I don't think superman can save the day. Conservatives, Neocons, and thugs alike will ride on the wave of Lush Rimbaugh to crush what's left of humanity. NATO will be forced to consider a 'rouge'.
I have to say that it's tough to make a call. On one hand, Krugman is one very smart guy but, unlike Obama, he isn't constrained:: the WH is shackled by political considerations.
renegademom
· 9 months ago
This is complicated finance, banking and economics, further muddled by CONGRESS, the MSM, and the blogosphere. Krugman's specialty is international trade, and while he certainly is smart, he ain't God. When John says that he'd slit his wrists in a bureaucracy, what that means is that he wouldn't be able to get his ideas anywhere near reality. How "right" are they if they are politically impossible to implement? In theory, they may be preferable, in practice....????
Frankly, while I'm glad to have him pushing from the left, I'm getting pretty sick and tired of his snarky manner. There are many opinions on both sides. Roubini likes Geithner's plan, Galbraith doesn't, Krugman likes Obama's budget, and on and on and on.
I don't pretend to understand the issues involved here. What I do understand is that Obama is no dummy. I trust him. Yup, I do. And we are lucky to have him.
lucky hussein
· 9 months ago
For someone who 'doesn't understand the issues' you sure have opinions, and are up to date on everyone else's. Roubini is still in favor of nationalization of banks. imo, geithner's plan for hedge funds is it's tails I win, heads you lose for taxpayers. I see no reason for personal attacks either.
The collapse of the Czech government sent shivers through financial markets in eastern Europe yesterday fanning fears about the growing political unrest that appears to be sweeping through the EU's eastern fringes. Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek's government narrowly lost a vote of no-confidence on Tuesday night, four days after the Hungarian leader, Ferenc Gyuarcsany, threw in the towel and five weeks after the Latvian government fell under a barrage of public protests. Most of eastern Europe's main currencies lost value yesterday as Czechs pondered the impact of Mr Topolanek's defeat, while Romania turned to the IMF for a €20bn lifeline. http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/...
Flashfolds
· 9 months ago
I don't trust Obumpkin nor any of his allies. For years these people have waited to raid the piggy bank and that they are doing at a phenomenal speed. Common sense tells you when you are going bankrupt you can't spend your way out of it. Leave the economy alone and let it go through whatever travail it must. Krugman, and I don't know how anyone can honestly consider him brilliant, wants to keep one foot in the Obama camp while keeping the other out so he can continue to be critical so as to look like he's one of the gang, no matter which way things turn. There's a reason he works where he works.
Used Car Dealers
· 9 months ago
What i think is that let him do the way he wants.. and if after a suitable time period, he is not going to deliver nice results what we expects... then will come to know with the time...
lucky hussein
· 9 months ago
Here is why the reich-wing loves the 'Geithner Put': Bank shareholders are saved: check Hedge funds get a piece of the action: check More crushing debt on the American people: check Say hello to another inefficient, rip-off bailout. There are those who say it's still the best we can get. Sucks if they are right.
caphillprof
· 9 months ago
Isn't it interesting how much we hear about people buying homes they couldn't afford or getting mortgages they couldn't afford and how this "is not fair" that the government is helping these folk in order to stabilize the complainer's own real estate values, and yet we there is mostly silence on the culpability of the bank shareholders and the purchasers of credit default swaps when the government comes to their aid? Why do we believe the government must save Fairfield CT but not the family down our own block?
paulbe
· 9 months ago
Because the modern media is used primarily to keep "us" divided, distracted and at each others throats over trivia while "they" rob us blind. It's worked this way for many years now.
