Krugman: Why I Am Now Deeply Worried for America

[dalton99a]

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/12/opinion/biden-trump-america.html

https://archive.ph/aPRjg

Why I Am Now Deeply Worried for America
Feb. 12, 2024, 3:10 p.m. ET
By Paul Krugman

...

It’s also true that many voters think the president’s age is an issue. But there’s perception and there’s reality: As anyone who has recently spent time with Biden (and I have) can tell you, he is in full possession of his faculties — completely lucid and with excellent grasp of detail. Of course, most voters don’t get to see him up close, and it’s on Biden’s team to address that. And yes, he speaks quietly and a bit slowly, although this is in part because of his lifetime struggle with stuttering. He also, by the way, has a sense of humor, which I think is important.

Most important is that Biden has been a remarkably effective president. Trump spent four years claiming that a major infrastructure initiative was just around the corner, to the point that “It’s infrastructure week!” became a running joke; Biden actually got legislation passed. Trump promised to revive American manufacturing, but didn’t. Biden’s technology and climate policies — the latter passed against heavy odds — have produced a surge in manufacturing investment. His enhancement of Obamacare has brought health insurance coverage to millions.

And what about his opponent, who is only four years younger? Maybe some people are impressed by the fact that Trump talks loud and mean. But what about what he’s actually saying in his speeches? They’re frequently rambling word salads, full of bizarre claims like his assertion on Friday that if he loses in November, “they’re going to change the name of Pennsylvania.”

Not to mention confusing Nikki Haley with Nancy Pelosi and mistaking E. Jean Carroll for one of his ex-wives.

...

[BootinUp]

1. I'm too afraid to read it. Nt

[Irish_Dem]

3. It's nothing we don't already know and talk about every day here.

Krugman is a bit slow on the uptake looks like.

Here on DU we have been worried about this election for quite some time.

[johnnyfins]

6. I was worried about the 2024 election

On 1/6/2021.

I knew then that TSF was going to run again of he wasnt stopped. Well look where we are. He is now running to stay out of jail. How fucked up is that?

And none of his cult followers can see it.

When Joe wins re-election, the danger will be higher than ever. At that point, the MAGATs will feel they have nothing left to lose...dangerous doesnt even describe it.

[Irish_Dem]

16. Trump, the GOP and Putin are desperate.

They will cheat, steal and lie to achieve their goals.

I believe Joe Biden will win, but given the underhanded tactics he faces, nothing is certain.

[Evolve Dammit]

7. "slow on the uptake" is sadly an understatement. We are sleep-walking to fascism and a dicktatership.

Never underestimate the stupidity of the American electorate. Best to you in any case!

[whathehell]

10. Speak for yourself...

Neither Paul Krugman nor anyone on this board is slow-walking to fascism or anything like it.
Stop conflating 'stupid' Trump supporters with the American electorate as a whole.

[Evolve Dammit]

11. 74 million is not a head slap. And it has been 3.5 years with limited accountability.

[whathehell]

13. ..and it's not even close to a majority

He LOST the poular vote in both elections, and lost it soundly..The "limited accountability" is a separate, more complex issue.

[Evolve Dammit]

14. Sadly, popular vote don't matter. Otherwise H and others would have been in the Oval.

[whathehell]

15. Happily, the popular vote does matter..

in terms of its being a reflection of the mindset of the voting public, and that is what we are talking about here.

[czarjak]

25. Majority rule should rule. Period.

[whathehell]

26. I agree. n/t

[Sky Jewels]

19. Garland fucked us over.

He seems to care little about preventing a fascist dictatorship.

[Evolve Dammit]

30. Makes me wonder...

[Irish_Dem]

17. Exactly. Americans are like sheep being led off a cliff.

We have a number of problems. The large group of American people woefully ignorant and/or lacking a moral core.
They refuse to do their civic duty and will vote for a known treasonous criminal who will damage our country
even more than he already has.

It is really disgusting. These MAGAS are people who live in a wealthy country, and experience more freedoms than anyone in the history of the world. They have never really had a bad day, they don't even know what a bad day is compared to people who have lived in fascist countries or lived in wartime.

We also have Trump, the GOP, and Putin who are quite desperate and will pull every trick in the book to install Trump into the White House.

[whathehell]

12. Krugman is "slow" about nothing..

Just because he chose, for whatever reason, to share this now doesn't mesn he's he's "just getting it".

[progressoid]

21. Slow on the uptake? Really?

Maybe you haven't been following him lately. Or, say for the last 8 or 9 years.

In 2015 he correctly called trump "a belligerent, loudmouth racist with not an ounce of compassion for less fortunate people. In other words, he’s exactly the kind of person the Republican base consists of and identifies with.”

[Irish_Dem]

28. I have followed Krugman for years.

He is excellent and usually way ahead of the curve.

But for him to write at this point he is worried about democracy is a day late and a dollar short
from his usual thought process.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. Joe Biden is a legend. Donald Trump is a legend in his own mind. /nt

[Simeon Salus]

4. Always appreciate the archiving

Thanks!

[IbogaProject]

5. Mostly true

But the 2017 tax law encouraged repatriating retained offshore earnings. That is the spin the GOP will push. Of course that tax boondoggle is hurting all working class people w tax hikes kicking in every odd tax year. The wealthy tax cut and the pass through tax cuts are permanent, so there is a growing economic time bomb ticking along.

[Orrex]

8. They are a KKKult of ignorant racist fuckheads

And they will worship him until the last of them has died.

This was true in 2015, 2020, and still today.

[Wonder Why]

9. Another dumbo wh0 just figured it out - Donnie Dangerous is alive and kicking. Krugman is not.

[progressoid]

18. He's hardy a dumbo who just figured it out.

He's a Nobel Prize winning economist who has been a critic of Trump for a long time.

Here's one from 2015

Paul Krugman: Donald Trump is 'a belligerent, loudmouth racist with not an ounce of compassion'

Economist Paul Krugman is not a fan of Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

In a Monday interview on Bloomberg TV, Krugman blasted the Republican real-estate magnate as a "racist" who appeals to voters' ugliest instincts. He further suggested that was exactly what fueled Trump's rise in the polls.

"He's a belligerent, loudmouth racist with not an ounce of compassion for less fortunate people," Krugman told Bloomberg anchor Joe Weisenthal, who previously worked at Business Insider. "In other words: He's exactly the kind of person the Republican base consists of and identifies with."

...https://www.businessinsider.com/paul-krugman-donald-trump-belligerent-loudmouth-racist-2015-7

[whathehell]

20. Thank you..

I attempted to make the same point upthread.

[progressoid]

23. I get the feeling that a lot of people didn't even read his piece.

[whathehell]

29. I certainly got the feeling they didn't know him,

that's for sure.

[spanone]

22. The media loves the 'Biden's too old' bullshit. Especially faux.

trmp is the one who's out of his fucking mind.

[GuppyGal]

24. It's like nobody has bothered to take 10 friggin minutes to listen to Biden LIVE no they can't do that because that

would blow this bullshit right out the water.

[Tribetime]

27. Garland resign you are a f'n JOKE