Lawrence O'Donnell annihilates Alan Grayson on MSNBC

MSNBC host Lawrence O'Donnell gets in, what may be the Last Word, on the biggest loon ever elected to Congress.  I don't agree with O'Donnell on anything really, but there is a reason he is giving Fox's Greta Van Sustern a run for her money in ratings.  O'Donnell knows what makes great television; I guess his years working on The West Wing continue to pay off for him. The Other McCain has the video so I won't post it here.  Watch Ezra Klein's facial expression (about the 2:35 mark) as Grayson is really on a tear.  Klein's expression was priceless.

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Dead Congressmen Walking: Cook Moves 12 House Races to Lean Republican

Barring a late call from the Governor, Cook Political considers the following Democratic incumbents Dead Congressmen Walking: Ann Kirkpatrick, Betsy Markey, Alan Grayson, Suzanne Kosmas, Debbie Halvorson, Steve Driehaus, Mary Jo Kilroy, Kathy Dahlkemper, Chet Edwards, Glen Nye, Tom Perriello, and Steve Kagen.  The lone Republican in the group is Louisiana's Joseph Cao who represents a D+25 district:

Longtime readers will observe that while we rarely rate unindicted incumbents worse than a Toss Up to win reelection, today we are moving 13 incumbents, 12 Democrats and one Republican, into the opposite party’s column to reflect their underdog status. It’s not that these endangered members’ prospects have suddenly taken a turn for the worse, or even deteriorated gradually over the last several months. Most of these members have trailed all year, and it’s simply exceedingly rare to see a candidate in their position in October come back to win reelection, especially now that early voting will be underway in many states very soon.

We have historically treated the Toss Up column for incumbents as the political equivalent of the intensive care unit, and haven’t commonly used gradations of danger worse than Toss Up. But we have seen some incumbents that have fallen far enough behind and remain behind for so long that we could no longer justify referring to their races as Toss Ups. Overall, 51 House Democrats have trailed their GOP challengers in at least one public or private poll taken this year, a higher number than we have ever seen before. At this point in 2006, fewer than 20 House Republicans trailed their Democratic opponents.

Please give me a moment to compose myself over the imminent demise of Alan Grayson.  I am all verklempt so please talk among yourselves.  I will leave you with the list of the 25 races moved in the latest round of rating changes, 24 of which favor Republicans:

• NEW YORK | District 25: Likely Democrat to Lean Democrat 
• WISCONSIN | District 8: Toss Up to Lean Republican 
• VIRGINIA | District 5: Toss Up to Lean Republican 
• TEXAS | District 17: Toss Up to Lean Republican
• VIRGINIA | District 2: Toss Up to Lean Republican 
• PENNSYLVANIA | District 3: Toss Up to Lean Republican 
• OREGON | District 5: Lean Democrat to Toss Up 
• OHIO | District 15: Toss Up to Lean Republican 
• OHIO | District 13: Lean Democrat to Likely Democrat 
• OHIO | District 1: Toss Up to Lean Republican 
• NORTH CAROLINA | District 2: Likely Democrat to Lean Democrat
• NEW YORK | District 23: Lean Democrat to Toss Up 
• NEW JERSEY | District 3: Lean Democrat to Toss Up 
• MISSISSIPPI | District 4: Likely Democrat to Lean Democrat 
• MINNESOTA | District 1: Likely Democrat to Lean Democrat 
• LOUISIANA | District 2: Toss Up to Lean Democrat 
• KENTUCKY | District 6: Lean Democrat to Toss Up 
• ILLINOIS | District 11: Toss Up to Lean Republican 
• GEORGIA | District 2: Lean Democrat to Toss Up 
• FLORIDA | District 24: Toss Up to Lean Republican 
• FLORIDA | District 8: Toss Up to Lean Republican 
• CONNECTICUT | District 5: Likely Democrat to Lean Democrat 
• COLORADO | District 4: Toss Up to Lean Republican 
• ARIZONA | District 8: Lean Democrat to Toss Up 
• ARIZONA | District 1: Toss Up to Lean Republican

The Devil and Daniel Webster

Paybacks are a bitch:



Townhall created this clever little spoof to spotlight the evil Alan Grayson's path to electoral damnation.  Fortunately Webster doesn't need to resort to pulling Grayson's statements out of context to paint him as the devil; Grayson does a fine job in that department all on his own.

