"They're not conservatives. They're anarchists.": Rep. Alan Grayson: What's at Stake in 2010

[kpete]

Run time: 02:26 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mhaQ21ULjo   Posted on YouTube: August 23, 2010 By YouTube Member: graysonforcongress Views on YouTube: 301   Posted on DU: August 23, 2010 By DU Member: kpete Views on DU: 3213

 
There are two groups in this country right now. I call those groups Us, and Them.

We want more jobs, better schools, better health, better pensions, and we want to keep our homes. We want not just jobs but jobs that mean something, jobs that pay a decent wage. We want to live a good life.

And then there's them. They simply have one goal and one goal only. And that is to destroy the government. They're not conservatives. They're anarchists.

I don't know why they want anarchy. In fact, they don’t know, either. Even they don't know what kind of inner darkness causes them to seek wars without end, to burn the planet, to welcome poverty for so many, to leave the old and the sick helpless, to cheer oil in the Gulf. I've spoken to enough of them to be able to tell you that they themselves don’t know why.

But that's what they want. So, now we have to decide who is going to run this country. Is it Us, or is it Them? And what's at stake is the future. The future in a country that my five children will live in, that your children will live in, that you'll live in for the rest of your life.

Are we going to have a country with a decent middle class life for everyone-- jobs, health care, roads, schools? Or, are we going to have poverty, cheap labor, helplessness and hopelessness? The choice is yours.

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/grayson-for-america-we-are-his-army.html

[phantom power]

1. "It's why the Democratic Party gives money to corporate Democrats like Suzanne Kosmos..."

Part of what makes that possible is the fact that Grayson has an army --- us. But anyone who has his own national constituency is a powerful independent force that threatens the existing order. It's why the Democratic Party gives money to corporate Democrats like Suzanne Kosmos in Grayson's neighboring district so that she can run ads undermining Grayson's progressive message in their shared TV market. (They give none to Grayson.)

http://digbysblog.blogspot.com/2010/08/grayson-for-america-we-are-his-army.html

[dotymed]

3. I know we are not supposed

to comment on creating a third party.
What choice is left?
If "our" Democratic party is co-opted by the wealthy, corporatists, we have 2 choices, shut up and die or start a party that represents our values and promotes a good life for the majority of Americans.

[RBInMaine]

6. Why should that need to be an option? Why aren't millions of progressives helping Grayson?

[dotymed]

7. The "option" was in reply

to the previous post about the DNC not financially supporting Grayson. Grayson is a progressive and he deserves our help as well as that of "our" party...if it still is. When the DNC refuses to support progressive candidates, it sure as hell makes me wonder if they are "my" party.
Reading the posts, together in context, I don't understand the confusion.
The first post stated that "our" party was not financially supporting Grayson. Instead they were supporting a corporatist democrat(?). So, I questioned whether the Democratic party was, any longer, "the peoples party" and I proceeded to give my opinion....

[RBInMaine]

10. I understand that. But first, one point is do you know the whole story? Why are you automatically

calling the other candidate a "corporatist"? What are the specific facts you have on that? "Corporate" in what way? Be specific. (Maybe the person is, but I'd like facts.) Next, the DNC like all structural entities has limited resources and is forced to prioritize. Perhaps they consider Grayson a more secure candidate. Maybe they haven't made their final decisions about just whom to support financially. Often they have tiered lists. He may be in the second tier. There are many factors that play into it. What about Grayson's personal wealth? I understand he's a millionaire. Maybe he already has a better base of resource than does the other candidate.

But more than anything, WHERE IS THE ARMY OF "PROGRESSIVES" THAT ARE SUPPOSED BE FLOODING THEIR PURIST HERO WITH MONEY AND HELP? ALL candidates for office are expected to do much of their OWN organizational work, fundraising, getting volunteers, etc. He should be inspiring so many "progressives" that he has a god damn ARMY of help and donors? Where are they? They should be trampling themselves for the chance to help their hero. (For that matter, where is the STATE Dem Party, and the local Dem Party committees? Are they not helping him?)

