Obama ridicules McCain economic adviser for calling Americans 'whiners' in 'mental recession'

With an economic adviser like Phil Gramm and John McCain has admitted he doesn't understand economics, the republicans are really putting together a swell economic package I'm sure.

Maybe it'll include the needs of real Americans, as Phil Gramm put it, (a nation of whiners.....mental recession). < :-)

aday: I thought you would have at least agreed that Americans are for the most part whiners.

"Americans 'whiners' in 'mental recession'

LOL!!!!! And that's a direct quote from Sen. McCain's economic advisor!

JT just gets funnier.......

Interesting to note how Sen. McCain's Iraq policy would bury a once fine country even deeper into recession.

“a nation of whiners” and suggesting the country is in a “mental recession.”

No, I don't think so. I visited Maine recently where residents are concerned their 2009 winter heating bills could go as high as five grand. That concern extends all the way across the snow belt I'm sure:

Phillip Thies, a registered Republican and clothing-store owner in Cedar, Mich., who was one of those polled [by the LA Times], said the president was doing an able job through the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks but "right after that, it was steadily, steadily downhill."

"There has been a lack of leadership and a lack of timeliness of leadership, of not being conscious of the magnitude of the problems," Thies said of Bush in a follow-up interview. "He's always a day late and a dollar short."

"It is no surprise that Americans are feeling very pessimistic about the economy -- with rising gas and oil prices and food prices affecting their pocketbooks," said Times Poll Director Susan Pinkus.

"They don't see an end to the rise in prices. . . . Americans blame the president, along with the oil companies, for not having done enough to stem the tide of rising gas prices."

Scott White, 47, a registered Republican from Saco, Maine, said he had to get public assistance twice last year to pay for home heating oil. He says he expects things to get worse before they get better....

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/washingtondc/la-fi-poll26-2008jun26,0,3675964.story

Gramm has revealed himself to be, dare I say it, an "elitist." He and his wife also made a tidy sum off of their Enron connections.

Betzee, you don't say - Gramm has Enron connections???

He chose the wrong words, but he's got a point.

Sushi,

Gramm is from Texas. His wife [according to wiki] called for deregulation of the energy industry. Previously, [Wendy] Gramm held several positions in the Reagan Administration, including heading the Commodity Futures Trading Commission from 1988 to 1993. After a lobbying campaign from Enron, the CFTC exempted it from regulation in trading of energy derivatives. Subsequently, Gramm resigned from the CFTC and took a seat on the Enron Board of Directors. While on the board of directors she received donations from Enron to support the Mercatus Center.

After the Enron scandal, Gramm and the other directors of the energy company were named in several investor lawsuits, many of which have been settled. In particular, Gramm and other Enron directors agreed to an $168 million dollar settlement in a suit led by the University of California. As part of that settlement, the directors agreed to collectively pay $13 million to settle claims of insider trading. The remainder of the settlement was to be paid by insurance....

Sen. McCain seems to be consistantly picking advisors with shady backgrounds and unfortunate connections......

I do think that this is going to hurt McCain so bad. He may as well throw in the towel now.

Altria,

Someone here told me I should read the Washington Times so I did look to see what Gramm had actually said. Among other observations, he feels "the constant drubbing of the media on the economy's problems is one reason people have lost confidence."

Really? How about every time they have to pay more for gas? Now one can say Americans who are members of the negative equity club, meaning the amount they owe on their vehicle exceeds its resale value, have to face the consequences of their own poor choices. But Gramm ain't gonna make that argument. GWB encouraged America to "go shopping" when he had the political capital to ask for sacrifice in the wake of 9/11.

The only way to halt the frenzy in oil futures speculation is a commitment from Uncle Sam that it is serious about developing alternatives which would reduce future demand. This doesn't ever seem to have crossed GWB's mind, however, nor probably Gramm's either.

Sen. McCain seems to be consistantly picking advisors with shady backgrounds and unfortunate connections......

Gramm was a Professor of Economics at the University of Texas, as was his wife, before he ran for the Senate. McCain probably thought his academic pedigree would provide evidence of credibility in economic matters. But certainly McCain should have been aware of Gramm's earlier controversial statements. For example, he explained his string of draft deferments by noting that his brother, along with many of his students, served in Vietnam, thereby implying that his own obligation was somehow reduced.

All right, chicken hawks are a dime a dozen in the nation's capital. More problematic is that Gramm and his wife made a bundle off an industry for which they advocated deregulation.

The real problem is John McCain's cronies are just speaking the real way they really feel. I would presume that John McCain would pick people that believe the way he does. < :-)

Well I do have to hand it to you, Betzee. When it comes to digging up dirt on someone that you've just learned about earlier that morning you are probably one of the best in the business. Your efficiency is astounding with messages at 9:34, 9:45, 9:53, 10:10, and 10:30 AM. From start to finish it took you less than an hour to get your your messages from other websites and distribute them here. Perhaps the news story about Karl Rove inspired you?

