Paul Krugman: Obama One of ‘Most Consequential’ Presidents in Modern History

[Mister Nightowl]

Thank you, Omaha Steve!

[EEO]

1. In spite of historic obstructionism.

[Cary]

2. Hmmmmm

I am a huge Dr. Krugman fan and it is interesting how he has come around to my point of view. The whole anti-Obama schtick, is what?

A colossal waste of energy, and playing into the "conservative" tactic of sowing discord and dissatisfaction so that WE THE PEOPLE are discouraged and don't vote.

Are there things I wish President Obama would have done, or would do? Of course but is that really what it is about when it comes to evaluating OUR president? No, it isn't. We deal in the realm of the possible. Politics is, after all, the art of the possible.

WE, THE PEOPLE have to send the message to Republicans that their discord and dissatisfaction is what it is, treason. They are undermining WE, THE PEOPLE in favor of their oligarchs and plutocrats in the most atrocious, craven, and cynical way. And they have rationalized their ideology with lies upon lies.

And why don't we Democrats fully embrace that fact, that Republicans are treasonous liars? What more do we need to fully embrace that? Were we not lied into wars? Is not "supply-side economics" a bald-faced lie? Isn't climate denial a bald-faced lie? I mean we have science on our side on that one, for goodness sake, and the pukes shamelessly lie about the science and the scientists.

We need to put our foot down, not nit-pick each other or play into the Republicans' idiotic tactics. If we put aside our petty differences and bickering over stupidity we cannot be defeated by the oligarchs and their billions. I respect Professor Krugman but what good came from his harsh words against the Obama administration? I agree with him on the stimulus, 1,000 percent. But what good came from the criticism and blame for something that wasn't President Obama's fault and not in his control? He is criticized because he comes off as professorial? Really? The Republicans obstructed and they weren't going to do anything else. None of them. There was no one who would be persuaded.

You can't control or negotiate with fascists.

If we stand up, together, we cannot be defeated. And if we don't come together in our own coalition and we bicker about this or that we have no one to blame but ourselves. So I agree with Professor Krugman 100% but where was he when we were doing this transformational change in health care?

It's mild criticism of him, mind you. I'm just a little irritated. I was right then. I am glad to see him coming around now. I really hope the rest of us do too.

Vote Democratic people. There is too much at stake.

[CTyankee]

6. well, look, he called his criticism "tough love." And he wouldn't be true to his profession if

he hadn't done his job and pointed out what could be better. I think Krugman is a realist about why Obama did what he did in giving up the public option in order to get the rest of the ACA. It's sad. It's infuriating. But I think Krugman NOW understands what we do, that Obama seriously underestimated how far the republicans would go in opposition to Obamacare.

IMO, Krugman has ALWAYS been right!

[Cary]

9. Professor Krugman blamed President Obama

What I object to, specifically, is blaming President Obama when the blame properly goes 110% to Republicans/"conservatives."

It's not that I respect President Obama that much; it is that "conservatives"/Republicans really are the culprits and too that I detest them that much, and more. They decided to obstruct. They said they would obstruct. They clearly were intent upon obstructing not for any good purpose but rather as a power play. They did obstruct and they have cost us in every way imaginable. They did this. President Obama didn't tell them to do this. I certainly didn't tell them to do it and I have chastised my own allegedly moderate Republican Senator, for all the good it did.

Their promise to obstruct may be the only honest thing they did. But here Professor Krugman, and you, don't believe they were really going to do what they said they would do, and even after they've done it you think that President Obama could have affected this.

Do you understand that "conservatives" blame President Obama for their own obstructionism? Do you understand that is the point, to sow discord and discontent?

So why on earth would any of us go along with that? Seriously, I don't understand. What good did Professor Krugman do?

[CTyankee]

10. I honestly don't know what Obama could have done in the face of the obstructionism

of the repubs. I didn't imagine back then that they were batshit crazy, tho.

I dunno, maybe we're all crazy and the progressive dream is just that...a dream and it can't be achieved.

[Cary]

11. We are not crazy

What you need to know, CTyankee, is that "conservatives" are fascists. One cannot negotiate with fascists. One can only defeat them or appease them. We must vote. If we vote we defeat them and then defeat them again and again.

[CTyankee]

12. Oh, I won't shrink from the fight but at present I try to be realistic about our chances of

defeating them. If they take back the Senate then it will be a huge defeat for progressivism, even for the dream of the Enlightenment itself.

It boggles the mind to think these cavemen could do it. There are people voting for them who are not cavemen. Why do they vote against their own best interests? Many of them have health care for the first time and what do they gain if they vote for and get a republican senate that wants to DENY them that health care? It makes no rational sense. I know people on food stamps who call themselves conservative. Tell me what I am not getting...

[Cary]

13. Don't be so easily demoralized

If we hold the Senate nothing gets done on the next two years. If they win nothing gets done in the next two years. In fact it may be an advantage to lose.

What we really need to do is get our base to vote. 2016 is much more important. If our base votes we win, period.

[CTyankee]

15. We've lost a great deal already.

I think of Goya's Sleep of Reason. He saw what was coming...do we?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0f/Goya_-_Caprichos_(43)_-_Sleep_of_Reason.jpg

[Cary]

17. We have lost, because we haven't voted

Vote Democratic.

