Drs. McCain and Gramm Put the U.S. Economy on the Couch; Gramm Diagnoses a "Mental Recession" Among U.S. "Whiners"

This is CLA-Sic Democratic playbook in Action. Every year there is a Republican in office that they are trying to un-seat, they start ramping up the rhetoric on the economy. Fanning the flame of every indicator thats negative. (never mind that in any year, there are always negative indicators and positive indicators) There absolutely is not a Recession going on. Recessions take place when the economy shrinks, or receeds. We have had at least 1% growth for years. So of course, any Recession is psycological, or based on perception alone. But that doesn't stop media outlets and Dems from throwing the R word around. Then when Republicans try to counter with the truth, they crack back "oh see how un-caring the Republicans are about people who are struggling in the economy". Next thing, I guarantee you, is they'll start pulling out anecdotal evidence of a poor economy. Facotries closing etc. Then interview someone who just lost their job, who OF COURSE is upset and would like to blame the economy and administration for their micro-economic problem. But there are always factories closing and pissed off people, in any economy. The true measure is how many, and thus an anecdotal interview or news story, though politically powerful, is not empiraclly accurate. Measures like Economic Growth are. And they are still positive. Its an old play book that the Dems have used with great effect. Its a hard one to out-maneuver. But don't think for a second that the news media or others who don't understand this aren't being played for a fool.

If the economy is so dire and grim, why are there people waiting in line, like cattle, to buy a new iphone? I guess those are all the iced tea drinking fat cats.

AMEN SYLVESTER! VERY SUCCINCT AND TO THE POINT!

OK! You heard it directoy from the exemplar republican. You're all whiners. Get back to work. We're gonna' do away with your work breaks, you'll make an extra buck or two, and you'll have no excuse for further whining.

You clowns not making big incomes deserve things like McCain and Gramm. This is what you get when you vote for these kind of vermin. Yet you bozos never learn. If McCain does get elected I'll be happy when he and gramm sticks it even harder up you and then economically blames you for it. For voting for the bush-cheney scum, you deserve as bad as it can get. Good riddance!

Wow, still whining. I think Mcain's advisor is on to something for sure. Bah, your whining so much you didn't even take time to be insulted by my post. Whats a brother gotta do around here?

and ,lastly...it would be different ,and not an issue to me if we did not live in a country that is supposedly by law governed by the adage "by and for the american people" (meaning the majority of the american people ,not a tiny rich powerful few).

but ,since the american government is supposed to ,by inference of the above statement, reflect the average americans' best interest , i must take deep divided issue with the current policies of this government , that is, the republicans/elitists/corporations .

I guess he was right about the "whiners" statement.

"bah",

First off, I'm not eating ramen noodles. They're the biggest waste ever :-)

Second, no, I'm not "happy" with $100/month, but that's all I have and I'm making it work. I'm not entitled to more, because I haven't done anything to earn it - yet. The "American Dream" is NOT being handed a house, car, spouse and two kids - it's working for it. And I'm willing to work.

Now I have no money. I have nothing except the blessing of a good set of brains. So what am I doing? Living the American Dream of using my talents to go to school and earn a degree that will earn me good money after I finish. But when I'm finished, I don't need the government taking away my hard-earned money and using it to bail out people in credit card debt up to their ears or with mortgages they should have known they couldn't afford.

It doesn't suprise me that a politician with a six figure salary is calling Americans a bunch of whiners. I'm sure that gas prices do not affect him, he probably gets it for free because of who he is. I'm also pretty sure that because of his position his finances and fat retirement are all taken care of thanks to us-the common taxpayer. You'll have to excuse me for being quick, I am writing this between breaks from one of my 2 jobs I have to pay for the 3 G's-gas, groceries, and my gallstones...

ev , sorry but thats NOT my idea of the american dream ...someone eating /living like they live in zambia or some 3rd world nation , while a tiny segment of the populace has every whim and thing they desire a reality and more?

its really as simple as this childish analogy...look at the american econmy as a pie . there are just so many slices of that pie and when an elite few get more of the pie than they need /deserve that leaves the rest america struggling to find enough of the pie to go around...is that simple enough for everyone?

the problem is , some people ,(not many and mostly republicans) , are really raping this economy to their huge benefit ,while everyone else eats ramen noodles and is (supposedly) happy with $100 monthly to spend. what ever happend to the "ameican dream"? used to be something attainable but now it is truly becoming a "dream".

a bigger probelm ,to me anyhow , is that things can be as bad as they are , and yet you have folks like ev and mccain/gramm here ,telling everyone that all their problems are just imagined.

yikes!! can you say " brainwashed"?

