and guess what...today he has criticisms for both of the democratic candidates...but of course the 'party in denial' in his column is the republican party...
Why does he hit HRC?
Gas tax stupidity....
And why does he hit BHO?
Giving Republicans credit for things that they don't deserve.
And why does he hit JMcC?
He is totally clueless
So of course the first question is why is he after Obama again? Earlier in the campaign [as is well known here among the high information set] Krugman argued that Obama's social security and health care policies picked up on Republican talking points that he used to distinguish himself from Clinton.
So what now? Krugman takes a look at the Fox interview from last Sunday...and Obama's response to the name a "hot-button issue where you would be willing to buck the Democratic Party line" question...
Obama's response...abandonment of command and control regulation and the turn to tradable permits for pollution control...sure sounds like a republican policy...so what's Krugman's 'plaint?
The fact is (i) economists across the political spectrum argued for elements of this policy and vastly more important (ii) the EPA started to allow cities to use tradable permits during the Carter administration.
Yes Bush I pushed for permits in the Clean Air Act Revision of 1990 [and that Clean Air Act has saved thousands of lives]
...but the long stretch between Carter and Bush I belonged to Raygun...whose policy was...do nothing at all. He (i) argued there was no pollution problem (ii) ignored scientific evidence and (iii) argued that more research was required (acid rain was the issue).
So I guess Bush II really is Reagan's heir... but let's try not to think about Ron and Barbara getting together.
Thus as we know..if the republicans are the party of ideas...it is plain that they are the party of bad ideas.
The importance of it all? Don't give the enemy an inch (says Krugman)
The Democrats are the party of solutions...and the Republicans are the party of denial...and its been that way for quite some time. And if you are a Republican at least quasi-not-in-denial (like GHWB who had the courage to raise taxes and took pollution seriously) well then you don't get reelected.
It's getting late so I'll just say again that Clinton's gas tax idea is bad and John McCain is clueless...especially about health care.
As always Paul is worth reading...though if you are sensitive to your candidate being criticized you are warned...he hits them in this order
- McCain, 2. Obama, 3. Clinton..
I didn't see Obama on Sunday ...but Clinton's visit to Fox was somewhat entertaining. You may have already seen several diaries on the blessed event.
Bad form I know...but I am going away to take a nap...