And don't get me wrong. I'm not in any way mocking or knocking Grayson. I'd vote for him in a second. My point is if "progressives" LOVE pols like Grayson, then why aren't they volunteering for him and donating to him in droves? (Or are they, and he just seems desperate?) You see, it is one thing to bitch forever about Dems who aren't "progressive enough," and quite another to get the hell off one's ass and get the people they DO want in office actually ELECTED. Not happy with "corporate Dems," then get off thy ass and win more elections, and even do it in RED districts. Otherwise, there is only so much constant complaining that can be done.

[bjobotts]

15. Repubs say that when American workers are willing to work for .50 hr then jobs will return

[bjobotts]

16. When corporations are unregulated and don't have to pay taxes then the economy will be fixed

[bjobotts]

17. They have the megaphone with 500-1 hate radio and their own cable news Peopaganda station.

[bjobotts]

18. Now with citizens vs united they have millions pouring in from corporations to defeat dems and progr

[bjobotts]

19. So in the midst of all this any progressive who gets elected is virtually a miracle so

don't lecture us about getting off our asses and getting better dems elected.

This is the best that can be achieved at present vs the worst that could possibly happen if we allow repubs to gain the majority again...if so we are finished as a democracy and will become the plutocracy and oligarchy these right wingers (them)are supporting...usually without even knowing it because they are being distracted by single issues to keep them seeing the whole picture.

[guruoo]

34. IMO, 'single issue tunnel vision' is a problem not exclusive to the right wing

"..distracted by single issues to keep them (from) seeing the whole picture"
(assuming that '(from) seeing the whole picture' is what you meant to say)

[dotymed]

29. Wow,

A walking (I assume) encyclopedia of disinformation.
You know nothing of what I do. Piss off.

[ooglymoogly]

33. +1 nt

[ooglymoogly]

32. Ambivalent much? Way to much claptrap, coupled with a shallow

understanding of the subject at hand; Drawing wide reaching conclusions from this total misunderstanding of a profoundly complicated subject.

Try looking into a kaleidoscope and follow the progressions of the few pieces of glass as they magically confuse the eye with the seemingly unending depths and extremeties of infinity; As to what they in fact are; Just a few pieces of unattractive glass or whatever laying in the corners of turning mirrors.

Questioning what is obvious to the naked eye; Especially one that has searched out the truth; Rather than trying to proof its verasity; Is a clear attempt to confuse and will not get you any closer a the truth of any kind.

As to this most complicated subject; First you must annalise the smoke and mirrors and actual outcomes that issue from that confusion of the smoke and mirrors; Then work backward to figure out just how the implausible happened. Because somewhere along the way, you must find a near unexplainable anomaly, on par with the enigma codebreaker. A riddle within a riddle, so to speak. There is where you must use all your wit and intellect; And it is there you will find the answers; A warning; The answers are not pretty, nor do they become any prettier through rose colored glasses; Even with their super powers to color the flim flam into something palatable.

[ooglymoogly]

22. Plain and simple....Dino's run our party

and are openly trying to get pugs to run as Dino's like Lincoln even if it means losing a seat to a pug; While pulling the rug from real Democrats like Grayson. Just ask Rahm, O's point man. Dino's and pugs run this country and don't want any interference from us or any real Democrats.

Just look at who O appoints to chair commissions; Most of whom vote with the pugs to stop or water down any legislation vital or even helpful to the people of this country; Voting instead with the pugs for Corporate America. As in catfood commish, Healthcare etc.

It is just an illusion that Democrats are in charge of congress.

[midnight]

25. So it seems.

[leveymg]

2. This gives Anarchists a bad name - better term would be Nihilists or Millenialists, the

Republican Right shares the philosophy that existing society must be utterly destroyed, along with all but a select few who will rule the new order. The others can be enslaved or will burn as sinners. That philosophy is shared in common by Nazis and Fundamentalist zealots in several religions.

[breadandwine]

4. That gave me the creeps. Grayson looks like he's worn out and in political trouble.

The GOP is pouring gobs of cash to beat him and the national Democratic party is not helping him financially. He looks like he's in trouble.

[RBInMaine]

5. Isn't he a multi-millionaire? Can't he self-finance? Isn't he a "progressive hero"? Where are the

millions of "progressives" not only in his district but also from all around the nation who should be rallying to him and filling his coffers with millions of bucks? He shouldn't be in too tough of a fight. If he is a great national hero of the progressive movement, busloads should be heading to Orlando to pound the pavement for him.

Don't get me wrong. I like Grayson and would vote for him in a heartbeat if I lived in his district, and I am certainly among the "progressives" who values PROGRESS (even if it isn't always purity). But I'm sorry. I do have to say to those on the left who idolize Grayson as a progressive purist, if you can't get this guy re-elected (and hopefully they will - but we'll see), then you can't scream about moderate Dems who are able to win some purple or even red districts because THAT is the best you can get in MANY areas of this country.

I hope Grayson pulls it out, but he is being heavily targeted by the GOP. If rank and file "progressives" are not "all chatter and no cattle," this race will be the test.

[FarLeftFist]

8. Hey hey hey, lets not give Anarchists a bad name.

The conservative platform is almost a complete opposite of an Anarchists platform. See for yourself: http://workersolidarity.org/?page_id=78

[AlbertCat]

9. I like Grayson....BUT...

.... this "us and them" argument sounds a little too much like "for us or against us". It's dumbing down complicated issues and pandering to the unnuanced.

[RBInMaine]

11. Well, he's talking to his hardcore base, so the message is ok in that sense. BUT, where's the base?

Where's the army of inspired gung-ho progressive "purists" who should be showering him with donations and volunteer hours? I'm surprised that he is being so cap-in-hand here. If this guy (whom I would vote for by the way) is in fact the great "progressive" hero that "real progressives" just love, then why in the name of Pete should be "in trouble"?

Look, I'm just saying to those "progressives" who say we need 535 Alan Graysons in Congress, at some point you need to stop complaining about how terrible the government is now and get more of the people you like ELECTED in EVERY region of the country. If enough "progressives" can't even rally around Grayson and get him re-elected, then shame on THEM and NO ONE else. NO EXCUSES ! He is "YOUR kind of guy". This is the test. Couldn't be clearer.

(And PS: I'll probably send him a donation, from MAINE.)

[sheldon]

23. It needs to be dumbed down.

When you have enough people in this country to elect GWB not once, but TWICE!, there are a whole lot of real incurious, ignorant people out there....
A big part of the democrat's problems, is that they rely on people to understand where they are coming from.
Sadly, for a large chunk of the population, logic, common sense, and decency is trumped by "OBAMA IS A SOCIALIST", etc. etc.

[olegramps]

27. Glad that you could understand his message.

[diane in sf]

12. I'm sending him money as soon as pay day rolls around

[SnakeEyes]

13. Anarchy is not on the right.

People need to read up on it and stop giving anarchists a bad name by improperly aligning them.

[guruoo]

35. ROTFLAMO!

:rofl:

Anarchy (from Greek: ἀναρχίᾱ anarchíā, "without ruler") may refer to any of the following:

* "No rulership or enforced authority."<1>
* "A social state in which there is no governing person or group of people, but each individual has absolute liberty (without the implication of disorder.) But is bound by a social code ."<2>
* "Absence of government; a state of lawlessness due to the absence or inefficiency of the supreme power; political disorder."<3>
* "Absence or non-recognition of authority and order in any given sphere."<4>
* "Acting without waiting for instructions or official permission... The root of anarchism is the single impulse to do it yourself: everything else follows from this."

[dmm5073]

14. Union's and corporate greed

This man is amazing, he should run for president one day. I have seen first hand how scummy corporations are. I work in a company similar to Walmart in that it sells products cheap and has bare minimum labor costs. The first day during orientation, they showed us an anti-labor union video with employees who were incredulous of the idea of a union. The way the company pitched it was that you would have to give some of your hard earned paycheck to a "union boss" for union dues just to "make them rich". No mention that the average union employee earns 30% more for the same work, usually has healthcare and a better pension. They conveniently left that part out. They said that people "who don't have your best interest at heart" will make decisions that you should be making. Bull shit on that. They said that if the EFCA passes "you will lose your opportunity to use the secret ballet and lose your choice and union's will be thrust upon you" I felt like saying like I have a damn choice right now, if I even said the word union, they'd fire my ass. So I am making 7.25 an hour and I asked someone how much of a raise they give and how often. 25 cents every 12 months if you do your job well. Meanwhile, at ACME where they have unions my friend is making over 10 dollars an hour and he's been there 6-8 months. It would take me 11 years to make what he makes now and yet this is a mega-billion dollar company with a CEO who made 17.3 million dollars last year. I seriously despise these people. I am embarrassed to admit that I once considered myself a conservative when I graduated HS 5 years ago. Then I considered myself a moderate, now I consider myself a liberal and I am proud to be one! It's so sad to see people who are old enough to be my dad doing hard manual labor for less than 10 dollars an hour, of course this is the corporate world's dream to have the cheapest labor pool possible with people who are desperate for a job. I may only be 23 but I understand the BS that corporations peddle better than most older people do. It's amazing that so many people can go their whole lives unaware of how scummy these people are and how the Boehnor's and McConnell's and even Chris Dodd's of the world exist to do their bidding. They even have a productivity chart measuring how productive we are and if we meet their ridiculously high standard's we get no raise or bonus or anything. I felt like saying why the hell would anyone kill themselves for no reward for people that are making a bonanza off of the underpaid and undervalued workers?

