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| Congressman Alan Grayson |
Perhaps people don’t realize that Alan Grayson isn’t just another lawyer/congressman. He’s an experienced litigator who fought whistle-blower fraud cases aimed at military contractors. The Wall Street Journal characterized him in 2006 as “waging a one-man war against contractor fraud in Iraq.” And he was very successful at it. As a politician Grayson is usually seen as a pugnacious fighter always at the ready with a pithy put-down on cable news shows. His floor speeches are often fiery indictments of his political opponents and the power elite.
But that’s not why the Democrats should tap him for the job. As notable as all those characteristics are, they are not where Grayson’s true talent lies. He is a master at the task of committee questioning. During his first term as a member of the Financial Services Committee he practically had bankers whimpering on the hot seat and he took on everyone from Ben Bernanke to Timothy Geithner, eliciting important information. Unlike the vaunted prosecutor the GOP has tapped to lead the inquiry, Trey Gowdy (who specializes in browbeating and histrionic questioning), Grayson is never rude and he isn’t dismissive or insulting. He is serious, composed and extremely well prepared.
And when he has the floor he is completely in control. And yes, choosing him would please the Democratic base and infuriate the Republicans. That should be a feature, not a bug. The Republicans want a show. Grayson will definitely give them one — but it won’t be the kind of show they’re looking for. He’ll elicit the kinds of responses from the Democratic witnesses that are needed to make their case and he’ll skewer the conservative scandal-mongers with the facts.
Rabin-Havt had originally suggested that Grayson simply be on the committee as a member, but he and other progressives, including Credo Mobile, are now suggesting that he should be the lone Democrat assigned. It would be an uncharacteristically bold and brilliant move for the House Democrats to do it. Grayson says he’s game if they are. Will they have the guts that he has?
When I first heard of this I was somewhat on the fence.
However the more I think about this, the more I think it would be a hoot.
So go ahead, tell me I'm wrong. Or don't.
I signed the petition . I think it's brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI'd pay real money to see this! It would be a show and a half--all Grayson would have to do is stand in the back of the room and smirk. That alone would be enough to give that wormy Draco lookalike, Trey whats-his-name, the heebee jeebies. Rock on, Alan!
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be broadcast on the public access congressional channel on cable?
DeleteYes! I KNEW he reminded me of someone and just couldn't put my finger on it. Draco! And he's just as snarky too!
DeleteSheesh
Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a great idea!
Go Alan "Die Quick" Grayson!
Having Grayson as the lone Democrat would be AWESOME. He a'int much to look at, but I love the way he talks.
ReplyDeleteI don't know why they don't use him more for this stuff. The man has a gift and guts. Wiener was pretty good at that sort of thing also until he screwed up and his wiener started photobombing his selfies.
ReplyDeleteAmen. Turn Grayson loose.
DeleteYes, please. Unleash the Kraken, er, the Grayson. He's brilliant and tenacious and he actually cares about our country and its citizens.
ReplyDeleteWhat she ^ said.
DeleteBrilliant, absolutely brilliant!
ReplyDeleteSe keeps plowing that old unsettled door open http://www.politico.com/story/2014/05/sarah-palin-hillary-clinton-injury-106858.html
ReplyDeleteYes! Turn Grayson loose and watch how juvenile he makes the GOP look. That's not hard, but he's skewer them and they won't know they shish kabob!
ReplyDeleteI have a very high regard for Grayson and I hope he does it.
ReplyDeleteHere's the link for the petition that is going to Nancy Pelosi.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.credomobilize.com/petitions/tell-leader-pelosi-appoint-alan-grayson-to-fight-back-against-the-republican-s-ben-ghazi-witch-hunt?source=twitter-share-button
Grayson all the way baby !!!
ReplyDeleteI think this is a wonderful idea! Loved when he told Sarah he knew where his kids were.... in school. After that, she pulled the covers over her head for a few days and didn't show up with the whole progeny to every possible event.
ReplyDeleteHe'll kick ass, stand his ground and take names.
