I can't thank PK enough for another great column. It's maddening to think that cogent thoughts like his must appear on a newspaper's Op-Ed page instead of being prominent in the slipstream media; but let's face it, today's media function for right-wing America/GOP just as Pravda did for the USSR/Communist hierarchy, so we'll just have to grit our teeth and aim to perform random acts of sanity, hoping they'll make a difference.
70
New York real estate is very expensive. NY Tines can you ask Gary Johnson what planet we can move to?i want to buy real estate early so I will get a early start. Thanks
22
"....GOP intelligentsia"
Thanks Paul, I haven't had a laugh that big in a long time.
Thanks Paul, I haven't had a laugh that big in a long time.
56
Guess who Trump's most useful ... fellow-traveler is?
Objectively speaking, the assist Trump got from Paul Krugman -- the little boy who cried wolf -- overshadows anything that Paul Ryan or Mitch McConnell may have done.
See Karol Markowicz in The Daily Beast on how pundits like Krugman are responsible for the rise of Trump. Krugman routinely uses such over-the-top alarmist rhetoric about every GOP candidate that when Trump is nominated, “it’s too late for the media to say ‘no, no, we really mean it this time.’ ” Voters “have heard it so often before — and about people like mild-mannered, decent, knowledgeable Mitt Romney — that it doesn’t resonate at all.”
All that crying wolf is “what makes Donald Trump normal to so many.” Because “if you use the most vile language available on a good man like Romney, or on real candidates like [Marco] Rubio and [Ted] Cruz, you find you have none left for the Donald Trumps of the world.”
For a taste, in 2012, Krugman called Romney a “charlatan,” pathologically dishonest, and untrustworthy. He said Romney doesn’t even pretend to care about poor people and wants people to die so that the rich could get richer. Romney is “completely amoral,” “a dangerous fool,” “ignorant as well as uncaring.”
The guy who said these things really is out of control. In fact, he reminds me of ... well, you-know-who.
Objectively speaking, the assist Trump got from Paul Krugman -- the little boy who cried wolf -- overshadows anything that Paul Ryan or Mitch McConnell may have done.
See Karol Markowicz in The Daily Beast on how pundits like Krugman are responsible for the rise of Trump. Krugman routinely uses such over-the-top alarmist rhetoric about every GOP candidate that when Trump is nominated, “it’s too late for the media to say ‘no, no, we really mean it this time.’ ” Voters “have heard it so often before — and about people like mild-mannered, decent, knowledgeable Mitt Romney — that it doesn’t resonate at all.”
All that crying wolf is “what makes Donald Trump normal to so many.” Because “if you use the most vile language available on a good man like Romney, or on real candidates like [Marco] Rubio and [Ted] Cruz, you find you have none left for the Donald Trumps of the world.”
For a taste, in 2012, Krugman called Romney a “charlatan,” pathologically dishonest, and untrustworthy. He said Romney doesn’t even pretend to care about poor people and wants people to die so that the rich could get richer. Romney is “completely amoral,” “a dangerous fool,” “ignorant as well as uncaring.”
The guy who said these things really is out of control. In fact, he reminds me of ... well, you-know-who.
26
How many lies, how many, please, does it take to make a liar? Does he still not qualify!
20
You are as much Trump's fellow traveler as me and all the others you name. There's a reason we are here together. And its not the first time too...
6
Your vote counts. Period. If you hate both candidates, you have a right to vote however you like. Some will vote third party, others can show up and fill in their own ballot to show their dissent.
Young people should vote. Staying at home is not an effective protest since your opinion doesn't count if you don't cast a ballot. In the U.S. we have the freedom of our own opinions and people can vote their mind. No candidate is entitled to anyone's vote, which is why candidates must work for our support.
Vote your conscience. I'll be voting for Hilary because she knows the job better than Donald. There are many people who disagree, but that's why we live in a democracy. There are plenty of others who feel dissatisfied by the left and the right. They should show up to vote, but vote your conscience. It matters and politicians will recognize that there is a voting group they can try to win next election cycle.
You may not get what you want now, but in four years, politician will remember the percentage of dissatisfied voters they have to appeal to.
Young people should vote. Staying at home is not an effective protest since your opinion doesn't count if you don't cast a ballot. In the U.S. we have the freedom of our own opinions and people can vote their mind. No candidate is entitled to anyone's vote, which is why candidates must work for our support.
Vote your conscience. I'll be voting for Hilary because she knows the job better than Donald. There are many people who disagree, but that's why we live in a democracy. There are plenty of others who feel dissatisfied by the left and the right. They should show up to vote, but vote your conscience. It matters and politicians will recognize that there is a voting group they can try to win next election cycle.
You may not get what you want now, but in four years, politician will remember the percentage of dissatisfied voters they have to appeal to.
26
By not voting, I can register my disgust with both candidates and the system.
7
"...remember: Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way."
Actually, your vote always counts. But unless you live in a swing state, it certainly doesn't *matter.* Even in a swing state, it's one in hundreds of thousands or millions, and the chances that your vote will alter the outcome of the election are laughably remote.
