Krugman doesn't think the Obama team can correct their course

[pscot]

either economically or politically. He cites the Bradblog:

So the only strong policy views in the administration’s internal debate mix right now are those of people who were wrong in the summer of 2009.

And when I talk to their staffs, the message I hear is not “we were wrong about how the world works, and are rethinking the issues from the ground up to figure out what to do” but instead “we were unlucky: our policies were good”.

Worse, what Brad suggests — and it’s my impression, too — is that policy formation is being seriously distorted by unwillingness to acknowledge past error. People who opposed stronger action in the past continue to oppose strong action now, in part because that would be admitting, at least implicitly, that they were wrong before. The stimulus was the right size; the HAMP program was the best that could be done; it would have been irresponsible to take action on China; and so we must stay the course, never mind the unemployment rate.

Of course, this applies to matters non-economic as well, as witness Obama’s continuing and increasingly bizarre efforts to transcend partisanship.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/

[villager]

1. sadly, this is becoming clearer and clearer - -the question is what it augurs for the election

Perhaps electing strong Democrats who will embarrass this administration into doing the right thing(s) -- unless they just explicitly caucus with the GOP in that circumstance?

[SharonAnn]

22. I don't think the Obama administration "will" change it's course. They could, bu they won't.

[Kurmudgeon]

33. Why should they? They are hardly Bush-Cheney with their attitude and tactics.

[Autumn]

2. I think they are right on the course they want to be on

Excellent read. Thanks

[indepat]

16. I think you hit the nail squarely on its head

:patriot:

[emilyg]

18. Yes.

[FSogol]

3. Does Krugman think Bachmann or Perry have a better shot?

:shrug:

[sudopod]

4. You're soooo clever, lol nt

[harun]

6. "the biggest problem is, of course, spelled G-O-P."

He's just saying the "Change" candidate needs to be willing to change.

[GreenPartyVoter]

8. That doesn't really make me feel any better. "You have crap now, but you could have _more_

crap with those guys in charge."

Sure, that's true. There would be more crap,and I don't like the idea. But knowing that doesn't make me feel any better about the quantity and quality of the crap we DO have now.

[Larkspur]

10. When I hear that kind of retort from Obama and our Dem leaders, I hear

a lazy and lame leader admit that he/she has no American values to fight for and doesn't give a damn about the middles class and working Americans.
Leaders who say this nonsense have their hands in the corporate till and don't want to lose their cozy lifestyles, but it's ok to make the Middle and working classes pay for the wealthy's tax cuts. Afterall, the wealthy can send them large donations.

[primavera]

27. That's at least cheerier than what I hear...

... which is authoritarianism: don't ask questions, don't offer alternative viewpoints, just shut up and do what you're told.

[Kurmudgeon]

34. And I see another lazy Dem blaming Obama for the right wing House the US gave him.

You do the GOP's work with your smears and I'm getting sick of it. Especially on this so-called Dem website.

[frylock]

13. that's exactly what he said, right?

mix in a little nuance.

[swilton]

14. As least with a Bachmann or Perry we would have an opposition

[emilyg]

19. Who knows?

[primavera]

28. Perhaps Krugman thinks it's worth trying to identify sound policies...

... that might actually help solve our country's problems instead of just going with the flow for the sake of politics.

[_ed_]

29. False Choice logical fallacy

Can you Obama apologists come up with another logical fallacy to use for a while? This one is about played out.

[BeyondGeography]

5. Unlucky?

Makes no sense.

I figure just about everyone is screaming at them to course-correct now. If not, they soon will be. His speech yesterday was mostly irrelevant (bipartisanship is not ever going to happen) and depressing (because he's wasting his presidency on a prayer). No one will be able to stand that for the rest of the year so I'm hoping for a correction.

[bvar22]

7. Before this White House could "correct" their course,

they would have to WANT to correct their course.
I think they are very satisfied with their performance & direction.
The Top 1% certainly are,
and that is why they will give permission for his 2nd term.





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[roxiejules]

9. The 20 top contributors to the Barack Obama campaign

were the Wall Street cartel of financial firms, their registered lobbyists, and go-to law firms that have a death grip on our federal government. I think they are doing exactly what they intended to with the 'course' and direction of the economy.

[enough]

11. That's not Bradblog he's linking to. It's Brad DeLong, an economist at UC Berkeley.

http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2011/08/how-should-obama-answer-the-stock-markets-wake-up-call-we-need-different-cossacks-department.html

[pscot]

15. Ooops

Thanks for the correction and the link.

[MannyGoldstein]

12. The Infallible Presidency

"The country needs and, unless I mistake its temper, the country demands bold, persistent experimentation serious adult compromise. It is common sense to take a method and try it implement a policy that has always failed in the past: If it fails again, admit it frankly and try another keep doing the same thing unless the Republicans want to do something even worse. But above all, try something take the middle path. The millions who are in want will not stand by silently just have to eat their peas and catfood forever while the things to satisfy their needs are within easy reach.

[JohnWxy]

17. Great post. This is why we need a Democrat to run for the Democratic party nomination in 2012.

recommended!

[pscot]

20. Give me a name

I haven't seen the tiniest hint that anyone might be interested in taking on Obama and the cartels.

[Hydra]

30. Anyone sane wouldn't run at this point

The system is broken, and perhaps impossibly, it's getting MORE broken by the minute.

Call me when the status quo is bad enough that everyone gets over their fear of change.

[awoke_in_2003]

21. bipartisanship equals...

giving Boehner 98% of what he wants.

[Remember Me]

23. Another way of putting it:

Bipartisanship to a Republican means, "Be reasonable. Do it my way."

[hay rick]

24. K&R

[wakemewhenitsover]

25. "...increasingly bizarre efforts to transcend partisanship." Exactly.

The further he bends over backwards, the more it looks like a circus sideshow: Ladeeeeez and gentlemen! Presenting The Man with No Backbone!

[Hawkowl]

26. Sounds like DU supporters

Hmmm. I see where the blue linkers are coming from now.

[Doctor_J]

31. "increasingly bizarre efforts to transcend partisanship."

that pretty much sums up the problems in one phrase.

[Broderick]

32. Learning as we go?

This is distressing.