NPR: Paul Krugman Hates Obama Tax Deal Less Than He Thought

[dennis4868]

http://www.npr.org/blogs/itsallpolitics/2010/12/07/131874321/paul-krugman-hates-obama-tax-deal-less-than-he-thought

Paul Krugman, the Nobel-Prize winning economist and New York Times columnist followed closely by many on the political left like an oracle for all things economic, has consistently criticized President Obama for not pushing hard enough against Republicans on fiscal policy.

In recent days, he's been especially critical of what in liberal circles is being called "the cave", Obama giving in to Republican demands to extend the expiring Bush tax cuts to incomes above $200,000 for individuals and $250,000 for couples.

Krugman, like many others, hated that Obama appeared so willing to give in on a campaign vow to let the high-end cuts expire.


So what does Krugman think now that there are actual details of the framework worked out by White House and congressional Republican negotiators?

Well, he doesn't hate it as much as it seemed he might. It appears the unemployment insurance extension and 2-percentage point payroll tax reduction makes it go down somewhat easier since he sees those as important additional stimulus.

Like the 2009 stimulus, he says it isn't enough and will fade during the 2012 election year but it's better than nothing

[Clio the Leo]

1. And I appreciate his article.

It's all too easy to emotionally bash this whole thing.

[Skittles]

2. hardly a ringing endorsement

"Like the 2009 stimulus, he says it isn't enough and will fade during the 2012 election year but it's better than nothing"


that pretty much sums up the entire Obama presidency - "better than nothing"

[dennis4868]

3. I think Obama got alot in return for tax cuts for the wealthy....

unemployment insurance for another 13 months, EITC expansion, college tax credits, and a pay-roll tax cut. This is not a caving in!

[Skittles]

6. the the tax cuts for the weathly should have happened FOR ANYTHING

[Clio the Leo]

7. Oh, no, of course not....

... but admitting an adversary may be right on some things is always hard to do.

[Guilded Lilly]

4. I can't pretend to fully understand this economic mess ...

try as I might, the ADD in my aging brain will frustratingly kick in and I end up shaking my head to clear the rattling sound....
but you know, at the heart of many of the past/latest/ongoing/guaranteed future compromises and *cave-ins* of the last two years is this phrase "but it's better than nothing"

At some point "better than nothing" is an insidious spirit killer.

What a f*cking lousy reality.

Back to my chaotic brain-rattling world of daily living and battered political hope...
~peace,
Lilly

[dennis4868]

5. "What a f*cking lousy reality"

I agree and you can thank a republican party that has a sole mission to destroy Obama and will fillubuster any legislation that is good for this country that may put Obama in a good light...repubs stick together and never back down - party before country....this is what Obama is dealing with and he takes what he can get - this is a fucking lousy reality that Obama has to deal with as president....no president before him had to deal with anything like this....just look at the fillubuster stats over the last 30 years.

[Guilded Lilly]

12. Knew going in it was going to be enormously challenging...

not just belligerant party differences, but far more deep seeded hatreds as well. The ugliness is pronounced and very thinly veiled. Yes, an extremely tough job for Obama from the beginning.

This country lost so damned much with the previous administration. Not just politically but morally as well. No accountability. We all suffer because of that. Politics is never sweet or pleasant.

Even so, admitting all this, I am quite saddened and angered with certain compromises. Slow boil. On a very simplistic line, I expected more from the Democrats. A stronger resistance to a well known opposing party's repugnant behavior.

I can't shake the crappy feeling about so many lost opportunities.

[Ozymanithrax]

8. Krugman has consistantly called for more stimulus...

So he does feel the stimulus part of the deal isn't a disaster.

[Tippy]

9. I have to agree with Krugman.. It is much better than I first thought

Yesterday I was in tears...today I feel much better. Im not an economist by any strech of the imagination but this deal maybe a lot better in the long run.

[Pisces]

10. Krugman has done a double take more than once on Obama policy.

Maybe he should wait until the final product before going half cock on misinformation.

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

11. Not surprising.

Krugman may be smart, be he knee jerks with the best of them. He's not a political thinker, no matter how much he tries to be one, and as such, he often comes across as not seeing the forest through the trees.

[Dawgs]

13. Right, but he still hates it.

:shrug:

[jab105]

14. I hate it more than I thought...

PEOPLE...he is defunding social security, dont you get it?!?!