Paul Krugman: The War President (DSM, plunging polls, abuse of power)

[Pirate Smile]

"-snip-
Leading the nation wrongfully into war strikes at the heart of democracy. It would have been an unprecedented abuse of power even if the war hadn't turned into a military and moral quagmire. And we won't be able to get out of that quagmire until we face up to the reality of how we got in.

-snip-
On one side, the people who sold this war, unable to face up to the fact that their fantasies of a splendid little war have led to disaster, are still peddling illusions: the insurgency is in its "last throes," says Dick Cheney. On the other, they still have moderates and even liberals intimidated: anyone who suggests that the United States will have to settle for something that falls far short of victory is accused of being unpatriotic.

We need to deprive these people of their ability to mislead and intimidate. And the best way to do that is to make it clear that the people who led us to war on false pretenses have no credibility, and no right to lecture the rest of us about patriotism.

The good news is that the public seems ready to hear that message - readier than the media are to deliver it. Major media organizations still act as if only a small, left-wing fringe believes that we were misled into war, but that "fringe" now comprises much if not most of the population.

more at
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/24/opinion/24krugman.html?hp

[converted_democrat]

1. I love Krugman.....He never seems to miss...n/t

[Burried News]

2. Pretty soon the thought herders will be out of a job.

Thank you Paul for not letting them run you off - you are one of many heroes.

"The good news is that the public seems ready to hear that message - readier than the media are to deliver it. Major media organizations still act as if only a small, left-wing fringe believes that we were misled into war, but that "fringe" now comprises much if not most of the population."

[cynatnite]

3. He's had it right on the money every time

I remember that interview he had with O'Lielly some time ago. He was fantastic.

[Pirate Smile]

5. I think that was on Russert's CNBC weekend show. I'd love to see

them do that again.

[cynatnite]

8. Yeah, you're right

Thanks for the correction.

[jaysunb]

4. Well , there you have it

the bald face truth, printed in a major newspaper, saying that the media itself is greatly responsible for where we are, and the solution to fix it.

Let's see what happens.

[jsamuel]

6. Great piece!! nt

[grytpype]

7. The Kruginator is an automatic recommend!!!!!!!

[pdxblue]

9. krugman also makes this point...

"In a Gallup poll taken in early April - that is, before the release of the Downing Street Memo - 50 percent of those polled agreed with the proposition that the administration "deliberately misled the American public" about Iraq's W.M.D. In a new Rasmussen poll, 49 percent said that Mr. Bush was more responsible for the war than Saddam Hussein, versus 44 percent who blamed Saddam."
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/24/opinion/24krugman.html?hp


that is really quite incredible when you think about it... and then think about this:
nearly 60% of the American people (latest gallup and zogby polls) are now willing to say, flat out, that they oppose the war in Iraq. That is a remarkable statement. I'm not sure 60% ever opposed the war in Vietnam, even after it had been lost.


THE POINT: KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT!!!!!!!!!

[spooky3]

20. I can't provide the links, but as I recall, the vast majority of the

public opposed the war in Vietnam towards the end. That's why the government finally realized they had to get the troops out.

on edit: this isn't the best link but check out the March 1971 entry (only 34% approve Nixon Vietnam policy, i.e., 66% disapprove or have no opinion)

http://www.historyplace.com/unitedstates/vietnam/index-1969.html

I would speculate that later polls would be even more negative. But it's important to remember that the media were much more upfront then about reporting the bad news from Vietnam and questioning authority. Stories of this type were on the (only) 3 networks almost every night.

[Oversea Visitor]

10. Reality

Your President took US into 2 illegal war
You can take it BUT CAN YOU HOLD IT
Sure after 100 years and 500,000 dead young American you say you have enough
Maybe add in another 100 years
with a million dead amricans you give up
Or maybe to finance the war you need to attack more countries

Go learn what happen to the Roman Empire and why it fail

[eleonora]

11. It's about time people start waking up

Unfortunately, we all knew about this a loooooong time ago

[babylonsister]

12. Great to read this! Krugman calling the media

out, and mentioning the importance of the DSM, in the NY Times, no less, in one fell swoop! :woohoo: :woohoo:

[stubtoe]

17. Enthusiastically agreed,

a sight for sore eyes indeed.

[Orion The Hunter]

21. RE: DSM

Glad to see that Krugman told the media that this "old news" baloney is not going to sail, and that the public wants to know what the real deal is.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. Bumped.

[steve2470]

14. kick nt

[bpilgrim]

15. we were just talking about this on DU

DU thread....

and we had Helen Thomas's quote on the greates page recently as well...
"I have never covered a president who actually wanted to go to war"

we are very fortunate to have him, thank you Mr. Krugman for telling it like it is :toast:

peace

[dalloway]

16. Bravo Mr. Krugman!

[Straight Shooter]

18. This is the theme we must keep repeating: abuse of power

Abuse. of. power.

It's as simple as that. It encompasses everything. It's an ugly phrase in any context, and it's the truth.

Please, always use that phrase in context with bush: abuse of power.

[Coexist]

19. he certainly nails it.

[ThomWV]

22. Clearly One Of His Better Articles

Don't get me wrong, I have generally agreed with what he has said in almost all of his articles. I also appreciate his writing style, which to my mind reads reasonably and well. This one is a little better than most though, in fact quite a bit better. I'd certainly recommend it.

[wryter2000]

23. Can I have three men at once?

I can't make up my mind among Conyers, Dean, and Paul Krugman.

:loveya: :loveya: :loveya:

[senseandsensibility]

24. Krugman rocks!

No wonder little Tuckie Carlson comes unglued whenever his name is mentioned, and starts screaming for his mommy.

[Hissyspit]

25. Public should have been ready to "hear that message" all along.

I'm sorry; I find it really hard to keep out of a "I told you so" mode. Krugman is much better at that than I, or he is more subtle about it.

[borlis]

26. It's good to see that a few dedicated, TRUTHFUL, journalists

still exist. Once again, he nailed it. :headbang:

[PST]

27. Krugman is the best in the business

all those other so-called journalists should read this and hang their heads in shame.

[McCamy Taylor]

28. The Fort Worth "Lockheed" Paper has been 100% pro-war so I wonder

if they will censor this Krugman piece. They usually run his columns, esp. the ones in which he denounces *'s plans to fleece Social Security.

[paineinthearse]

29. John Conyers' latest blog features this op ed

See http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3944941

Conyers and Klugman, :yourock: