Alan Grayson: 15 Minutes of Fame Just About Over?

[stopbush]

He lost his election and won't be in the House come January. He hasn't really indicated that he plans to stay in politics or to run for another office.

That doesn't bode well for Grayson making continued appearances on the political shows. Those shows will bring you back over and over again if you're part of the old guard (Newt, Gergin, Begala et al), but a one-term Rep from Florida wouldn't seem to have any staying power on TV once he's out of power in Congress.

What do you think? Enjoy Grayson while one can, or will he have a second life on the TV machine?

[AlabamaLibrul]

1. In dreamland - no. In reality - yes.

end of transmission

[PBS Poll-435]

2. He'll replace Gibbs!

:rofl:

[valerief]

4. That would be fantabulous!!!!! nt

[Enrique]

15. you have quite an imagination

:rofl:

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

3. "Enjoy Grayson while one can...?"

[stopbush]

6. One doesn't have to agree or disagree with Grayson's positions

to enjoy the way he lobs verbal grenades into the body politic.

[NightWatcher]

5. Fame? He was doing our work for us, you know, Representing. Not seeking fame

And for this he received little/no support from the Dem Election Machine.

[stopbush]

7. Chill, dude. I was using the well-known Warhol quip as a basis for the OP, that's all.

[defendandprotect]

41. Really ... ?

Looks more like an attack --

[Name removed]

8. Deleted message

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[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

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[yurbud]

12. anti-Obama or anti-conservative policies of Obama?

[stopbush]

13. The dividing line between the two has been pretty loose of late.

[yurbud]

16. maybe Obama needs to put progressive points on the board to change the dynamic

[stopbush]

18. Like extending unemployment benefits?

I don't think he wants to do that...oh, wait, he did.

[yurbud]

34. the cost was pretty high, and he held most of the cards.

[stopbush]

35. The biggest mistake everyone seems to be making is the idea you've expressed

that Obama "held all the cards."

The fact is that the Senate voted against a version of the plan that didn't extend the tax cuts for the rich. The "hand" Obama was dealt had that card in there in spades. There was no getting around the fact that the Rs would have been more than happy to let nothing happen until January.

Why people keep averring that the Rs would have caved on this or unemployment benefits or anything else before 12/31 is beyond me. Two years of absolute intransigence from the Senate Rs and people think they would suddenly change their tune right before their numbers go up in the Senate and they retake the House?

Please.

[frazzled]

9. You just made me realize

This is one more "paradigm shift" to add to the growing list mr. frazzled and I determined we had lived through in our lifetimes Namely, the rise of an entire industry based on minor punditry. This job classification literally didn't exist in our early years. There were newspaper editorial writers, for sure, and Walter Cronkite might deliver a "thought" piece every once in a while, but these were writers and journalists. And sure, on shows like "Firing Line," which came on once a week, William Buckley had guests. But the idea of a revolving door from politics into tv opinionating, as a job ... I don't think that really existed. Now it is a veritable industry. Slap me if I'm wrong.

It doesn't really matter. Alan Grayson is a millionaire; he doesn't have to do tv for a living if he doesn't want to.

[HopeHoops]

10. Fuck no. He's just getting started.

[supernova]

14. Nah, AG will be around for a long time

I's a little too soon after the election for him to be making long term public plans. But I'm sure there will be some public role for him. He's too smart, too good at debate to just put our ball down.

[HipChick]

17. If MSNBC were smart...

they would hire him for 5pm or 7pm re-run slot..

[stopbush]

21. He needs to become a bit more facile on TV to be given a slot.

His appearances to date incorporate a fair dose of soundbites that he tries to get out. He has a halting kind of style to the way he ends sentences and thoughts. That stuff is deadly on TV if it goes on for extended periods.

I can't see him taking on a one-hour show, at least not right now.

[Johonny]

19. Harold Fords still around

and he didn't even win.

[Not Me]

20. So is Scarborough

nt

[stopbush]

23. He's DLC.

[Johonny]

26. I know

Howard Dean still shows up on KO. So maybe Alan needs to work a little for the party to get lifetime TV membership.

