This is a great move, and as Jacob Heilbrunn explains, it’s a blow to McCain. Hagel is a veteran as well and aa Republican Senator who opposes the Bush administration policy in Iraq.
I’m curious to see who else joins Obama as it might signal potential VP picks. Biden seems like an obvious choice for the trip regardless of whether Obama is seriously considering him for the trip, but if Evan Bayh joins them, it increases the odds that he’s the pick.
Former Senator Phil Gramm is hilarious. He’s one of the true believers in the concept of deregulation, while he seems completely oblivious to the negative effects of many of our deregulation efforts, probably because the was behind many of them.
He’s now becoming famous for his claim that “we’re becoming a nation of whiners.” Now, we all know plenty of whiners, but this isn’t the best way to describe Americans when you’re an advisor to a presidential candidate. He’s also dead wrong about our economic situation. Things aren’t peachy. The economy has serious structural problems, and our major banks are in big trouble and are getting bailed out by Middle Eastern investors, the same people we’re making rich with our idiotic energy policies. In the meantime, ordinary Americans are getting squeezed. Foreclosures are going through the roof, and gas prices are slowing the economy.
Phil Gramm is a PR nightmare for McCain, but more importantly he is McCain’s cheif economic advisor. The Gramm/McCain policies would be a disaster for this country. So it’s poetic justice that Gramm’s stupidity and lame political skills are hurting McCain. I remeber when Gramm ran for president in 2006. He had by far the most money, but people hated him. He crashed and burned very quickly in Iowa.
McCain threw Gramm under the bus today, but he and Gramm have been friends for years and he has been a critical advisor. That connection will continue t be a problem for today.
Meanwhile, the video has surfaced of Gramm making his “whiner” statement. As Joe Sudbey points out, he’s so smug and condescending.
Absolutely hilarious.
After running one of the most pathetic presidential campaigns in modern history (he paid $50 for one delegate), Rudy Giuliani is being trotted out as John McCain’s latest attack dog on national security. Here’s an example of why Rudy is so bad. Like McCain, he can’t keep his story straight.
John McCain has a long career in the Senate, and he’s taken strong positions on many different issues. His problem, however, is that he can’t seem to remember them. His latest gaffe involves his position on Social Security. Yesterday he denied ever being in favor of private accounts. Of course, that’s not true. He clearly expressed support for privatization back in 2004.
© 2026 NorthCoastBlog.com
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