Actually, your vote always counts. But unless you live in a swing state, it certainly doesn't *matter.* Even in a swing state, it's one in hundreds of thousands or millions, and the chances that your vote will alter the outcome of the election are laughably remote.
10
Psychopaths couldn't run the US without all the aid and comfort they get from ordinary people who get some kind of vicarious thrill from enabling them.
23
Great use of word "traveler" and we know what it means, or do we millennials?
3
"Your vote only counts if you cast it . . ." in a state where the outcome is not a foregone conclusion - the so-called "battleground" states. When are we going to acknowledge that many if not most American's votes for President don't really count. This electoral college non-sense has to stop.
20
Has anyone ever considered that maybe America deserves Trump? My bad.
10
Dr. Krugman is spiraling deeper into the pit of desperation. He is attacking everyone on his radar, except Paul Wolfowitz. Paul has it in for the media (in his mind, doesn't the media include the NYT?), everyone on the Right (does that include Gov. Kasich?), many people on the Left (including "someone like Gary Johnson"), tens of millions of plain old Americans.
Krugman has a liberal conscience. Oxymoron, perchance?
Krugman has a liberal conscience. Oxymoron, perchance?
11
Simply adding my name to the many who agree with this column and think it's of top importance.
64
The so-called "Republican Establishment" has now fully made the transition from "Arch-Conservatives" to outright Extremists!
17
Those who think that sending a message by voting for Johnson or Stein is an honorable deed are willing to put our country at risk.
Anyone who thinks the feeble Republican leadership is capable of giving direction to a super-narcissist like Donald Trump is delusional. His own campaign management team including his family members cannot control him.
The people Trump surrounds himself with tell us how dangerous and unpredictable he is:
Corey Lewandowski- Fired for incompetence by the Koch brothers after caught engaging in voter fraud in North Carolina
Paul Manafort- Consultant to brutal despots including in the Ukraine where he was illegally paid $12 Million
Stephen Brannon - leader of the most outrageous right wing extremist fake news service- Breitbart
Trump advisor New Hampshire State Representative Al Baldasaro who said in an interview that Hillary Clinton should be shot for treason"
Sid Miller, Ted Nugent ...the list goes on. Trump tells us he is ignorant, evil and incompetent just like his “friends".
We have no idea who would be pulling the strings in a Trump administration. That prospect alone should force any third party voter to rethink their willingness to assist in the destruction of our economy and our democracy as we know it.
Anyone who thinks the feeble Republican leadership is capable of giving direction to a super-narcissist like Donald Trump is delusional. His own campaign management team including his family members cannot control him.
The people Trump surrounds himself with tell us how dangerous and unpredictable he is:
Corey Lewandowski- Fired for incompetence by the Koch brothers after caught engaging in voter fraud in North Carolina
Paul Manafort- Consultant to brutal despots including in the Ukraine where he was illegally paid $12 Million
Stephen Brannon - leader of the most outrageous right wing extremist fake news service- Breitbart
Trump advisor New Hampshire State Representative Al Baldasaro who said in an interview that Hillary Clinton should be shot for treason"
Sid Miller, Ted Nugent ...the list goes on. Trump tells us he is ignorant, evil and incompetent just like his “friends".
We have no idea who would be pulling the strings in a Trump administration. That prospect alone should force any third party voter to rethink their willingness to assist in the destruction of our economy and our democracy as we know it.
47
Sorry about this but I cannot find an appropriate place where the Times will allow people to wax philosophic on the Donald's support and Hillary's undercutting - of the Times- go back and read the editorials for those who have short attention spans and memories just let the Times off the hook - shame on you.
Every no to Trump and yes to Hillary should be opened and followed by a mea culpa on your editorial page by an acknowledgement of your "yuge" impact on Donald Trumps vindication as a real candidate.
Every no to Trump and yes to Hillary should be opened and followed by a mea culpa on your editorial page by an acknowledgement of your "yuge" impact on Donald Trumps vindication as a real candidate.
7
A vote need not be an endorsement, but simply a practicality.
3
Krugman is a "profile in cowardice" for not condemning Hillary Clinton.
He supports Clinton who is a dishonest oligarch who amassed great wealth and political power trading political favors while Secretary of State after formally guaranteeing President Obama that she would not.
A vote for Clinton or Trump demonstrates the erosion of our national character.
He supports Clinton who is a dishonest oligarch who amassed great wealth and political power trading political favors while Secretary of State after formally guaranteeing President Obama that she would not.
A vote for Clinton or Trump demonstrates the erosion of our national character.
15
Pragmatism is essential when facing the potential cataclysm of a Trump victory. Are the Jill Stein voters going to create the same legacy for themselves and their children and grandchildren as the Nader voters in 2000? What practical end do they hope to achieve other than feeling smug about not backing Clinton? Will they they be happier saying they "did the right thing" while living in a dangerous Trumpian world where climate science is laughed at as fake? Where women's rights become a sleazy joke? Where venture capitalists like Peter Thiel or worse become Supreme Court nominees? Where Putin and Saddam Hussein become models of presidential leadership?
