Jesse Lagreca vs. George Will

[Enrique]

Jesse cuts through the B.S. with ease, I just wish Peggy Noonan had taken him on, that would have been amusing. Full video is at link:

http://www.observer.com/2011/10/jesse-lagreca-on-abcs-this-week/

Christiane Amanpour: Let me ask George Will, who wanted to ask you a short question.

George Will: Mr. LaGreca, I hear a certain dissonance in your message: Your message which is that Washington is corrupt, Washington is the handmaiden to powerful, and a lot of conservatives would agree with that. But then you say that this corrupt handmaiden to the powerful should be much more powerful in regulating our lives. Why would you want a corrupt government bigger in our lives?

Jesse LaGreca: You know, I find that a lot of these conversations about government tend to deflect away from Wall Street, because let’s be honest: the lobbyists have enormous power, and they’ve shut out a lot of the voice of the American people. So I think we should demand a government that is listening to people, and I find it ironic that when people demand action from their government, suddenly people tend to overreact and say “That is uncontrollable government.” Our government is a function of our democracy; by attacking our government we are attacking democracy. So to me, yes, I think the government should represent the will of the people, and if the will of the people are demanding action, then they should follow suite.

[Scuba]

1. Jesse ought to be in Congress. n/t

[Old and In the Way]

2. George loves his status quo government.

I totally agree with LaGreca...it's not the size of government that's a problem, it's the institutional corruption that allows lobbyists to have far more influence than the will of 350MM citizens. Until we address the voting rights and the role of lobbyists that game our election financing, nothing will change.

[gratuitous]

3. Not the answer Mr. Will was looking for, I'll warrant

Notice how LaGreca (poster MinistryofTruth at Daily Kos) reframes the question to get away from Will's false dichotomy. I'm sure George didn't appreciate this upstart's temerity in not accepting the "corrupt government" premise. It will probably be a long time before LaGreca is invited back to discuss weighty matters with the Wise Men of Washington.

[Enrique]

4. I can't imagine an elected dem making that point

or a dem bigshot like Donna Brazile or Terry McAuliffe for that matter. They all seem to stay within a range of debate that doesn't challenge anything.

But I could be wrong. If some dem has said something noteworthy on Sunday TV, someone please post it.

[NBachers]

5. But I thought the token "liberal" was supposed to be a palavering equivocator

[Quantess]

6. I bet George Will wasn't expecting that.

I'm sure he underestimated Jesse LaGreca, and saw him as an unwashed, naiive, rube. George Will imagines himself as such an elite.