[Freddie Stubbs]

29. Ford served for five terms in Congress. Grayson served one term.

[Johonny]

42. ironically

Ford had to wait to lose to get into the media talking head circuit, Grayson already part of it. Do talking heads ever disappear?

[d_r]

22. other

"I don't know, but I hope not"

[LostInAnomie]

24. What happens to left leaning politicians after they lose elections?

More than likely, you don't hear about them again in any media beyond chat-boards.

He won't become a media personality. If he starts a political action organization it won't be covered.

Anything he does will die a quiet death of malicious media silence.

[SoCalDem]

39. spot on..

He has a family too, and will need to go back to making money. That may mean less time available for "appearances".

I doubt that he will run again.

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

25. Do I smell a faint Nelson Muntzy scent?

[MrScorpio]

27. I figure that he's smart enough to make it anywhere in the private sector

While he's out of politics for a while.

Now, to mount any kind of national campaign, he's going to need a lot of money, as well as recognition beyond that which he has on the left.

He has to appeal to the middle, in order to be successful. The only way that he can do that is tone down his rhetoric.

It's a faustian deal, for sure. But this is politics and game is played that way.

[Bluenorthwest]

28. I voted other, because in my opinion to use that phrase about

a member of Congress is not only inappropriate terminology to use toward elected office holders as it gives a low characterization of in this case, Mr Grayson's reasons for service but it is also a gross misuse of the phrase as it applies in our popular culture.
In the case of public servants, such a charge should never be made without cause, proof and reason.

[stopbush]

30. There are 535 members of Congress. Only a handful of them get on TV at all,

and only a select handful get on TV on any regular basis.

Grayson is in that handful, at least for now. He's there because the media has decided to put him there, not because he's necessarily the best or most-competent spokesperson for D positions. There is no implication in my OP that Grayson sought this spotlight, though my feeling is that he did and that he has made every effort to stay in that spotlight.

In that sense, he's having his 15 minutes of fame, and that's totaling keeping with how the term is used in our popular culture.

[Tx4obama]

31. Grayson is just getting started. I think we will see him in the Senate someday. n/t

[Spaldeen]

50. He makes me proud to have been born in FL

I hope he has his sights set on Rubio's seat.

[damntexdem]

32. Democratic majority: 15 minutes of fame just about over?

hadda be asked

[ProudDad]

46. Their 15 minutes were over when they bullocksed up the chance

at real Health Care Reform...

And an end to the wars...

[Marr]

33. Liberals really annoy you, don't they?

[stopbush]

36. The take-no-prisoners kind do. Yes.

See here: http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/15/obama_liberal_backlash

[Marr]

37. If you believe that article, what are you so worked up about?

According to that piece, the dissatisfied liberals are a meaningless minority.

[stopbush]

38. I reject your characterization of my being "worked up."

I'm no more or less worked up than I've been the past 10 years on DU.

[Marr]

40. You're posting about it all the time.

Odd to spend so much of your attention on an issue of no consequence.

[stopbush]

43. Dems demonizing a president who will be their candidate in 2012

when they don't even understand the issues is very much an issue of consequence, at least with me.

[Marr]

44. A meaningless minority's comments are of great consequence to you?

Alrighty then.

[ProudDad]

45. I think it really pisses him/her off

because we're right...

And Obama and the Dem "leadership" and the repukes are not...

[stopbush]

49. Yes, because the comments of that minority will provide fodder for RW ads

going into 2012.

If you think that the words and actions of politicians don't matter, ask Mike Dukakis how he liked his ride in that tank.

[Kingofalldems]

47. Republican can't stand it when Grayson gets props

[bigwillq]

48. I hope not.

I hope he runs for office again. And, if not, I hope he continues to be a strong voice for the Democratic party.

[BuelahWitch]

51. Isn't Alan Grayson an member of DU?

Or was he tombstoned? :shrug:

[L0oniX]

52. Y'all wish he would disappear doncha!