A Quick Set of Questions for Alan Grayson
I haven't been around lately. As some of you know, I have been embroiled in house-hunting (which has not been a pleasant process so far). I also lost my internet connection because 1)my desktop won't turn on, and 2)my laptop has some unspecified problem with its network adapter. So basically all of my Net activities are done through my best friend's desktop, when she's not using it.
Hopefully this will all change soon, and I will get my desktop back, and will be able to come aboard the Lifeboat as before!
In the meantime, I dashed off a quick set of questions for Alan Grayson in response to his fundraising email. Yes, I know that generally nobody reads responses to those things, but given the crap that came into my inbox this morning from a climate action group I used to support, I needed to let off steam (Don't even ask. I remain stunned at the number of people I formerly respected who are willing to become second-rate bullies for Domina Corleone.)
So here's a quick set of questions for Alan Grayson:
Dear Alan (and whichever staffer monitors this account),
In these times, it's difficult to justify donating to any Democratic candidate, even you.
This is not your fault. But it's not ours either.
What are you going to do up there in Hillary-world, essentially by yourself? Are there more than 10 Congressmen and Congresswomen in the Democratic party who would stand with you against her? Are there more than three Democratic Senators that would do the same?
What part of "the DNC has launched a million-dollar attack on you to keep you out of the Senate" don't you understand? You're far too smart not to see what that means: the party you belong to is trying to destroy your political career. Do you think these corrupt shenanigans will stop once you get to the Senate? If they want so badly to keep you out of the Senate, why do you think they will work with you once you get there?
If they don't work with you, who will? Rand Paul? Justin Amash? In other words, the part of the Republican party that is not lining up behind Hillary Clinton, and her best friends, Bush, Cheney, and Henry Kissinger? Can you, the hypothetical ten Congressmen, the hypothetical three Senators, and the libertarian wing of the Republican party mount a force that can successfully challenge the alliance of our two royal families, the Bushes and the Clintons?
If not, why are you going there? To beg that alliance not to destroy us quite so cruelly? Do you think that, having successfully consolidated their power, they are likely to have pity, mercy, or restraint? Have either of these families ever demonstrated those qualities? Or are you expecting those qualities from those who are on their knees right now, trying to outdo each other in an ass-kissing contest?
I've always respected your intelligence and courage. Now you need to have the intelligence and courage to admit that this party is over. Anything less is disingenuous and wasteful--and ultimately unconvincing to a 48-year-old woman who has a limited number of heartbeats and dollars left to spend.
Update: Obviously, I wrote these quick questions a little too quickly, and created a misunderstanding. What I'm saying is that there's no percentage in Grayson staying in the Democratic Party, and that any electoral strategy that doesn't include Demexit to an alternative political organization--one that doesn't spend a million bucks attacking its own people--is futile.
Comments
Who's the alternative?
Patrick Murphy? No thank you.
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage
Did you read my essay?
It's not an essay on whether Patrick Murphy or Alan Grayson is the better candidate. That would be a very short essay.
It's an essay on whether Alan Grayson, even if he gets to DC, will be able to do anything except be the whipping boy for the Clinton Party.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
In this
You are expressing ambivalence as to whether or not you will vote for him in terms of whether or not you will donate to his campaign.
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage
No, I'm saying he needs to leave the fucking Democratic Party
that has clearly, and totally, betrayed him.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Ok then
"I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones."
John Cage
Grayson can use his speaking ability to call down Clinton
loudly and longly each time she awards favors to the Wealthers and each time she fails to act for the 99%. It's more than we got now. Besides, Grayson will probably be positioning himself for a WH run, which doesn't excite me too much but it's better than the choices we have this year.
"The justness of individual land right is not justifiable to those to whom the land by right of first claim collectively belonged"
The only reason I haven't Demexit'ed yet is...
a vote for Alan Grayson in the August 30 primary in FL. It isn't as much a vote for Grayson as a vote against Murphy. Either way, you are right, what will Grayson be able to accomplish against Hillary and the corrupt Democratic establishment? Probably not much, but having another voice can't hurt.
There is nothing which I dread so much as a division of the republic into two great parties.. This...is to be dreaded as the greatest political evil under our Constitution.--John Adams
What will he accomplish?
