The President is NOT following Krugman's advice.

[lamp_shade]

I wish I knew why. Can anybody clue me in?

[Political Tiger]

1. Because Obama is the President and Krugman is not?

n/t

[lamp_shade]

3. That's one... and a pretty good one, but surely there are other reasons.

I'll wait for more clues.

[Exilednight]

28. Krugman is a media whore. His job is not to determine the best path for America, .........

his job is to sell papers, and eventually write a book that will sell a few hundred thousand copies.

He's openly stated that he would not take a job in government if asked. That alone makes his motives suspect.

[lamp_shade]

30. I wonder if he was ever asked. I highly suspect he wasn't.

[Exilednight]

33. No, he was not asked, but why did he answer the question? n/t

[lamp_shade]

34. Hmmm... I've wondered about that too. Hmmm.

[lamp_shade]

47. Oops Dupe..

[Adelante]

2. Because Obama thinks for himself

He makes his own decisions based on what he sees best.

[lamp_shade]

4. That's two.

[ArchieStone1]

6. Not always. Obama once wanted to give a job credit for businesses for hiring workers

but some Democrats in congress, and indeed Krugman, disagreed.

Obama then gave up on his plan.

[Adelante]

15. So he changed his mind

His own mind.

[ArchieStone1]

25. Huh?

First you say that Obama does not do what others (Krugman in this case) say because he thinks for himself.

Then, when Obama does do what others (some Democrats and Krugman) say, then he thinks for himself too.

:shrug:

By that logic then nobody could ever be said to "not" think for himself/herself.

[Adelante]

40. Ridiculous

It is very well understood that Obama hears advice from all sorts of people across the political spectrum. He considers it all and makes his decision based on what makes sense to him and/or what is possible to achieve.

[EmilyAnne]

96. He heard some opinions which caused him to change his mind. He wasn't following orders and nor was

he forced to change his mind.

No doubt Obama has heard Krugman's opinions and criticisms, probably in far greater detail than we have.
No doubt he has also heard Geithner's opinions and criticisms of Krugman, definitely in far greater detail than we have.
He has not changed his mind.

[Raineyb]

84. It looks as though such decisions are currently being based on what's best for Wall Street.

Not what I voted for that's for damn sure.

On Krugman, why would anyone expect an economist not to give his opinion on the economy is beyond me. Krugman's been doing this for years but now that it's a Democrat in office suddenly it's not fine?

Regards

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

91. No, I just find it quite interesting that for years, Krugman was an unknown unless one was a

political junkie like us who stayed on top of all the news and media. Now all of the sudden Mr. Krugman is everywhere...even on the front cover of Newsweek. Find one liberal who disagrees with the president with some notoriety and use him to create dissent and discord within the ranks. It's so obvious what is going on here. Whether Krugman is right or wrong, he is now being used and exploited to make the president look bad. Why not just allow us to wait and see what happens? The president has a plan. Let's wait and see if the plan works or fails.

[lamp_shade]

100. Very good point. I hadn't really considered that he was being used.

[ArchieStone1]

5. i guess your logic is "If the President does not listen to X, then X is wrong"

Am I right?

[lamp_shade]

8. What logic? I just asked a question. I got two answers so far.

[ArchieStone1]

11. It seemed like a loaded question to me

sort of like like the boy who brags to the other "hmm, I wonder why I have a girlfriend and you don't".

[BlooInBloo]

63. Of course it's loaded as you describe. Verification is in the OP's dissembling response to you.

[jefferson_dem]

7. Because Krugman's recommendations are guided by ideological thinking...

and Barack Obama is no ideologue.

Krugman operates in a theoretical world that often fails to appreciate modern political realities.

[lamp_shade]

10. Interesting. That's three.

[ChimpersMcSmirkers]

81. ding ding ding

[Strelnikov_]

98. "Politics is the art of the possible" n/t

[QC]

9. Krugman is an enemy of the people. n/t

[lamp_shade]

13. I don't believe that... not for one second.

[Boomerang Diddle]

12. Why isn't Mr Krugman listening to President Obama??

:shrug:

[MannyGoldstein]

18. Because Obama's Not A Nobel Prize Winner In Economics?

Wild guess.

[Boomerang Diddle]

24. True. Obama's just the leader of the free world.

Now if Obama can only get himself a Nobel prize he'll finally have something to be proud of......