The fact is that both candidates aren't short on embarrassing sounds bites from associates. I gave Obama a free pass with Rev. Wright and I'm going to do the same with McCain here. Considering the hundreds of "associates" or "advisers" both men have it seems to be a pretty easy way to have something radical to talk about even tho neither candidate said the words themselves. I expect this practice to continue in the future, and you can expect my comments to be similar to what they are today regardless of which candidate is being grilled.

Super: The fact is that both candidates aren't short on embarrassing sounds bites from associates. I gave Obama a free pass with Rev. Wright and I'm going to do the same with McCain here. Considering the hundreds of "associates" or "advisers" both men have it seems to be a pretty easy way to have something radical to talk about even tho neither candidate said the words themselves."

That's cool!

"The Republican presidential hopeful"

Heh, hopeless more like.

Wow, way to go Republicans. Why don't you just hand Obama the nomination?

McCain: "My advisor, who gives me speeches and tells me what to say, does not speak to me... I speak for me!.... just a minute folks... (in a whisper) Psst! where's Phil? I don't know what to say next!"

Here's an honest question to those few remaining bush supporters still desperate for a republican to take office in the next election.... how many people has McCain now distanced himself from, including Bush, in the mere few months since he got the green light to run on the republican ticket? Seems to me to be an awful lot.

Listen to Obama preach. When does he get around to "clarifying" the sweetheart deal he got on his million-dollar home?

Graham's comment pales in comparison to the federal indictment of Obama's financer, Tony Rezko.

meat,

Keep shaking them 'lil fists at the senate and the democratic presidential candidate in blind partisan Panic.

Heh, it 'aint going to change that a coloured democrat will be sworn in in Jan '09. It's a shame Senator Obala isn't a woman to boot, but then, there are enough radical republican heads imploding as it is!

Heh, it 'aint going to change that a coloured democrat will be sworn in in Jan '09.

As obsessed with America as you are I thought you'd know that "coloured" is considered racist.

It's a shame Senator Obala isn't a woman to boot, but then, there are enough radical republican heads imploding as it is!

Hey, if he ain't careful around Reverend Jesse Jackson the country may get a prez who is a person of color, no longer male .

Obsessed? Nah. Bored with this childish affair? You got it m'boy.

Don't ever stop posting here, please. I had a stinking hang-over until I read your attempts at blaming gas prics on the democratic controlled congress!

Keep it up, meat.

Yes, yes. So little "news" out of Iraq. I feels your pain.

PS, what isn't considered racist these days by the demented PC crowd?

meat,

There's plenty of "news" from Iraq. People are still dying because of a stupid decision.

But heh, I feel your Denial.

"McCain... arguing that the Democrat opposes offshore drlling and nuclear power to try to solve energy woes. "You talk about Dr. Phil, he's Dr. No on energy."

Exactly, exactly.

Madverts: "I had a stinking hang-over"

I believe that.

Your efficiency is astounding with messages at 9:34, 9:45, 9:53, 10:10, and 10:30 AM. From start to finish it took you less than an hour to get your your messages from other websites and distribute them here.

How would you know since you don't read my posts?

In fact Gramm's whiners observation is much better framed against Obama's own bitterness comment (which led to charges he was an "elitist.") One is saying Americans have retreated into guns and religion while the other said the problems are "all in their heads" cuz life in the USA has never been better. The electorate can be the judge.

"Hey, if he ain't careful around Reverend Jesse Jackson the country may get a prez who is a person of color, no longer male ."

Whatever THAT means. Either way, it's funny to see you and your umpteenth handle jumping through hoops again in a panic.

The republicans had 6 years where they pushed through everything that they could to help their constiuents. But they didn't push through drilling that they cry about right now.

We saw tax cuts shoved through for 1% of the population.

We saw a prescription drug plan that showered billions on the drug companies that screw Americans and sell discounted over seas.

Made it illegal to bring back those same drugs from outside the US at a discounted price.

Don't give me this crying that you've been stopped by the democrats. Problem is, you just set your priorities wrong and got through all you could to screw Americans before helping out Americans. < :-)

I gave Obama a free pass with Rev. Wright and I'm going to do the same with McCain here.

Really? I don't recall you weighing in on the numerous threads where Reverend Wright was so vilified one would question why he is allowed to continue consuming oxygen.

I probably am more efficient, however, owing to a lesson I learned not from any book but rather by watching boxing. Specifically, those who are "consumed" by hatred tend to throw a lot of wild haymakers. By contrast, those who know how to box can take down their opponent by landing punches in the right places.

