(Change We Can Believe In?) BREAKING: Is Krugman Heading To White House Job?

[kpete]

Last edited Wed Oct 3, 2012, 08:16 PM - Edit history (1)

There is no evidence that Paul Krugman has been offered a job in the Obama administration, other than the claims of a diarist who says "reports surfaced" but is unable to point to such reports, and who has a track record of false claims. Such an offer would represent a huge shift in Obama's economic policy, but we've seen no evidence of such a shift.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/03/1139398/-Another-embarrassment-for-DailyKos


At the top, both Sec. of State Hillary Clinton and Treasury Sec. Tim Geithner have said they plan to step down. Geithner wants to return to Wall St. – no surprise there; often, his actions at Treasury made it seem as if he never left – and Clinton will have a dizzying array of attractive options from book deals and corporate directorships to planning a presidential run in 2016. Other cabinet secretaries are likely to follow, including Attorney General Eric Holder who's become a lightning rod for Democrats and Republicans alike thanks to a triad of missteps including not prosecuting anyone on Wall St. for their role in the financial meltdown, not being more aggressive in fighting voter suppression and mishandling the "Fast and Furious" controversy.

If precedent is any indication, there will be a massive reshuffling of the West Wing itself by January, as well.

Persistent rumors in Washington say that one advisor who will leave is Alan Krueger, chair of the Council of Economic Advisors since 2011. And even more persistent rumors are floating around that the president will ask Princeton University professor, New York Times columnist and blogger, and Nobel Prize winning economist Paul Krugman to take Krueger's place.

"There's no question that Krugman is on the president's list for the next term," a well-placed source close to the highest levels of The White House told me today. He did not wish to comment for attribution for fear of risking access.

I tried reaching Dr. Krugman for a response but he is in Europe and not available for comment.

more:
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/03/1139322/-BREAKING-Is-Krugman-Heading-To-White-House-Job

[Atman]

1. About f**king time.

We're happy to have Wall Street insiders making decisions. How about just some guy who knows what he's talking about, without a vested interest?

[AnnaLee]

6. Yes but I don't think he would accept it now.

Especially if tea partiers can block any effort to actually do something about the economy/job market.

[monmouth]

10. Hopefully the end of the tea partiers is right around the corner.../t

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

2. The question is. If this were to happen (which I doubt). Will the repubes use this photo

as evidence against Mr. Krugman?

[hifiguy]

8. I love that graphic.

The photoshopper found the perfect pic of Krugman for that background.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

16. It never gets old. But I'm pretty sure that's George Clooney in Syriana. nt

[hifiguy]

20. If so he looks so much like the good professor

that it's easy to mistake the two on a quick look.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

25. Found it! Here's Prof. Krugman being all modest and shit :)

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/18/ive-never-actually-seen-the-resemblance/

[tblue37]

48. My older brother looks astonishingly like Clooney with a beard. nt

[me b zola]

23. Love the movie, love that pic

[flamingdem]

3. I think he's a hot potato

and he's been wrong too many times -- too controversial and not solid

[AnnaLee]

9. Wrong about what??? eom

[Zalatix]

22. Really now? How do you explain the fact that he is the most accurate predictor out there?

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/130485/claim-krugman-is-top-prognosticator-cal-thomas-is-the-worst/

[flamingdem]

24. Yes and no, all pundits get it wrong, that's the problem with hiring a pundit

Their opinions are too well known

[Zalatix]

35. And who can you hire that's perfect? Better yet, who can you hire who is more accurate than Krugman?

[AgingAmerican]

37. Politics aside...

...Krugman would be one hell of an upgrade!!

[Laura PourMeADrink]

36. great find. very interesting. I read it fast, but they didn't really explain

how they quantified the total predictions. I mean, I've never really heard Maureen Dowd make that
many. If they made 1 vs 100

[Robb]

4. I'm just happy he's on the list, frankly.

Speaks volumes in and of itself.

[freshwest]

17. Please, let this happen. A lame duck prez can do a lot of different things.

In my second term, I will have more flexibility.
~ Barack Obama

[hifiguy]

5. From the source's lips to the Invisible Pink Unicorn's

holy hooves!

[arcane1]

7. I would totally support that decision n/t

[1-Old-Man]

11. That alone would insure my vote for the President, as if he didn't already have it.

[Fumesucker]

12. Nice head fake.. But Krugman is not a Serious Person, in fact he's quite Shrill.

No pragmatic moderate centrist would tolerate Shrillness.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/29/looking-back-with-shrillness/

[bluestate10]

13. I am a pragmatic moderate centrist.

I like the idea of having people that disagree with me around. The goal is to fight it out over ideas, develop a working consensus then execute to that consensus. If Krugman is the type that fights hard for what he believes in decision making meetings, but is ok with supporting the ultimate decision afterward, he may be one of the best choices. Krugman will bring fresh ideas to the table.

Often reading stuff written on DU leaves me wanting to punch a brick wall. But I come back. The reason why is that I am not in a echo chamber of like minds, that is a good outcome, even when there are times I become insane when reading posts from some DU members that I would rather not name.

[DCBob]

19. The President may be thinking the same thing.. "Team of Rivals"

Krugman has been a thorn in the side of Obama since day one. Maybe the President is thinking this will get him off his back.

[Fumesucker]

28. Did you click on the link I put in my post?

Even Krugman admits he's Shrill.



Not gladly suffering fools is for the most part a negative in politics.

Krugman's reputation precedeth him.

[LiveNudePolitics]

34. I agree, Krugman may be just the ticket

I hope they choose the best person for the job. Fresh ideas have never been more needed, yet poo-pooed on sites that are supposed to be safe places for discussion. That's too close to Tea Party's tactics for comfort, for me.

