Paul Krugman: “Talking nonsense” is job requirement for GOP presidential nomination

[DonViejo]

When it comes to money, Republicans would rather "embrace fantasy" than deal with hard truths

SCOTT ERIC KAUFMAN

Paul Krugman unloaded on the Republican Party’s “deep bench” in his New York Times column Friday, excoriating the presidential hopefuls for their nonsensical views on all matters economic.

“How would the men and women who would be president respond if crisis struck on their watch?” he asked, answering that on the GOP side, the answer is all “bluster and China-bashing.” He singles out Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, who said that he if he were president, he’d “solve” the China-problem by telling its leader, Xi Jinping, to cancel his planned visit to the United States. “That would fix things!” he added.

Donald Trump’s non-solution is no better, Krugman argued. He constantly says that he wouldn’t let China “dictate the agenda,” but no one — not even Trump — knows precisely what that means. It is, however, an almost perfect talking point, playing as it does both to the GOP delusion that Obama’s a weak president and the party’s rampant xenophobia. “Not only can Obama not stop the Chinese, but they’re Chinese!” is the general impression they’re attempting to create.

“Obama is endangering America by borrowing from China” is a perfect political line, playing into deficit fetishism, xenophobia and the perennial claim that Democrats don’t stand up for America! America! America! It’s also complete nonsense, but that doesn’t seem to matter.

In fact, talking nonsense about economic crises is essentially a job requirement for anyone hoping to get the Republican presidential nomination.

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http://www.salon.com/2015/08/28/paul_krugman_talking_nonsense_is_job_requirement_for_gop_presidential_nomination/