Bob Herbert: Feeling No Pain

[babylonsister]

Feeling No Pain

By BOB HERBERT
Published: July 12, 2008

snip//

John McCain, whose Straight Talk Express ran out of gas long ago, tried to paper over the implications of Mr. Gramm’s unseemly outburst this week about the very real suffering that has descended on millions of Americans. “Phil Gramm does not speak for me,” said Senator McCain. “I speak for me.”

But the truth is that Mr. Gramm, a close friend of Senator McCain’s for many years, has had a very loud say in the economic policies of the McCain presidential campaign. And those policies are an extension of the G.O.P. orthodoxy that is threatening to sink the ship of state, even as the very wealthy are dancing mindlessly to the music of another Gilded Age.

In the real world, somewhere outside of Phil Gramm’s field of vision, increasing numbers of Americans are working two and three jobs to make ends meet; struggling families are worried sick in July about what it will cost to heat their homes in January; food costs and home foreclosures are soaring; the job market has tanked; and the stock markets are running with the bears.

In that kind of atmosphere, it’s beyond obscene to have to listen to some platinum-card-carrying fat cat tell us, in a tone dripping with condescension: “You’ve heard of mental depression; this is a mental recession.”

What does it say about John McCain’s judgment that this guy was one of his top — and possibly his pre-eminent — economic adviser? What does it say about Mr. McCain’s judgment that in 1996, he believed Phil Gramm was the best choice to be president?

more...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/12/opinion/12herbert.html?_r=2&ref=opinion&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

[countingbluecars]

1. Good article,

and the kind of constructive criticism the Democrats need.

[disndat]

2. When will people learn?

Savings and Loan, Enron, Bear Stearn, now Freddie Mae and mortgage lenders meltdown. Wall Street bellies up and the taxpayers bail them out. Even Obama lets the telephone companies off the hook. The truth is no politician can hope to get to high offices without Wall Street money. Big media keeps the people opiated with tv entertainment and Hollywood and Sports stars headlines.

[Demeter]

3. K&R

[bonito]

4. The neocons have put this country in a welfare state

These last eight years, they are the motivating force behind McCain as well and they are very much in control of Washington now.