Forbes says Phil Gramm may still be advising McCain.
Forbes says Phil Gramm may still be advising McCain.
Last week, Phil Gramm stepped down as co-chair of the McCain campaign after calling America a “nation of whiners” locked in a “mental recession.” But yesterday on CNBC’s Kudlow and Company, top McCain surrogate Steve Forbes said Gramm’s advice would still be accepted by McCain:
FORBES: Oh, I think in terms of advice Phil Gramm will be critical, which is good because on things like trade he is absolutely right. I think John McCain has a long friendship with Phil Gramm, so this was something, Phil Gramm said something that you’re not supposed to say these days, and he paid a price for it, but in terms of the relationship, I think it’s as strong as ever, and in the McCain administration, I think Phil Gramm’s advice will be taken to heart.
Watch it:
“I think in terms of relationship and the philosophy, that’s not going to change,” Forbes added.
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Gramm and McNumbNuts — BFFs. His departure from the campaign was a charade designed to deflect valid criticism about a specific comment but it does not undo the fact that McNumbNuts buys into Gramm’s “voodoo economics”.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:56 amI don’t mean to insult Ms. Clinton by mentioning this but - isn’t this like when Mark Penn “left” - and he was still there, advising Senator Clinton, he just had his title and perhaps pay removed.
Is Mr. Gramm’s departure the same thing? “OK, you’re no longer the ‘official’ head of the McCain economic policy. You’re just the, uh, ’special advisor’ of the McCain economic policy!”
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:03 amMcDepends has only the economic program that Gramm gives him; Johnny Boy doesn’t have the ability to balance a checkbook!
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 amSorta like Karl Rove and his ‘unofficial’ advising …
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 amOh what tangled webs we weave when first we practice to deceive!
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:06 amTwo outcomes are certain here:
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:12 am(1) If the comatose media bother to ask McNutzi about this comment he will say something to the effect of “Steve Forbes doesn’t speak for me. I speak for me.”
(2) Phil Gramm continues to advise McNutzi on economic issues.
I’m shocked…SHOCKED, I say.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:17 amWhen will the media or some savvy reporter connect Phil Gramm to the recent report by Carl Levin on the tax avoidance of 19,000 Americans who have accounts with UBS where Gramm serves as Vice-Chairman for US. These 19,000 Americans were advised by UBS sales agents in a planned campaign to avoid the reporting standards for income by the IRS. Estimates are as high as 100 billion annually in lost income to the US. Who are these 19,000? How many are friends of Phil Gramm? I want to see the list to see what politicians are on the list. It would be the end of the political careers for anyone connected to this scandal.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:19 amJohnny Boy doesn’t have the ability to balance a checkbook!
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
when you’re rich enough–his ‘cunt’ just made a BUNDLE on the Bud/InBev deal–you don’t NEED to balance your checkbook. Either it doesn’t matter, or somebody does it for ya
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:19 amI see nothing wrong with Gramm continuing to provide McCain with advice as long as the general public is kept informed of his role.
Gramm is an arrogant SOB so I’m sure he’ll make his continued presence known through a few more moronic statements in the future.
As we can see McCain adviser Forbes is doing Johny’s campaign no favors by saying that Phil “You’re all a bunch of whining whiny whiners” will still play an important role.
In not s-ing the f u in this matter, Forbes is demonstrating a defining characteristic of the McCain campaign, which is that the seniors in it don’t give a damn about the valid concerns of voters and that they are too ignorant and arrogant to avoid making their dismissive opinions clear.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:22 amtokin librul Says:
Johnny Boy doesn’t have the ability to balance a checkbook!
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:04 am
when you’re rich enough–his ‘cunt’ just made a BUNDLE on the Bud/InBev deal–you don’t NEED to balance your checkbook. Either it doesn’t matter, or somebody does it for ya
Exactly! That’s why Johnny Boy has always needed someone to take care of him. He has no marketable skills, unless you count aircraft destruction.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:24 ami want to hear more about THIS:
Saturday, July 19, 2008
The Real Reason For McCain’s Friday Night Phil Gramm Dump
Stephen D reports on a Phil Gramm Friday night dump attributing Gramm’s resignation from the McSame campaign to the “Americans are whiners!” comment. I think that is just cover for the more likely real reason:
Remember that Phil Gram works for and lobbies for one arm of UBS in the USA. More below…
http://drinkliberal.blogspot.com/ 2008/ 07/ real-reason-for-mccains-friday-night.html
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:28 amNo shit.
**eyes rolling**
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:29 amme and NC Dem !
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:32 amFro Wikipedia, a sampling of Gramms philosphical musings:
“Has anyone ever noticed that we live in the only country in the world where all the poor people are fat?” —During his first Senate Campaign against Democrat Lloyd Doggett.
“Most people don’t have the luxury of living to be 80 years old, so it’s hard for me to feel sorry for them.” - In response to a claim that a Social Security proposal would hurt people over 80.
