Yesterday I wrote a diary called Krugmanomgz Economgz. This morning I want to apologize.
First, I want to say that I cherish this place. It has changed my life, and it has opened my eyes. I have yet to meet very many of you face to face, and yet I consider some of you to be good friends. You deserve a moment of contemplation before I hit the "publish" button on something, and I didn't show you that respect yesterday.
I'm sorry.
I regret that I chose to come out of the gates in an accusatory voice. I was angry. It's not a constant state, anger. Some days I can come at politics with a spring in my step and other times I see stupid everywhere. Even where it isn't. And I lose my center.
I'm a sarcastic guy. It's who I am and how I am. I try to direct my barbs at the people who deserve them, namely the people who landed us in this diaper bin. Yesterday I directed them at people who did not deserve them, and probably lost a few friends. If not, I'll consider myself lucky.
About the Krugman thing...if I had to restate my point, it's this:
We find ourselves in uncharted territory. It is a brave new world in which the most learned among us are reduced to dilettantes. For much of what we are experiencing and combatting today there is no precedent, and little context. It is natural -- not infantile, as I seem to have implied -- to search for a bellwether or a barometer in the midst of a storm.
My quarrel with Krugman is not his economics, as I futiley tried to explain yesterday. I agree with many of you that his intellect and voice are needed. I also agree that even those among us who supported Barack Obama most ardently should not turn a blind eye to flaws in his policies or character. We are not Republicans. My quarrel is absolutely, as many of you suggested, about his politics, and his choice to use emotional language to undercut support for a work in progress.
So, that's what I should have said, but failed to. It was a bad day. Again, I apologize. I promise to take greater care with what I choose to put out there from now on.