lobbyists (obviously), and I think he has provided more leadership in Congress than Pelosi and Reid and the rest of the old time Democratic hyerarchy have this whole time. I think Speaker Pelosi needs to step aside and let Grayson take the leadership for the House.
I agree about the need to put it to the Republicans. Until Grayson said what he said and showed that he’s willing to use their tools against them, they were going to continue backbiting. Until Democrats finally stand up, they will still continue to backbite anyone who appears wishy washy.
However, I got a bit of education on a show last night. You say:
There are reasons. He is a Harvard grad and has owned a business that he grew out and is now in the multi-million or billion dollar range and is traded publicly. My understanding is he has a whole shitload of money! To me that translates to, he can’t be bought! I can’t believe we have the good fortune to have him!
I think Grayson was too soft on the bastards
but I’m glad I sent him a few bucks last year
blue America is the best idea we got going for us
I love Alan Grayson. His assessment of the situation was short, succinct, and correct. In medicine, generally speaking, if we place a patient on a medication and it works that confirms the diagnosis. He gave the Republicans a dose of their own medicine (albeit in a much more respectful manner, and using the truth rather than make it up), and I believe they understand this, but since they did not expect it they just aren’t sure how to respond. I did learn during my many years working in mental health that you just can’t fight crazy, it is impossible. When somebody is psychotic and delusional they are unable to process reason and logic, therefore it becomes necessary to resort to other methods. Alan Grayson understands this. I love the guy.