“We’re going to keep on building the party (the Texas Republican Party) until we’re hunting Democrats with dogs.” — As quoted in Mother Jones, August 1995
“I have as many guns as I need, but I don’t have as many guns as I want.“
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:40 amIt’s just kabuki theater, Gramm will still be writing McCain’s economic policy. Because his ideas are exactly what the filthy rich on Wall St. want.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 am5th Estate Says:
“Has anyone ever noticed that we live in the only country in the world where all the poor people are fat?” —During his first Senate Campaign against Democrat Lloyd Doggett.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:40 am
Phil Gramm is poor? ;)
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:47 amThat’s because Gramm started his experience in capitalism long time ago when he put his money in producing two soft porn movies.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:58 amIn related news Wachovia just announced an $18 billion loss.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:05 amI can’t think of the all the other bank/finance losses declared in the last six months but I’m guessing we’re WAY BEYOND the losses attributed to 9-11. I should do some research on that.
I’m sure that McCain has two tiers of advisors — those he parades before us and those who work under the radar. Whenever somebody in his display case becomes embarrassing, that person just shifts into the other tier. I doubt anybody really gets fired or quits.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:08 ammisshusseinmolly: I doubt anybody really gets fired or quits.
Yup, there’s the ‘loyalty’ thing. Also McCain’s so clueless and the GOP ‘bench’ is so homogeneous and hide-bound that a ‘change’ would be unnoticeable, so why bother?
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:21 amMcDepends, McNumbnuts, McNutzi, McSame? What grade are you guys in?
You guys are just proving Gramm’s being a “nation of whiners” comment.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 amdandbrew Says:
You guys are just proving Gramm’s being a “nation of whiners” comment.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:27 am
And you just proved you’re the King of the Whiners.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:29 amSo you’re saying that graham left the McChurian candidate in an entirely pro forma move ? And that they still talk in secret ? How can this be ?
If a teenage girl can manage to talk to the boyfriend (of which the parents disapprove), it can probably be done.
Of course, the teenager would know how to IM also.
July 22nd, 2008 at 11:33 amThese trolls have their own little dream world, don’t they? Amazing…
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:03 pmDid we ever doubt that Gramm and McCain would remain the BFF as always? There is way too much between them for a few words to break them up.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:20 pmGramm left the campaign, symbolically, to quiet the firestorm in the press - but I suspect that Gramm is still working behind the scenes with the same zeal as before.
McCain needs him — despite that Gramm is an elite, self-serving lobbyist — the right think he’s just fine — and McCain hasn’t finished Greenspan’s book yet.
It is time, once again, to send our emails demanding better moderation of this site. Every single thread is tainted by troll dung.
See you folks after the purge, or when our trolls get put down. For nappy time.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:51 pmMolly Ivins would be having a laugh
She said Phil Gramm was one of the meanest people she ever met
http://www.motherjones.com/ commentary/ power_plays/ 2002/ 03/ mean.html
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:54 pmHere’s a quote about Gramm from the Ivins’ article
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:59 pm“Gramm both looks like a snapping turtle and has the personality of one. When he ran for president in 1996 and finished fifth in Iowa, all the profiles written of him included the line “Even his friends don’t like him.” Self-righteous and strident, Gramm demonized his opponents and used bitter, polarizing rhetoric. During a Senate debate over Social Security, a member pointed out that the proposal under consideration would hurt 80-year-old retirees. “Most people don’t have the luxury of living to be 80 years old,” Gramm scoffed, “so it’s hard for me to feel sorry for them.”
FORBES: Oh, I think in terms of advice Phil Gramm will be critical, which is good because on things like trade he is absolutely right.
Tell me again, how many WRONGS does it take to make a RIGHT?
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:04 pm25. pappa bushs economy was recovering strongly before slick was elected and was in recession before he left office.
Please go to yahoo.com, Click on Finance, and click on the DJI. You can graph it out. You can even download the data to a spreadsheet and graph out how the market did for each president. Hint: the market does better under dems than repubs.
Or, even easier, remember that Bush I lost under “its the economy, stupid”
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:36 pmJebus. These mean old men need to be put out of their misery.
And ours.
July 22nd, 2008 at 2:58 pmSome of us have been trying to get the attention of sites (Like Think Progress) with more resources to dig a little more on this. It looks like a classic bait and switch that the media, and many others, have bought. (Just for disclosure: I wrote the diary referred to in comment 12)
In a previous diary on Gramm here at TP another comment linked to my diary. (Of which I am thankful! It is nice to know that even a little local Blogger occasionally has something to offer. lol) I really think that there may be some “there there” that is worth digging on.
The conspicuous timing of the two parallel news stories reeks of a Rovian bait and switch. The whole story of whether or not Gramm is still working for McCain is just another sidetrack, IMHO.
July 22nd, 2008 at 4:24 pm