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Is Former Rep. Alan Grayson Eric Bolling’s Most Difficult Guest To Interview Yet?

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by Frances Martel | 9:00 am, July 9th, 2011

» 66 comments

Remember former Congressman Alan Grayson? Grayson quickly become one of the most well-known freshman representatives for his brash style and unabashedly liberal politics, but couldn’t survive his first reelection bid last November. He now occasionally pops up on television– like this latest appearance this week on Follow the Money, where Grayson did everything he could to act dismissive and annoyed at host Eric Bolling for challenging his politics.

Unlike in many of the appearances that gave him a reputation around Congress, Grayson was fairly calm on Follow the Money, so much so that it wouldn’t have been a stretch to think he was doing everything possible to give the impression there was nowhere he would rather not be than the Fox Business channel. His first answer to Bolling’s question– whether his recent list of five things that make a person middle-class would mean the government should buy anyone whatever they want– was simply “do you have a question?” It didn’t progress too much further from there, as Bolling asked Grayson varying formed of the question “who is going to pay for the social programs you support” and received variations of “I think you’re misunderstanding my point” and “it’s not even a point you can argue about” as an answer.

In order to get the dialogue flowing a bit, Bolling then notes that the support of so many social programs is “socialism right there, that’s Marxism,” but rather that getting riled up, Grayson repeated once again, “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He did answer one question straightforwardly meant to find common ground– Bolling got a “it’s been good to me” for asking whether “capitalism is a great system.”

But while Grayson’s restrained smugness makes the entire interview a must-see, the ending is borderline surreal, as Bolling hopes to have Grayson on “maybe when you’re a little bit more animated” and reminds Grayson, “we don’t bring you out because you’re a handsome guy, though you’re pretty handsome.” This finally gets a genuine relaxed laugh out of Grayson, who replies without skipping a beat, “right back atcha!”

The segment via Fox Business below:

Alan Grayson, Capitalism, Congressman, Eric Bolling, Florida, Follow The Money, Fox Business, Marxism

The Lantern of Truth

Wouldn’t Grayson be more at home on the Dr. Phil show , or any psychiatrist’s couch ?
BatBoy

Francis wrote: Remember former Congressman Alan Grayson? Grayson quickly become one of the most well-known freshman senators for his brash style and unabashedly liberal politics,

Francis…I think you meant congressman vs senator….

Bolling: “we don’t bring you out because you’re a handsome guy, though you’re pretty handsome.”
Bolling is just one of the many excellent Fox Business on-airs.

Why can’t their competitors try to compete…they seem to give up and accept a 3rd or 4th place in the ratings.
Republicans Are Liars

Wouldn’t Eric Bolling’s show be more appropriate on a local cable station?
timzank

Republicans Are Liars said:
Wouldn’t Eric Bolling’s show be more appropriate on a local cable station?

In r/e your avatar, do you know any Republicans? Do you make such blanket statements of other groups as well? I know it’s “edgy” to say that but do you really believe it?
http://www.facebook.com/people/Linda-Kaye/1285660718 Linda Kaye

Bolling’s a clown. And whoever wrote this article needs to do a little fact checking. Doesn’t this site have an
editor? I’ve learned which writers to avoid here.. Frances now joins the goup.
Republicans Are Liars

timzank said:
In r/e your avatar, do you know any Republicans? Do you make such blanket statements of other groups as well? I know it’s “edgy” to say that but do you really believe it?

Well they are either liars or stupid. Take your pick. They have screwed this country into the ground making it something I don’t recognize any longer. They have been doing it all my life. Nixon, Regan, Bush(s). Where do you want to begin.
The Lantern of Truth

Republicans Are Liars said:
They have been doing it all my life

Wow . A Dem crybaby .

How unusual .
Republicans Are Liars

The Lantern of Truth said:
Wow . A Dem crybaby . How unusual .

Wow. Another clueless Rebuplican idiot.

Who would have thought…
seek

Republicans Are Liars said:
Wouldn’t Eric Bolling’s show be more appropriate on a local cable station?

why?
What does it matter to you where his program is?

Are you now an expert on t.v. land?
seek

Republicans Are Liars said:
Wow. Another clueless Rebuplican idiot.

Who would have thought…

What is your problem exactly?
Why are republican’s idiots and democrats brilliant?
What have the brilliant democrats accomplished since 2006?

You’re right – we are idiots – cause we didn’t vote them out en mass.
Alz

Grayson is the guy from Men In Black: http://bobcesca.com/blog-archives/2008/10/mccain.html

A lunatic in the movie and a lunatic in real life.
fallenchicken

I dislike both of them but this interview was kind of funny.
ChrisNH

Grayson looks like Hitler, sans mustache.
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/glenn-beck-explains-how-the-unions-are-using-teachers-firefighters-and-co ImNotBlue

Republicans Are Liars said:
Well they are either liars or stupid. Take your pick. They have screwed this country into the ground making it something I don’t recognize any longer. They have been doing it all my life. Nixon, Regan, Bush(s). Where do you want to begin.

“I hate people who disagree with me! They’re responsible for everything bad. Waaa!”
http://www.facebook.com/people/Barry-Dalton/1190134026 Barry Dalton

Bollinger was being willfully ignorant and contrary. This is one of the most biased articles I’ve seen on Mediate. What’s going on?
http://www.zazzle.com/talkingpoints NORBIT Jr.

This is what liberals are all about!

They’re oblivious to reason, and simply act and react emotionally, without being overly encumbered by the thought process!
AmericaSucks

Thank you, Frances, for summarizing the video attached to your story.

What is it that you do around here, anyhow?
szore

Republicans Are Liars said:
Well they are either liars or stupid. Take your pick. They have screwed this country into the ground making it something I don’t recognize any longer. They have been doing it all my life. Nixon, Regan, Bush(s). Where do you want to begin.

ANOTHER LIBERAL MORON:

FACTS:

Republicans controlled Congress and the Budget from 1993 through 2006. (13 years) Democrats controlled Congress and the Budget from 2007 through 2011. (4 years)
Average Annual Spending:
Republicans $1.868 trillion
Democrats $3.668 trillion
Average Annual Deficit:
Republicans $1.707 trillion
Democrats $4.907 trillion
Cumulative Contribution to the National Debt:
Republicans $4.949 trillion
Democrats $7.025 trillion
Average Unemployment Rate:
Republicans 5.24%
Democrats 8.58%
On the Democrats watch:
1,797,783 citizen’s homes repossessed
3,303,439 citizens filed bankruptcy
14,825,000 citizens unemployed
44,587,328 citizens on food stamps
That is the price of hope and change.

BUT YOU KEEP VOTING LIBERAL, GO RIGHT AHEAD.
timcajun

ChrisNH says:
Grayson looks like Hitler, sans mustache.
…………………………………………….
Shame, shame! Have you forgotten the “tea bro” code? No “tea” has ever used the terms Hitler or nazi, never, they never have! As many “tea” comments, we will just act as if it never happened! carry on.
Yukon Jack

Why bring back a politically dead moron, like Greyson to the public forum?
Rokker

Bolling is a far-right tool who hangs on to his Fox News talking points like a dog on a bone.
mikey970

fox news channels…suck….all persons who work pay into social security and medicare…the horses ass host ….would not ackowlwdge that…yet he wants grayson the ackowledge something else, that was not stated by grayson…when did he say he wanted anyone to sit at home????…I guess if you have a big mouth and can yell fox news will always have a place for u
Republicans Are Liars

seek said:
What is your problem exactly?Why are republican’s idiots and democrats brilliant?What have the brilliant democrats accomplished since 2006? You’re right – we are idiots – cause we didn’t vote them out en mass.

Here, then, are 10 Republican Lies about the Bush tax cuts:

•Lie #1: Democrats Plan Across the Board Tax Hikes on January 1st
•Lie #2: Democrats Want a $3.8 Trillion Tax Increase
•Lie #3: Tax Cuts Pay for Themselves
•Lie #4: The Bush Tax Cuts Didn’t Add to the Deficit
•Lie #5: Expiring High Income Tax Cuts Will Hurt Small Business
•Lie #6: The Estate Tax Devastates Small Businesses and Family Farms
•Lie #7: The Bush Tax Cuts Helped All Americans
•Lie #8. Extending Bush Tax Cuts for the Wealthy is the Best Way to Stimulate the Economy
•Lie #9. Bush Tax Cuts Produced 52 Straight Months of Job Growth
•Lie #10: The Rich Pay Too Much in Taxes Already
timcajun

mikey970 says:
fox news channels…suck….all persons who work pay into social security and medicare…the horses ass host ….would not ackowlwdge that…yet he wants grayson the ackowledge something else, that was not stated by grayson…when did he say he wanted anyone to sit at home????…I guess if you have a big mouth and can yell fox news will always have a place for u
………………………….
100%
Republicans Are Liars

