Phil Gramm's Upcoming Ambassadorship to Belarus

John McCain today announced his first foreign-policy appointment, should he become president. He will name Phil Gramm Ambassador to Belarus. McCain's decision apparently was precipitated by Gramm's insight into the American economy, when he said Americans were suffering from a "mental recession," and were "whining" about the economy. McCain obviously agrees with Gramm, because McCain himself said just a few months ago that a lot of the problems the economy is facing were "psychological" in nature. Just months before that, McCain said that the economy was making significant "progress."

But sending Gramm to Belarus may not reduce America's tensions with that part of Asia, or with Russia for that matter. Gramm may decide that Belarus is suffering from mental depression.