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News & ArtsWednesday, November 3, 2010
Election Confidential to Alan Grayson
Posted by Dan Savage on Wed, Nov 3, 2010 at 9:00 AM
Originally posted early yesterday, moved up because I mean it.
So it looks like you're out—hell, it looks like you got your ass handed to you. That sucks. The country needs you, Congress needs you, Dems need you.
I'm guessing you've met Jay Inslee. Jay is a member of the House of Representatives from Washington state. Jay has represented Washington's 1st Congressional District since 1999. But Jay was first elected to Congress in 1992 from Washington state's 4th Congressional District. Jay lost that seat in the Republican Revolution of 1994. Turns out Jay was too liberal for Washington state's 1st Congressional district. (Jay didn't think people should be able to send their pre-schoolers to daycare with guns.)
Washington state's 4th Congressional district is way over on the east side of our state—it's rural, red, conservative, and crazy (gun crazy, hate crazy, and just plain crazy crazy). Washington state's 1st Congressional district is over here on the west side of the state—it's urban and suburban, liberal, and pretty sane. Jay's in Congress now because he moved.
You lost, Alan—tuns out you were way too liberal, and way too outspoken, way too sane, for your district. So do like Jay did and move. And run. And get your ass back into Congress. We need you.
6
I'm with @3. No need to lie and distort the truth when just being honest is strong enough. Sad to see someone so articulate and outspoken resort to tactics of lesser congress-critters.
7
Jon Stewart included Alan Grayson in his montage of ridiculousness at the Sanity March. I thought that meant our marching orders were to not like him anymore. Confused ...
10
Take it from someone who (regrettably) lives in his soon to be former district- it was a complete shock he was elected in the first place. He became exactly what I thought he would, a representative too good for this district and the citizens as a whole don’t deserve him. In general, District 8 is nothing more than a cesspool of meth-addled, medicare-benefit stealing rednecks. Daniel Webster was too chickenshit to show up and debate him because he knew he would get his fundamentalist ass handed to him. He was simply too good for the people here, and for that I am extremely embarrassed and cannot wait to move out of this place come 2011.
The irony of the situation is there can hardly be another district of people in this country (outside of Appalachia, I'll concede) that need an aggressive, earmark-scoring representative more to help turn around the shameful lack of jobs and opportunities to make a decent living here. And instead of welcoming such a force, the voters of District 8 just cocked their weapons (and you bet your ass almost everyone here has one), aimed down and shot themselves square in the foot.
The biggest business development in the last 10 years was Lake County's ability to "score" a aquifer-draining water bottling plant, and the most established business in the area is a steel-reinforced cement plant that fights tooth and nail to keep their right to spray and bury toxic chemicals into what should be environmentally-protected marshland. I live in county where federally subsidized apartment complexes outnumber regularly-priced units something like 3 to 1, because there is no way this area has decent work for enough residents to support paying rent.
On behalf of the minority of sane people in District 8, I'd just like to apologize to America and the commenters here at The Stranger, whom I watch from afar with an extreme amount of envy.
More...
The irony of the situation is there can hardly be another district of people in this country (outside of Appalachia, I'll concede) that need an aggressive, earmark-scoring representative more to help turn around the shameful lack of jobs and opportunities to make a decent living here. And instead of welcoming such a force, the voters of District 8 just cocked their weapons (and you bet your ass almost everyone here has one), aimed down and shot themselves square in the foot.
The biggest business development in the last 10 years was Lake County's ability to "score" a aquifer-draining water bottling plant, and the most established business in the area is a steel-reinforced cement plant that fights tooth and nail to keep their right to spray and bury toxic chemicals into what should be environmentally-protected marshland. I live in county where federally subsidized apartment complexes outnumber regularly-priced units something like 3 to 1, because there is no way this area has decent work for enough residents to support paying rent.
On behalf of the minority of sane people in District 8, I'd just like to apologize to America and the commenters here at The Stranger, whom I watch from afar with an extreme amount of envy.
12
Make no mistake - he didn't lose b/c he was "too liberal" for his district. It was b/c the Roberts SCOTUS let the right-wing noise machine unleash the full weight of the Koch family fortune to caricature him as a lunatic (if you want to talk about lies and distorting the truth, @6, look in that direction) for actually representing the citizens in his district. Take this as the sign of the future of America.
13
"and crazy (gun crazy, hate crazy, and just crazy crazy)"
Not everyone that likes guns is a conservative!
Anyway, Grayson maybe went a little too far sometimes, but it was nice to have a voice that wasn't afraid to say things directly. No surprise he didn't last though, oh well.
