Amen, Professor Krugman

[kpete]

Krugman:

…Here’s a contrarian thought: Maybe Mrs. Clinton is winning because she possesses some fundamental political strengths — strengths that fall into many pundits’ blind spots…

When political commentators praise political talent, what they seem to have in mind is the ability of a candidate to match one of a very limited set of archetypes: the heroic leader, the back-slapping regular guy you’d like to have a beer with, the soaring orator. Mrs. Clinton is none of these things: too wonky, not to mention too female, to be a regular guy, a fairly mediocre speechifier; her prepared zingers tend to fall flat.

Yet the person tens of millions of viewers saw in this fall’s debates was hugely impressive all the same: self-possessed, almost preternaturally calm under pressure, deeply prepared, clearly in command of policy issues. And she was also working to a strategic plan: Each debate victory looked much bigger after a couple of days, once the implications had time to sink in, than it may have seemed on the night.

Oh, and the strengths she showed in the debates are also strengths that would serve her well as president. Just thought I should mention that. And maybe ordinary citizens noticed the same thing; maybe obvious competence and poise in stressful situations can add up to a kind of star quality, even if it doesn’t fit conventional notions of charisma.

Furthermore, there’s one thing Mrs. Clinton brought to this campaign that no establishment Republican could have matched: She truly cares about her signature issues, and believes in the solutions she’s pushing.

I know, we’re supposed to see her as coldly ambitious and calculating, and on some issues — like macroeconomics — she does sound a bit bloodless, even when she clearly understands the subject and is talking good sense. But when she’s talking about women’s rights, or racial injustice, or support for families, her commitment, even passion, are obvious. She’s genuine, in a way nobody in the other party can be.

So let’s dispel with this fiction that Hillary Clinton is only where she is through a random stroke of good luck. She’s a formidable figure, and has been all along.

From:
https://www.balloon-juice.com/2016/10/22/saturday-morning-open-thread-maybe-shes-just-the-better-choice/#comments

[livetohike]

1. K&R

[longship]

2. The tag line is perfect!

So let’s dispel with this fiction that Hillary Clinton is only where she is through a random stroke of good luck. She’s a formidable figure, and has been all along.

[tblue37]

8. I know he is quoting Rubio, but the error of "dispel with" grates on

my grammarian soul. It mixes the phrase "dispel the fiction" with "dispense with the fiction."

Rubio's robotic repetition of the phrase was annoying as heck, but the fact that each time he recited his line meant that he also repeated this error felt like fingernails on a chalkboard.

I would have at least included a {sic} next to the "with" while quoting the line.

[treestar]

3. Very good points

The media pundits love to think they are controlling everything. The voters can think for themselves.

[randome]

4. On target!

[hr][font color="blue"][center]"The whole world is a circus if you know how to look at it."
Tony Randall, 7 Faces of Dr. Lao (1964)[/center][/font][hr]

[Bernardo de La Paz]

5. Very clear, very strong piece to celebrate a strong woman. . . . . nt

[heaven05]

6. HRC is prepared

to lead our nation, wisely and sensibly. Has been studying for 30 years. And along the way she was a confidant of a sitting POTUS, senator, secretary of state and immersed continually in the science of politics. The other? Enriching himself while bilking others out of their livelihoods, paychecks and money. He was denying people, who could afford them, places to live based on skin color, has taken people of color off his casino floors when some racist 'high roller' complained about having PoC as dealers in his casinos, he would order PoC hidden when the emperor and his queen walked through and I hate to think what he might have done to any female employee he happened to corner in private from maid to aide. And he did say the other day, he was "the least racist person someone may know".

And the scum in this country want to make this 'man' a POTUS. It just shows me what and who I have been living among for 68 years.

[spanone]

7. K&R...

[lark]

9. K&R

for both Krugman and President to be -Clinton.

[lindysalsagal]

11. Being a NY senator and sec of state should do that for you.

Unlike running casinos.