Grayson: Cheney Has 'Blood That Drips From His Teeth'

[kpete]

Source: Talking Points Memo

Grayson: Cheney Has 'Blood That Drips From His Teeth'
Eric Kleefeld | October 23, 2009, 10:52AM



During an appearance yesterday on Hardball, Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) jokingly suggested that former Vice President Dick Cheney is a vampire.

Chris Matthews asked Grayson what he thinks of Cheney's attacks on President Obama for "dithering" on Afghanistan.

"Well, my response is -- and by the way, I have trouble listening to what he says sometimes, because of the blood that drips from his teeth while he's talking," said Grayson. "But my response is this: He's just angry because the president doesn't shoot old men in the face. But by the way, when he was done speaking, did he just then turn into a bat and fly away?"

Even Matthews, no Cheney fan himself, was shocked: "Oh God -- we got to keep a level here. Let me ask you this: Don't you have any Republican friends?"

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/10/grayson-cheney-has-blood-that-drips-from-his-teeth.php?ref=fpblg

[Buzz Clik]

1. Grayson needs to reel it in. He's becoming our answer to Bachman on the insane-o-meter.

[supernova]

5. Difference is Grayson

knows how to tell a joke.

Bachman gives every indication that she's serious.

[snagglepuss]

11. +1. Knowing how to tell a joke is everything. The humour drives a point home.

Grayson does it well.

[pscot]

7. Yeah, really

Next thing you know he'll be telling Republicans to go fuck themselves.

[timtom]

14. Good one!

(Betcha lotsa people forgot that one...

[MNDemNY]

17. No, he would be insane if he actually made the claim that Cheeeenie is a Vampire.

Or do you somehow think the comment was not made in jest?

[Marr]

33. Couldn't disagree more. This is exactly the right response to comments from Cheney and his crowd.

They should not be taken seriously. Entertaining their accusations and answering them deliberately lends them a legitimacy that they don't deserve, and let's them establish their extreme position as one end of legitimate debate. Dick Cheney and those like him deserve a few light jokes, followed by a casual dismissal.

[WriteDown]

2. Sounds like the title of a Hammer film. nt

[emulatorloo]

3. It was pretty over the top. However I admit I was laughing like CRAZY! n/t

[OffWithTheirHeads]

4. Bloody teeth to compliment the Bush Sulpher smell.

[karynnj]

6. This is asinine . What an idiot - This will be used to discredit our side

He is Congressman. If I were Nancy Pelosi, I would immediately put out a resolution to admonish or censure him, whichever is appropriate, before a Republican does.

This is the result of the juvenile netroots making a no name Congressman a hero, encouraging him to more and more over the top comments.

[BootinUp]

9. come on.

Cheney has been characterized in similar ways by many, and in this case earned great disdain. Plus it was said in a clearly tongue in cheek fashion. If it turns out I am misjudging the impact (which will not be negative for us imho) then I will gladly admit it when that becomes clear.

[karynnj]

15. There is a major difference between a Congressman saying tis and an anonymous blogger

It does not matter that it was a joke. Would you accept similarly obnoxious comments towards a Democrat?

[atreides1]

18. So what you're saying...

...is that members of Congress don't have the same free speech rights as a blogger?

Why are some Democrats so afraid to actually stand up and fight? To give back what's been given?

The Congressman is a big boy and from what I've seen can defend himself without your help, which is probably a good thing for him!!

[karynnj]

24. Of course he has the right - and people have the right to think less of him because of it

The problem is if it sticks to all progressives in the minds of some, who are persuadable.

This is not "standing up and fighting". It wins absolutely NO ONE to our side. I have no intention of helping him - and I am sure that he is enjoying being the toast of the town on the blogosphere.

[sudopod]

37. Cheney's only responsible for killing what, a million people?

I say Lighten Up give the old bastard a break.

[BootinUp]

19. Another way to think about it

in Pro Basketball certain players due to their style of play get away with common infractions of the rules, the referees know they do it, but it is overlooked. For instance Moses Malone was allowed very rough play that other players would get called on. Grayson will be our guy for truth telling and he will get away with it, and it will make people think more seriously about some of the bullshit the republicans have been doing.

[karynnj]

22. Why will he "get away with it"

Your example might depend on Moses Malone being a star player. (My knowledge on sports in pathetic.) There is nothing special about Grayson. He does not have a long history of universally important accomplishments.

He is the flavor of the month in the blogosphere - totally because he was over the top. Seriously, turn this around and think what we think of the Michelle Bachman. In fact, if he "gets away with it" it will be because he is insignificant enough to be considered not worth slapping down.

