I met PAUL KRUGMAN in the flesh yesterday!

[Cassandra]

Yes, he was dressed. I went to see him at a lecture at the 92nd. St. Y in NY. He was great. He said he's not allowed by the Times to officially endorse a candidate but that he can endorse slogans, so he chose to endorse Howard Dean's slogan, "I want my country back!"
He said that the deficit numbers are so bad that if we were a third world country, we wouldn't be heading for a crisis, we would have been in one for quite a while. He said that only the fact that we are, officially, a first world country has other countries expect that we will work to correct ourselves. He said that if Bush is "returned to office", he's concerned that they show no interest in sound fiscal discipline.
He said that he's not interested in any government job as he doesn't have the personality needed to shut up when required.
Someone asked about Judith Miller and he said that although he's not really allowed to comment, he said he was perplexed as we are that she and others are facing contempt charges while Novak roams free. Said he doesn't underestimate the ability of Republicans to turn even something good into something that backfires on us somehow.
He was signing books afterward, so I bought a paperback and he signed it. There was a lull in the line so I told him that if it weren't for his writing, I would have felt like I was living in the Twilight Zone for the last 4 years. He said he heard that a lot. I said that's because you speak the truth and that's a rare commodity these days. I pointed out the recent Times story about Amtrak paying the liability claims of CSX, which absolves CSX of having to repair their tracks. I mentioned that there was no firestorm over John Snow's old company making profits by dumping their liability costs onto the taxpayers, or any screaming about Jonathan Bush at Riggs Bank. I said that if there was one tenth the investigation of Bush as there had been of Clinton, Bushco would have been drawn and quartered by now. He responded that whenever he hears of some outrage by Bush, he thinks, what if Clinton had done that? At that point, the line caught up to me and I had to move on. He was really nice.
As I was leaving I saw there was a police car near a very chi-chi protest pen, but there were no protesters.

[patrice]

1. Congressman Dennis Moore refered to the Debt Tax last night

during his debate with a Nazi name Kris Kobach.

I know Moore has some real Republican supporters who hear him loud and clear on his deficit message.

I like that label, the "Debt Tax", interest on interest on the Deficit. These anti-tax Republicans are FOR the Debt Tax.

[jonnyblitz]

2. yeah why IS novak roaming free still? good point!!

Krugman is always a "must read" for me. he and frank rich (now that frank rich seems to be writing political commentary once again). lucky you to see krugman. there are always good events like this in NYC.

[Indykatie]

3. Thanks for Sharing

I'm a devoted fan of Paul Krugman. His has been a much needed voice on the left talking about *'s economic policy disasters and how they impact us all now and will in the future. He's the gem on the NYT's staff.

[lynx rufus]

4. He is great in person

[donheld]

5. I'm jealous

I'd love to hear Paul. He's just about my favorite right now. i wish more people would listen to him. I would think he's be a good Secretary of the Treasury:bounce::bounce::bounce::bounce:

[Cassandra]

6. Kicking for late night Krugman fans

:kick: