Barack Be Good

[babylonsister]

And FTR, I see no problem with the Obamas renting a luxurious vacation home. They required the seclusion imo, and after the past year, deserved it. I'd ask Mr. Krugman what should they have rented that would be more in keeping with the current economic climate that would also provide the needed security?


http://www.commondreams.org/view/2008/12/26-7

Published on Friday, December 26, 2008 by The New York Times
Barack Be Good

by Paul Krugman

snip//

First, the administration of the economic recovery plan has to be squeaky clean. Purely economic considerations might suggest cutting a few corners in the interest of getting stimulus moving quickly, but the politics of the situation dictates great care in how money is spent. And enforcement is crucial: inspectors general have to be strong and independent, and whistle-blowers have to be rewarded, not punished as they were in the Bush years.

Second, the plan has to be really, truly pork-free. Vice President-elect Joseph Biden recently promised that the plan "will not become a Christmas tree"; the new administration needs to deliver on that promise.

Finally, the Obama administration and Democrats in general need to do everything they can to build an F.D.R.-like bond with the public. Never mind Mr. Obama's current high standing in the polls based on public hopes that he'll succeed. He needs a solid base of support that will remain even when things aren't going well.

And I have to say that Democrats are off to a bad start on that front. The attempted coronation of Caroline Kennedy as senator plays right into 40 years of conservative propaganda denouncing "liberal elites." And surely I wasn't the only person who winced at reports about the luxurious beach house the Obamas have rented, not because there's anything wrong with the first family-elect having a nice vacation, but because symbolism matters, and these weren't the images we should be seeing when millions of Americans are terrified about their finances.

O.K., these are early days. But that's precisely the point. Fixing the economy is going to take time, and the Obama team needs to be thinking now, when hopes are high, about how to accumulate and preserve enough political capital to see the job through.

[firedupdem]

1. We've been getting fucked over for eight years on our dime

but they complain about where the Obama family goes for vacation using their own dime. These people are crazy but I guess we better get used to it. Somebody will take issue with everything he does.


:banghead:

[glowing]

2. The security detail bill would have been much more expensive had they

tried to stay at the Holiday Inn in Orlando or Myrtle Beach. On top of that, everyone would be trying to catch a glimpse of the family and they really need this last week of "normalcy" before they hit D.C. and then they have 4 hopefully 8yrs of extreme public scrutiny. Besides, we all understand he's from Hawaii and he's renting for a week with a couple of close family friends.

[firedupdem]

3. They also fail to consider his grandmother passing away and only

now being able to have a memorial for her.

[glowing]

6. Yes, there's that as well. He's also gone over to work out with the troops and

spend some time with them. Much better than Bush's few phone calls to some soldier's families in his comfy Bush manner. No one talks about the Bush expense on that fake ranch in Texas or the "family bunker" the evil clan hangs out at throughout the year or the many homes they own dotted around the country. No one spoke of how much money the Bush family spends or how many vacation days he's taken over the years. He doesn't work at all.

[AtomicKitten]

4. Krugman is reverting to his primary-caliber snark.

[ShortnFiery]

7. Yes, IMNSHO, 'tis true

I won't allow myself to forget how Krugman shilled "shamelessly prostituted himself" for the challenger and trashed Obama ... disrespected Obama almost as much as the "illustrious" retired general Clark and all around henchman, Lanny Davis. :eyes:

FWIW - Although I profound respect his high intelligence and lauded gift of The Nobel Prize in Economics, I must also keep a wary eye on the MOTIVES of ---> one each, Paul Krugman.

[babylonsister]

9. Yes, and that's puzzling considering he's been 'in communication' with Obama...

I don't get the snark at all.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=132&topic_id=8022878

[midnight]

5. I agree that this is a very important point that needs to be upheld.

Finally, the Obama administration and Democrats in general need to do everything they can to build an F.D.R.-like bond with the public. Never mind Mr. Obama's current high standing in the polls based on public hopes that he'll succeed. He needs a solid base of support that will remain even when things aren't going well.

[ShortnFiery]

8. Yes, but Paul Krugman is hardly "the humble messenger" to be conveying such truisms.

:thumbsdown: