Phil Gramm returns

Posted: Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:50 PM by Mark Murray
Filed Under: Economy

From NBC/NJ's Adam Aigner-Treworgy
Former Sen. Phil Gramm -- the beleaguered McCain campaign surrogate who infamously called America a nation of "whiners" and the current economic crisis a "mental recession" -- is in attendance at McCain's event today at the Aspen Institute.

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Comments

He was only referring to approximately 50% of the people being whiners and in a mental recession, collectively or individually.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:55 PM)

Wow. Is this a surprise to anyone? NO.
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Urban Dweller:

OK - you don't respect Obama. However, what is there to respect about McCain? You conveniently left that off your post.

Typical repub response - use all your resources to tear down your opponent and don't offer any reason to support you.

MI Chick (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:55 PM)

Leopards don't change their spots. McBlinky thrives on being stupid. It's why he was near last in school, why he got shot down, why he got involved with Keating,....on and on. The maverick title is just a nice way to say he's a screw up and is at war with himself and everyone all the time.

subgruvet, ok (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:57 PM)

Are we surprised ? Deep down, I am sure, Sen. McCain shares Phil Gramm's sentiments...America, don't be fooled by the so-called "family values" rhetoric of the Republicans--they are and have been for years out of touch with the struggles of the average American family.

jvf, Rochester, NY (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:57 PM)

...and if I were in attendance I'd be offended by his presence!

If not for the high cost of produce, I'd lob a few tomatoes in his direction!

Pete - Albany, NY (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:58 PM)

Anybody who votes for McSame with all of his lobbyist ties, involvement with the Georgia/Russia war, character issues, and health problems are out of their minds.

McSame= Mentally and physicall incapable of being POTUS!

OBAMA/BIDEN, 2008!

KJ, Dallas, TX (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:58 PM)

This is not surprising. McCain subscribes to Gramm's view of the economy, after all. He's said on multiple occasions that many of his proposals are only for "psychological relief".

Jeremy, Iowa City, IA (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:00 PM)

lol

Good grief First Read - how many times are you going to announce Phil Gramm's return . . . HE NEVER LEFT! :)

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:00 PM)

Mrs. Clinton's husband signed Mr. Gramm's bills into law.

The Truth (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:01 PM)

Phil Gramm knows about as much about Economics as McCain: ZERO.

Is that Aspen, Colorado? I trust they at least having a good time (at supporter's/taxpayer's expense).

John Mehan, San Francisco, Ca (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:02 PM)

Birds of a feather always flock together. These SCARE crows, with the help of Rove, will be the death of this Great Country.

Bob, Chicago

Bob Chicago (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:02 PM)

Mrs. Clinton's husband signed Mr. Gramm's bills into law.

The Truth (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:01 PM)

That would be a problem if Mr. Clinton were running for President, which of course he is prohibited from doing by the Constitution (you know, that thing the Republicans like to wipe their a** with)

CitizenJ (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:04 PM)

[Mrs. Clinton's husband signed Mr. Gramm's bills into law.
The Truth (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:01 PM)]

Yep. As I'm sure you are aware, we don't like him much right now either.

MI Chick (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:04 PM)

You know I have lost over 10 per cent of my portfolio from this great stock market.I am scared to death that I will have no retirement. I am 60 years old and feel helpless with the mess that this administration has done to our economy. Banks failing, mortgage companies failing, stocks falling and John McCAin wants to use socil security money to invest in the market. I wonder what lobyyist is paying him. Don't sell your soul John McCAin for an election. Surely you love your contry better thatn that.

karen bourland overland park ks (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:04 PM)

ARE WE SURPRISED? NO JOHN MCCAIN PLAYS A LOT OF GAMES WITH THE VOTERS BUT JUST KEEP LETTING THOSE LOBBYISTS WHO SUNK AMERICA INTO THIS ABYSS RUN HIS CAMPAIGN.

PHIL GRAMM LOBBYISTS ARCHITECT OF THE ENRONLOOPHOLE THAT CAUSED MILLIONS TO LOOSE JOBS, SAVINGS, HOMES, HEALTHCARE, PENSIONS,

PHIL GRAMM ARCHITECT OF THE SUBPRIME MORTGAGE CRISIS THAT CAUSED AMERICANS TO LOOSE HOME TODAY, JOBS, SENT THROUHG DEREGULATION

PHIL GRAMM WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CALIFORNIA ELECTRICITY CRISIS WHILE MANUVERING ENRON LEGISLATION

PHIL GRAMM WHO'S WIFE WORKED FOR ENRON AND MADE MILLIONS TO ADD TO THE FAMILY COFFERS

VOTERS MCCAIN IS SPITTING IN THE VOTERS FACE AND SAYING I CAN USE ALL THE LOBBYISTS THAT MESSED UP YOUR LIVES AND CAUSED THE FOUNDATION OF AMERICAN FINANCIAL SYSTEM TO FAIL AND CAUSED YOU SUFFERING TODAY............................

JOHN MCCAIN WHO SAYS IF YOU THINK PHIL GRAM, STEVE BLACK AND OTHERS MESSED UP YOU LIFE ALREADY JUST WAIT UNTIL ME AND MY BOYS FINISH YOU OFF

IT WILL BE THE RICH AND EVERYBODY ELSE.

TREVOR, VA (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:05 PM)

It's actually about 90% here.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:06 PM)

Ahhh! The poster child for planned parenthood speaks!

Phil Gramm your sister, who is also your momma, just stole your banjo. Go git her!!!

Capt. Smash, Salt Lake City, Utah (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:06 PM)

I guess you can't teach an old dog new tricks... well at least you can't get him new friends.

Lee-- Dallas, TX (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:09 PM)

And an impeached President will be a speaker at the Democratic coronation of Obama.