Preventing the Wall Street-owned wing of the Party and Harry Reid from electing a Republican'ts (running as a Democrat). And one less Neoliberal Republican't Lite faux Democrat in the Senate denied the power of incumbency six years hence...
On a side note, regarding your Internet issues, I guess you can stop the signal. >8)
I want my two dollars!
It's not a wing.
How many elected Democrats are willing to stand against Clinton and her donors?
The Democratic party is the Clinton political machine. There is no daylight between them.
If Grayson gets elected despite them, we can all cheer; but at best he'll be a speechgiver and a target for their venom until they finally figure out a way to end his career.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
So you want him to quit?
Or just join the Greens? but if he joins the Greens now, he would be scrubbed from the ballot. The time for him to DemExit is after he is elected.
I think you want Murphy to be unopposed.
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
You clearly have never read any of my comments or diaries
before this one.
Leaving aside your completely incorrect opinion of me, I'd say you're right: there may be some value in Grayson staying a Democrat until after the primary--but if he loses, he should leave immediately and keep running, on an anti-corruption platform.
Acting like Grayson has some kind of future as a Democrat when the DNC itself is gunning for him is plain foolish.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
I'll buy that
"I'd say you're right: there may be some value in Grayson staying a Democrat until after the primary--but if he loses, he should leave immediately and keep running, on an anti-corruption platform. "
I've seen lots of changes. What doesn't change is people. Same old hairless apes.
I'm flattered--
that you think I am the signal!
I'm merely one synapse that the signal jumps through.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
We have to start somewhere
I've always respected Grayson. I'M with Ken. Keeping Murf out is damn good enough for six years effort.
Grayson would fit my personal policy of never voting for an incumbent as he is currently out of office IIRC.
The same policy that prevents me from voting for McMurray here in Wa. state.
McMurray is a Clintonoid that needs some relief .
Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.
What are we starting...
And why would we try to start anything within the Democratic party?
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
For relief of Clintonoids?
Now, *there’s* a new meme in the making.
Preparation H (with the arrow).
did i miss something re: Grayson?
i finally got around to giving the standard Bernie $27 donation to Grayson. i didn't want another Republican in Democratic clothing. seriously, it almost seems a long term strategy having former Republicans change party affiliation to take over the Democratic party, Florida and nationally. Crist is another one. can we stop letting them do that?
No, Grayson is fine--except on Israel.
He's the same person he always was.
I'm just amazed that anybody thinks that electing Democrats is worthwhile at this point.
Unless Grayson intends to leave the party as soon as he gets into office.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Hillary always lied that we couldn't do anything progressive...
Unless we had a 60 person majority. Then when we had it, she claimed it wasn't enough.
Course, thanks to the Rethugs, she WILL have the supermajority necessary to pass any corporate legislation that crosses her desk.
It's like a bad comedy.
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Good letter. I'll be VERY interested if you receive a response!
But I hope you will vote for Grayson. It looks like some people will try to put their energy into changing the party while others will try to create a new party. Success at either would be a wonderful thing.
Is it tougher to take a party and its structure and turn it around, or build from scratch? I really don't know. I do know at the local level, they can be turned. The locals seem a pretty non-energetic bunch.
I also think eventually, if youth keep their idealism the way we DFHs did, then the party will be a progressive party. The machine will die off. That's a big if, of course. Eventually is a big if too, if everyone is going to ignore climate change and we're going to poke at nuclear-armed Russia.
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Thanks! I don't really expect an answer--
They're obviously busy over there.
Grayson will be the last Democrat I vote for. Maybe I should write him a letter telling him that.
"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha
"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver
Got a call from the DLC tonight
It made me realize that putting a Green in the Senate works just as well if you're a Democratic voter. If politicians like Grayson ran as Greens I think they could get the voters to realize that a Green has all of the qualities they like in their Democratic candidates, plus the added benefit of not being attached to a corrupt party that works against its own candidates.
“He may not have gotten the words out but the thoughts were great.”
Green or Blue, Grayson will put his shoe up Hillary's ass
whenever he can. He is not meek by any means. Grayson doesn't mind being outrageous, which makes him a very potent debater. We need more Bernies, more Graysons, more Teachouts in Congress. The political Revolution, if there is to be one borne out of this sham election, will perforce start small-just as Bernie has said on many occasions.
Hillary needs a dose of Preparation G to cure her clintonoids!