Meet Alan Grayson

He is the liberal firebrand ex-congressman from Disney World, defeated in 2010 after one term, who is now running for a new House seat representing Orlando. It's nice to see a real progressive out there--as opposed to purported "Socialists".

You know what Washington’s like. Why do you want to go back?

I’d be down on the floor every day calling the [Republicans] out for the crazy stuff they do, that nobody ever finds out about, because they’re not witnesses to it.

What do you make of the so-called Supercommittee’s failure to do its job?

I’m not sure that they should do their job. I don’t like their job. Their job is to cut Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid. I’m sorry, it’s just a farce. The real two-party system in America is the Meanies and the Weenies. The Meanies want to take away your benefits, and the Weenies want to compromise with them.

Why isn’t the leadership of your party focusing on these problems?

You’d have to ask them. I’d love to see them solve some problems. Show me a problem that they’ve solved. But I’m really not interested in demoralizing my own supporters.

Are you heartened that President Obama has started to articulate that message?

I don’t know what to say to that. You’ve left me speechless.

Would Mitt Romney be worse than Barack Obama?

He’d be less bad than some of the other candidates who are running for the Republican nomination.

Any thoughts on the other Republican candidates?

I never in my wildest dreams imagined that Ron Paul would have a viable candidacy. Newt Gingrich is like Rudy Giuliani—the more you know him, the less you like him. I’d be concerned that if Gingrich were President, he’d find a way to cheat on the country.

What are the odds that Obama will be reelected?

I think he’ll probably be reelected.

How much money will be spent against you?

Last time the Koch brothers spent around $2 million, the health-insurance companies spent around $2 million, and the Republican Party spent around $1 million.

You obviously have high name recognition.

There are many people who live here [in Orlando] and know me and wish they didn’t. The only person who’s better known than me [in Orlando] is the President -- and Mickey Mouse. But I don’t think Mickey’s going to run.

Learn more about Alan here.