At the 2009 Florida State Democratic Conference on Saturday, the organizers arranged the usual dog-and-pony show, putting telegenic Democrats on giant screens in front of cheering Democrats in what can only be described as a sporting event. Every forceful phrase was rewarded with applause and cheers. There is always something North Korean about the atmosphere at a party event. During Bill Nelson’s address, however, the North Korean vibe was broken by hundreds of angry hecklers screaming “Public Option!” at every pause in the Senator’s remarks. Nelson kept to his rambling speech, talking about everything but the issue on everyone’s mind, even taking refuge in a gratuitous display of Obama-humping over the catcalls. Finally, he came to the subject of the health care bill to cheers and more calls of “Public Option!” When Nelson pledged to support a watered-down version of the public option proposed by New York Senator Chuck Schumer, the crowd let him finish in peace.

Next to speak was 8th District Congressman Alan Grayson, who recently opined that the Republican health reform plan was for sick people to die quickly. The crowd lost its collective senses. Wild applause filled the hall. I had thought that party leaders may have been nervous about Grayson’s incendiary language, but they were clearly encouraging it by giving him a prime time slot after the keynote. Grayson, of course, stole the show, repeating his greatest hits to wild acclaim and clearly eating it up. He proposed that the Democratic Party be renamed the Conscience Party and the Republican Party the Party of Selfishness. The language came off a bit cynical and pandering, but the crowd was wholly uncritical. There’s no doubt there’s a great deal of sincere feeling behind Grayson’s rhetoric, but the simplicity of the language seems crafted. He was one of the few mainstream Southern Democrats in recent years to approach a critique of conservatism itself. Grayson’s popularity holds out hope of a new era of Progressive dominance in the Party.

The Congressman has been making the rounds on television and distributing his clips on the Web. His fundraising has been brisk, and it appears he will not have to use his own money this cycle. Of course, Congressman Grayson’s popularity comes at a bad time. He probably will not enter the Senate race this late, and the next shot will be Nelson’s seat in 2012. He might take it, but the Party would seek to stop him. The only other prize is re-election, which seems like a lot of effort for a small reward. Acclaim like this never lasts.

One wonders if this was calculated or just, as one observer out it, “Alan being Alan.”

Tags: alan grayson, bill nelson, Florida, Politics