[Boomerang Diddle]

27. Paul Krugman is a God!

He, and only he, can fix the economy! He has never been wrong in his life, NEVER! He is perfect, omniscient and a snappy dresser to boot! All hail Paul Krugman!

[MannyGoldstein]

32. So George Bush Had All The Answers When He Was President?

Sorry, I don't see your point.

[lamp_shade]

35. Key Word is "LEADER"

[lamp_shade]

67. Um

Um

[Boomerang Diddle]

37. Barack Obama is NOT George Bush.

And is what you are saying is that Paul Krugman does have all the answers? Why is the president under any obligation to follow Paul Krugman's advice? Barack Obama is the president, and as far as I know Paul Krugman wasn't on the ticket and therefore has no more of a right to be heard than you or me.

President Obama isn't Paul Krugman's employee. Obama works for all of us, not just Paul Krugman.

If Paul Krugman wants to run the government, let him get off his ass and run for office! This is NOT the United States of Paul Krugman!

[MannyGoldstein]

38. Same Goes For George Bush

By your logic, what George Bush did should not have been criticized.

[Boomerang Diddle]

41. You keep responding by changing the subject.

I'll try to make it as simple as I can:

1) Obama is the president.

2) As president, Obama is entitled to listen to whatever advisers he wishes to.

3) The end.

[MannyGoldstein]

51. Why Is This Different?

If a Republican had responded the following way a year ago, what would you think?

1) Bush is the president.

2) As president, Bush is entitled to listen to whatever advisers he wishes to.

3) The end.

[Boomerang Diddle]

58. What are you talking about?

Nobody, at least not me, ever said Bush was not entitled to listen to whatever advisers he wanted to when he was president.

[Raineyb]

85. And as a citizen Krugman has the right to criticize.

That he's a Nobel laureate in Economics just means that more people will take his ideas into consideration when deciding if they agree with him or not.

Regards

[CTLawGuy]

73. no

but Milton Friedman is. He won the Nobel Prize in 1976, same one Krugman won. Guess he must be right too huh?

[BeyondGeography]

14. Because he's a communist corporatist

[lamp_shade]

17. That's four. I'll add it to my list.

[jefferson_dem]

19. He's oxymoronic!

"Corporatist"! Oooga booga. That word cracks me up every time.

[BeyondGeography]

23. Hey, it made "the list"

:freak:

[lamp_shade]

26. An answer is an answer.

[lamp_shade]

29. Who? Krugman?

[BeyondGeography]

52. Actually, he has been called both things, too

Good catch.

[MannyGoldstein]

16. Because Obama Is Held In Thrall By Financial Wizardry

He thinks that the Masters Of The Universe have genuine expertise, but just veered off the track a little - if we just give them a little hand up, and a little tough love, they'll do the right thing and get us back on track.

I suspect he's mistaken.

[lamp_shade]

20. Good one. Noted.

[4dsc]

21. Because he doesn't know any better??

I have no clue why the president is choosing the Greitner path to ruins..

[lamp_shade]

22. Excellent response... "doesn't know any better".

[Boomerang Diddle]

31. Yeah, Obama sure is dumb!

He must listen to Paul Krugman!! Paul Krugman is the only one who can save us! We're all gonna die if he doesn't listen to Paul Krugman! Paul Krugman to the rescue! If the Skipper had only listened to Paul Krugman the Minnow would have never got shipwrecked!

[rucky]

36. Fine if he doesn't, but I want to know if it was ever even under consideration.

and if not, why?

Seems like Progressive warnings - and proposed alternate routes - to economic (crisis & budget) and healthcare issues are being stonewalled.

nationalizing banks is off the table. single-payer is off the table. defense cuts are not being addressed as a response to the GOP's call for "cuts", and social programs remain in jeopardy. I know we're in a very difficult situation, but i don't understand why these valid and popular proposed solutions aren't being entertained. I simply ask for a reasoned response as to why. We deserve that, at the very least.

[lamp_shade]

43. I would guess that he WAS considered for a position, though he may not have

been told. But if Obama chose not to nominate him, that's okay by me because I have faith in his good judgment. That's one of the main reasons I voted for him.