[dotymed]

37. dmm, I'm glad your eyes are open.

I worked as a carpenter for 35 years. The first 20 were non-union. Because after 12 years of residential work, I became an industrial/commercial carpenter for the increased wages. For the 8 years before I joined a Union, we were constantly fed the anti-union mantra. Some companies held quarterly (mandatory, no pay) "picnics", where they showed anti-Union films and made speeches about what a rip-off Unions were.
I towed the anti-union line.
Finally, after 4 years as a non-union bridge carpenter, a co-worker joined the Union. He called me and told me about his new pay (he had been on my crew and I was the foreman), and benefits. I had 4 kids, no insurance or benefits.
I followed "Dan" into the Union and never looked back.
What a difference my families financial circumstances took almost immediately.
What a difference for me. I only had to be a carpenter then. I didn't have to be a concrete finisher/laborer/jack-of-all, any more.
I got respect on the job.
It was a new life and it made it possible for me to actually support my family.
Now, Union work is hard to get and instead of a company keeping you after a project is finished, they have to "double-paycheck" (lay-off) everyone until the next project begins because they cannot afford to keep you busy preparing for the next project, health care costs play a big role.
There is such a huge difference in quality when you compare a Union project to most other structures. In our Union, training was constant and free.
Workers took the extra time to "do it right", it wasn't "waiting for the end of the day" any longer.
Ironically, most people do not understand this, the competition among Union workers was much more fierce than non-union workers.
If, as a carpenter, you were not a great employee, all the company had to do was "call the (hiring) hall", and the next day a trained professional would show up and you would be replaced.
Incompetent carpenters did not last long in the Union. That was totally the opposite of the non-union jobs.

[PatrynXX]

20. Tea Party is anarchists...

Who are trying to take over the Republican Party. These morons tend to come out in the middle of a peace protest and create alot of violence. Been saying this for ages... Alan actually said it. He's about the only one in Congress brave enough to say it :(

[Liberty Belle]

21. Maybe there really is a devil and they've all sold their souls?

It's as good an explanation as any; I can think of no logical reason for so many people to be so heartless and even self-destructive when it comes to the global warming deniers who would scorch the planet for their own children.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

24. Well....

Grayson has raised over $240,000 in his money bomb. I've sent him money and wlll continue to do so up until election day. A Grayson victory is very, very important - I really hope he's the face of the Democratic party for years to come. He is fearless, uncompromised and unbought.

http://www.congressmanwithguts.com

[Ragrum]

26. Repulsicans have always been the party of ME

Repulsicans Party of ME
Democratic Party of WE

[big lu]

28. k&r

[guruoo]

30. President Grayson. nt

[ooglymoogly]

31. The volume has been tampered with to make him sound

weak! I want to know why. Grayson is one of the smartest people in Congress, He would not have allowed his image to appear so weakly voiced; I DAMN WELL WANT TO KNOW WHY AND WHO HAS TAMPERED WITH THE VOLUME! I have a maxed out computer w/two Navidia 1800 vidio cards, with both JBL and Lansing speakers. I had to turn the volume to max on both the computer and the satellite speakers/w 600wt subwoofer, to even hear his strangely weak voice.

This is a very bad image for a man I admire.

[mzmolly]

36. "They're not conservatives. They're anarchists."

Absolutely!!!