Grayson in real trouble

Couldn't happen to a nicer guy:

A new poll from Susquehanna Polling and Research and Sunshine State News has Grayson pulling only 36 percent of the vote, with his GOP opponent, Dan Webster, at 43 percent among likely voters. Now, it's aRepublican pollster and this is also the only independent poll we've seen in the race. But it's still bad news for Grayson. As RealClearPolitics puts it, "An incumbent congressman at 36 percent almost never wins; Grayson is in real trouble."

Despite the hatred Grayson inspires, Republicans initially struggled to recruit a candidate to oppose him, but were eventually able to draw in Webster, a former speaker of the state House of Representatives. The district has traditionally voted Republican, although it's started to move to the left.

Grayson began as a brash young congressman who attracted plaudits among liberals for speaking harshly against Republicans. It was, for the Netroots crowd, a breath of fresh air to see a Democrat using the scorched-earth tactics of Rush Limbaugh against conservatives. But as his stream of comments has continued, there's been a gathering backlash against him; the nonpartisan political scientist and media critic Brendan Nyhan has called him "loathsome."

Loathsome somehow doesn't quite cover the depths to which Grayson sinks.  Of those I most want to see lose in November, Grayson ranks near the top of the list.  Grayson's lunacy may win him points among the base but his right-leaning district is not likely to see him as a "breath of fresh air." Needless to say there is a little deep denial  among the nutroot crew that adores him:

It's not hard to imagine voters in a generally Republican-leaning swing district being turned off by Grayson's rhetoric...but this poll doesn't mean too much.

It's a Republican pollster and it's the only poll out there. Grayson's rhetoric will fire up the base of the district and he should be able to (narrowly) hold on.

Wouldn't Grayson's base be fired up and ready to go already? Did the pollster miss the base in the sample? I doubt it. Nevertheless, there were many pledges in the comments reflecting a commitment to send the hero Grayson money to fight the good fight against Republicans. Feel free to help save America with a donation to Daniel Webster.

Which Dem Tea Party Strategy Would That Be?

Yesterday CBS News reported on a DNC Tea Party strategy that amounts to little more than marching orders to local reporters to challenge 30 Republican candidates to "stand with or stand up to the Tea Party:"

Today's DNC push comes on the heels of the DNC's release of a document laying out what it says are the plans of the "Republican Tea Party," among them repealing the health care bill, privatizing Social Security, ending Medicare in its current form, extending the Bush tax cuts for the wealthy and abolishing the Departments of Education and Energy. They call the 10-point platform the "Republican Tea Party Contract on America."

(Most Republicans do support repealing the health care bill and extending all the Bush tax cuts, though the other positions here have far more limited support within the party.)

The DNC is including the "Republican Tea Party Contract on America" in its release to reporters. The Republicans being targeted are Jon Barela , Lou Barletta , Richard "Rick" Berg , Scott Bruun , Steve Chabot , Keith Fimian , Mike Fitzpatrick , Thomas Ganley , Tim Griffin , David Harmer, Randy Hultgren , George Kelly Jr. , Joe Heck , Adam Kinzinger , Kristi Noem , James Renacci , Steve Pearce , Jon Runyan , Steve Stivers , Todd Young , Brad Zaun, Eric Cantor, Joseph Cao, Michael Castle, John Boehner, Mario Diaz-Balart, Charles Dent, Paul Ryan, Kevin McCarthy, and Mark Kirk.

Democrats are also vowing to spend August pressing Republicans to "stand with or stand up to the Tea Party" in press conferences, advertising and online, according to the DNC's Hoffine.

