Posted on 07/11/2008 9:50:12 AM PDT by PlainOleAmerican
When I first heard former Senator Phil Gramm refer to our economic condition as a “mental crisis” and suggest that too many Americans had become “whiners,” my immediate reaction was, too bad too few Americans would comprehend the hard truth he just set before them…
(snip)
Technically speaking, as if the facts matter any more, Phil Gramm is right on both counts, though it was dumb of him to think he could just blurt out the truth to an ignorant American electorate at this late date. He wins the “dumb” award for not knowing how the “whiners” would react to such a comment, or how the dumber would jump at the chance to exploit it.
(Excerpt) Read more at newmediajournal.us ...
A sad reality and VERY well stated, top to bottom!
So the price increases we all are experiencing, aren’t real? We don’t really have the right to complain about new drilling for oil, or the price of medical, housing, utilities, transportation or food?
Wow, that’s good to know. Now if I could just get this gas pump to understand...
Is Phil Graham some exception to the fact of the lavish pension, benefits and financial opportunitites that these elected guys get for themselves? They don’t work for us anymore. We work for them. I’m sure all these congress-critters think they’re entitled to all this, but they don’t have a clue as to what’s really going on and, what’s more, they don’t care as long as they keep getting theirs.
Uh Huh.
“Even now, the country is technically NOT in a recession, defined as at least two quarters of economic down-turn, negative growth, back to back. But leftists will keep working at it until it becomes a reality, I’m sure.”
If you believe cooked government numbers, you can make “reality” anything you want. It isn’t just leftists that think this economy has been trash since 1999.
Get back to me when housing prices bottom, when banks become well-capitalized, and when corporate earnings are better than the REAL rate of increase in their costs.
In what “free republic” or “free economic system” is the federal government responsible for economic conditions?
Calling for real solutions to real challenges, like removing government blocks on domestic oil production needed to keep pace with increased world consumption, can in NO way be defined as “whining.”
But how about seven years of talking the economy into the toilet around the clock?
“They don’t work for us anymore. We work for them.”
You just now noticed?
While conservatives have refused to take base hits, demanding only home runs for decades now, the left has marched the nation into Democratic Socialism one base hit after another...
The left has been leading this country for decades and the chickens are coming home to roost now.
Conservatives have done nothing to stop them and they won’t do anything to stop the worst individual to ever seek the Oval Office from becoming president either. Ya know why?
Cause in their minds, none of it is their fault, so they ain’t going to do anything about it!
I am as fed up with self-proclaimed “conservatives” as I am leftists today.
Every leftist in America will spend their last dime to make certain America is ruined. But conservatives sit on their hands and wallets, shooting at each other and accepting NO resposniblility for how we got here, let alone how we will get out of here.
Then it isn’t just leftists who need a course in economics anymore...
The point of the statement, and the article is on the condition of the economy overall, not on commodity prices.
The “whiners” referred to are the gloom and doom, The-economy-is-in-a-recession-and-we’re-all-going-to-die-if-we-don’t-socialize-everything bunch.
Phil Graham’s comments, and John McCain’s response, is THE EXACT reason we (the GOP) should have picked someone besides McCain as our Presidential candidate.
It’s obvious that McCain is on auto pilot, unable to put forth one original thought, much less original rhetoric.
OF COURSE there are a lot of whiners in the US, with the left wing Democrats at the top of the baby-whiner heap.
If McCain had any functional brain waves, he would have said that!!!
He would have admonished Graham’s comment in how it was stated, and then used it as a springboard to highlight the optimistic reasons the USA is the financial envy of the world......
McCain had a tailor-made ‘teaching moment’ -— but blew it.
McCain should have turned this negativity right onto Obama by proclaiming that Yes indeed, it is Obama and his surrogates who can’t find ONE SINGLE THING positive about America. Obama has been slamming the US economy and its people the past five years, even during the great financial times of 5% and better growth, etc etc.
McCain should fire all his advisors, and use the money to buy a personality, a campaign plan, or some good speechwriters.
Better yet, McCain should step aside and allow Romney to be the Republican candidate. I would bet my right arm that Romney would have never sheepishly bowed down over a surrogate’s comment.
Say what you want about Romney. He has a sharp wit. Enthusiasm, financial promotion, and is not nearly as boring as John ‘comprehensive reform’ McCain.
Ronald Reagan would not have used the word WHINERS when talking to Americans.
Thank God at least one Freeper still gets it! Thank You!
But there should be no question, talking down the market for almost 8 years has had a significant affect on what we see today.
It would be helpful if Gramm and others who make controversial remarks would take a moment to explain their positions and maybe educate the public. (and candidates)
A BIG phat AMEN!
Very well said!
So, lets help the “real conservatives” elect Obama to teach the nation a lesson, shall we...
You still have a job, don’t you? Unemployment is still at way less than 6%, isn’t it? You must not remember the Carter years when unemployment was over 8% and inflation was 15%.
No, Reagan would have called them by their real name, “Evil.”
Well, conservative voters have given the power to certain politicians - who promptly ignore the will of those voters and do what is best for them. I wonder if we haven’t come to the point where only open rebellion and revolt will effect any change. Both political parties are nothing more than non-governmental corporate entities controlling things jointly to the benefit of their respective “management”. Voters get nothing but the “shuck and jive”.
He did, but the MSM won’t play those very solid explanations...
All of media, half of congress and half of America.
Here we are again, in trouble for calling things what they are... “whiners.”
Another real freeper on display... Thank You!
Whether he is right or not is not the issue. Realpolitik is needed to win this election and if he is espousing the idea that optimism and glass half full mental manipulation is the trick I have some land I’d like to sell him.