Not everyone that likes guns is a conservative!
Anyway, Grayson maybe went a little too far sometimes, but it was nice to have a voice that wasn't afraid to say things directly. No surprise he didn't last though, oh well.
14
@12 The only way to buck total Republican control is to convince people to stop believing all those transparently false advertisements.
15
I'm sorry Geocrackr, but you're wrong. This is an extremely conservative district, one which probably would not have elected Grayson in the first place except that the previous incumbent, Rick Keller, was a milquetoast who couldn't (or wouldn't) fight for any government funding.
And I know many, many republican and republican-leaning voters who voted against him (not for Grayson) because Keller repeatedly promised he would only stay 4 terms in congress (2008 would have been his 5th). That, out of all the bullcrap that happens around here, was apparently too much to take for many around here. It sounds stupid because it is, but that's the reality. Grayson would have been out no matter how much money he spent or was spent against him.
And I know many, many republican and republican-leaning voters who voted against him (not for Grayson) because Keller repeatedly promised he would only stay 4 terms in congress (2008 would have been his 5th). That, out of all the bullcrap that happens around here, was apparently too much to take for many around here. It sounds stupid because it is, but that's the reality. Grayson would have been out no matter how much money he spent or was spent against him.
17
He didn't lose because he was "too liberal". He lost because he ran an ad that made him look like a scumbag and wouldn't apologize for it. I liked the guy, but he deserved to lose.
19
I don't know much about that district or its players, but Grayson's negative ads were so reprehensible I don't know how I could have supported him. I'm not going to celebrate the loss of a Democratic seat, but it's hard for me to express must disappointment for the guy who unleashed the unjustifiable "Taliban Dan" ad.
20
I always liked Grayson. I didn't see the ads some have spoken of here, but looking at his record, we need more of him anyway. If his district is that bad then hell yes, I'd love to see him move and run somewhere else and get back in.
Maybe Obama can replace Holden with Grayson or Feingold *sigh*
Maybe Obama can replace Holden with Grayson or Feingold *sigh*
21
Personally, I think the Taliban Dan ad was justified, if a bit uncouth. Grayson needs to find a better district, run in 2012, and keep kicking ass. The Democrats desperately need someone who cares more about reality than politeness.
22
Grayson lost because of shallow lightweight pissy scolds who won't support the campaign of a fighting Democrat like Grayson, because of a campaign ad they don't like, despite the risk of losing the house to batshit insane Republicans who DO NOT HESITATE to lie, cheat and steal to win elections.
Grow the fuck up.
Grow the fuck up.
23
Grayson lost because of shallow lightweight oh-so-sensitive scolds who won't support the campaign of a fighting Democrat like Grayson, because of a campaign ad they don't like, despite the risk of losing the house to batshit insane Republicans who DO NOT HESITATE to lie, cheat and steal to win elections.
Grow the fuck up.
Grow the fuck up.
24
Why unjustifiable? Just because Dan Webster didn't want to talk about what his books says about women doesn't mean he doesn't believe it.
25
Wow, Wisconsonites -- watch out: The Criminalization of Gay Marriage. Apparently Wisconsin residents who go out of state for a gay marriage can be fined up to $10K and/or imprisoned for up to 9 months on their return. There's a petition over there on that page too.
26
@25 ....and for everyone who scoffs when I say y'all's returning to the dark ages...do you think we could fine straight people 10K for getting divorced?? Sounds like a plan.
27
Another note from another Floridian. It looks like the state amendments to eliminate gerrymandering of legislative and Congressional districts are going to pass (both are at 62% for vs 38% against). I don't know much about how the new districts would end up, but I would imagine that Alan Grayson's current district would definitely be, um, reshaped.
Here's the current one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida's_8…
Here's the current one:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Florida's_8…
29
@26 yeah, that sounds like a plan to me
I'm just so dumbfounded I can't even put together a proper rant.
I'm just so dumbfounded I can't even put together a proper rant.
30
OK... that was weird... 28 posted right off on the preview comment button, not the second one, and didn't show up until I did 29...
I do know how to push buttons, honestly, I do!
I do know how to push buttons, honestly, I do!
31
@25: I had no idea that was the case; I'm not even sure how that's legal, given that the marriage is contracted outside of WI's jurisdiction. It can't POSSIBLY be legal to pass laws contingent upon behavior in a different jurisdiction, can it? This has really scary implications beyond gay marriage, too: if that's legal, then it would theoretically be legal to prosecute someone for murder in a state where abortion is considered murder if she gets an abortion in a state where it's legal (in the event that Roe v. Wade is ever overturned). Granted, it's also Constitutionally mandated that states respect marriage contracts obtained in other states, so I'm not quite sure how even not recognizing a gay marriage flies. I hate my state right now, so much.
