Krugman: Obama Sounds Like Bush on Economy


Wow. This is just about the nastiest insult liberals can dish out:

I’m not too happy with the policy justifications we’re getting from the administration. It’s perfectly clear that the stimulus was too small; I think they know that too. But they’ve made a political judgment that (a) they can’t push another round through and (b) the thing to do right now is defend the policy they already have.

Maybe they’re right. But it does bring back unpleasant echoes of what I thought of as the Bush administration’s Vegematic approach to tax cuts: it slices, it dices, it purees! In other words, whatever policy they had been advocating in the past was still the perfect answer to whatever problems the economy faces now.

Krugman follows by asserting that ‘Obama is nothing like Bush.’ Right - except for trying to sell his preconceived spending agenda as the perfect answer for everything that was wrong with America, he’s nothing like Bush.

It’s worth noting the implicit criticisms Krugman levels: Obama either doesn’t understand the problems with the economy or lacks the conviction to address those problems. Chalk up one more case of buyer’s remorse.

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11 Comments Leave a comment

You'd think even Krugman might realize

drothgery Monday, July 13th at 5:46PM EDT (link)

… that if nearly $2 trillion in ’stimulus’ hasn’t done much good (between Stimulus I under Bush, Stimulus II under Obama, TARP and the other bailouts), even Obama is going to think calling for more just might not be a good idea.

What blows my mind is how the GOP doesn't challenge the Dem motive for waiting to spend most of the stimulus next year

Mike gamecock DeVine Monday, July 13th at 9:48PM EDT (link)

rather than now.

Mike DeVine’s Examiner.com, Charlotte Observer and The Minority Report columns
“One man with courage makes a majority.” - Andrew Jackson

There's a reason it's called "brain dead."

Flagstaff Monday, July 13th at 11:07PM EDT (link)

They miss a lot.

OTOH, it may be that some have been pointing it out, but nobody is reporting it.

I’m still torn between “cunning” and “incompetent” for the Dems.

Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!

 
 
 

I wouldn't call it "buyer's remorse" exactly

DFLer Monday, July 13th at 7:32PM EDT (link)

Krugman has never much liked the guy (Obama), going back to when he shredded Obama’s health care and economic policy proposals during the primaries.

He’s been tepid since the nomination and election, never reluctant to shred (or praise). He complained a lot about the stimulus in February when it was being written, saying it wasn’t targeted well and that it was too small. I think most people here would agree with Krugman that it wasn’t targeted well, while disagreeing with Krugman on the size.

 

Krugman's work may have merited the Nobel Prize, but

Flagstaff Monday, July 13th at 11:33PM EDT (link)

it was for a specific and narrow area of Economics. Yet even his supporters can suggest that it may have been politically motivated to boost Obama. From a responder to Marginal Revolution (blog).

I am myself a big fan of Krugman’s, but I can’t help wondering: given the situation in the world economy, the upcoming presidential election, Krugman’s vocal endorsement of Obama and given the Swedes’ intense preference for a president Obama, you do the math…

I am sorry about saying this out loud. I share these preferences, and I remember thinking last week: “wouldn’t it be awesome if Krugman won, it could boost the Obama campaign even further.” And now this… It is just too good to be true.

Posted by: Tiedemies at Oct 13, 2008 7:48:41 AM

It’s very hard to take Krugman seriously, because he makes so many assertions against nature. But maybe even he can see writing on the wall if it’s in Crayola.

Maybe the comment last week should have been “When you’ve lost Helen Thomas and Paul Krugman, you’re in trouble.”

Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!

I just don't understand

aesthete Monday, July 13th at 11:39PM EDT (link)

How a man whose predictions have been so wrong can still be hailed as a Cassandra. I haven’t read the work for which he got the Nobel (if I remember correctly, it was on international economics), but I do know that his particular brand of Keynesianism would even make John Maynard Keynes (who was quite brilliant, if wrong) blush from shame.

Guilt is a rope that wears thin.
-Ayn Rand

“I am a freeman in a free state!”
-Last words of Dumnorix, chieftan of the Aedui, 54 BC

Right on all counts. nt

Flagstaff Monday, July 13th at 11:55PM EDT (link)

Pluto, the Ninth Planet - Forever!

 
 

The Nobel hasn't meant anything for a long time

kyle8 Monday, July 13th at 11:39PM EDT (link)

at least nothing more than childish anti-capitalism and anti-Americanism.

In fact it hasn’t meant diddly squat since they gave the peace prize to AssHair Yellowfat.

“Nothing works like freedom, Nothing succeeds like liberty”
Kyle

And to think in my youth we called it the Goebel Prize

6eorge Jetson Tuesday, July 14th at 12:04AM EDT (link)

Bottom of the barrel Stroh’s. I’m not sure now which of the two we were mocking.

 
 
 

Krugman always denies reality

Princeliberty Tuesday, July 14th at 9:41AM EDT (link)

Krugman is a man with a great faith in his own fantasy world.
He actually believes if you can only get smart enough group of central planners that can distribute economics resources better than the market.

Krugman can calm down, the second stimulis is coming!

Princeliberty

 

Krugman always denies reality

Princeliberty Tuesday, July 14th at 9:41AM EDT (link)

Krugman is a man with a great faith in his own fantasy world.
He actually believes if you can only get smart enough group of central planners that can distribute economics resources better than the market.

Krugman can calm down, the second stimulis is coming!

Princeliberty

 

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