Paul Krugman is completely in the tank over the Obama budget.....

[Aviation Pro]

....I've said this once and I'll say it again, President Obama is a smart mofo because he and his staff sweat the details on every project they immerse themselves in. Yes, he has to make some hard choices, but that's what a leader does when faced with the wreckage left from the past 30 years. What a refreshing contrast to Two Shoes McFuckstick who could only sweat alcohol and cocaine out of every orifice in his body.

Link here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/27/opinion/27krugman.html?_r=1&pagewanted=print

Climate of Change
By PAUL KRUGMAN
Elections have consequences. President Obama’s new budget represents a huge break, not just with the policies of the past eight years, but with policy trends over the past 30 years. If he can get anything like the plan he announced on Thursday through Congress, he will set America on a fundamentally new course.

The budget will, among other things, come as a huge relief to Democrats who were starting to feel a bit of postpartisan depression. The stimulus bill that Congress passed may have been too weak and too focused on tax cuts. The administration’s refusal to get tough on the banks may be deeply disappointing. But fears that Mr. Obama would sacrifice progressive priorities in his budget plans, and satisfy himself with fiddling around the edges of the tax system, have now been banished.

For this budget allocates $634 billion over the next decade for health reform. That’s not enough to pay for universal coverage, but it’s an impressive start. And Mr. Obama plans to pay for health reform, not just with higher taxes on the affluent, but by putting a halt to the creeping privatization of Medicare, eliminating overpayments to insurance companies.

On another front, it’s also heartening to see that the budget projects $645 billion in revenues from the sale of emission allowances. After years of denial and delay by its predecessor, the Obama administration is signaling that it’s ready to take on climate change.

And these new priorities are laid out in a document whose clarity and plausibility seem almost incredible to those of us who grew accustomed to reading Bush-era budgets, which insulted our intelligence on every page. This is budgeting we can believe in.

[babylonsister]

1. CHESS. Thanks. And relief. nt

[ms liberty]

38. Not just chess. Three-dimensional Vulcan Grandmaster chess. n/t

[glitch]

39. That's more like it! lol nt

[madrchsod]

2. so paul has a change of heart today....

do`t worry by monday he`ll find something wrong with something obama and crew are doing. maybe his wifes mall investment went up today

[babylonsister]

3. Ye of little faith!

:rofl:

You're right!

[Larkspur]

8. The Nobel Prize winner in Economics is glad that Obama is closer to following FDR than

than Reagan, but he's not happy and rightly so with Obama's handling of the bank crisis -- Feelings of despair

[Baikonour]

10. He's offering valid and helpful criticisms, and not for the sake of partisanship.

But because he supports Obama and wants him to succeed.

The Krugman hate around here really is astounding.

[aquart]

12. I love Krugman.

[Baikonour]

13. Me too. Incredibly smart man.

[Jim Sagle]

46. Me 3.

[Stevepol]

18. If anybody knows what to do about the banking crisis, Krugman does, BUT

I'm not sure anybody knows for sure what to do. We've never been here before as a country, this deep up the creek with so many financial institutions while at the same time trying to re-calibrate policies that are further off track and flusing money than they've ever been. FDR had a walk in the park compared to what Obama faces.

Still, I would feel A LOT more comfortable if Krugman or Stiglitz or some other, truly competent economist were in charge of the bank crisis.

I DON'T TRUST GEITHNER. I don't think he really knows what he's doing.

There, I've said it.

[Hissyspit]

28. It's silly.

[ihavenobias]

29. I thought the lesson we learned from the Bush years was that we should NEVER question the President

Or criticize him, even constructively. That's how we show true patriotism, by shutting up unless we have something nice to say.

;)

[D23MIURG23]

31. Yup - because the president is the decider, and he decides what's best.

:hi:

[fascisthunter]

35. ha!

:thumbsup:

[Telly Savalas]

42. I wholeheartedly agree.

And I'm an avid supporter of the president.

I don't necessarily agree with everything Krugman says, but he's always a good read.

[muriel_volestrangler]

20. "his wifes mall investment"???

Krugman is married to fellow economics professor Robin Wells.

Are you perhaps thinking of Thomas Friedman? There's a hell of a lot of difference between the men - and their wives.

[madrchsod]

21. opps! yup- got the wrong guy--thanks

[Jane Austin]

24. So how about apologizing?

That's a huge mistake to make, which smears an honorable man.

[madrchsod]

36. yup..i made a mistake.

[Jane Austin]

37. And you're sorry,

right? :)

[Jane Austin]

23. You must be thinking of Tom Friedman's wife.

Her family, I believe, has billions in mall investments.

I've never heard anything about Paul Krugman's wife at all.

Why would you assume that Krugman has personal, ulterior motives for his economic analysis?

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

26. "This budget was always a bad idea..."

How many days do you give him?

[Mike 03]

33. How does this represent a change of heart?

If anything, it only makes me hopeful that Obama has consulted Krugman on the stimulus.

Obama is attempting to do exactly what Krugman has been advocating for nearly a year.

[rucky]

51. Krugman calls 'em as he sees 'em. n/t

[Why Syzygy]

4. Speaking of Two Shoes, when does Laura's book go on sale?

Sorry for the OT question.

[Aviation Pro]

5. Another question.....

...when will Pickles file for divorce from the little, stupid motherfucker.

[SoCalDem]

14. She's waiting for him to croak, so she can cash in..

If she leaves him, she ends up like poor Sharon..threatened into silence..

[Joe Fields]

6. Krugman isn't the only one.

So am I. Right now, it is difficult to put into words how elated I am at what is shaping up to be New Deal II. As a dyed in the wool Rooseveltian dem, this week has been a long time coming, and the republicans should just eat shit and die.

[deacon]

19. The GOP just keeps proving daily how much they don't care about people, only their own political

hides.

[barb162]

47. All they care about are more tax cuts. That's it.

[Larkspur]

7. Obama is a human being not a god

He is prone to error and did make misjudgments about how to get the stimulus bill passed. He allowed for a short time the Republicans to take control of the debate and change it from a jobs bill to a litmus test on bipartisanship. I have no problems with Obama making mistakes as long as he recognizes them and makes appropriate adjustments. He initially underestimated the Republican response to his stimulus bill and that cost us some much needed $, but at least he made the appropriate adjustments to his strategy and got the bill passed.

[FrenchieCat]

9. Krugman is human too. Someone needs to let his fans know that.

I saw him the night of our President's recent speech on Charlie Rose, and he had very little positive to say, and in fact, appeared to be feeding the Republican opposition with his naysaying negativity and forgetting that legislation has to actually pass in order for a President to sign it. That's the part he couldn't quite talk about; the reality of politics. He felt quite PUMA to me on that night. I'm glad he found something positive to say....finally.

[Larkspur]

32. Krugman has never fed the Republicans

Krugman evaluates Obama using the same criteria he evaluated Bush. Just because he says things about Obama that you don't like doesn't mean that Krugman is wrong.

I have reservations about Obama too and they were made based on what Obama did and did not do. And by the way, I voted for Obama in CT's primary because I was an "Anybody but Hillary and a Republican" voter. Not all criticism of Obama came from PUMAs. They also came from us cynical progressives who heard Obama mouthing right wing talking points during the campaign. Obama was just the lesser of 2 evils in my book and that's why he got my vote on Feb. 5, 2008 and Nov. 4, 2008.

[Cha]

50. Exactly right, FC..I watched that

and muted Krugman after he started on that sniping shit.

Krugman isn't perfect, either, and he has a hellava lot easier job.

[ezgoingrl]

11. This is the first time I've been excited about a federal budget.

It's awesome for many reasons, but the most satisfying has to be seeing the heads of my freeper friends and family members' heads explode.

[deaniac21]

15. It's incredible how they have come up with a plan that has a

deficit or 1.17 trillion but they will have the deficit in 10 years. They are brilliant. It's incredible how smart this team is. They have cut back nowhere and will accomplish all of this with only minimal tax rasies on the incredibly rich. Wow!

[Lasher]

16. Eliminating Overpayments to Medicare Insurance Companies

That one thing right there is really big. And really good. And what comes after C? Part D. Watch for the reaction of insurance companies like AARP.

[eridani]

17. One disagreement. It fucking well IS enough to pay for universal coverage

--just not with private insurance still in the game. Put those wasted premiums toward universal health care in addition, and there is more than enough. We are ALREADY PAYING for universal health care; we just aren't GETTING it.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. !

:thumbsup:

[Cleita]

27. You are so right.

I guess we are going to have to lobby and pressure both Congress and the White House to do the right thing, because it's the smart thing to do.