My fucking idiot, crazy state-co-inhabitants ousted the only senator to vote against the PATRIOT Act (and elected the reactionary politician who has done everything in his power to make my city the fourth poorest in the country governor). It is a dark day. Our new governor has promised to cut the state payroll budget by 30% in the middle of the largest economic collapse since the Great Depression. The chances for sanity with respect to marriage law are exactly zero. Hell, we're gonna lose publicly-subsidized birth control, which paradoxically is going to mean MORE poor people leeching off of the system, or whatever it is that 52% of the voting public here thinks the evil dark-skinned folks are doing.
There's just no goddamned end-game: congratulations, you've managed to dismantle all of our public infrastructure. Now what?
Make it better Dan! Please, take the sad away.
My fucking idiot, crazy state-co-inhabitants ousted the only senator to vote against the PATRIOT Act (and elected the reactionary politician who has done everything in his power to make my city the fourth poorest in the country governor). It is a dark day. Our new governor has promised to cut the state payroll budget by 30% in the middle of the largest economic collapse since the Great Depression. The chances for sanity with respect to marriage law are exactly zero. Hell, we're gonna lose publicly-subsidized birth control, which paradoxically is going to mean MORE poor people leeching off of the system, or whatever it is that 52% of the voting public here thinks the evil dark-skinned folks are doing.
There's just no goddamned end-game: congratulations, you've managed to dismantle all of our public infrastructure. Now what?
Make it better Dan! Please, take the sad away.
32
Re Grayson "going too far": let's reconvene in two years. I predict the Taliban Dan moniker will have been fully justified.
Silvio Levy
Silvio Levy
33
I saw him on the Tee Vee's a few times.
Some of the time he was really solid. Many times though he used weak arguments that included half truths or generalizations about those who opposed him. And he wasn't above throwing some insults in. So although I was on his side of the argument, and although some insults were deserved, the foundation of that was sloppy debating.
It made me think he may do more harm than good because people on the fence, or people adept at picking out logical fallacies might take flaws in HIS argument as signs of the positions weakness as a whole.
Just an impression. I admire the mans courage to say what he thought he had to. He just rubbed me the wrong way the times I saw him play the talking head game.
Some of the time he was really solid. Many times though he used weak arguments that included half truths or generalizations about those who opposed him. And he wasn't above throwing some insults in. So although I was on his side of the argument, and although some insults were deserved, the foundation of that was sloppy debating.
It made me think he may do more harm than good because people on the fence, or people adept at picking out logical fallacies might take flaws in HIS argument as signs of the positions weakness as a whole.
Just an impression. I admire the mans courage to say what he thought he had to. He just rubbed me the wrong way the times I saw him play the talking head game.
34
the candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long. i wish he'd been MORE divisive and corrosive and gone down in a brighter blaze of glory.
he ran an unfair campaign ad? heaven forfend! now i have no choice but to vote for his demonstrably more evil opponent!
he ran an unfair campaign ad? heaven forfend! now i have no choice but to vote for his demonstrably more evil opponent!
35
Grayson lost because most Dems are unwilling to man up and speak out. Huzzah on Reid and whatever, and huzzah on Jon Stewart for trying to make people have an ounce of common sense, but you don't fight rabid dogs with charm and grace as they're savaging you. You kick them in the balls and gouge out their eyes.
36
@35 exactly. That's why the only money I sent to support an election campaign this year went to him. And I fucking hate Florida.
38
@31 -- Yeah, I can't see how that would hold up to a legal challenge, either. (Disclaimer: I have a paralegal certificate, am not a lawyer and in neither case could dispense legal advise, yadda yadda.) From what I can tell, it is on the books, but has not (yet?) been enforced on anyone, and until then I'm not sure you can challenge it in court, you'd have to pass counter-legislation instead. The mere *existence* of that law, though, is so grossly offensive, I just spluttered to a complete halt on seeing that.
(I really wish the conservative crazies would make up their minds on states rights, because they only trot that one out at their convenience.)
(I really wish the conservative crazies would make up their minds on states rights, because they only trot that one out at their convenience.)
39
@31,
I'm pretty sure the law in Loving v. Virginia worked that way. It wasn't enough that the Lovings' marriage wasn't legally recognized in Virginia, they were arrested and prosecuted for being married in another state.