Debate is vital to improving our lot. But, some DU folks want to look at every issue, policy point or sound byte through an "us and them" mentality. Sometimes Daily Kos is the same way, when you can't even discuss a Dem in less than glowing terms, even if he is a known criminal, with out everyone jumping all over you for disloyalty.
We won't ever get anything done that way, especially as long as our legislators behave in the same fashion, putting party affiliation first.
I reject the Republican ideology, because it is bad for the country, the policies seem designed to move money upwards to those who need it least. I vote mostly Democratic, but not just for the "right kind" of Dems. You have to do the work, to pick the best candidate.

[LiberalAndProud]

14. Part of me dares to hope

that cabinet appointments for Obama's second term will be delightfully surprising.

I hope.

[porphyrian]

15. Please, please, please...! n/t

[Cirque du So-What]

18. Even if Paul Krugman declines the offer

I hope the President keeps him on speed-dial.

[Tippy]

21. Seems theWH was listening.....better late then never..

[hay rick]

26. Too good to be true. nt

[on point]

27. That would be fabulous. At last someone who knows what's wrong and how to fix it!

PLEASE replace all those Chicago School e con fools who pushed supply side economics and the tinkle down nonsense that only served to enrich the few by ripping off the many

[lillypaddle]

29. OMG

that would be WONDERFUL! I hope it's true ...

[bluethruandthru]

30. Let's hope so! Fingers crossed!!! n/t

[Left Coast2020]

31. Toes are crossed too!!

Dr. Krugman should have gotten the gig from day-one. Who better to know how to deal with an "economy" than that worm Geithner--who by the way, should be in jail imo.

[farmbo]

32. KOS has flagged this story as bogus...

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/03/1139398/-Another-embarrassment-for-DailyKos

[progressoid]

33. "...the #1 recommended diary on this site (KOS) is a complete fantasy."

Oops.

[harmonicon]

38. Logic flags the story as bogus.

Is he on a list? Sure. I bet his name is on a list of potential appointees to leak to the media. I doubt his name is on a list of actual potential appointees.

[polichick]

39. I predict a new crop of corporate tools...

...as campaigning Obama gives way to governing Obama. Hope I'm wrong and he does it differently this time.

[Cal33]

40. I think Krugman has written at least once in his column that he wasn't interested in working for the

government.

[caseymoz]

41. I'm thinking Obama's second term will be unusual.

If he wins, I bet he'd get more done, and more progressive things done, in the second term than in the first.

My nightmare: I think he has a better chance of being assassinated now than he does of losing this election.

[tblue37]

49. He needs a *liberal* true Democratic Congress--BOTH houses. Even when he had a supposed 60-vote Dem

majority in the Senate, it wasn't really that. It was always several true Dems short of a 60-vote majority, and the Repubs were filibustering everything, so nothing less than a true 60-vote majority could make it possible for a vote to even be held on important legislation.

[caseymoz]

50. I'm also predicting discord in the GOP.

They lose this Presidential race, and it's just going to get worse (or better, if you're a Democrat). Their main strategies have been to defeat Obama and repeal the ACA. If they're turned back on both of them, they are going to turn on each other. If it's a terrible defeat, that is, if they lose ground in both chambers of Congress without necessarily losing the house, the blame and fighting is going to be worse.

I mean, in four years of demonizing Obama, questioning his birth certificate, saying his election was illegitimate, saying he was Hitler, he was closet Jihadist. And they acted like all of this was true. So, when they do all that, and they still can't defeat him, it's going to be demoralizing. They couldn't even field a good candidate.

Plus, they can see the demographic trend. They know ethnic minorities will soon be the majority, and those minorities all agree that the GOP stinks. Repubs know their fortunes are set to go downhill from here, and the only thing that could conceivably reverse it is a win in the Presidential race.

[jumptheshadow]

42. This is a good sign, if true

Krugman has integrity and vision. Perhaps it means that the President is going to take off the gloves when he wins a second term.

[progressoid]

46. Not true - see upthread.

"KOS embarrassed"

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/10/03/1139398/-Another-embarrassment-for-DailyKos

[keopeli]

43. I remember '08...

Similar rumors preceded the '08 election. Obama's campaign staff was full of progressives.

I also remember who was picked immediately following the election to fill administrative posts. Campaign progressives were dismissed outright, and corporate insiders, wall street gazillionaires and cronies for the rich filled almost every significant job.

I also remember a certain person, hired as Chief of Staff, telling supportive progressives who were complaining about the choices something along the lines of "f*** off".

Realistically, I would expect a second term administration to be full of similar corporate shrills. I prefer to remain realistic in my expectations this time about a re-elected Obama. I'd rather not be disappointed again with my preferred choice for President. After all, we can't re-make Obama into what we want him to be. He is what he is, he likes what he likes, and his choices remain his, in spite of the views of his hard-working supporters.

[harun]

44. Nice carrot to bring the Liberals to the polls. Won't happen though.

You don't fill the White House with former members of Goldman Sach's then pick a Krugman. Ain't happen'n.

[Enrique]

45. also free ponies for everyone

according to sources.

[JNelson6563]

47. A truly wretched thread.

Some diarist at Kos weaves a story from "rumors", quotes from anonymous sources and throws in lots of opinion and VOILA!

Watch the DUers line up to imply this is the work of the WH to trick the hard working supporters out there blogging and stuff like every day who were crestfallen to discover he was actually exactly like Bush II!1!

omg.

Julie

[BootinUp]

51. Krugman has blogged more than once

that its not what wants to do.

[BainsBane]

52. Add Krugman and Shelia Bair

to really take Wall Street to task.