Greyson's like the democrats Issa except he's not a crook or a liar. Get'em Alan
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be great if the REAL cause of the Benghazi disaster was revealed in one of these investigations?
ReplyDeleteMost of us already know it, but rightwingnuts refuse to acknowledge that embassy security was scaled back by the Republican House, in an attempt to funnel the money instead to the already wealthy.
I already signed this when I read it on Yahoo or Huffington, don't remember which.
ReplyDeleteBut Grayson is perfect and being the lone Democrat would be brilliant.
A lot of people have issues with Grayson. Yes, he may be abrasive to some. But I think that is a selling point.
I have a few favorite Congress members; Bernie Sanders, Al Franken, Elizabeth Warren. But among the top is also Alan Grayson, of for no other reason than he drives the GOP nuts. I think that's a good thing.
So let his talent shine and put him on that committee. Then sit back and enjoy the fun.
Signed the petition and ready to watch the fireworks should they grant him the opportunity!
ReplyDeleteSheesh
But, BENGHAZI!!!!
ReplyDeleteFox News has gone all Benghazi all of the time, and the result has been Fox’s worst rated non-holiday week with younger viewers since before 9/11/ in 2001.
According to The Wrap, “During the week of May 5, 2014 — the most recent for which numbers are available — Fox News delivered an average of 180,000 viewers in the key 25-54 demographic in live-plus-same-day measurement across the total day. That measures programming from 6 a.m. until the following 6 a.m. Fox pulled the same number the previous week, the week of April 28.”
To put this into context, Fox News only averaged 4,000 viewers on Christmas week last year. Fox’s other record low came during Christmas week in 2012. In order to find a non-holiday week where Fox News had fewer younger viewers, one has to go the whole way back to the week before the 9/11 terror attacks.
It isn’t a coincidence that Fox News has seen more younger viewers turn off their network after they decided to go completely crazy on Benghazi. Republicans desperately needed something to distract the country away from the fact that they were completely wrong about Obamacare, and Fox News was happy to provide it to them by trying to turn Benghazi into the biggest political scandal since Watergate.
Fox News has had great success with their formula for turning right-wing conspiracies into legitimate news in the past, but Benghazi has been the rare conspiracy that is actually harming the network’s ratings. Younger viewers how demonstrating how much of a turn off this non-scandal is by abandoning Fox News. As each day passes, it is becoming clear that Benghazi is scandal that only your grandparents could love.
One has to question how long Fox News will continue to beat the Benghazi drum if it means low ratings with the most critical demographic. The media isn’t buying it, and even younger Fox News viewers don’t care about Benghazi. It’s the scandal that never was.
Benghazi isn’t going to bring down Obama, but it is already destroying Fox News.
http://www.politicususa.com/2014/05/19/benghazi-backfire-fox-news-lowest-rated-non-holiday-week-911.html
Alan Grayson and Elizabeth Warren are the two most brilliant people in Congress. With those two at the helm , I think we'll get back to "We the people".
ReplyDeleteWhere can I send the sympathy card........never mind,I have no sympathy whatsoever for the boneheads dumb enough to tangle with him..................
ReplyDeleteWhatever happens regarding whether Dems participate, any way of promoting the below idea among Dems at the national level is much appreciated, Neil
ReplyDeleteThe Hill
https://thehill.com/opinion/letters/206031-letters-cms-should-not-make-any-changes-to-medicare-part-d
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Democrats should refuse to participate in the new House select committee to investigate the Benghazi attack. How many inquiries are needed? Why legitimize a new attempt to smear the Administration? Past presentation of Benghazi smoking guns--like the current “damning” White House email--have seemed more like duds.
Instead, while the select committee meets, Democrats should hold their own special committee hearing to get to the bottom of what really matters to Americans: How can we have the best economy? How can we boost job growth and wages? How can we reduce economic inequality? Such a hearing would also contrast Republicans’ interest in beating a dead horse to Democrats’ interest in our everyday lives.
And this might be an opportunity to add a new term to our vocabulary. One can "Benghazi" a political position; i.e., for political gain, one can continually raise a concern for which there is little or no evidence. Frankly, I have been “Benghazied” enough.