Krugman is actually doing Obama a favor.

[Hamlette]

Krugman says Obama not spending enough, he should nationalize the banks etc.

The right is saying Obama is doing too much, spending too much, socializing the country. And when they say that, we get to say "not according to Nobel prize winning economist Krugman. He says Obama should "socialize" but is not and that he is not spending nearly enough!"

Maybe this has been discussed to death but I've stayed away from the Krugman threads. I love Krugman and I love Obama and to tell the truth, I don't really understand all of what is happening in the economic sector so were I to pick sides, it would be out of ignorance. (My husband, former state banking commissioner, says Obama is right. His favorite like was "the best way to rob a bank is to buy one" he's a liberal dem and regulators are the natural enemy of banks. I've spent the last 26 years listening to hubby and his coworkers talk about these issues and I still don't have enough knowledge to choose sides.)

[FrenchieCat]

1. Most people only know that Krugman says that Obama is wrong.

Beyond that, they don't get the rest so much...other than according to one expert, Obama's plan doesn't work.

Although Krugman once said...."Real experts, you see, tend to have views that are not entirely one-sided. For example, Columbia's Jagdish Bhagwati, a staunch free-trader, is also very critical of unrestricted flows of short-term capital. Right or not, this mixed stance reflects an honest mind at work. You might think that hacks would at least try to simulate an open mind -- .... But it almost never happens.

Of course, honest men can disagree, and they can also make mistakes. But it's still a good idea to tune out supposed experts whose minds are made up in advance." http://www.pkarchive.org/column/42300.html

[asphalt.jungle]

4. wow what a great link

so ironic.

[PBS Poll-435]

2. With friends like Krugman...

nt

[BlooInBloo]

3. Yup.

[Barack_America]

5. Oh, I don't think Obama ever considered Krugman a "friend". nt

[PBS Poll-435]

6. Good

Krugman is in it for Krugman.

[Barack_America]

7. Of course he is. He wants someone to actually transform his ideas into policy...

So he can go down in history as more than an "I told you so" economist.

His agenda is pretty obvious, IMO.

[depakid]

8. In some respects you're absolutely right

and to the extent that it helps to frame the debate and keeps Obama from pandering to the right (as he's sometimes been wont to do) it helps us all.

[Hamlette]

9. agreed

I love that he is pushing (pulling?) from the left too.

The odd thing to me about Krugman is I think Obama is much more liberal than Clinton was/is (either/both Clintons) and Krugman was/is a huge fan of the Clintons. If we were to be completely honest, Clinton's economic policy was not that great in many ways.

[depakid]

10. Clinton is reported to have said that he needed more pressure from the left

Whatever the case, Clinton's policy "gifts" to the far right have cost us all dearly.