Krugman: The President Is Missing

NYTimes ^ | 4-10-11 | Krugman

[tcrlaf]

What have they done with President Obama? What happened to the inspirational figure his supporters thought they elected? Who is this bland, timid guy who doesn’t seem to stand for anything in particular?

[Nickname]

He’s just now noticing that the suit’s empty?

[ClearCase_guy]

Sometimes I think we're living in a Dr Evil skit -- "Why cut trillions, when we could cut ... billions?"

[spokeshave]

the president’s idea of how to bargain is to start by negotiating with himself, making pre-emptive concessions, then pursue a second round of negotiation with the G.O.P., leading to further concessions”

Yeah...like the French....

The only war they ever won was in fighting themselves.

[spodefly]

Did he have to praise Congress for enacting “the largest annual spending cut in our history,” as if shortsighted budget cuts in the face of high unemployment — cuts that will slow growth and increase unemployment — are actually a good idea?

Tax cuts are "costs" and government spending cuts "slow growth and increase unemployment" ... and this from the most "enlightened progressive respected journalists in America". By this logic, if the government taxed 100% of all income and spent 10,000% of revenue, we would the in excellent shape economically.

[IronJack]

Well, Paul, he never DID stand for much. If you hadn’t been so busy projecting your infantile dreams on him, you might have heard a few million voices declaiming him as an empty suit, a political cipher. But once again, you slept through the election and woke to the reality too late. It would almost be worth it if you learned your lesson, but you won’t. You’ll turn right around and do it again next time.

[Mike Darancette]

Obama turns out to be a legend in own mind.

[Surtur]

There is a great new game for Obama's speeches called "BARACK'S BULLSHIT BINGO". It even comes with a bingo sheet and rules. A printable copy of the bingo sheet and the rules for it can be found here. Check it out, it is a hoot. Here is the sheet for the bingo

[ladyvet]

Don't you think your all being a little hard on him? I mean check out his schedule for today....grueling. No wonder he needs so many vacations.

9:00 AM
10:00 AM
10:30 AM Obama receives the presidential daily briefing.
11:00 AM
11:30 AM Obama holds a meeting on Libya.
12:00 PM
12:30 PM Carney briefs the press.
1:00 PM
2:00 PM
3:00 PM
4:00 PM
5:00 PM
6:00 PM
6:30 PM Joe and Jill Biden host a dinner for freshman senators.
7:00 PM

[NCjim]

Reminds me of this snippet from a performance evaluation:

COMMUNICATION:
----- Talks with God.
----- Talks with the Angels.
----- Talks to himself.
----- Argues with himself.
----- Loses arguments with self.

Definitely a "5"

[ConservativeDude]

the left is ticked at Obama. This should drop him to record low polling numbers here soon.

Hard to say if it will last....but...if dissatisfaction on the left LASTS, it will be very difficult for Obama to be re-elected, not unlike how the dissatisfaction with Bush on the right made it impossible for him to win in 1992....

[Buckeye McFrog]

He won’t be missing for much longer, Krugmeister.

AP says he is going to take to the airwaves and propose higher taxes for the Eeeeevil Rich, plus cuts to Social Security and Medicare (which should leave all of you lefty bloggers in a cheery mood)

[Dudoight]

Well, I’ll be dipped! Will wonders never cease! LOL!

[<1/1,000,000th%]

He’s on vacation.

[Neverforget01]

Oh c’mon Paul—the poor man just wishes he could be anonymous again (so why is he running for a second term?)..never mind.

[ShorelineMike]

***
What have they done with President Obama? What happened to the inspirational figure his supporters thought they elected? Who is this bland, timid guy who doesn’t seem to stand for anything in particular?
***

Pastor Charles — I know that Paul Krugman parodies himself effortlessly, but the first thing that came to mind when I read the above was:

“Look what they’ve done to Obama;
Look what they’ve done to my Prez ...”

[Southack]

Krugman only writes 180 degrees opposite of the truth. If Krugman is ever correct about something, rest assured it was because he made an error.

Moreover, Krugman sees himself as sending signals to the White House. THE NYTimes believes that 0bama reads what they write. So from this perspective we can state that the NYTimes wants 0bama to “Fight.” That’s the left-wing mantra: fight. Anytime the Left sees itself as losing, they want to “fight.”

The reality, however, is that the NYTimes and the modern Left in general “rode the lightning” with 0bama in 2008. 0bama was an unknown (and the news media certainly wasn’t going to dig into his past).

Well, it turns out that 0bama feels differently on lots of issues than what his handlers had him saying during his Campaign. 0bama criticized Bush’s tax cuts, for example, then extended them once in Office.

0bama criticized Gitmo, then kept it open once in Office.

0bama criticized renditions, then kept doing them once in Office.

0bama criticized unilateral wars instead of “diplomacy first,” then bombed Libya instead of talking to Ghadafy.

0bama criticized the Patriot Act, then renewed it as President.

So Krugman and the Left are reaping a bit of what they sowed when they refused to look into 0bama’s background. They elected someone who was and is unknown...and he’s turning out to be a little different from their myth and hopes.

[cookcounty]

"What have they done with President Obama? What happened to the inspirational figure his supporters thought they elected? "

Dear Paul "Palin-is-a-murderer" Krugman":

Good speechifying and a well-creased pant leg do not a President make. Wake up.

[cookcounty]

"I realize that with hostile Republicans controlling the House, there’s not much Mr. Obama can get done in the way of concrete policy."

Why not? When Bush had to deal with a House and Senate controlled by the Dems, you weren't shy about excoriating him for not getting things done.

What were the Congressional Dems back then? Paid Spectators?

[palmer]

I thought the NYT was going to start charging money for Krugman’s drivel so we would have a good excuse not to read it. The guy is moron. It doesn’t matter in the least what he says or thinks about Obama. The only thing that matters is that Obama wants to destroy America, and Krugman is stupid enough to think that Obama merely wants to “change” America.

[sickoflibs]

RE :”Well, it turns out that 0bama feels differently on lots of issues than what his handlers had him saying during his Campaign. 0bama criticized Bush’s tax cuts, for example, then extended them once in Office. 0bama criticized Gitmo, then kept it open once in Office. 0bama criticized renditions, then kept doing them once in Office. 0bama criticized unilateral wars instead of “diplomacy first,” then bombed Libya instead of talking to Ghadafy.
0bama criticized the Patriot Act, then renewed it as President. So Krugman and the Left are reaping a bit of what they sowed when they refused to look into 0bama’s background. They elected someone who was and is unknown...and he’s turning out to be a little different from their myth and hopes.”

I kind of see things similarly.

Krugmann wanted Obama to be another Roosevelt, to put the employers in chains and at the same time blame them for the unemployment (as they do on MSNBC evening/progressives shows) and have government come to the rescue and be remembered the hero. My grandmother died (over 100) a Republican who still remembered Roosevelt a hero of the Great Depression.

But Krugman failed to understand that Roosevelt had the sole Microphone, AM radio's and hollywood. Obama’s has to contend with FNC, talk radio and internet (including FR). He could never get away with the scam Roosevelt did for over maybe 40-45 % of the country. That is why Democrats want to get poor uneducated illegals to vote, they will buy it.

Krugmann’s other mistake is much like many on talk radio last year. Obama is ultimately pragmatic and wants to be re-elected (much like Clinton did in 1995 and 1996.) So Obama is not going to make a grand 'marxist' stand that makes sure he is a one termer, if he did it would be too easy for us.

Thanks for the thoughtful discussion.