[rucky]

45. I'm just talking about the substance of policy recommendations...

whether they come from the cabinet, a NYT columnist, or an online petition. I want a President that takes the best ideas, no matter where they come from, or who's presenting them.

[lamp_shade]

46. I couldn't agree with you more.

[lamp_shade]

77. .

[lamp_shade]

39. ***THANK YOU EVERYBODY***. EXCELLENT responses. Some of my favorites?

He is a communist corporatist.
Krugman is an enemy of the people.
He doesn't have a Nobel Prize.
He doesn't know any better.

[Honeycombe8]

42. How dare he not follow Krugman's plan! Doesn't he know we voted for Krugman!

Oh, wait. No, we didn't. We voted for Obama....an intelligent person who seeks and listens to counsel and then makes his decisions independently.

[MannyGoldstein]

54. Krugman Is One Of Very Many Economists

And almost the whole of Europe that thinks the Paulson/Summers/Geithner plan is a disaster.

The last time we had a president who ignored criticism from professionals, things did not turn out well.

[Honeycombe8]

90. Your point is taken. I'm concerned, too. But Krugman seems to be especially...

irate over the whole thing, without even acknowledging a tiny bit of correctness in the plan. There's NOTHING good about it? Really?

My antenna go up when someone writes as if there is NOTHING good about something. Because there is always something right or good about almost everything.

But I don't presume to know what to do. And the economists don't seem to agree (your statement that "many" economists agree with Krugman isn't correct, as far as I can tell...I know of three, although they are very well known and highly respected economists). OTOH, "many" economists agree with major parts of Geithner's plan.

OTOH, the lady who runs Germany...what's her name?...she thinks his plan is terrible. Oh, and she has disliked Obama from the get-go. What does THAT tell you?

The Republicans think it's a bad plan. So...what does THAT tell you?

For me, when the Pubics hate something, that tends to tell me, maybe that's the direction we wanna go?

[lamp_shade]

101. That he can't say "I could be wrong" or "Obama could be right" just seems

so childish to me. I'll put my trust in the adult in the white house.

[MadHound]

44. Because he is beholden to his corporate masters in the financial sector.

After all, they raised over fourteen million dollars for his campaign, so I'm sure that they're expecting some payback for their investment.

[DemSigns]

48. Everybody here is missing the point

Krugman is a Keynesian and understands the empirical evidence that is wasn't all the bank bailouts and financial industry assistance that got us out of the first republican great depression, it was the social and infrastructure spending that primed the pump and put people back to work and got demand moving a gain. The stimulus is not big enough, period.

[MannyGoldstein]

56. What's With You Lefties With Your And "Science" and "Math"? n/t

[MarjorieG]

49. Because he doesn't want to use dynamite with the ground's unknown foundation.

[lamp_shade]

50. EXCELLENT answer. Thanks.

[spanone]

53. krugman is one voice....why should the president follow his advice?

[Hansel]

55. Obama deals with the real situation, with all related components and has to garner

support from politicians. Krugman deals with hypothesis without being an expert on all related components and without having to maneuver the political minefield that is Congress.

I think that he probably does consider Krugman's viewpoint along with many others and takes the best from them all.

I respect Obama's opinion more because he is willing to take a broad range of input where Krugman is set on one hypothesis and does not incorporate all of the variables. Krugman might know how the engine runs, but he is not an expert on how to make a the jet fly as he is not an expert on every component of the plane. Krugman is an economist and is limited in his expertise.

[lamp_shade]

59. Excellent synopsis.

[Hansel]

62. Thank you.

:)

[onetwo]

57. Why? Because, politically, Krugman's advice is a LAST RESORT option.

Amputation below the knee may indeed be a guaranteed way to save the rest of your leg from a bad infection, but most patients would prefer that the doctor try some antibiotics first.

[lamp_shade]

60. I agree with your synopsis but kindly suggest that even amputation is not a guarantee.

I'll always try the antibiotics first.

[onetwo]

65. Great point.

This rush to deploy the most extreme remedies is borne out of an immature impatience -- that's how huge mistakes can be made. We shouldn't press the "if all else fails" button until everything else has failed.

[Raineyb]

86. Everything else has already failed

Or do you think just maybe if we throw just a few more trillion dollars into the banks then the economy will turn around. It isn't working, it never worked and there's no reason to believe it will work in a few months.

Of course by then we'll be too broke to do any damn thing and we won't be able to fix health care or our infrastructure either.


Regards

[uponit7771]

69. Yeap, Krugman right now is letting perfect be the enemy of good

[Raineyb]

87. Geitner's proposal isn't "the good." More like warmed over leftovers. n/t

[Political Heretic]

61. I agree with Krugman's analysis but I can still answer this question:

Because Krugman is not a politician. He has probably correct assessments of the economics, but zero understanding of how to get a bill through congress or get anything done in Washington.

That's a point that has some merit, although I don't entirely agree and I tend to be with Krugman in my reactions to handling of the financial crisis.

[BlooInBloo]

64. Whoa weird. That's exactly what I think, too.

[Political Heretic]

66. ...

:scared:

[uponit7771]

68. EXACTLY!!! Also Krugman arguments falls on "Obama wont have the political capital to do somethng..

...different" and that's not true.

Also, Krugmans econ argument falls on 'the MBS's aren't worth anything' and that's not true either.

I don't understand Krugmans absolutist outcry but WHEN Obama proves the guy wrong I pray he can get on board.

[lamp_shade]

70. Not if, but when (Hail Mary). I like your optimism.

[Barack_America]

71. Yup. Krugman has zero understanding of political reality.

Which is why he, rightly, has no position in the administration.

Still, I value his opinion being presented from the "outside". However, his egotistical insistence that he should be allowed to dictate policy in Washington, I can do without. We should all understand our weakness, but Krugman seems to be oblivious to his shortcomings with regards to politics.

[quiller4]

72. Perhaps because Krugman is wrong?

Krugman seems to think that securitization is ebvil and should be abandoned. In that he is wrong, wrong, wrong. Should it be better regulated? Of course. Should it be eliminated? No. For a fuller discussion look to HuffPo.

[lamp_shade]

74. Big fan of "regulation" here. I pray for good oversight in this area.

[Undercurrent]

75. The Nobel prize.

Maybe Obama should listen to John Nash. He's a Nobel Laurent in economics too.

Oh wait. He doesn't have a newspaper column. Then there is that little problem he had. But he is a Nobel Laureate in economics so that should be enough to qualify. Right?

By this logic Henry Kissinger should be in charge of foreign policy (again). After all, he's a Nobel peace prize winner.

Sorry for the snark, but this needle is stuck in the groove with the same riff is playing over and over.

[lamp_shade]

76. Ahhhh... "Logic". Thanks. That was refreshing.

[leftofthedial]

78. Because Krugman is not a "free market" corporatist.

[Hanse]

79. Because Krugman's a piece of shit?

Krugman won the Nobel prize for some economic theories he developed with regard to international trade. In the seventies.

Not his shitty, snarky articles.

[lamp_shade]

80. That's right... it was in the 70's. My goodness.

[Better Believe It]

82. Because when Wall Street tycoons talk, Obama listens

[Cha]

95. Because you like to post

bullshit.

[WeDidIt]

83. Might have something to do with the fact that Krugman is NOT one of Obama's advisers

Ya think?

:eyes:

[lamp_shade]

89. Somebody needs to tell that to Krugman.

[PBS Poll-435]

88. Thank GOD

nt

[mvd]

92. I'm really not sure what the right solution is

What I do know is:

- Geithner's plan relies on the taxpayers, who reap more of the losses than benefit from the gains
- Increased lending is no guarantee

I can see us needing something maybe just to get us off the ground. But it also occurs to me that other regulations are necessary, and additional planning. If Obama doesn't listen at all to progressive economists like Krugman, that reminds me too much of the DLC. Everyone (except most Repukes) has something to offer that could be valuable.

[TexasObserver]

93. Correction. NO ONE is following Krugman's advice.

When a director wins an Oscar, that doesn't anoint him as the arbiter of all things cinematic.

Krugman's award went to his wimpy little, combed over head.

[Avalux]

94. Because it wasn't part of his oath of office?

:yoiks:

[burythehatchet]

97. Because President Obama has been bought and paid for by Wall Street and Larry Summers

has the receipt to prove it.

Correction: The DLC and the Democratic party power structure in addition to President Obama.

[John the Revelator]

99. Thank God!

Krugman's beard looks like he just sloppily drank a Hair Milkshake...