Phil Gramm Off the Bus

No, I didn't see the Jay Leno thing, but I heard about it. (I also heard that it was written by some anonymous person and circled the internet before Leno actually used it.) You mentioned the jobs leaving out country. What people don't seem to understand is that we can't "have it both ways." If we want to buy cheap stuff made in other countries at our biggest national discount store (you know the one), the we have to understand why companies/manufacturers are leaving here and going to those countries.

Excellent response, Lloyd, just as I've come to expect from you. These people are totally out of touch, there's no getting around it. I think Phil Gramm is the perfect example of what's wrong with Washington D.C. He served in the Senate for years until his retirement a few years ago and is now collecting his government pension and enjoying his government paid health insurance for himself and his family for the rest of his life. While that would have been enough to live quite comfortably for most of us he immediately went out and got a job as a lobbyist for big banking. Now he lobbies his former colleagues on behalf of one of the biggest banks in the world (I forget which one) and what he's lobbying for certainly isn't in the best interest of the American consumer. Now WE'RE whining but he's one of the reasons for our whining! Annie

It it just so frustrating when those on the right stick their head in sand and blame the American people for all the problems that exist today. The Bush Administration never accepts responsibility for their actions and their followers don't recognize that things have gotten much worse over the last 8 years. Things were great during the Clinton Administration. That is why it was said that he would have easily won a 3rd term if he was able to run. No one in their right mine would vote for George Bush if he could run for a 3rd term. He's done so much harm to this country. I just hope that the damage can be reverse in a reasonable amount of time. Lloyd

Economist and former U.S. Sen. Phil Gramm is vice chairman of UBS Investment Bank and has lobbied Congress on the company's behalf. UBS has been hit hard by the U.S. housing and mortgage meltdowns. The investment banking and mortgage industry has lobbied for less regulation in past years and is worried about potential federal actions to address the housing subprime bust. Arizona is one of the hot spots for the slow housing market and problems with subprime mortgages. McCain counts Gramm as one of his top economic advisers. Gramm advocates tax cuts, supply-side economics and less government regulation. IT'S THESE POLICIES THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE MORTGAGE PROBLEMS WE ARE FACING TODAY. FINANCIAL INSTITUION HAVE BE DEREGULATED, LEAVING PEOPLE PREY TO THE MORTGAGE PREDATORS. Democrats point to Gramm's UBS ties as another example of McCain's links to lobbyists and the interests they represent. Two of McCain's top campaign aides, Charlie Black and Rick Davis, have lobbying backgrounds. A handful of lobbyists working on the campaign have stepped down after facing questions about their representation of business interests and foreign governments. Other McCain economic advisers include former U.S. Rep. Jack Kemp, former Hewlett-Packard Co. CEO Carly Fiorina and private equity executive Gerry Parsky. A McCain Presidency would be very similiar to the Bush Presidency. Lloyd

We've been pretty much living under a dictatorship for the past seven years with the "Decider" in office. As for Gramm, can't you see he's using the Democrats as an excuse for his exit, which I'm not sure if he was voluntary or not? Let's face it, when someone says something as asinine as what Gramm says there's bound to be a lot of discussion about it. I can't think of anything positive to say about his remarks and since criticism and disagreement seems to equal "attack", I guess that's what has been going on. Annie

I'm in a small town in Pennsylvania, not the inner-city, which I realize it's even much worse there than it is here but it's not so great here, believe me. I've heard the northwest U.S. is one place where things aren't quite as bad as in the northeast and some other parts of the country but honestly, I don't see Americans in general as a bunch of cry-babies. There are some, I'm not denying that, and there are others who don't know how to manage money and who do try to live beyond their means, but those aren't the people I'm talking about. Gramm definitely should NOT have said what he did, that's for sure, and I really think it's going to hurt McCain whether Gramm is gone or not since he was the economic adviser. I think the root of the problem with people like Gramm and McCain is the only people they know are the ones who have everything they could ever need and they sincerely can't identify with those who have worked their butts off their entire life and have little or nothing to show for it. I have to tell you, I stay with my 91 year old mother to care for her and last winter when I had to fight with the gas company because they'd shut us off because her check didn't go far enough to pay the total of the $2000+ it had cost to heat her house, I guess some would say I was whining! She has to have oxygen 24/7 and she has to have air-conditioning in the summer because she has CPOD so the electric bill is quite high all year around despite our best efforts to conserve. The house is big, old and airy so despite keeping the upstairs bedrooms closed off it's very expensive to heat. I won't bore you anymore with all these details but suffice it to say we do the best we can with what we have and we've never gotten any handouts from anyone but it's just frustrating when the money you have just isn't enough for the essentials anymore and I know I'm not alone, far from it. There are whiners and there are lazy freeloaders here in this country but those people are now the exception rather than the rule. People like McCain and Gramm honestly don't know people like my mom and me exist! Annie

No argument from me on this one. Even if somebody isn't a "surrogate" or working for the campaign or directly involved with it they get all kinds of grief. This year each candidate has hundreds of supporters who show up on what's starting to seem like hundreds of political talk shows so whenever one of these supporters says something stupid or offensive completely on their own the candidate is going to get the grief for it. However, in Gramm's case he was an official economic adviser so he really shouldn't have said what he said; I understand he's still going to be in a high position deling with the economy if McCain is elected, this according to Steve Forbes. Annie

In what way will my problems increase if Obama is elected? This is an absolutely sincere question because I don't see what will be worse for my family and me if Obama is elected than it's been under Bush or would be under McCain. One thing that will help a bit is Obama's promise to eliminate all taxes for senior citizens whose income is under $50,000 per year. It won't be a fortune but for my mom it will be the difference of about two months gas heating bills so that will be a big deal. We are going through a tough time right now and I really don't mean to be a whiner at all but my whole "circle" including all branches of my family, my husband's family and my son-in-law's family have all always been very hardworking people and include many veterans and current members of the military. None of us have EVER been freeloaders, in other words. Thank you for not "attacking" me as you know some conservatives (obviously not all) probably would have if give the chance. Annie

Annie, Even though Obama might cut out taxes on seniors making less than 50 thousand (which I might add would be one of the only things I agree with him on)the across the board increases he proposes to the wealthy (which include the people who control prices on food, gas, everyday staples etc)would far override the cuts senior citizens get on their taxes. I don't know why this is so hard for some people to understand, especially someone as educated and intelligent as Obama seems to be, but, there is no way you can overtax the wealthy, period! It will always come back to bite the middle class in the butt (excuse my french)! What affects the business owners' bottom line directly affects the average houshold's budget, it's that simple! Believe me when I tell you that these guys/gals at the top (Walmart, Exxon/Mobile and all of the others we depend on for everyday needs) don't care about how much Obama increases their taxes simply because they have a way to recoup them--that would be you and me!

The Dems should get over WHAT? And WHAT tax increases that Obama proposes? McCain scares ME a REAL bunch. His sick sense of humor alone could be enough to get us all killed if his forgetfulness doesn't. I agree there will always be people who whine even when they have everything the could ever want but right now most of us have a lot of reason to whine. And it's not "mental"! Annie