Phil Gramm Has You Dead to Rights, So Quit Whining and Get to Work

North Star Writers Group ^ | July 14, 2008 | Dan Calabrese

[Dukes Travels]

It says a lot about the current state of affairs in America – and nothing good – that people get offended and outraged when someone tries to tell us things are really not so bad.

Former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm of Texas has apparently lived too long and done too much to care. We need more people like this. It would be fantastic if the presidential candidate Gramm is advising – John McCain – would think and talk like this. (He isn’t. Oh well.)

In an interview last week with the Washington Times, Gramm said what needs to be said about the economy, and perhaps more importantly, about the state of mind of the American people. Labeling the supposedly horrid economy a “mental recession,” Gramm placed responsibility squarely on the backs of those whose mush-filled minds simply believe whatever they hear about the economy. As the Times reports:

[gracesdad]

See how that works?

[1rudeboy]

No, that's not the way it works, and what brought me to this thread in the first place. If you wish to claim a comment is absurd you should demonstrate it, not sputter something about tripping over things in the dark.

Fact of the matter is, hardly anyone bothered to read Gramm's comments, they simply reacted to what they thought he was saying. Because you have to admit,

[w]e have sort of become a nation of whiners

is not prima facie evidence of absurdity.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Guilt-by-association is a refuge of weak minds.

Huh? (snickering) That doesn't even make sense. Did you make that up? Or did you get it from your book of "sayings", By the way, using other's saying's to reply to conversation seems to be the real refuge of a weak mind.

Like I said, do you really think Phill doesn't know the score? Here, I'll keep it even more real for you, do you really think Phil doesn't know what goes on at that bank? He's the VICE CHAIR. That isn't just "association" he doesn't just walk by the bank. lol

[1rudeboy]

It doesn't make sense to you because you see no problem with impugning Gramm because UBS is under investigation. Simple.

[1rudeboy]

And furthermore (I almost forgot), it doesn't make sense to you because you hauled-in the UBS issue to impugn Gramm for a comment he made about an unrelated issue.

So you don't like the guy . . . that's fine, but don't think your tactics should go without scrutiny on a conservative website.

[kinghorse]

Phil Gramm, the tin eared jerk of the Republican party for 30 proud years. I guess Phil gets a taste of some of that mental recession first hand now. Not that he gives a crap. He bills out at $1,000/hour rain or shine.

[Lijahsbubbe]

It doesn't make sense to you because you see no problem with impugning Gramm because UBS is under investigation. Simple.

lol. I knew you'd say that. Actually, it doesn't make sense because it's just a stupid saying. It doesn't have anything to do with your boy.

[Lijahsbubbe]

So you don't like the guy . . . that's fine, but don't think your tactics should go without scrutiny on a conservative website.

You mean your fine-toothed subjective scrutiny? Funny!

And yeah, this is a conservative website, not a "rah rah, Phil's on my team" website.

Phil Gramm: " I swear, I had no idea the SWISS bank I'm Vice Chair of helped people hide money." lolololol

[dragnet2]

We have rotten leadership.

We're Americans, we don't need leaders, we lead ourselves.

So who's going to fire the 20 million non-military Fed government employees? Or are we going to "lead ourselves" while continuing to pay for this bloated, all encompassing monster?

[1rudeboy]

Trust me, your argument does not require any "fine-toothed" scrutiny, because it boils down to "Gramm's statements about the economy are incorrect because he vice-chair of UBS." A three-year-old could take that apart. It's beyond silly, it's stupid. Making it is an insult to your intelligence.

And your comment about the "team" is just mystifying. I am a Ronald Reagan, supply-side, economic conservative. So is Gramm. So you didn't see eye-to-eye with him. Bully for you.

[gracesdad]

I’m very excited and not whining at all. Our power company just announced that a 25 percent increase won’t be enough. It needs to be 33 percent. I’m guessing we’ll get REALLY lucky soon and they’ll decide they need more like 50-75 percent.

[Toddsterpatriot]

I’m very excited and not whining at all. Our power company just announced that a 25 percent increase won’t be enough. It needs to be 33 percent.

And exactly how did Phil Gramm cause this to occur?

[gracesdad]

“And exactly how did Phil Gramm cause this to occur?”

He didn’t, of course. However, he is telling me that any economic problems are “mental.”

Wrong.

[Toddsterpatriot]

However, he is telling me that any economic problems are “mental.”

He is? Where did he say that? I thought he said there was no recession?

[gracesdad]

He called it a “mental recession.” I’ve never called it a recession of any sort.

[Lijahsbubbe]

Trust me, your argument does not require any "fine-toothed" scrutiny, because it boils down to "Gramm's statements about the economy are incorrect because he vice-chair of UBS."

No it doesn't. It boils down to Phil being a hypocrite, manipulating gov't for his self-serving financial interests, lobbying Congress about the U.S. mortgage crisis at the same time he was advising McCain about his economic policy, no coincindence being that UBS is embroiled in the subprime mortgage crisis.

And then calling people whiners. paha!

And your comment about the "team" is just mystifying. I am a Ronald Reagan, supply-side, economic conservative. So is Gramm. So you didn't see eye-to-eye with him. Bully for you.

Sorry that you don't get it. Phil made his money off of government. Hardly a conservative value to me.

[Toddsterpatriot]

I’m glad you realized your error.