I recall, Superlib, you once posted "I love high gas prices." Predictably you never explained why. Someone does in today's LA Times after acknowledging he works at home in Beverly Hills where his garage contains a Prius and a Mini-Cooper. Yet he employs the same logic Republicans do to limit entitlements, namely they constitute public subsidization of private lifestyle choices:

Cheap gas is unfair. Driving creates huge social costs in the form of traffic, health-damaging pollution and global warming that aren't suffered solely by the person buying the gasoline. Governments usually set up idiotic systems to offset such social costs (emissions trading, ethanol subsidies, taco truck regulations) instead of forcing individuals to pay for their own mess by adding a tax to remedy the imbalance. That kind of tax -- the most fair kind, really -- is called a Pigovian tax, and its use is why gas costs $8 to $10 a gallon in Europe, where they have fewer road deaths even though they drive like complete idiots.

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-stein11-2008jul11,0 ,6314598.column

Really? I don't recall you weighing in on the numerous threads where Reverend Wright was so vilified one would question why he is allowed to continue consuming oxygen.

I can only assume that you find my exposure of your hypocrisy as support of McCain. That fact is that your hypocrisy couldn't have been proven until this article came along. I have the same position with both men....I don't let their aids or advisers speak for them. That's now proven. You defended Obama and now you're attacking McCain showing your hypocrisy in the situation. I'm talking about people like you, not Obama or McCain.

By the way, have you stripped Grimm of all oxygen yet?

he works at home in Beverly Hills where his garage contains a Prius and a Mini-Cooper. Yet he employs the same logic Republicans do to limit entitlements, namely they constitute public subsidization of private lifestyle choices:

(Slowly backing away from Betzee) Uh...sure, Betzee. Whatever you want to say is good with me (nervous laughter). Just...uh....I gotta go....

I have the same position with both men.

That simply reflects a black and white mindset. On balance, I found Reverend Wright's contributions to his country greater than those of Senator Gramm. Wright, for example, quit college to enlist in the Marines while the war in Vietnam was raging. Gramm, by contrast, simply points to his brother's service and then, after his teaching stint, spent many years working in the federal government all the while denouncing its growth. Even before retirement, he cashed in on his connections and will no doubt enjoy a comfortable retirement while continuing to wonder what "all the whining" is about.

Hey Betzee. I thought I'd give you another post so you can respond to it with more negative information about Grimm. Feel free to quote any of these sentences, then continue along with your character assassination. I'll be along later to check back in and see how you're doing, maybe throw you another bone or two.

Hey Betzee. I thought I'd give you another post so you can respond to it with more negative information about Grimm.

I assume you are referring to Gramm? He did run for President in 1996 so you should already be familiar with him. It's kinda sad when someone who claims to be a college graduate is reduced to such antics of the type exhibited in your posts.

Sorry, never heard of Grumm before...

It's difficult to argue that Gramm's comment about the US being a "nation of whiners" is incorrect. Also, in the context of the consumer driven economy that Bush has encouraged, Gramm's comment about problems in the US economy being caused in part by a "mental recession" is correct.

However, as reflected by the stock market and the commodities market, the negative thoughts about the economy held by the common people are shared by most economists, commodities traders and investment bankers, as well. In addition, the fact that people have negative thoughts about the economy does not detract from the fact that the US also is suffering from some very real, and very serious, economic problems that are not merely the result of a "mental recession," but instead are the result of stupid decisions by the current administration.

I'll be along later to check back in and see how you're doing, maybe throw you another bone or two.

Shame on you betzee, (Sailwind from another thread)

I just wanted to point out even in cyberspace it's impossible to escape sexism. I don't think either of you would have posted such comments to another male.

In this regard, I will pay Phil Gramm a compliment. He married a woman who is his intellectual equal, if not better. While I found little redeeming in his public service career, I doubt he's a sexist.

Taikan,

I agree that Gramm's observation may not be incorrect, but he's right for the wrong reason. Americans aren't whining because of a mental recession but due to very big problems on the horizon. Many simply accepted GWB's assurances about the "roaring economy" as he failed to balance the budget year after year. Now the bubble has burst, we're facing years of hardship to get ourselves out of this hole.

I still remember back in 1995 encountering frantic souls at a Federal Building when the government was shut down owing to the budget impasse in Washington as Phil Gramm pronounced, "The government's shut down and nobody notices." Yet no one, including the former Senator from Texas, has ever been willing to starve Uncle Sam to the point it would make permanent tax cuts of the size introduced by the current administration affordable.

Yes right! Obama, the economic expert. He will tax the country to wealth, just wait and see. Tax the hell out of everybody and let government distribute the money... the tried and proven left-wing recipe. It has worked so well everywhere it is has been tries... (/sarcasm)