I kind of welcome this new law if only because it's pushing into Lawrence v. Texas territory. I think it would be very hard for SCOTUS to uphold it (and all other bans on same-sex marriage) if criminal penalties are being applied to consensual adult behavior.
I'm pretty sure the law in Loving v. Virginia worked that way. It wasn't enough that the Lovings' marriage wasn't legally recognized in Virginia, they were arrested and prosecuted for being married in another state.
I kind of welcome this new law if only because it's pushing into Lawrence v. Texas territory. I think it would be very hard for SCOTUS to uphold it (and all other bans on same-sex marriage) if criminal penalties are being applied to consensual adult behavior.
40
It has nothing to do with "manning up" or even calling the guy "Taliban Dan". Grayson completely edited statements out of context, got caught redhanded and then doubled down on his lie. That single item completely undermined his credibility in all areas, which sucked because there is so much factual stuff to attack on, there is no reason to put your credibility at risk for a cheap point.
41
doubling down on the crazy, the lies and the distortions worked for the Republicans over the last 2 years and bought them the House of Representatives. It's only when someone gives them a taste of their own medicine do Republicans find the shame and indignation to condemn someone for things like that. Funny how that works...
42
I understand the what's good for the goose is good for the gander arguement. The problem is that Dems hold themselves to a higher truth standard. I like to think I am better than that and I hope most Dems do too. Apparently in FLA that is the case.
44
wow danny.
we hope you didn't bet too much of the kid's college money on grayson.
cause the troll told you,
like,
forty or fifty times
that grayson was going DOWN.....
real bummer, tho-
cause the one thing congress sure needs more of is
LYING ASSHOLE SACKS OF SHIT
btw danny why did you never call grayson on his
SLEAZY ASSHOLE LYING?
couldn't bear to pull your head out of his ASS long enough to do it?
sad.......
we hope you didn't bet too much of the kid's college money on grayson.
cause the troll told you,
like,
forty or fifty times
that grayson was going DOWN.....
real bummer, tho-
cause the one thing congress sure needs more of is
LYING ASSHOLE SACKS OF SHIT
btw danny why did you never call grayson on his
SLEAZY ASSHOLE LYING?
couldn't bear to pull your head out of his ASS long enough to do it?
sad.......
45
Consider San Francisco, home of the World Series Champion Giants. Pelosi apparently promised to retire if she lost the Speakership. Come save us from the Burton Machine, Mr. Grayson.
46
I live in his district, FL08, and am sad to see him go. Not feeling too proud of my neighbors at the moment. Hopefully now that gerrymandering is banned with amendments 5 and 6, we'll have a better district here for Orlando that doesn't include the more conservative "burbs".
47
Someone should report on write-in votes against Jim Johnson (WA state supreme court). Sure, there won't be many, but the names might be interesting
49
@44 has a lot of anger and nothing to say. His inability to stop himself from acting out speaks badly for both his upbringing and the American system of education. Ironically he's too stupid to realize that Alan Grayson speaks for him too,
50
I live in Connecticut, but I couldn't agree more with Savage. I don't know where he ought to move, one would hope he could give Florida an honest voice, but hell, if he could get elected to the Senate from Alaska, I'd take it.
When you send money to a candidate, you know you'll get papered for weeks to come -- and invited to be a volunteer, which is okay, but sometimes it's a long way off. It's the way political email works.
But if you gave money to Alan it was an absolute delight. His pitches were sometimes based on the latest a-hole to attack him. I didn't make his campaign rich, but I probably gave him twice what I would have otherwise. I knew the polls and I knew he didn't have much of a chance.
But compared to Kentucky's Jack Conway, a good guy who missed the connection, Alan was a G-D happy warrior, frothing for a good fight in a good cause. If Savage could convince him to move to the Pacific NW, it would be your gain.
From the happy blue state that ignored the $60 million of the WWE CEO and elected a good Democrat, ignored the $20 million of a corporate raide to elect a solid Democrat governor and ignored the millions poured into this tiny state to return it's five Democrats to Congress en block. Joe Lieberman, you're the next to go.
When you send money to a candidate, you know you'll get papered for weeks to come -- and invited to be a volunteer, which is okay, but sometimes it's a long way off. It's the way political email works.
But if you gave money to Alan it was an absolute delight. His pitches were sometimes based on the latest a-hole to attack him. I didn't make his campaign rich, but I probably gave him twice what I would have otherwise. I knew the polls and I knew he didn't have much of a chance.