szore said:
ANOTHER LIBERAL MORON: FACTS: Republicans controlled Congress and the Budget from 1993 through 2006. (13 years) Democrats controlled Congress and the Budget from 2007 through 2011. (4 years)Average Annual Spending:Republicans $1.868 trillionDemocrats $3.668 trillionAverage Annual Deficit:Republicans $1.707 trillionDemocrats $4.907 trillionCumulative Contribution to the National Debt:Republicans $4.949 trillionDemocrats $7.025 trillionAverage Unemployment Rate:Republicans 5.24%Democrats 8.58%On the Democrats watch:1,797,783 citizen’s homes repossessed3,303,439 citizens filed bankruptcy14,825,000 citizens unemployed44,587,328 citizens on food stampsThat is the price of hope and change. BUT YOU KEEP VOTING LIBERAL, GO RIGHT AHEAD.

Again another lying Republican nit wit who would rather lie about unemployment statistics that admit the truth.
Since January of 1948, Democrats have occupied the White House for a total of 313 months (out of a possible 745).

The average monthly national unemployment rate during those 313 months? 5.29%.

The Republicans, on the other hand, have occupied the White House for a total of 432 months since January of 1948 (out of a total of 745).

The average monthly national unemployment rate during those 432 months? 5.93%.

So, according to the data from BLS.gov, the national unemployment rate has been, on average, 0.64% higher when a Republican has been occupying the White House.
BoomShakalaka

“In order to get the dialogue flowing a bit, Bolling then notes that the support of so many social programs is “socialism right there, that’s Marxism,”

Marxism,socialism….so what’s new in Bolling’s head huh?Never heard that one before…

Yes…in order to get the dialogue flowing(!?!),of course……riiiight….not because Bolling likes to ask stupid,redundant questions huh?….I’m actually surprised he didn’t ask if Grayson hangs out with the “hoodies” at the “Big Hizzy” on the week-end.

Could you be just a little more obvious in your partisanship please?…You know ,cause I’m not completely sure you’re a total right-wing cheerleader….you may be a “reporter”,I dunno….

Thanks.
2012freedom

Alan Grayson is a unhinged putz.
The Voice of Reason

I bet they are parading this guy as a hero over at media matters for refusing to answer questions. Though they would parade someone incapable of spewing his rhetoric outside the confines of a patched up group think fortress. To them he might be a hero, to everyone else he looks like a nut.
The Rock

Rokker said:
Bolling is a far-right tool who hangs on to his Fox News talking points like a dog on a bone.

Your a far-left tool taking your talking from media matters that can’t think for themselfs which is fact. Eric Bolling isn’t far-right either so that thats a lie so your wrong.
The Rock

Republicans Are Liars said:
Again another lying Republican nit wit who would rather lie about unemployment statistics that admit the truth.Since January of 1948, Democrats have occupied the White House for a total of 313 months (out of a possible 745). The average monthly national unemployment rate during those 313 months? 5.29%. The Republicans, on the other hand, have occupied the White House for a total of 432 months since January of 1948 (out of a total of 745). The average monthly national unemployment rate during those 432 months? 5.93%. So, according to the data from BLS.gov, the national unemployment rate has been, on average, 0.64% higher when a Republican has been occupying the White House.

Your liar with no facts or proof your far-left kool-aid drinker that gets there talking points from media matters and can’t think for themselfs Regan was a pretty good president that never lied ever.
The Rock

Alan Grayson is un-american and lied about Bush on congress floor and Grayson smears and slanders anyone he disagree with which is fact Grayson is far-left loon out of touch with reality he wouldn’t know the truth if it hit him in the head. Alan Grayson is a lying of a lying liar like his pal Al Franken.
LOGICandREASON

Someone worth 400 million dollars calls aligns himself with the “middle class”??
Dem4Ever

He couldn’t even get re-elected to congress for a second term…that is unheard of…he must be a schmuck…lol
LAPhil

2012freedom said:
Alan Grayson is a unhinged putz.

Couldn’t have put it any better!
namseer

Eric Bolling is a bowl full of foul smelling used douche water. He’s a right-winger who has absolutely no class and a *complete* inability to go off his talking points without unraveling on air. Grayson did *exactly* what one is supposed to do when being interviewed by a louse like Bolling. Sit quietly, maintain composure, and let the Fox talking head meltdown and make an a@@ of themselves.
ksecus

Bolling is a low rated disc jockey on a fringe network that everyone laughs at.

And he spends his entire paycheck on designer clothes.

Fkin loser.
Republicans Are Liars

The Rock said:
Your liar with no facts or proof your far-left kool-aid drinker that gets there talking points from media matters and can’t think for themselfs Regan was a pretty good president that never lied ever.