First, thanks to the DNC for letting us know which Republicans are causing them a few sleepless nights. Second, this reeks of desperation particularly in light of mounting evidence Democrats have also been actively working to get a few "tea party" spoilers listed on the ballot.  Perhaps it is no coincidence Pat Meehan was not listed as that might call attention to  Dem shenanigans in the PA-07 Congressional race.

Democratic tea party shenanigans extend beyond Pennsylvania however to a number of races that are expected to be close contests and may well determine which party controls the House.  From Politico:

The accusations range from helping tea party activists circulate candidate petition sheets to underwriting the creation of official tea parties, which then put forth slates of candidates that local conservatives accuse of being rife with Democratic plants.

In all of the affected races, the outcome is expected to be close enough that a third-party candidate who wins just a few percentage points could end up swinging the outcome to the Democratic congressman or candidate…

[T]he evidence of campaign tampering in at least two states is hard to dismiss. In Michigan, the party chairman in suburban Detroit’s Oakland County now concedes that one of his top aides played a role in helping nine tea party candidates get onto the ballot for various offices across the state — including the open 1st Congressional District and the 7th Congressional District, held by vulnerable freshman Democratic Rep. Mark Schauer.

Politico also reports on shenanigans in New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District where former Eagle tackle Jon Runyan is challenging John Adler:

Runyan’s aides began looking into the background of New Jersey tea party candidate Peter DeStefano after Adler’s campaign released an internal poll that showed DeStefano drawing 12 percent of the vote. Local conservatives were also miffed that most of DeStefano’s conservative firepower seemed unusually directed toward Runyan, rather than the Democrat Adler.

In the course of the Runyan campaign’s research, aides discovered that one of the signatures on DeStefano’s ballot petition turned out to be of a former Adler campaign aide.

They also took note that DeStefano switched his voter registration from Republican to Democrat in April and then switched it again to unaffiliated just days before the state primary. As in Michigan, DeStefano’s low profile with the news media also became viewed as a sign that he was a shadow candidate.

Surprise, surprise accusations of shenanigans in Florida are linked to Alan Grayson.  Fox Nation reported back in June allegations Grayson had connections to at least one fake tea party candidate.  Politico outlines the supposed "in-fighting" between tea party factions that ensued since connections to Grayson were discovered among a few candidates running under the Tea Party label.  Florida, however, has yet to hold its' primary election.  I would expect serious tea party voters to unite behind the candidate who wins the GOP nomination to unseat Alan Grayson.

Da TechGuy made a valid point yesterday, "Actually this is a very old political hardball tactic, not much different than Limbaugh’s “operation chaos“.  But as Politico notes, "in this case, some Democrats appear to be in cahoots with ideological adversaries whose ideas they hope to use as weapons against Republicans in the fall."  As the JournoList media now have their marching orders it might be useful for targeted Republican candidates to laugh off questions whether they stand with the tea party and to question which Dem Tea Party strategy is in play.

More "Macaca" Moments: The Pete Stark and Alan Grayson Collection

Speaking of "Macaca" Moments, Rep. Pete Stark(D-CA)has yet another mental meltdown when speaking to a group of his constituents. Michelle Malkin has the full 9 minutes of Stark raving madness but highlights the money quotes that can be seen in the video below:

At his latest encounter at a town hall, Stark Raving Mad mocks Bay Area constituents expressing outrage at our lax immigration policies. To a member of the northern California Minutemen, Steve Kemp, Stark snarks:

“Who are you going to kill today?”

In response to concerns about violence at the porous, unsecured border, Stark retorts:

“Our borders are quite secure, thank you.”

 (Related: Unreality-based Janet Clownitano tells a Washington crowd, “The plain fact of the matter is the border is as secure now as it has ever been.”)

Stark replaced Charlie Rangel as Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee after Rangel was forced to relinquish the gavel.  Stark has had his own run-ins with the Office of Congressional Ethics but was cleared despite his bizarre and belligerent behavior during the investigation.  Stark represents a fairly liberal district in the San Francisco Bay area that continues to re-elect Stark despite a history of outlandish behavior. There is only one way to wrestle that gavel from Stark's hands, we're only 125 days away from making that happen.