[glitch]

40. most excellent point. nt

[Cleita]

25. As far as the privatization of Medicare, a halt isn't enough. He needs to throw

the private insurers out altogether because the program has failed. In spite of all the promises of coverage on their brochures, that regular Medicare doesn't do, they don't deliver on their promises. Because their fee schedule is so low to health care providers, most doctors are now not accepting them, so the best doctors are not the ones you get to see on these plans and in my area sometimes you have to drive over a hundred miles to find one that does. You may also get only five minutes with the doctor on an office visit because it's the only way they can make money and meet their overhead. One of my doctors actually has a sign in his office that states that the best coverage is traditional Medicare with a medigap policy to pick up what Medicare doesn't pay and that it's the only Medicare coverage he will accept. I personally would gladly pay Medicare the extra I pay for the medigap for Medicare to extend their coverage because the insurance company keeps raising it's premium but my income is not going up and I think Medicare can contain the cost better.

[D23MIURG23]

30. Its great to see this level of enthusiasm from Krugman on the budget.

And equally great to see a repudiation of the people who were implying that he is some kind of intellectually dishonest Obama hater.

[depakid]

34. Now, if only the Senate shows similar support

and uses parliamentary procedure to push Republicans out of the way- we might be in for some real improvement.

[chill_wind]

44. Yes it is. Krugman! :-)

:applause:

[veganlush]

41. I just finished Mr. Krugman's book...

...(actually, cd's) and it was great. That's one smart guy who looks at the big picture and draws lessons from economies around the world past and present. He also uses models to make it easier to comprehend. He's right about the relief factor, I was getting worried for awhile there. A sharp reversal of reaganomics-that's music to my ears.:toast:

[bertman]

43. Estimated ANNUAL Medicare and Medicaid FRAUD is $60 BILLION.

[chill_wind]

45. What Krugman wrote Jan 14, 2009: "Letter to the New President". (Rolling Stone)

For the record. (And someday I'll have to try to find again that emotional 2 sentence blurb he wrote right after Inauguration Day about choking up with pride and wonder at our new day and our new President.)

What Obama Must Do
A Letter to the New President

PAUL KRUGMAN

Posted Jan 14, 2009 12:17 PM


http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/story/25456948/what_obama_must_do/print

He has_always wanted President Obama to succeed.

[tonycinla]

48. Good Editing

I noticed you left out the sentence"The long run outlook remains worrying" and Krugman comments"two big ifs".In the last 72 hours I have seen live interviews with Krugman and Joseph Stieglitz neither one seemed as positive as you are.

[Cha]

49. OT, but you are

so funny.."What a refreshing contrast to Two Shoes McFuckstick who could only sweat alcohol and cocaine out of every orifice in his body.."

They say the truth is what makes it funny.

Thanks for the article, Aviation Pro.

"The budget will, among other things, come as a huge relief to Democrats who were starting to feel a bit of postpartisan depression. The stimulus bill that Congress passed may have been too weak and too focused on tax cuts. The administration’s refusal to get tough on the banks may be deeply disappointing. But fears that Mr. Obama would sacrifice progressive priorities in his budget plans, and satisfy himself with fiddling around the edges of the tax system, have now been banished."

[Dollface]

52. Krugman must be ok. Scarborough hates him.

[peacetalksforall]

53. This has probably been said by many ... but I haven't read it. I think it is

smart to keep the people who were there before, during, and after the bailout and before we knew about the ponzis and the orders to sec to stand off, etc. It means we're moving faster and we know more with some of them still in place - they could have left leaving tons of stuff to analyze and find. They can converse, they have to converse. They can be asked direct questions. They can reverse and switch paths, because Obama knows where he wants them to go. O also seems to have an acute credibility meter working for him.

I think there is still time for Krugman to get involved. I think he and Obama are in smart positions right now. Krugman can say anything he wants and everyone is reading and debating. This is healthy. We're healthier.

We don't seem to be in that dark dungeon of not knowing what schemes and thefts are in progress and what orders and signing statements are being issued up in the tower and down in C's bunker.

I think the arrangement right now is good for us.

P.S. - Krugman can accept speaking engagements and book signings. He has a wonderful way of explaining things. I heard him up front and close once. I actually understood. But I do remember him saying things about worrying that I think he would not have said, if he were prophetic on all levels.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

54. too late to R! Great to see this, AND the entire thread

Obama has always said he welcomes critique and ideas. And great to see Krugman's critiques and his praise.

[johnfunk]

55. "Two Shoes McFuckstick"? C'mon, tell us how ya REALLY feel about Bush Jr.

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
:evilgrin:
:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: