Paul Krugman re: Wisconsin-"NEVER GIVE UP - It’s never over, for good or bad. Keep on plugging."

[kpete]

June 6, 2012, 9:18 AM
Wisconsin

The best lack all conviction, while the worst are filled with a passionate intensity. Obviously I’m not happy with the result; not just out of political sympathies, but because all the recent political trends have been rewarding the side that caused the very crisis from which it is now benefiting, not to mention politicians who have been wrong about everything since the crisis hit.

I’m even more unhappy with how it happened, with national Democrats basically sitting on their hands while conservatives poured resources into the race.

This combination of Democratic diffidence and confusion, on one side, with right-wing ferocity on the other, is the main subject of a long piece Robin and I just wrote for the NYRB; deadline pressure on that piece is why I blogged so little yesterday. So much more about it all in the near future.

Still, my rule for myself is, never give up. All seemed lost politically in 2004; it wasn’t. Then a lot of people, including, I’m sorry to say, Obama, slacked off after 2008, believing that the other side would have to compromise.

It’s never over, for good or bad. Keep on plugging.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/wisconsin-2/

[CTyankee]

1. Well, it's come to this. We have an Economics professor at Princeton more in tune

with what is going on politically than our political class. And he has ruled out any kind of political role.

The guy sounds bitterly disappointed for all of us. I just love Paul Krugman...

[shcrane71]

2. Demand the Carter Center oversee your state elections.

Demand to know who owns the proprietary software calculating your vote.

This is just fucking ridiculous.

[hifiguy]

3. I think active rigging of elections will be less of an issue

than it was in '00 or '04. There's no need to tamper with the results, except in close cases, when the plutocracy can simply use the money-bomb to chimney their lies to the populace. A significant portion of the populace is too damned disconnected or just plain stupid not to fall for the propaganda of the Kochs and their evil, venomous allies.

[shcrane71]

12. I don't believe that people came out in droves to vote for the admin that gave them the

worst economy in the nation. Wisconsinites aren't that stupid.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

8. THANK YOU -i am puking disgusted by all the denial of election fraud on this site

F'in ridiculous is right. They called the election for that scum with only 19% in. Then at 25% they added "and this is outside the margin for a recount!" - pat, pre-written B . S. People hadnt even finished voting in Milwaukee. Not all Madison votes had even been counted. Reported results are unbelievable. The most audacious and blatant election theft imaginable.

[shcrane71]

11. You could hear the disbelief in the voice of WPR's announcers when

NBC called it for Walker less than an hour after the polls closed. Then they mentioned that people were still voting in Milwaukee at 10 PM CDT. That's when Barrett conceded.

It certainly feels like WI got a dose of "shock & awe".

[eowyn_of_rohan]

14. It was terrible shock and awe.

We were in a bar on State Street watching the election coverage when they called it for Walker, with only 25% in, and polls still open due to long lines in Milwaukee and Racine... and they added "and this is outside the margin for a recount" which struck me quite odd.

I took off for the Capitol to find my E.I. friends. Hundreds of people were happily celebrating and I broke this news to a couple of friends. The didn't believe it was true and told me not to worry...

[shcrane71]

15. We had a phrase for that in Jr. High...

You got punked. I think the whole state got punked. I'm so sorry.

[eowyn_of_rohan]

16. thanks so very much

200 people have signed up to meet at the Capitol this evening to assess the integrity of the June 5th Recall election, report on election violations that occurred, what types of action to take etc

should be interesting, and it'll help to be together.

[Stuart G]

4. About giving up...long ago..it was 1973 I think..

The Democratic Party was broke. There was a national telethon to reaise money for the Dems. I worked at that one. At least in Chicago where there were phone banks. I recall feeling that after 72, (we only got one state) that there was little hope. Well..Watergate was just starting, and wasn't going to go anywhere (I thought)...and it was very hopeless. Well it wasn't..and I need to recall that. Now.

[jwirr]

10. Yes, many of us felt like just dropping out and heading back to the earth. Somehow I wish I had

followed that urge.

[The Wielding Truth]

5. Democracy has to be constantly defended from those who want all the power.It is our duty to continue.

[JDPriestly]

6. Thanks Professor Krugman.

You are our inspiration.

Great blog.

[AzDar]

7. Think we could convince Krugman to run for (just about any ) office?

[CTyankee]

13. He was asked that question but clearly is not interested. He is too smart, politics today being

what it is. I understand why initially Obama didn't follow his advice (and that of some members of his economic policy team) and go bigger on the stimulus,much bigger. Noam Scheiber's new book "The Escape Artists," talks about what happened: these economists ran their estimations of how much stim it would take to pull us out of the disaster (this was done in 09). Obama's close advisers were opposed to even suggesting such a high number. So Obama, badly needing accurate information based on the math, never got their numbers, only a much, much lower one deemed acceptable by his political team. Obama accepted it thinking it was the real deal. But he had been kept in the dark.

We know the rest of the story. He started with low bids and had nowhere to go in bargaining. It was a sad situation.

[Tippy]

9. Excelent advice Paul it's the same my Dad gave me

When I was ready to throw in the towel......This was way back in the seventies....If you want someting bad enough you will work for it...

[Dustlawyer]

17. I think the National Democratic Party and Obama laid down on purpose.

I keep telling everyone that the WHOLE game is rigged! Republicans and Democrats are the Harlem Globetrotters vs. the Washington Generals. THEY control the whole game!

[Greybnk48]

18. I love this guy n/t