[CTyankee]

18. why don't we vote?

[Cary]

24. I think it's many reasons

I also think that "conservative" voter suppression tactics whittles away at the margins. We can counter that with sufficient motivation to express our will.

[Elmer S. E. Dump]

23. I'll take a professor over a chimpanzee any day.

[homegirl]

3. GOTV

The 2014 mid term election is one of the most important elections of modern times. Get Out and Vote, drag your children, relatives and elderly from the couch and VOTE.

[liberal from boston]

16. 2014 Mid Term Election

Thank you homegirl!!! The 2014 mid term election is crucial. I get upset reading comments that mid term voting does not matter as nothing will be done. I strongly urge liberals to ignore those posts because apathy solves nothing & this 2014 election is a big big deal. Bring your relatives, friends, co-workers, neighbors to the polls & vote blue!!!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

4. One thing Obama did was cause the Republicans to go insane....

And that's a good thing...

[Tweedy]

28. Very funny!

I will never forget being warned not to listen to a word president Obama had to say because "he will brainwash you!" To many in the GOP, the president has truly incredible powers!

[Spitfire of ATJ]

30. That's what they said about communists in the 50s too...

On the bright side it inspired a lot of cheesy horror movies of ordinary people becoming mindless robots, "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" being the most obvious along with "Invaders From Mars", "Not of this Earth", etc.

Knowledge was considered to be such a threat that "Fiend Without A Face" had brains attacking you.

[NoMoreRepugs]

5. anybody else think

the interviewer was a bit of a douche and never stopped asking leading questions that leaned toward an attempt to illicit criticism of BHO

[CTyankee]

7. Karl was out of Krugman's league by a mile. Another prima donna of the MSM...

[Cary]

8. Professor Krugman set himself up to be led that way

You can't blame the interviewer for giving Professor Krugman an opportunity. I credit Professor Krugman for handling it well.

[blkmusclmachine]

14. "Obama One of ‘Most Consequential’ Presidents" BUT... FOR WHOM?!?! The 1%

[Tweedy]

19. For all of us, and maybe-- it remains to be seen-- the entire world

Last edited Mon Oct 13, 2014, 11:35 PM - Edit history (2)

President Obama does not cringe from his beliefs because of a fear of the right wing. The culture wars, which have raged every day of my life, have finally ebbed as most Americans now recognize their neighbors' right to dignity. The president deserves credit for this massive shift. For this lessening of the atmosphere of hate alone, the president has served us all magnificently. He has also paid a terrible price by standing firm and speaking truth since much of that hate has been transferred to him.

[emulatorloo]

22. Yes he is just like Bush! And Hitler!

And Krugman? He is super-duper in the back-pocket of the 1 percent. He fucking loves "trickledown" and Reagan!!!!!!!

[Tweedy]

27. Sarcasm?

Paul Krugman has demonstrated that trickle down economics is a joke. Are you being sarcastic, or hyperbolic? President Bush (II) was a truly bad president, but comparing him to the little Austrian sadist-meglomaniac? That is absurd. Comparing president Obama to the Austrian jerk is insane.

[Cha]

20. Thank you, Paul Krugman! thanks MN

[saidsimplesimon]

21. Friend, Un-Friend

A former US citizen once told me Paul was on his admire list. What a difference a few years make?

[olegramps]

25. The Republicans with the aid of the MSM has done a masterful job on Obama.

Their obstructionism has stymied every attempt by the Obama administration to make significant changes that would have greatly improved the situation. The result has not been to hold the Republicans accountable, but the demonetization of the president for the lack of progress. The American people are rightfully disappointed with the situation in Washington, but with the willing assistance of the Main Stream Media they have wrongfully concluded that the fault belongs with Obama. Week after week we see the same Republican demagogues on the news with their endless blame for every set back as the fault of Obama. Their lies, yes lies, are rarely if every challenged.

What is really pitiful is that here at DU I see some of the same tripe being spouted. To his detractors what in the hell do they think that Obama can do? You would think by the criticism that he had the power of a dictator. The crap I hear from that camp is accepted by the Republicans as cherished gift of incomparable value in their war to destroy Democrats. It is having its toll as evidenced by the negative effect that it has on races from local to national politics.

This election will have far reaching consequences and it appears that they will not favor the working class that is joining the band wagon riding to their own destruction. In my lifetime I have seen and benefited from the almost magical transformation of the working class from virtual slaves to a healthy middle class with unlimited opportunities for advancement. It is sad to see the advances being squandered by workers who bought the corporate propaganda of the ruling class. The workers thought that they were somehow immune from what was taking place as over 50,000 industries closed the doors and the millions of jobs were systematically outsourced to sate the greed of the oligarchs.

I can only shudder to think what the next generation faces especially when I see working class Democrats welcoming their own demise like mindless zombies in the Walking Dead.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

26. ++++++ n/t

[Tweedy]

29. Even so, the president has done a lot

The economy is recovering. The future is much brighter. Health care reform is real and here to stay. Most Americans support raising the minimum wage and immigration reform. Gay marriage is no longer a wedge issue, but an accepted (and for most of us) acceptable fact. The price of oil is down, despite huge unrest in the Middle East. We have recovered some of the damage our reputation took due to president Bush's many misadventures.

After years of steering to the right, always to the right, we have finally had a course correction. Thank goodness!