Not a single founder believed that this nation could ever survive lazy absentee management of an ill-advised electorate which thought it only need show up and cast a vote once every four years, then return to daily life as if they had done their part...and all would be well.
Not too long ago, not a single conservative believed this crap either.
But in the rush to escape responsibility for the mess we have allowed, even conservatives look for government solutions to the many problems government has created.
How truly sad!
Well said, and real sad!
You read the MSM too much.
The Founders also didn’t envision the career politicians or “political dynasties” we have today. Or the men and women who use the position for their own gain and lifetime pensions, etc.
Of course they did, they had seen it before.
They warned about it, told us what to do about it, told us how to avoid it, and nobody listened...
If you watch the video, it's pretty clear that's what he was talking about.
But if you only see the MSM snip job intended for public consumption, you would have no idea what he meant. He sounds like a mean spirited “rich” guy... which is how the left and their MSM intends it to remain.
Meanwhile, idiot McCain threw him under the bus instead of bashing the press for yet another scam job on the voters.
Sickening!
“Stop whining. Vote for your own destruction!” Phil Gramm and the McCainiacs
I'm full of “hope” and seeking “change!”
I'm jumping the RNC ship and helping the “real conservatives” in America elect Barack Hussein Muhammad Obama, the new American Messiah!
I'll be working to help obscure no-chance nobody's like Ron Paul and Alan Keyes, as they keep McCain out of the White House by seating the New Messiah.
Viva le Revolution! Won't you join me?
While the feds are not responsible, they would certainly have us believe they are, until bad stuff happens.
People complaining about the price of essentials, is not whining. Myself and many others, truly resent the words and manner in which Mr. Gramm spoke. It truly sounded elitist and very out of touch with what is happening at the common folk level.
This is how they have handled things, ever since we stopped handling things ourselves.
The joke is that we are still looking to them to solve anything...
People complaining about the price of essentials IS whining, unless they are trying to do something productive about, like force congress to stop blocking domestic production, and stop shopping at Wal-Mart, who has put more small independent business on the unemployment line than any other U.S. company.
Americans are stupid.
They expect low prices and high wages. These things don't go together. They expect good government, which is an oxymoron. Americans are not able to survive their own ignorance...
From what I’ve read here on FR, McCain has blown a number of opportunities. Scary to think we will get such a president, especially after watching Mr. Gramm and hearing what he said. They are so out of touch with regular folks, they may as well all be addressed as royalty.
I was lucky enough to have worked in an area of defense that wasn’t affected by Carter.
Whether or not someone has a job, doesn’t change the price of things.
Gramm only said two things...
1) With persistance, you really can talk a good economy into the tank. (He’s right about that.)
2) A nation of “whatever it takes winners” has become a nation of do-nothing “whiners.” (He’s right about that too.)
But because the last three generations of Americans have been trained to “whine” instead of “win,” it was a very unwelcome message...
No matter, that’s where we are and after the “whiners” complete their mission of causing the nation to collapse, “winners” will rebuild it again.
That’s how it has always been throughout history and we are watching history repeat itself.
I won’t lift a finger to help any of them.
So, you’re for Obama?
Can’t you read?
Of course, can’t you calculate?
Is there someone besides McCain and Obama who could become the next president?
You’re not Dumb and you’re not Spineless. You must be the other guy. lol
Yes, you’re correct - they did see the dangers of “parties and factions” and, soon after the beginnings of the Republic, we devolved to “parties and factions”. I mistated the facts when I said they didn’t “envision” it and stand corrected.
Lack the courage to answer the question, so you start name calling? Now that’s entertainment!
So, who are you planning on running the country for the next four years?
Actually, you need one more stop in the history book...
Remember the Federalists and the anti-Federalists who together wrote all of our founding documents?
They became the two parties we have today... They were opposing factions then and less opposing factions today...
Why don’t people research before they claim expertise any more?
Actually, you need one more stop in the history book...
Remember the Federalists and the anti-Federalists who together wrote all of our founding documents?
They became the two parties we have today... They were opposing factions then and less opposing factions today...
Why don’t people research before they claim expertise any more?
Ummmm, like Phil Gramm? He's done right nicely for himself and Wendy since leaving DC, hasn't he?
Two words: Term Limits!
You want an answer to this question? Here's your answer. Who cares? They're both unfit for office. They're both liars, backstabbers, weasels, crooks, incompetent, scum sucking, pandering, thieving, dirt bags.
Gee, it just breaks my heart that I am not as wise, enlightened and educated as you are. And so humble, too - you must be very proud of that!
Don't want to help Obama do nuthin', except get a one way bicycle ride back to the south side of Chicago.
That said, I find it extremely hard to get behind McCain, I don't care how repulsive Obama is day in and day out.
McCain's brain has been pickled in Washington media juice for so long, he is unable to respond in a way that hits the mark.
The housing mortgage crunch was caused, in large part, by the Dem-dominated Federal Reserve (did you see the report on that today on cable today?) which forced lending institutions to give mortgages to unqualified people.
The oil crisis was caused, in large part, by Dem dominated eco-zealots in Congress who refused to let the US develop its ample resources.
McCain should be hit these two TOP IMPORTANT issues out of the park, day after day, in every stump speech... in every media setting.
Yet, he continues to spout out boring Washington speak.... free trade baloney, comprehensive reform baloney, I-will-cut-spending baloney baloney.
(No offense, but every single politician in history says he will cut spending. And while McCain might be more serious than the average schmo, it is a boringly terrible issue to talk about day after day.)
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