But compared to Kentucky's Jack Conway, a good guy who missed the connection, Alan was a G-D happy warrior, frothing for a good fight in a good cause. If Savage could convince him to move to the Pacific NW, it would be your gain.
From the happy blue state that ignored the $60 million of the WWE CEO and elected a good Democrat, ignored the $20 million of a corporate raide to elect a solid Democrat governor and ignored the millions poured into this tiny state to return it's five Democrats to Congress en block. Joe Lieberman, you're the next to go.
51
Alan Grayson should replace Tim Kaine as the chair of the Democratic National Committee. Pass it on!
52
I just watched the ad.
So Grayson is BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD for quoting exactly what Webster said and rightly pointing out that this made him no different from Muslim fundamentalists? That's what it comes down to? Whinging when somebody is actually right and says something truthful out loud?
Centrist Democrats: scrotums without any balls in them.
So Grayson is BAAAAAAAAAAAAAAD for quoting exactly what Webster said and rightly pointing out that this made him no different from Muslim fundamentalists? That's what it comes down to? Whinging when somebody is actually right and says something truthful out loud?
Centrist Democrats: scrotums without any balls in them.
53
@52: Grayson quoted what Webster said, except for the part right before the quote that directly refutes the statement. Grayson used the same tactic that got Shirley Sherrod fired: selective editing to make the target look like they're saying the opposite of what they're really saying.
http://factcheck.org/2010/09/rep-grayson…
I'm all for Democrats with balls, but if Dan Webster is worthy of the "Taliban Dan" statement, then Grayson should back it up with something that has at least a glimmer of truth, instead of this outright lie. Democrats need to fight back, but we don't need them to follow the Republican playbook of lies at all costs. How about opposing Republican lies with truth?
http://factcheck.org/2010/09/rep-grayson…
I'm all for Democrats with balls, but if Dan Webster is worthy of the "Taliban Dan" statement, then Grayson should back it up with something that has at least a glimmer of truth, instead of this outright lie. Democrats need to fight back, but we don't need them to follow the Republican playbook of lies at all costs. How about opposing Republican lies with truth?
54
To all the people spouting negative stuff about Grayson: The important thing is, he's been on the right side of the issues, he was standing up for the people who need standing up for, and he was standing up to the people who need standing up to.
All the rest is theatre, and some of us enjoyed it. Immensely. And the people on the receiving end of his barbs deserved it. A lot.
All the rest is theatre, and some of us enjoyed it. Immensely. And the people on the receiving end of his barbs deserved it. A lot.
55
Have you looked at a fucking map sir? The 4th Congressional District of WA isn't "way over on the east side of our state", it borders King Fucking County, which is in the Western half of the fucking state of WA! It's not all clinically psychotic and overflowing with hateful rabid bigot sauce, as you may have observed WHEN YOU CAME HERE AND SPOKE AT CWU! Kittitas County in teh 4th District tends to be moderately moderate --- Obama got about 45% of the vote here in '08, and Clinton won teh county in '92 and '96.
57
Another Floridian and resident of District 8 here. I was so happy when I moved from one side of Orlando to the other that I'd be able to vote for him... unfortunately, it wasn't enough.
The Taliban Dan ad was a huge mistake. But I still voted for him.
The Taliban Dan ad was a huge mistake. But I still voted for him.
58
How about Grayson moves to Southern California, and becomes the man to replace Henry Waxman when Waxman chooses to retire. A district where he could have free reign to champion our values without any need to not be himself. Of course, I hope Waxman never retires.
59
I love Alan Grayson, and I sent him a small contribution right after his "die quickly" tirade on the floor of the House, but in return I was slammed with (sometimes multiple) daily emails about this or that - reasonably important issues to be sure, but I would suggest to his people that a monthly or bi-weekly update might be more effective than a shitload of emails.
It's my impression that the Taliban Dan thing was a response to something said out of context by his opponent. That was indeed a strategic error, but I have no doubt it was made because he doesn't have all those slick, cheesy publicists that others do who can scan, filter, and put the appropriate spin on anything said or done - like the guy who beat him no doubt had people saying, "Let's turn this guy into a buffoon."
You have to be a professional politician - and any shade of hypocrite - to stay in Congress these days.
It's my impression that the Taliban Dan thing was a response to something said out of context by his opponent. That was indeed a strategic error, but I have no doubt it was made because he doesn't have all those slick, cheesy publicists that others do who can scan, filter, and put the appropriate spin on anything said or done - like the guy who beat him no doubt had people saying, "Let's turn this guy into a buffoon."
You have to be a professional politician - and any shade of hypocrite - to stay in Congress these days.
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