I would like these politicians to try to live like my family does, and say that we are not in a recession. We both work full time, and make less than $50,000 a year. we are trying to keep a house and vehicle and raise 3 children in the process. We have so much coming out of our paychecks in taxes and medical insurance that we are lucky o bring home 50% of what we make. We can't back andy more than we already are, because we are buying even less, and paying sooooo much more!!Let them try to live on our income for a year,a nd they may just change their mind.

"I don't feel for these people who have no self control. We have become a country that nothing is enough for us we always want more. Go home Cook dinner and sit down and eat a meal with your family and learn to enjoy the little things."

Very well said. Cut up those credit cards people and live within your means.

Drew,

you make a good point about inflation, and I wasn't trying to address that. You're right that I'm new to this and naive - I'm just sick of reading dozens of comments about how all republicans are just rich men trying to get richer.

I'm just saying that most of the families that I know that are complaining about the money crunch are still spending tons of money on non-necessary items.

(And the $100 isn't disposable; it's my food money. Not a student loan either - it's my summer internship earnings spread over the school year. So I suppose it's savings rather than income if you want to get technical...)

That all sounds real good there 'ev', except for one thing and that is called inflation which is now beginning to show it's ugly head. Assuming your income (student loan or whatever) remains constant, what happens when your rent, utilities and insurance premiums go up to the point that you no longer have the $100 a month disposable income that you claim to have? Ah, it's so nice to be young, uninformed and naive. Write back to us after you've spent a few years working for a living and supporting a family.

Everyone posting on this site has an internet connection.

You really can't convince me that you're struggling to buy food and fuel when you have an internet connection and the time to post. Before ANYONE convinces me that our terrible economy is destroying their lives, they'll need to demonstrate that:

their cell phone/plan is the cheapest available,
they own no iPods, Wiis, or other useless electronic equipment,
every car they own is driven daily and necessarily,
they don't go out to eat more than once a month,
they don't go to the movies more than once a year,
they buy pasta, rice, potatoes and vegetable rather than snack food and soda,
and they don't pay more than $20 for any article of clothing (including shoes), and then only buy to replace what's worn out.

If you're doing all of the above and still struggling to make ends meet, I feel for you and wish you the best of luck making it through tough times.

Otherwise, I completely agree with Gramm that you're a whiner.

(this from a student surviving just fine on about $100/month after paying rent, utilities, and insurance)

We don't need 100 years of the bush economy from McCain

Carlos, You do not have a clue what you are talking about. What does McCain poor economic policies have any thing to do with rev write or are you trying to change the subject. McCain has not distanced himself from this guy at all. He still has this tool as his top political adviser on the economy. McCain himself admits not understanding the economy and this is STILL where he is getting his advice from. Stagnate wages, working American without healthcare, people being forced into bankruptcy because of medical bills, out of control gas prices, the GOP giving tax breaks to companies that outsource your job overseas. American people are not whiners they just want economic policies that favor American workers. That is why anyone who actually looks at the issue and does not just blow there party’s horn is voting for Obama.

If I had been at the pig trough feeding off the taxpayer and lining my pockets from pork barrel spending, I probably wouldn't be whining!
D.C. is full of these jokers.....IT MAY BE TIME FOR ANOTHER TEA PARTY!

Now I don't claim to know much about Mr Gramm, But as a business owner for many years, I do know that you can let yourself or talk yourself into the economey being bad. I know this because I've done it in the past. I prefer to be a glass half full person. I cannot change the fact gas prices are 4.00 a gallon, I pay 4.85 for Diesel. But as Mr Gramm said We are a country of Whiners. I feel for some of the people who are being forclosed on, but a great majority of these people refid there homes several times. I have neihbors who have done it at least 3 times in that many years . I don't feel for these people who have no self control. We have become a country that nothing is enough for us we always want more. Go home Cook dinner and sit down and eat a meal with your family and learn to enjoy the little things.

Carlos says he has respect for McCain for distancing himself from Gramm due to statements he doesn't agree with. Let's see, it was McCain who said he doesn't understand the economy, so he hires Phil Gramm to be his advisor. What is the point of hiring an advisor with whom you don't agree? I think McCain is extremely confused and it could be that he is just too old to get a grasp on things. Not the type of person we need as President.