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Alan Grayson rant compares Congress to Dog Poop

House Republicans silence Rep. Alan Grayson after he cites poll comparing them to 'dog poop'

Rep. Alan Grayson (D-FL) found himself on Tuesday being added to the list of things that had been shut down because of Republicans in Congress. During a speech on the House floor to call for a vote on a resolution that said Congress' "dignity" had been impugned by the government shutdown, Grayson frustrated Speaker pro tempore Steve Womack (R-AR) by obstructing all other business and asserting privilege under Rule IX. Grayson observed that media outlets all over the world and polling data within in the United States showed that "the dignity of the House has been called into question." The Florida Democrat pointed to a Public Policy Polling survey that found that Congress had an 8 percent approval rating. And to infuriate Republicans further, he read out of the each items that the American people found more likable than Congress. "What do you have a higher opinion of, Congress or witches? Congress, 32 percent; witches, 46 percent," he said. "What do you have a higher opinion of, Congress or hemorrhoids? Congress, 31 percent; hemorrhoids, 53 percent. What do you have a higher opinion of, Congress or dog poop? Congress 40 percent; dog poop 47 percent." At that point, Womack cautioned Grayson to confine his remarks to an explanation of why his resolution was privileged under Rule IX. But the congressman continued citing the poll, comparing Congress to toenail fungus, cockroaches and zombies. "Surely our dignity has been diminished and is actively being called into question," Grayson said. "If we are to be called obstructionists, practicers of partisan petulance, if we are to be called an establishment that is rotten to the core, if we are leaving Americans wondering why there is so much poison in the system then surely our dignity has been diminished. If we're being accused of willingly provoking crises that suspend public services and decrease economic growth then surely our dignity as a body has been diminished."

With that, Womack could stand no more and gaveled for Grayson to suspend his remarks. Grayson argued that he should have been allow to finish his speech as a point of parliamentary order. But Womack ruled in the end that Grayson's resolution was not privileged and scuttled the vote.

Costa Gavras interview on Democracy Now : Taking on Capitalism, U.S. Torture & Dictatorships, Decades of Political Filmmaking

Taking on Capitalism, U.S. Torture & Dictatorships, Costa-Gavras on Decades of Political Filmmaking

Costa-Gavras joins us for the hour to discuss a nearly 50-year career that has earned him the reputation as one of the world’s greatest living political filmmakers. Born in Greece in 1933, the 80-year-old has won two Academy Awards for his films “Z” and “Missing.” Other acclaimed films include, “State of Siege,” “Amen,” “Music Box,” “The Confession,” “Hanna K.” and “Betrayed.” For nearly five decades, Costa-Gavras has tackled some of the key political issues of the day. “Z” was a drama loosely based on the 1963 assassination of a Greek left-wing activist. “Missing,” his 1982 film starring Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek, told the story of American journalist Charles Horman, who was abducted and killed after General Augusto Pinochet came to power in Chile in a U.S.-backed coup. In his film “State of Siege,” Costa-Gavras looked at the controversial role of the U.S. Agency for International Development in Latin America. The film was based on the kidnapping and murder of a U.S. official named Dan Mitrione who taught torture to Uruguayan officers. His latest film, “Capital,” tells the story of a CEO of a large bank who lays off many of the employees and brokers a corrupt deal with the head of an American hedge fund.