Beautiful… So succinct, So insightful. Can we say Iran Contra. Absolutely no lying there. Another moron kicked to the curb.
Republicans Are Liars

The Rock said:
Your liar with no facts or proof your far-left kool-aid drinker that gets there talking points from media matters and can’t think for themselfs Regan was a pretty good president that never lied ever.

By the way smart guy… It’s you’re not your. LOL!!! You know how to make a point.
Yoda002

LOGICandREASON said:
Someone worth 400 million dollars calls aligns himself with the “middle class”??

Republicans are very dense and don’t get it. They live in a black and white world.
david r

Grayson is like Zach Galifanakis, except he’s not funny.
juan

Debbie Wasserman-Schultz replaced Alan Grayson!

Bad for Bad!
juan

ksecus said:
Fkin loser.

That’s Obama!

HehHehHeh
namseer

The Rock said:
Your liar with no facts or proof your far-left kool-aid drinker that gets there talking points from media matters and can’t think for themselfs Regan was a pretty good president that never lied ever.

BTW, one of your many spelling errors is going to get you into serious trouble. You couldn’t even manage to spell “Reagan” correctly. @The Rock, do you not realize that misspelling “Reagan” is an error punishable by DEATH at the hands of right-wingers and others who keep digging up Ronald Reagan and distorting his record? The Republicans have gone so bat sh-t, nut job right-wing crazy that Reagan would have been thrown out of the party today for being a liberal. Especially because he raised taxes ELEVEN TIMES as president! But, that doesn’t stop the crazed conservatives from forever channeling “The Gipper’s” ghost to remind gullible American’s of a time that never was and a man that never existed, at least according to the hardcore conservative fiction spewed by today’s right-wingers.
KhanMcDuff

Is it smug to be confused by the conversation of a man who doesn’t know how Social Security is paid for, doesn’t know what taxes go where, and makes lame inflammatory illogical statements? Grayson was prepared to talk, but this guy had no clue how America is now or how it works.
http://www.sarainitalyblog.blogspot.com/ sarainitaly

namseer said:
He’s a right-winger who has absolutely no class

so says the guy that says:

namseer said:
Eric Bolling is a bowl full of foul smelling used douche water.
purveyor

sarainitaly said:
namseer said:
Eric Bolling is a bowl full of foul smelling used douche water.

Are you speaking from experience?
purveyor

Is it possible that we have witnessed contrition? Perhaps, just maybe, Grayson is first of his species to have resigned himself to the defeat of a bankrupt (no pun intended) philosophy, i.e., Socialism.

The next to go will be Alan Combs. He and Grayson can no longer defend the indefensible. Like some animals, who, when their usefulness has been spent, they wither and die.

Ohh the humanity!
Tedderman

Bolling’s still mad the President didn’t call him after he stood on the street in New York with his phone# on a sing he’d made. If I were Grayson I’d ignore him too.
namseer

sarainitaly said:
so says the guy that says:

Yes, @sarainitaly, classless right-wingers (such as Bolling) and bowls full of foul smelling used douche water equivocate. They both stink and they’re both all wet.
purveyor

namseer said:
Yes, @sarainitaly, classless right-wingers (such as Bolling) and bowls full of foul smelling used douche water equivocate. They both stink and they’re both all wet.

You don’t poses the social graces, NOT to say such a thing to woman, even under the anonymity of the I net?

How un-couth.

Personally, I would never say anything like that to a woman. Furthermore, your verbiage is indicative of your intellect. That is NOT a compliment!

PURVEYOR OF RHETORIC
purveyor

TEDDERMAN,

Perhaps you should change your nom de plume to: “THUMBS DOWN” Such would be very apropo, seeing as how you receive more “thumbs down” than anyone in Mediaite.

Purveyor
namseer

purveyor said:
You don’t poses the social graces, NOT to say such a thing to woman, even under the anonymity of the I net?

How un-couth.

Personally, I would never say anything like that to a woman. Furthermore, your verbiage is indicative of your intellect. That is NOT a compliment!

PURVEYOR OF RHETORIC

Lecture me on the “social graces” when you learn how to spell the word “possess.”
purveyor

namseer said:
You couldn’t even manage to spell “Reagan” correctly. @The Rock, do you not realize that misspelling “Reagan” is an error punishable by DEATH at the hands of right-wingers and oth

You seem to use others spelling, and/or grammar errors, in a web-site where such is commonplace, as an affirmation of your assumed superiority.

