Phil Gramm: Why I'll be voting for John McCain

Wall Street Journal ^ | 20 February, 2007 | Phil Gramm

[The Pack Knight]

Final Section:

In a democracy, power is useless unless you can use it; what candidate would have more credibility in using power and rallying public support for a long and difficult struggle? Who would be more effective than John McCain in using American military power in its highest and best use--the deterrence of adversaries? A president--who knows war and has the authority to unite our people to make war when we must--can thwart enemies, unite friends and win peace. John McCain would be that president.

Greatness seems to visit those who know themselves, what they believe in and why. Abraham Lincoln knew those things. The savior of the union was a protectionist and a proponent of big government projects--and in the 1850s or 1870s he might have made an average or poor president. But in 1860, Lincoln was the right man for that moment. He was on a mission to save the union, and he did.

The great leader of my lifetime was Ronald Reagan. He knew what he believed in and what he needed to do in 1980, and he meant to do it. He didn't run for the glory of being president; he ran to change America and the world. He didn't just want to hold the office; he wanted to use it.

Over the years there have been issues where I have differed with Sen. McCain. But as I look at the gathering storm that will challenge the next president and imperil our country, not one of those issues is relevant to the task ahead. The presidency is a terrible thing to waste. I believe that if the American people make him president, John McCain won't waste it.

[The Pack Knight]

Over the years there have been issues where I have differed with Sen. McCain.

No where in the article (full article at link) did Gramm actually address or even mention by name any of these issues, or any other reservations many Republicans have about McCain. It's a pure puff piece, unworthy if a man of Gramm's intellectual stature.

[EternalHope]

Gramm made McCain sound like exactly what we need. Too bad it's all BS.

I don't vote for people who betray the things they claim to hold dear in order to further their own political fortunes. McCain is the last person I would vote for.

[EagleUSA]

The great leader of my lifetime was Ronald Reagan. He knew what he believed in and what he needed to do in 1980, and he meant to do it. He didn't run for the glory of being president; he ran to change America and the world. He didn't just want to hold the office; he wanted to use it.
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Should just take McCain's name off of this piece and replace it with Reagan's... :-)

[D-Chivas]

Phil Gramm has lost it, hasn't he?

[Uncle Miltie]

Yes, but what if John is Nuts?

[LadyNavyVet]

McCain supported Gramm when he ran in, I believe, '96. This is political payback, pure and simple.

[Non-Sequitur]

Phil Gramm: Why I'll be voting for John McCain

OK, Phil. Now tell me why I care?

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

McCain/Kerry F the POWS/MIAS
McCain/Feingold F free speech
McCain/Kennedy F American Sovereignty
McCain/Gang of 14
McCain/Keating 5

More?

[Brilliant]

I suspect the main reason he'll be voting for McCain is that they served in the Senate together, and are good friends.

Not very persuasive.

[Polyxene]

McQueeg:

2 Old
2 Crazy
_______
4 POTUS

[Uri’el-2012]

In a democracy, power is useless unless you can use it; what candidate would have more credibility in using power and rallying public support for a long and difficult struggle?

Phil Gramm is now a RINO !

It was started out as a Republic.

When did it become a democracy ?

[OldFriend]

Doubtful Gramm would have retired if his wife hadn't been an Enron auditor.

The man's endorsement of jon2 is meaningless, IMO

[lormand]

"McCain supported Gramm when he ran in, I believe, '96. This is political payback, pure and simple."

You nailed it on the head.

I met both of them at a convention in 96' when I was President of our chapter of the College Republicans. Phil Gramm was getting ready to run, and McCain followed him around learning the ropes for a future run.

[Orange1998]

Wasn't Phil connected to the hip with Enron. I am amazed how he quit politics just before the fall of Enron.

[Orange1998]

Goggling and found it.


AMY GOODMAN: Just one second, because I spoke over you. I spoke over you. The former Texas senator Phil Graham's wife, Wendy, say again her role.

ROBERT BRYCE: She was on the board at Enron at the same time that Graham was in the Senate sponsoring legislation that benefited Enron. Not only did Graham not recuse himself, he sponsored legislation that effectively allowed Enron to operate as an unregulated commodities exchange. So, I mean, there's plenty of -- Enron's money corrupted a lot of elements of government, and it wasn’t just the Bush administration. I’m not saying that to excuse the Bush administration, because, I mean, when you look at Enron and you look at the Bush administration, you see the similarities. Both operated with this clear idea that they were going to change the world, that the world was going to follow their new business model and that that was going to change the world forever.

[Suzy Quzy]

Crap...I USED to think well of Phil Gramm....idiot backing insane McCain.

[misterrob]

An angry man with his finger on the trigger is what's called for in the coming years. I don't care of McCain overall but sometimes crazy is what is called for.

Hope the next POTUS we get has the edge.

[Brilliant]

Yup. Gramm did not do himself any favors with that. On the other hand, the overwhelming number of Senators voted for that--not just Gramm. Basically, they exempted electric power traders from the commodity regs. And Clinton signed it.

[Bigg Red]

More?

**
How about McCain calling Rumsfeld something like the worst SecDef in history.

I will NOT vote for McCain even if George Bush tells me to.

[GeorgefromGeorgia]

I am amazed. Phil Gramm was all that I ever wanted in a President. He was a budget hawk with a strong supporter of national defense. He would have vigorously pushed SS and medicare reform. McCain has strayed too far from conservatism. I admire his stand on the Iraq War, but he was against Bush's tax cuts and pushed that stupid campaign finance reform.