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

Friday 11th July, 05:08 AM JST

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Madverts at 08:53 PM JST - 11th July

meat,

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

But heh, I feel your Denial.
Sarge at 09:48 PM JST - 11th July

"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.
Betzee at 10:00 PM JST - 11th July

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.
smithinjapan at 11:54 PM JST - 11th July

"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.
adaydream at 03:10 AM JST - 12th July

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. < :-)
Betzee at 04:07 AM JST - 12th July

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
SuperLib at 06:50 AM JST - 12th July

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....
Betzee at 09:53 AM JST - 12th July

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.
SuperLib at 04:14 PM JST - 12th July

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.
Betzee at 07:43 PM JST - 12th July

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.
SuperLib at 02:27 AM JST - 13th July

Sorry, never heard of Grumm before...
taikan at 10:59 AM JST - 16th July

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.
Betzee at 12:12 PM JST - 16th July

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.
Betzee at 12:40 PM JST - 16th July

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.
WilliB at 05:38 PM JST - 16th July

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)