What's wrong with Paul Krugman?

[bow-tie]

If this has been posted already, I'm sorry.

Party of denial

By PAUL KRUGMAN
SYNDICATED COLUMNIST

During Barack Obama's Sunday appearance on Fox News, the interviewer asked him for an example of "a hot-button issue where you would be willing to buck the Democratic Party line" and say that Republicans have the better idea.

Obama's answer was puzzling because he gave credit where it isn't due -- and thereby undermined what could be a very effective Democratic line of argument.

In particular, Obama attributed to Republicans the idea that regulation can be flexible rather than a matter of "top-down command and control," and in particular for the idea of controlling pollution with a system of tradable emission permits rather than rigid regulations.

Well, that's not at all what actually happened -- and the tale of what really did happen has a lot of relevance to current events.

It's true that the first President Bush established a market-based system for controlling sulfur dioxide emissions, which has been highly successful at controlling acid rain. But by then the idea of markets in emission permits had long been accepted by economists of all political stripes.

And it had also been accepted by leading Democrats. The Environmental Protection Agency began letting cities meet air-quality standards using emissions-trading systems during the Carter administration -- which also led the way on deregulation of airlines and trucking.

--more--

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/361541_krugmanonline03.html

[NashVegas]

1. He's Drinking Milkshakes

Instead of Kool-aid.

[Captain Hilts]

2. He's more interested in policies than politics. nt

[paulk]

3. nothing.

except, of course, in Obamaworld - where if you don't think that Obama is the greatest thing since sliced bread there's something "wrong" with you.

[Mudoria]

4. Dead on the target...

[Forkboy]

5. Nothing, imo.

:shrug:

[Upton]

6. Krugman has turned into a Clinton cheerleader

it's unfortunate because I've always liked him, I thought he was somehow above that. I always valued his opinions, now that's all changed, I'll never think of him quite the same way again.

[BlooInBloo]

8. No need for the melodrama. On strictly economics issues, he's great....

... On the rest, he's hit-and-miss - just like the rest of us.

[edhopper]

7. Nothing

First, I support Obama. So I say without prejudice that Krugman is right. Clinton does have a better Healthcare policy than Obama. And Obama should not be using Rightwing talking points about Social Security and Reagan tax cuts to show how non partisan he is.
I think Obama will be a better President than Clinton. But I am not too blind to see where he is not right.

[4themind]

9. Pretty much everyone has something wrong with them..

Gaining universal health care coverage, has been one of his callings for a long time, and he sees a candidate that he believes can get america to that goal the fastest, that's the highest value for him and he's willing to not look as intently on other issues IMO,the feasibility of implementation, and perhaps even on the ability/history of the candidate to do so. I'd hope he'd focus more on McCain's inadequacies (and there are plenty of them) once we enter the G.E. (regardless of who the nominee is)

[Igel]

10. He's his own man.

For followers, whether of a person or an ideology, it means there's something wrong with him.

It means that he's biased, he overlooks data that he doesn't look until he can't overlook it any more, it means that he has pet peeves and preferences that aren't always logical. When he makes the inevitable simplifying assumptions or tries to discern patterns in partial data, he makes assumptions he prefers and discerns patterns he's predisposed to see.

Nothing wrong with that that's not also wrong with everybody else. But it can be annoying when the facts can't be claimed to have the proper bias, and when there's diversity of opinion and thought, can't it?

[mucifer]

11. Krugman has also criticized Hillary for the gas tax cut she proposes.

As an Obama supporter I respect Krugman and I wish Obama's health policy would be as comprehensive as Clinton's.

[Cha]

12. hilary's a lying panderer..how do you know

she means anything she says?

[ShortnFiery]

13. I surmise that some elites in Clintonian DLC circles have sent some "sweet whispers"Krugman's way?

I've never figuratively had my "a** kissed" so intense and so continuously as - a six months rotation as an butter bar LT - when I was assigned as "The Special Assistant to the Commander" (to and 06 Bird Colonel) at a Brigade Sized Unit.

I'm glad that my ego alit back to *reality.* Even I was beginning to believe "the beautiful bullshit" praise about me. :blush:

I have no solid knowledge ... but I fear someone on HRC's side of the equation is STRONGLY courting Krugman's ego ... perhaps offering him a high level Cabinet post?

NOT ONE OF US IS IMMUNE TO HAVING OUR EGO MASSAGED.

I'm just saddened that this good man is buying into it. :shrug:

[BootinUp]

14. He has integrity

its a disease most journalists don't have to fret.