Paul Krugman- The Crazies and the Con Man
How will the chaos that the crazies, I mean the Freedom Caucus, have wrought in the House get resolved? I have no idea. But as this column went to press, practically the whole Republican establishment was pleading with Paul Ryan, the chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, to become speaker. He is, everyone says, the only man who can save the day.
What makes Mr. Ryan so special? The answer, basically, is that hes the best con man theyve got. His success in hoodwinking the news media and self-proclaimed centrists in general is the basis of his stature within his party. Unfortunately, at least from his point of view, it would be hard to sustain the con game from the speakers chair.
To understand Mr. Ryans role in our political-media ecosystem, you need to know two things. First, the modern Republican Party is a post-policy enterprise, which doesnt do real solutions to real problems. Second, pundits and the news media really, really dont want to face up to that awkward reality.
On the first point, just look at the policy ideas coming from the presidential candidates, even establishment favorites like Marco Rubio, the most likely nominee given Jeb Bushs fatal lack of charisma. The Timess Josh Barro has dubbed Mr. Rubios tax proposal the puppies and rainbows plan, consisting of trillions in giveaways with not a hint of how to pay for them just the assertion that growth would somehow make it all good.
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