Carol's Closet has a report on stark-raving Democrat Alan Grayson caught in a game of dirty pool to ensure his re-election. Unlike Stark, Grayson is quite vulnerable in November - a fact that is likely motivating his efforts to take the election in any sleazy underhanded way he possibly can.

Alan Grayson and Rick Sanchez Tag Team Jordan Marks

Via Newsbusters who also has a transcript in case anyone wants to verify that the insanity word for word, because it is just that incredible. Alan Grayson seems to be going for some sort of award for inflammatory speech. Here is a sample:

GRAYSON: You know, listen, people like you -- people like you -- and it's very apt that your name is Marks -- people like you, your dreams turn into other people's nightmares. And it's time you owned up to it.

MARKS: We as conservatives believe we have winning principles and we stick by these principles. Small government.

GRAYSON: Your principles are violence.

MARKS: I don't think anyone and my principles are --

GRAYSON: Anger, hatred and violence.

MARKS: In fact, in the charter of my personal organization, it says if you are a person that does do the so-called acts that happen towards these congressmen, you're kicked out of my organization.

GRAYSON: Oh, yes.

MARKS: You can go look it up online. We are a public organization.

GRAYSON: See if that helps to bring back the dead.

Rick Sanchez never challenges Grayson, rather he seems just as committed as Grayson in promoting the impression tea parties are built around a core of violent fringe lunatics. Remind me again, which party had one of its contributors arrested for making death threats against Republican Congressman Eric Cantor?

Every day the media continues to assist Democrats in promoting this outrageous narrative that those who oppose health care are dangerous, is another day I come closer to being convinced this country has been hijacked and held hostage for the sake of a failing presidency. Interviews like this should be held up for the vile propaganda they are. The bright spot in this? Jordan Marks handles the Grayson/Sanchez insanity with ease.

A question for anyone who might know, how in the world did Alan Grayson get elected in a right leaning district. Heaven help us if this lunatic is sworn in with the next Congress.

Meeting of the Minds: Olbermann and Alan Grayson Compare SCOTUS Ruling on Citizen's United to Dred Scott

Seriously, it's almost impossible to comprehend how these two intellectual giants rationalize comparing today's Supreme Court ruling to to Dred Scott.   Olberman begins by noting Grayson was in the courtroom when the Supreme Court announced its' decision and asks for Graysons reaction.  Grayson immediately responds he is shocked and goes on to elaborate the decision is the most irresponsible since Dred Scott.  Olbermann of course agrees.

Project 21, a black leadership group issued a press release condemning Grayson's comparison to Dred Scott:

Bishop Council Nedd II: "In Dred Scott, the Court equated people with property.  The Court's decision today was about giving people a voice.  There is no correlation between the two.  Congressman Grayson needs to apologize.  His flippant and unenlightened statement offends me personally, and it disrespects generations of black people who suffered from slavery." (Council Nedd II is the bishop of the Chesapeake and the Northeast for the Episcopal Missionary Church.)

Horace Cooper: "Where has Representative Alan Grayson been?  He compares today's landmark decision - in which free speech trumps FEC restrictions - to the awful ruling that black people are nothing more than property.  He's off base yet again.  It's more than a little ironic that Democrats praised Dred Scott when it was handed down over a hundred years ago, yet now stand opposed to fundamental freedoms such as free speech today."  (Horace Cooper is a former visiting assistant professor at the George Mason University School of Law.)

Grayson makes the direct comparison in the following clip quite early in the segment.  He equates the finding in Dred Scott that slaves and their free born children did not have constitutional rights to his summary of Citizens United, only corporations have constitutional rights.  He elaborates saying the ruling permits bribery on the largest scale imaginable and of course Olbermann agrees.  The four minute segment is filled with such hyperbole and outright lies it's hard to imagine they seriously believe what they say.  But then, of course, this Olbermann and Grayson we're talking about, anything is possible.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Any chance Olbermann and Grayson apologize? Nah, I don't think so either.

Many thanks to Dan Riehl for linking this post.