[BootinUp]

25. I just don't see a paralell to Bachman who is truly

a nutcase,intellectually challenged and promoter of outrageous lies. Grayson is saying things we all think and that the media understands thinks about too. This joke was not a serious attempt to characterize Cheney as anything other than a warmonger. A large percentage of the population won't have a problem with, trust me. ;)

[karynnj]

28. It is true that Cheney's popularity was last measured at about 19%

but even many who do not approve, will be offended by the word "war monger". The fact is society is moving to people being in more and more homogeneous enclaves. It is totally possible that you know no one who would be offended, but they exist. There are also people who see the teabaggers as fighting for freedom - some might say that they thing the larger part of the population agrees.

[Paladin]

Yeah, God Forbid We Democrats Exhibit Any Thing But Passivity, Right?

It must be tough on you these days, seeing more and more Democratic officials finally growing spines and walking upright.

More power to Grayson. May his tribe increase, and right away.......

[karynnj]

34. I have always admired the politicains who really stood up and fought to

actually move people on the issues. I think Dean did a wonderful job on the current healthcare issues. I think Kerry and Feingold did a great job in pushing for the need for a deadline in Iraq - Bush and Iraq actually created one after trying everything else. I also had no problem and supported Feingold's resolution to censure Bush, that only Harkin, Boxer and Kerry supported.

Name calling is no standing up - it is rudeness. At a point where we control both Houses of Congress and the White House, it is not even a successful action.

[The_Casual_Observer]

10. The asinine part is that cheney isn't in prison.

[kpete]

12. ....

EXACTLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[redqueen]

35. THANK YOU! (nt)

[Vidar]

39. Ah yes, the Neville Chamberlain approach.

[karynnj]

40. Grayson's words are not substance, but entertainment

It is amazing that best way for a politician to impress people here is to make outrageous statements. How does that help pass health care, energy, jobs bills etc or to provide guidance or oversight on foreign policy.

[YOY]

8. Tone it down dude. There's balls and there's going overboard.

Yes, he's a torture endorsing freak...but 'Blood That Drips From His Teeth'?

Dude...too much.

[curlyred]

13. Cheney should see Orly for that

Sounds like a gum issue. :)

[Habibi]

16. "Captain Cojones"!!

:rofl:

[ensho]

20. snake cheney also has bloody hands even though he keeps

washing them.

props to Grayson

[LeftHander]

21. The turning into a bat comment was wrong....

Cheney is not a bat. He EATS dead bats with Ann Coulter...

[peace frog]

23. STFU, Tweety

Jeebus, I can't stand that self-important bloviating dumbfuck.

[musiclawyer]

26. Grayson

should not be reeled in. Elected officials on the other side tell patent lies. There are no repercussions to them from their leadership. Until there is, Grayson has a lot of headroom to be as unfiltered and candid as he wants to be. This is water cooler talk, said by lots of people all the time. He can say it on TV if he wants, whether the intended effect is humor, or just a visceral emotion. I wish all politicians did not parse their words and just said how they fee, unless of course they are lying. They would come across as much more real, grounded and in touch. That's why Grayson has secured his reelection--telling the truth.

[Warren DeMontague]

27. You have to admit---

dude has a way with words.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

29. that is funny. people need to have a sense of humor.

[ipaint]

30. I hope he never shuts up.

Halloween is approaching, he's got 5 kids I'm sure he is aware of the holiday. I think it was very appropriate.
I love the picture it puts in people's heads.

[Shagbark Hickory]

31. Don't forget:::: .+*-.+.-*+.Captain Cajones.+*-.+.-*+.

[damntexdem]

32. True, though I would have said "fangs,"

;-)

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

36. Too Immature. He's Starting To Go Too Over The Top. He Needs To Learn When And How.

If he keeps talking like that day after day no matter what the topic or target, he's gonna become a discredited cliche so quick it ain't even funny. He needs to act intelligent and professional as much as possible, and save the quips for the right moments under the right context. I love how ballsy he is but there is ballsy and then there's just plain grade school. This time he was guilty of the latter.

He needs to stay strong, focused, and professional. He needs to learn when and how to cross the line. It seems right now like he knows he has his 15 minutes of fame, so he's milking it for the crowd. Problem with that is that he'll get into a niche really quickly, become ineffective, and lose a lot of support. I hope someone advises him quickly to keep him from going that far again too soon.

[bullwinkle428]

38. ZOMG...HE'S GONNA OFFEND THE CHENEY-LOVERS!!11!1!

All 12 of them? :shrug: