FLORIDA: Rep. Alan Grayson Announces 2016 Senate Bid To Succeed Marco Rubio

Politico reports:

Next year’s Florida Senate primary between Reps. Alan Grayson and Patrick Murphy will test whether Sunshine State Democrats are ready to embrace a deep-blue liberal. The contrasts between the two are stark: Grayson is a progressive, hip-shooting firebrand beloved by hardcore liberals; Murphy is a cautious, scripted candidate favored by the Democratic establishment in Washington and Tallahassee. The two Florida congressmen show little admiration for each other, which could presage a brutal and big-spending primary — beginning on Thursday when Grayson officially enters the race to replace Sen. Marco Rubio, who is forgoing a second term to run for president. “Murphy’s people should be scared because the problem with Alan Grayson is he just doesn’t give a damn,” said Screven Watson, a longtime Democratic consultant based in Tallahassee. “Grayson doesn’t do things the way normal candidates do them. His campaigns aren’t normal campaigns. He can raise so much money on the Internet that he’s only second to people like President Obama,” Watson said. “There have been liberal candidates who have run statewide before in Florida, but not like Alan Grayson.”

Grayson's announcement clip is interesting.

Joe The Plumber Vs Rep. Alan Grayson

(Via Talking Points Memo)

Right Wingers Attack Alan Grayson Over Burning Cross Tea Party Image

Rep. Alan Grayson this week used the above image to illustrate a fundraising email and outrage is, uh, flaming across the bag-o-sphere.

Jorge Bonilla, the Republican challenger to Alan Grayson (D-FL), told Breitbart News on Tuesday that Grayson’s use of a burning cross, a reference to the Ku Klux Klan, in an effort to fundraise off an anti-Tea Party email is unseemly. “The depiction of burning crosses in Congressman Alan Grayson's most recent fundraising ask is despicable and needlessly hurtful to the many millions of families that still deal with the wounds of racial prejudice,” Bonilla said in an email. “Such times as these call for our elected officials to be uniters."

War criminal Allen West is especially furious.

“Having been born and raised in Georgia, having parents that were born and raised during the 20s and 30s, I remember growing up and seeing that burning cross on a clear night atop of Stone Mountain so that everyone could see it across Atlanta,” West said. “This is despicable. This is demeaning. This is disgusting,” he continued. “We all know that Alan Grayson is pretty much a sensationalist and he can continue to say things that are over the top.” Then he wondered where the civil rights leaders were during this. “But my concern is where is the NAACP and Ben Jealous? Where is the National Urban League and Marc Morial?” he asked.

Grayson has refused to apologize, saying, "If the hood fits, wear it."

While Tea Party members have been caught using racially-inflammatory language and imagery on multiple occasions, Grayson offered specific examples in a separate interview with the Sentinel. “When the president visited my home of Orlando, Tea Party protesters shouted ‘Kenyan Go Home,’” Grayson told the Sentinel. “Other examples include Tea Party chants of ‘Bye Bye Blackbird’ and Tea Party posters saying ‘Obama’s plan: White Slavery.’ One could go on and on, because there is overwhelming evidence that the Tea Party is the home of bigotry and discrimination in America today, just as the KKK was for an earlier generation.”

Rep. Alan Grayson: The Tea Party Is No More Popular Than The Klan

Alan Grayson Gaveled Out After Declaring House Less Popular Than Dog Poop

Mediaite recaps:

Representative Alan Grayson (D-FL) found himself on the wrong side of the House of Representatives Tuesday afternoon. It might have had something to do with the target of his fiery speech: the House of Representatives. Grayson sought to bring a resolution declaring that the government shutdown had been a blight upon the dignity of the legislature, citing multiple polls that showed public opinion of Congress as worse than toenail fungus, hemorrhoids, and zombies. But when he mentioned that Congress had a lower approval rating than “dog poop,” speaker pro tempore Steve Womack (R-AR) interjected and told him to keep his remarks confined to whether the question was privileged. Womack cut him off with several dramatic gavel bangs. “The chair has heard enough,” Womack said.

Grayson's vote was not allowed. Watch the full clip if you have the time, it's pretty great.

Tweet Of The Day - Rep. Alan Grayson

Where Does Congress Stand On Syria?

The Washington Post has created an interactive graph which notes the known positions of Congress members on a possible US strike on Syria. So far only two Senate Democrats have said that they oppose US intervention: Sen. Chris Murphy (CT) and Sen. Tom Udall (NM). Perhaps the most notable House Democrat to oppose intervention so far is Rep. Alan Grayson (FL), who has been very active on social media with his objections. Listed as "leaning no" are openly gay House members Rep. Mark Pocan (WI) and Rep. David Cicilline (RI).  On Saturday, openly gay Sen. Tammy Baldwin (WI) issued this statement:

"I am pleased that the President is seeking Congressional authorization for any potential strike in Syria. I still believe there must be a strong and convincing case made to the American people and we must work to build an international coalition before we lead or join any military response. My judgment on any military action in response to the Assad regime's use of chemical weapons will be based on whether clear, focused and achievable objectives and goals are set.”

Alan Grayson Returns To Congress

The Orlando Sentinel just called it.  One of the loudest, smartest, and most progressive members of the U.S. House is BACK.

Alan Grayson: Mitt Romney Is A Lying Liar Full Of Vacuous Nonsense

Alan Grayson On FL Gov. Rick Scott: The Blood Of The Poor Will Be On His Hands

Alan Grayson Slams Romney

Out of the gate and running with the first diss!

Obama's Pirate Ship In Sinking

Former Rep. Alan Grayson is running for his old job. Hurray! Is this nutjob the best that the other side has? Hurray!

Grayson Rips Gingrich On Racism

Alan Grayson Vs. Newt Gingrich

Burn!

Class Warfare Vs Class Surrender

Former Rep. Alan Grayson nails it as usual.

Alan Grayson On Occupy Wall Street

Alan Grayson On Medicare

Another classic from the rant king.

Alan Grayson Rants On Medicare Plan

"I honestly believe if Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck announced that they were in favor of the Black Plague, you'd see every Republican primary candidate for president go along with it."

Former Rep. Alan Grayson: Dubya Is Worst President Of My Lifetime

Grayson isn't willing to give Dubya any credit for the killing of Osama Bin Laden. A classically Grayson evisceration.

Alan Grayson On Giffords Shooting

"I know nothing about the man who shot Gabby, and what was going through his mind when he did this. But I will tell you this - if he shot Gabby out of hatred, then it wasn't Gabby he was shooting, but rather some cartoon version of her, drawn by her political opposition. Because there is no way - NO WAY - that anyone who really knows Gabby could hate her or hurt her. She is a kind, gentle soul." - Former Rep. Alan Grayson, via press release.