Older_Wiser
· 9 months ago
I think what pisses most people off is that the criminals are getting away with it (the collapse), for the most part. The majority of my dissatisfaction with the Geithner (and other) pick(s) to re-do the economy is that he and others were part of the problem in the first place. Of course, that ties in with the majority thought on Wall St. that these guys are the only ones who can figure out what they did wrong...you gotta "retain" them.
yaridanjo
· 9 months ago
Obama is new at this and it will take him about a year to find out he cannot trust these Wall Street insiders. Krugman and Galbraith are right and Obama should take them very seriously. http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/21...
bob_h
· 9 months ago
Krugman had earlier said approvingly that Obama's budget represented a real departure, and Obama is going to get most of it. Obama got thru a stimulus package of unprecedented size, not as large as Krugman thought necessary, but still a major accomplishment. Krugman doesn't like the Geithner plan, but Roubini and Brad DeLong do.
Krugman seems to have become self-righteous and his criticisms slightly over the top to me.
Indigo
· 9 months ago
Business as usual seems to be the bottom line rallying call from the White House. Krugman, like Ralph Nader twenty-five years ago, seems to want to keep his nose in the tent while reciting his listen-to-me message on every occasion available.
I liked Ralph back then and I like him now. He makes an excellent Obstructionist. Krugman, as an Obstructionist, is much like Ralph in that he has only one note. Ralph's one note was Consumer Protection; Krugman's one note is Esoteric Economics. Ralph's one note slowly shifted into the Key of Me. Krugman is on his way to the same pitch.
All things being equal, I understand Ralph Nader better but that's not to say that Krugman is not interesting. He is interesting and I predict that he has a long future before him as a socio-economic obstructionist. Maybe someday he'll start running for president just like Ralph does. Life in America is always entertaining. Lucky us!
mrmiddleman
· 9 months ago
Can anyone please provide a link with Krugman's alternative plan? I read a lot of articles, everyday it seems, about how he doesn't approve or agree with Obama's plan. I can't say I completely understand economics and I'm not saying I disagree with Krugman, but I would like to see the critics' alternatives.
lucky hussein
· 9 months ago
read his columns.. ny times
macsnafu
· 9 months ago
Are you kidding? Krugman's Neo-Keynesian nonsense would be just as disastrous, if not more so, than Obama's plans. Of course, I still want to say I-told-you-so when it comes to any "real change" that Obama represented, and how it points out the major flaw of our alleged Two-Party System.
All Comments
http://www.motherjones.com/mojo/2009/02/james-g...
and another:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2009/03/25-9
Frankly, while I'm glad to have him pushing from the left, I'm getting pretty sick and tired of his snarky manner. There are many opinions on both sides. Roubini likes Geithner's plan, Galbraith doesn't, Krugman likes Obama's budget, and on and on and on.
I don't pretend to understand the issues involved here. What I do understand is that Obama is no dummy. I trust him. Yup, I do. And we are lucky to have him.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/b3e99880-1991-11de-9d...
He predicted 10 years ago the crisis we're having today, including his use of the word "bailout".
He was one of only 8 senators voting against legislation to DE-regulate and repeal protections that were in place since the 30s.
If you missed him on Rachel's show, a must see:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26315908/#29886298
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/...
Bank shareholders are saved: check
Hedge funds get a piece of the action: check
More crushing debt on the American people: check
Say hello to another inefficient, rip-off bailout.
There are those who say it's still the best we can get. Sucks if they are right.
http://finance.yahoo.com/tech-ticker/article/21...
Krugman seems to have become self-righteous and his criticisms slightly over the top to me.
I liked Ralph back then and I like him now. He makes an excellent Obstructionist. Krugman, as an Obstructionist, is much like Ralph in that he has only one note. Ralph's one note was Consumer Protection; Krugman's one note is Esoteric Economics. Ralph's one note slowly shifted into the Key of Me. Krugman is on his way to the same pitch.
All things being equal, I understand Ralph Nader better but that's not to say that Krugman is not interesting. He is interesting and I predict that he has a long future before him as a socio-economic obstructionist. Maybe someday he'll start running for president just like Ralph does. Life in America is always entertaining. Lucky us!