September 16, 2008
Sam Stein
The Huffington Post
John McCain may want to refine his economic message a bit more during this potentially disastrous week for the financial sector.
On the campaign trail in Jacksonville, Florida, the Senator declared this morning that “the fundamentals of our economy are strong,” despite what he described as “tremendous turmoil in our financial markets and Wall Street.”
The line may seem like GOP boilerplate, save for the fact that this morning, the McCain campaign released a television ad that began: “Our economy is in crisis.” Moreover, with financial and job markets in disarray, and with Lehman Brothers, the troubled investment bank, filing for bankruptcy, it may not be the wisest political message to tell voters that the fundamentals are a-okay.
“You know,” said McCain, “there’s been tremendous turmoil in our financial markets and Wall Street and it is — people are frightened by these events. Our economy, I think, still the fundamentals of our economy are strong. But these are very, very difficult time. And I promise you, we will never put America in this position again. We will clean up Wall Street. We will reform government…”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/15/mccain-fundamentals-of-th_n_126445.html
The neocons have seen and tried to manage enough disasters to know to “look on the bright side”. If a house burns down – look on the bright side. Focus on that solid foundation that still supports the ruins of a once beautiful home. Mr. Bush, in describing America’s economy focused on the foundation.
And about job loss – remember the basic axiom:
If you loose your job – that’s a recession or perhaps a r-e-c-e-s-s-i-o-n if the Bush team has not yet anointed the word recession.
If I loose my job – that’s a depression.
Also remember, if you want to remain in “LA-LA land” during bad economic conditions, it helps to be insensitive to the word “SOCIAL” except when social is in front of the word conservative. It is hard to pin down a name for the far right wing of the Republican party. As they gain a PERFORMANCE history, they seem to be less vocal about the neo-conservative label.
For a political party that has been “running on empty” for eight years, looking for a “bright side” to train-wrecks is standard. Failing that, the IN-DENIAL “latch” could be set.
Both Mr. Bush and Mr. McCain have somewhat similar views on the economy:
January 4, 2008
Bush: Economy On Solid Foundation
http://acnn.wordpress.com/2008/01/04/bush-economy-on-solid-foundation/
September 15, 2008
McCain: Our economy, I think, still the fundamentals of our economy are strong.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/15/mccain-fundamentals-of-th_n_126445.html
Mr. Bush wants America to focus on the economy’s foundation. Mr. McCain wants America to focus on the economy’s fundamentals. There is not much, if any, difference here.
Senator McCain has promised change. That is remarkably like what Senator Obama promised. Senator McCain’s view of the economy parallels President’s Bush’s view. How does the twain meet? Perhaps “Me Too” IS a good description of Senator McCain?
Tags: economic message, fundamentals of our economy are strong, in denial, john mccain, la-la land, Mr. Bush, neocons, Performance, similar views