In The Shorts (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:10 PM)

I posted this earlier and haven't gotten an answer. CAN ANYONE CONFIRM THIS: "At a press conference just now, John McCain redoubled his efforts to thrust himself into a leadership role on the Russia-Georgia crisis front, announcing that two top campaign surrogates, Joe Lieberman and Lindsey Graham, are going on a visit to Georgia." If so, isn't this not only presumptious, but totally inappropriate?

Jamie, Elmwood Park, IL (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:10 PM)

The truth always hurts the Democrats. That's why they don't like to listen to guys like Phil Gramm.

Phil Robertson, Dallas (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:11 PM)

Tim Voss, Denver Co wrote:

Nash_fan:

I feel confident that Senator Obama will do whatever it takes to keep Social Security solvent.

And then you go on to say McCain is vague about it. Seems Obama is be too, because you don't seem to know what his plan is either.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Actually, I do know Senator Obama's plan and posted it on another thread. And here it is again for your enjoyment:

"Obama believes that the first place to look for ways to strengthen Social Security is the payroll tax system. Currently, the Social Security payroll tax applies to only the first $97,500 a worker makes. Obama supports increasing the maximum amount of earnings covered by Social Security and he will work with Congress and the American people to choose a payroll tax reform package that will keep Social Security solvent for at least the next half century. "
http://www.barackobama.com/issues/seniors/

Nashville_fan (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:14 PM)

They're not praying for rain per se. They are praying for a mass baptism.

Richard, Washington State (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 4:48 PM)

I thought is was for their first shower in months. Live and learn I guess.

Dalton Tess (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:15 PM)

Some of you have forgotten "the rest of the story." If you watched the followup, Gramm said he was talking about OUR Congress, not the public. You have acceptted about 1000 followup explanations on the things BHO has said, so you should be willing to accept Gramm's explanation, too.

NObama (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:16 PM)

This is another case of McCain not being a man of his word. The history of his lack of character includes:
-collaboating with the enemy by doing radio broadcasts while a POW
-cheating and leaving his first wife who was crippled in order to marry a trophy wife
-getting caught as part of the Keating Five S&L scandel in the 1980s
-calling is wife a c*nt
WHERE IS MCCAIN'S CHARACTER???

David, Baltimore, MD (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:16 PM)

Geez, why is it that whenever I think of McCain and his campaign surrogates and staff I feel like I need a shower. The sleeze is overwhelming.

jd (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:16 PM)

Come on now low information voters, do you get it yet?mccain and his people really think that you are stupid enough to still support him evn though Phil Gramm called YOU a bunch of whiners. Wake up people, for the good of your children and grand-children reject Mccain and his war policies.

Ron, Phila. pa. (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:20 PM)

In response to Urban Dweller, from a previous thread:

Urban Dweller:

Thanks for your "concern", but my self-respect is perfectly intact. Mr. Obama has EARNED my respect by putting forth plans to move this country forward, and by staying above the ugliness that the McCain and Clinton campaigns have been so fond of. And, as a white person, I read nothing offensive in his "typical" and "bitter" comments. Of course, my self-respect compels me to search out the actual incidents- and Obama's discussions of context after the fact- and decide for myself.

I didn't need to be told how to feel about it by some right-wing gasbag. How much self-respect did that cost?

Suburban Mom paying attention, IL (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:23 PM)

All I can say is that he is a BAD GRAMM-CRACKER. And, should keep his head buried in milk.

Larry Union, KY (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:27 PM)

Typical McCain. Criticize everyone else, but make sure to keep your friends around no matter how vulgar they are.

Juanita, TX (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:28 PM)

A new study of 2356 McCain supporters has revealed some interesting voter characteristics:

http://laststopmidwest.blogspot.com/2008/08/mccain-supporter-study-revealed.html

James, Wichita, KS (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:28 PM)

ALL RIGHT, PHIL!! You'll be able to remind people why they shouldn't vote for McCain! Welcome back!

SAGG (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:31 PM)

Of course he is. Mr. Gramm has to be because he (McCain) is absent of an economic brain

Nobody but Obama

Beverly in Chicago (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:31 PM)

The McCain campaign can be summed up with one excellent quote:

These guys take pride in being ignorant.

Benny, SFBayArea, California (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:35 PM)

Does he have The Porn Films as well???

Slow day today hey????

I wonder what Mermaid Man will say today along with his side kick Barnacle Boy..

Shishkavilli??? he is my pal..
I cant wait for Lieberman to be KICKED OUT of Dems. he is such a LOSER

Nj (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:38 PM)

You can tell by thier post, the 26% of Ignorant American's, who still think GWB is a person to look up to.

They'll be on this thread also!

LMAO

Rick,Ky (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:42 PM)

Mrs. Clinton's husband signed Mr. Gramm's bills into law.
The Truth
***************************************************

Very true. Of course, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act DID get enacted in 1999, when he was faced with a solidly Republican Congress. Votes in the Senate: 54 yes (all Republican) 44 no (all Democrat) 1 Present (Republican) and 1 not voting (Republican)
Votes in the House: Yes 362 (207 Republicans 155 Democrats) No 57 (5 Republicans, 51 Democrats, 1 Independent) Not Voting 15 (10 Republicans, 5 Democrats).

Clearly any veto by Clinton could have been overridden in the House. It's "The Truth" that if every DEMOCRAT in the Senate had stood firm, a Presidential veto would have been upheld, but it seems odd to place primary blame on Clinton for the bill just because he failed to stop Congressional Republicans from doing something really, really stupid.

Michael Sheridan, Sacramento, California (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:42 PM)

whats funny is that Gramm was the only one that stayed awake for the entire speech.

ya know (Sent Thursday, August 14, 2008 5:43 PM)

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