Alan Grayson-- Helping Save The Republic

Aside from running his own race in the Orlando area (FL-09), which, in the 3 latest polls, finds him up against his unhinged rival, Todd Long, by 15 points, 16 points and 18 points, Alan Grayson has been busy giving advice and raising campaign money for progressives all over the country. He helped Lee Rogers figure out how to run a grassroots campaign against an entrenched corrupt incumbent in CA-25. He bolstered Beto O'Rourke in El Paso after Beto's primary win brought him face to face with the ugly and corrupt side of Insider the Beltway corruptionists. He raised more money for progressive challengers than any other candidate for Congress. And now he's getting serious. Grayson has been warning voters about some of the worst miscreants seeking reelection to Congress this year.

On Friday Grayson sent out an e-mail blast to his supporters with the subject line: "He Shouldn't Be In Congress." He was talking about cartoonish Miami-Dade County crime figure David Rivera and he includes a model in a suit with black and white stripes with the caption, "David Rivera would look good in this." With the FBI Hot on his trail, we'll probably soon see if he does.

As I noted a few months ago, a tsunami isn't normal sea water. It's a filthy sludge, brimming with dead fish and farm animals, dead trees, construction debris, garbage, mud and sewage. A giant wave of gunk and junk.

What a perfect metaphor to describe the many accidental Congressmen who were swept into Congress in the Tea Party tsunami of 2010.

Here's a good example: Rep. David Rivera, of Miami.

Where shall we begin? A domestic abuse charge was filed in Miami in 1994 against "David M. Rivera." Rep. Rivera says that it was a different "David M. Rivera," not him. But a friend of the victim says that Rep. Rivera and the victim attended a dinner party at her house, as a couple. And the victim's mother worked for Rivera's campaign. Just coincidences, Rivera says. Rivera, like OJ Simpson, surely will devote the rest of his life to finding the true perpetrator.

In 2002, Rep. Rivera ran for the Florida State House of Representatives. A truck carrying thousands of anti-Rivera mailers was on its way to the post office, to meet a deadline. On the highway, in the middle lane, a car deliberately smashed into the truck. The truck was forced to the side of the road, and the mailers did not go out on time. The car was driven by... David Rivera. David M. Rivera. Another coincidence, I'm sure.

During the time that Rep. Rivera served in the Florida House, he reported in sworn documents that his only source of outside income, for seven years, was his work as a consultant for the US Agency for International Development. There was only one problem with that story-- USAID has no record of ever employing him.

So how did Rivera make his money? Well, in 2008, Rivera was an outspoken and determined proponent of an initiative to approve slot machines at Flagler Dog Track and other locations. And the Flagler Dog Track made $500,000 in secret payments to Rivera, which Rivera omitted from his financial disclosure.

Another coincidence.

I do think that the taxpayers should be paying for David Rivera's room and board. But I don't think that the federal institution at which Rivera serves should be the U.S. Congress.

David Rivera should not be in Congress. And we have a good chance to get rid of him, on Nov. 6.

Reminding his readers that Rivera is a stain on Congress' reputation that needs to be removed, he endorsed Democrat Joe Garcia. And the following day, Grayson was doing the same thing for Tammy Duckworth in Illinois. She's the Democratic opponent for loudmouthed phony-baloney teabagger Joe Walsh. [Note: Eagle Joe Walsh has endorsed Tammy Duckworth.]

Joe Walsh. The great, great guitarist for the Eagles. As much as I have enjoyed listening to his riffs over the years, I don't think that Joe Walsh, the guitarist, should be in Congress.

Also Joe Walsh, the Congressman. He shouldn't be in Congress, neither.

Like David Rivera, about whom I wrote yesterday, Joe Walsh is another Member of Congress whom the cat drug in two years ago. But at least Rivera recognizes that silence is a virtue. Joe Walsh is without virtues.

Joe Walsh said that Barack Obama was elected President only "because he pushed that magical button: a black man who was articulate, liberal-- the whole white guilt [thing], all of that."

Joe Walsh didn't pay his child support.

Joe Walsh, like my opponent Todd Long, drove on a suspended license. (Although in Walsh's case, unlike Long's, the media actually reported it.)

Last year, a Walsh constituent suggested to Walsh that the banks had been responsible for the Crash of 2008. Walsh swore at her.

The Democrats nominated Tammy Duckworth to face Walsh. Duckworth, a helicopter pilot, lost both legs and the use of one arm in Iraq. Joe Walsh callously whined, "My God, that's all she talks about. Our true heroes, the men and women who served us, it's the last thing in the world they talk about."

And on Thursday night, in a debate, Joe Walsh said that "you can't find one instance" of abortion being necessary to save the life of the mother. (Six hundred American women die from pregnancy each year.)

So our choice is between Tammy Duckworth, war hero, and Joe Walsh, irresponsible loudmouth. Hmmmmmm.

Joe Walsh should not be in Congress. And we have a good chance to get rid of him, on Nov. 6.

If you're ready to make a last minute contribution to campaigns where Grayson thinks it will help make a better Congress and a better America, this page and this page are my two favorites.