I find such to be a quirk of your own insecurity. (and you are a representative of Liberalism?)

The fact remains, you have proven yourself to be, time and again, coarse and ignoble.

PURVEYOR OF RHETORIC
purveyor

namseer said:
BTW, one of your many spelling errors is going to get you into serious trouble. You couldn’t even manage to spell “Reagan” correctly. @The Rock, do you not realize that misspelling “Reagan” is an error punishable by DEATH at the hands of right-wingers and others who keep digging up Ronald Reagan and distorting his record? The Republicans have gone so bat sh-t, nut job right-wing crazy that Reagan would have been thrown out of the party today for being a liberal. Especially because he raised taxes ELEVEN TIMES as president! But, that doesn’t stop the crazed conservatives from forever channeling “The Gipper’s” ghost to remind gullible American’s of a time that never was and a man that never existed, at least according to the hardcore conservative fiction spewed by today’s right-wingers.

Have you been drinking or been abusing prescription drugs? The wandering, circuitous thoughts coupled with vulgarity, is a sign of over-imbibement?
AmericaSucks

purveyor said:
TEDDERMAN,

Perhaps you should change your nom de plume to: “THUMBS DOWN” Such would be very apropo, seeing as how you receive more “thumbs down” than anyone in Mediaite.

Purveyor

Awwwwww…. have you forgotten about me, Perv-Eeyore?
lucky5

Bolling you’re given us Conservatives a bad name. I used to watch Fox Business, but it just got too sleazy. The Program Director needs to clean this up. I want to watch Fox Business not Jerry Springer.
NonElite

Sometimes I wish FOX would eliminate the loons as guests, but they have a right to free speech too. Apparently Grayson has hired a handler to keep him from saying anything outrageous. He certainly behaves differently. He seemed to be simmering below the surface ready to explode.
namseer

purveyor said:
You seem to use others spelling, and/or grammar errors, in a web-site where such is commonplace, as an affirmation of your assumed superiority.

I find such to be a quirk of your own insecurity. (and you are a representative of Liberalism?)

The fact remains, you have proven yourself to be, time and again, coarse and ignoble.

PURVEYOR OF RHETORIC

No, only comments by morons and/or crazy people are regularly littered with spelling and grammatical errors on this Web site. I am sorry if my competence in writing offends you. But as a right-winger, you must naturally enjoy incompetence, so I’ll give you a pass. You lack the “social graces” necessary to recognize your folly.
purveyor

namseer said:
I am sorry if my competence in writing offends you.

Actually, you write quite well, if a bit convoluted and disjointed at times. Given another initiative, or, grasp of history and philosophy, (sans vulgarity) you would be tip toeing on the edge of erudition.

“Beware when pursuing the monster, lest he become you”

Fritz Nietzsche (one of my all time favorite quotes, as it is so true)

Purveyor
re-writer

Keep in mind that lucky5 is a conservative. Uh, huh. And America Sucks isn’t Robert Stephenson. Yep.
purveyor

re-writer said:
Keep in mind that lucky5 is a conservative. Uh, huh. And America Sucks isn’t Robert Stephenson. Yep.

OK! Thats it, ROBERT STEPHENSON, aka, SUCKS, is really Jimmy Hoffa!

There, that should end all debate.
gajack

Tempo,Tempo Kids! Can’t we agree that Bolling and Grayson both suck?
Pablo

lucky5 said:
Bolling you’re given us Conservatives a bad name. I used to watch Fox Business, but it just got too sleazy. The Program Director needs to clean this up. I want to watch Fox Business not Jerry Springer.

Are you aware that you’re the most transparent concern troll ever? Congrats, I think.
gefforyk

I never much cared for Grayson and his antics, had he been a little bit more as he appears in this interview he maybe would have retained his seat… I will say however that I really did appreciate his contributions to the house hearings whose intent was to look into the Fed… Here is a link to what I consider to be one of Grayson’s finer moments.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXlxBeAvsB8&feature=related
purveyor

gefforyk said:
what I consider to be one of Grayson’s finer moments.

I saw that too. I was pleasantly surprised. But then…
Mia Kulper

szore said:
Republicans controlled Congress and the Budget from 1993 through 2006. (13 years) Democrats controlled Congress and the Budget from 2007 through 2011. (4 years)

Wrong.

szore said:
Cumulative Contribution to the National Debt:
Republicans $4.949 trillion
Democrats $7.025 trillion

Even wronger!

I haven’t bothered checking your other claims but they’re probably all wrong too.

Where do you nitwits get all this disinformation?

And why aren’t you even smart enough to look it up?