Is Paul Krugman fashioning himself an "Oracle Of The Left"?

[Unsane]

I've seen him in the news a lot lately. What are his motives? I feel like he's going to critique Obama at every instance in which the president fails to live up to Krugman's "liberal ideal".

[yourout]

1. If he is then I am not complaining. The more the merrier.

[mucifer]

2. I think he really is trying to get Obama to put more social plans and job stimulus

into the package. Krugman has said he feels he can be more effective outside of the administration than in the administration. I agree.

[Wetzelbill]

3. He's most effective as a critic

I think he recognizes that. If you read his work as a columnist, his blog and his books you'll see he's created a whole body of work geared towards critiquing policy and promoting liberal solutions. He just has more people focused on him now because of the Nobel Prize and the financial crisis. He doesn't so much critique Obama as much as he critiques what he feels is bad policy. Some people around here are still angry at Krugman for criticizing Obama during the primaries largely because his health care plan was further to the right than Hillary's and it was. He also has a style that is abrasive, Krugman doesn't suffer fools lightly and he compared Obama's most rabid followers to a cult of personality. It's also why he isn't in government, he doesn't fit the ass kissing civility culture very well.

All in all, he's a good guy to have around, he knows policy and promotes liberal ideas that work. And Obama isn't above criticism, I think it's a good thing if it's about good policy and not the crazy RW stuff.

[chill_wind]

12. Great post. n/t

[xchrom]

4. krugman is just himself -- and he's brilliant. nt

[Taisho]

5. Is there anything that you disagree with?

Regarding his views?

[Bread and Circus]

6. My sense is that he's using his Nobel clout to make Obama look like a centrist...

both benefit.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

7. he has always been this way. if you guys were mad at the media letting bush go

you should want unbiased media people. krugman is one of them.

[Skittles]

8. Krugman speaks the truth

[Cha]

9. He wanted Hillary during the primaries so

his hypocricy doesn't impress me.

[Wetzelbill]

13. He preferred her health care plan

And when Obama's most rabid supporters attacked him, on something he was right about, he said they were like a cult of personality. Everything he critiqued Obama on was valid policy stuff, he never endorsed or campaigned for her. And he didn't really like her plan either he just said it was better than Obama's.

[Cha]

14. I'm with TPM on this one..

"... Krugman? Puhleeze. Krugman has one job: diss Obama and never offer a solution. ..."

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=talking+points+memo+%2Bkrugman+disses+obama&aq=f&oq=

Edit~Clarity.

[Wetzelbill]

16. except he always offers solutions

:)

[Forkboy]

17. That is so simplistic that it's frightening.

Like him or not, Krugman is far more complex that than, and your unwillingness to look deeper is not a good thing, for you or the Democrats. :shrug:

[ChiciB1]

10. Krugman Has Valid Points The Fact That's He Getting More Attention About

it is a plus as fare as I'm concerned. Agree or disagree, at least his opinion is out there to be bantered about and is being taken with some sincerity.

Free Speech is GOOD, getting MSM to cover it is even better
\

[chill_wind]

11. He has the company of other economists, also effectively being ignored.

Just as most were with the bank bailout debacle. I guess I'm grateful at least one among them is getting some air.

"liberal ideal"? What's with quotes? Is liberal slowly becoming a dirty or passe' word even on Du these days?

The degree to which I've seen a small contingent of DU Krugman bashers try to discredit him any way they can is becoming very interesting.

The $800 Billion Gamble: Economists Say Stimulus Cuts Could Be "Disastrous"

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=8184498&mesg_id=8184605

[Hell Hath No Fury]

15. I think the same thing he tried to do the past...

under Bush -- say what is going right and say what is going wrong. :shrug:

Just because Obama is in the White doesn't means people like Krugman stop doing their jobs.

Enough with this "we liked him when he was bashing Bush but now he is suspect because he's taking on Obama" shit.

[Forkboy]

18. I'm not an expert on him by any means, but I have read a lot of his stuff.

And while I don't always agree with him, I know he's coming from a fairly liberal viewpoint (not always, but overall), that he cares more about the average person than any single Republican, and that he at least offers solutions with his criticisms far more often than not, something 99% of us right here on DU can't claim.

He's on our side and he's a useful voice, even if you don't always agree with him.

As I said in another thread, DU has a strong tendency to reduce every single politician/personality to the most basic black and white caricature that one must either love or hate. It's DU's biggest flaw, imo, and I've always felt that way. Sadly, with more people, there's more of that simplistic thinking, and Krugman is bringing it out big time.