We are still recovering from the GW Bush debacle. There will be no coming back from a Trump presidency.
We are still recovering from the GW Bush debacle. There will be no coming back from a Trump presidency.
27
The reason Trump has a chance is because the panderers and power brokers in the Democratic party, including Paul Krugman , refused to admit how flawed a candidate Hillary Clinton was.
How come, many explanations but surely it has something to do with their blindness to an acceptance of corporate and money influence within the Democratic party.
The entire primary show ,was a set up, starting with super delegates to make sure the liberal consensus held. And that liberal position does not seek to end inequality it tries to live with it. It does not try to end racism.It tries to get more minorities in power.It does not demand that carbon stays in the ground. It just demands that a little less is burnt.It still believes that Capitalism and greed can be managed.They can't be. PROOF- Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump , the blind leading the blind with no vision only insults ,to the end.
Those who suffer know it can't, but those who have made their deal with the devil, and call themselves leaders ,also can't because they are part of the problem.
How come, many explanations but surely it has something to do with their blindness to an acceptance of corporate and money influence within the Democratic party.
The entire primary show ,was a set up, starting with super delegates to make sure the liberal consensus held. And that liberal position does not seek to end inequality it tries to live with it. It does not try to end racism.It tries to get more minorities in power.It does not demand that carbon stays in the ground. It just demands that a little less is burnt.It still believes that Capitalism and greed can be managed.They can't be. PROOF- Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump , the blind leading the blind with no vision only insults ,to the end.
Those who suffer know it can't, but those who have made their deal with the devil, and call themselves leaders ,also can't because they are part of the problem.
8
Something that hasn't been discussed by the New York Times to the best
of my knowledge is Trump's reputation in the New York real estate industry.
He is widely known as "untouchable." This means he can't get a bank loan
to finance a building or hire contractors who fear not being paid. That is why he brands his name. He simply can't build anything without a third party guaranteeing the financing. Let us hear the explanation from the enablers.
of my knowledge is Trump's reputation in the New York real estate industry.
He is widely known as "untouchable." This means he can't get a bank loan
to finance a building or hire contractors who fear not being paid. That is why he brands his name. He simply can't build anything without a third party guaranteeing the financing. Let us hear the explanation from the enablers.
44
During the debate, Hillary Clinton mentioned her economic plans. Could PK discuss those plans in some future column?
7
Sorry America but it's time to ignore opinions like this and wake up.
Proletarianisation. Downward social mobility. The problem is there, it's real and it's not going away. Free trade may in itself be wealth-creating, but when combined with free immigration it puts a tremendous downward pressure on real wages, particularly for the un-skilled. There is no denying it. We see it happening here too and it is a problem for us as well. But you guys have no money to spend on cushioning the fall. Your national debt exceeds your GDP. Your expensive wars of the last decades have achieved nothing.
It's absolute madness to endorse a business-as-usual candidate like Mrs Clinton at this point. Better the devil you know? But your nation is rapidly approaching the point where the populace turned to political violence and authoritarism in the history of so many European and Latin American nations. Don't think it can't happen in America.
Depending on what comes next, you might one day find yourselves longing for the days when a relatively benign figure like Trump presented at least a chance to adress the problem within the democratic framework. Open your eyes! Donald Trump is not a fascist, and Bernie Sanders is not a communist. Both are what stand between you and movements like those. Which one of their proposed solutions is the best one is what you should be talking about now, but you were denied that opportunity.
Endorsing Hillary Clinton is like endorsing Herbert Hoover in 1932.
Proletarianisation. Downward social mobility. The problem is there, it's real and it's not going away. Free trade may in itself be wealth-creating, but when combined with free immigration it puts a tremendous downward pressure on real wages, particularly for the un-skilled. There is no denying it. We see it happening here too and it is a problem for us as well. But you guys have no money to spend on cushioning the fall. Your national debt exceeds your GDP. Your expensive wars of the last decades have achieved nothing.
It's absolute madness to endorse a business-as-usual candidate like Mrs Clinton at this point. Better the devil you know? But your nation is rapidly approaching the point where the populace turned to political violence and authoritarism in the history of so many European and Latin American nations. Don't think it can't happen in America.
Depending on what comes next, you might one day find yourselves longing for the days when a relatively benign figure like Trump presented at least a chance to adress the problem within the democratic framework. Open your eyes! Donald Trump is not a fascist, and Bernie Sanders is not a communist. Both are what stand between you and movements like those. Which one of their proposed solutions is the best one is what you should be talking about now, but you were denied that opportunity.
Endorsing Hillary Clinton is like endorsing Herbert Hoover in 1932.
21
It's always heartening to see Mr Krugman carry on his share of the fight for the right candidate. But the elections are now only a month away. It's time for us folks, who fear a thug like Trump's victory, to double and redouble our efforts on behalf of Mrs Clinton. Accordingly, perhaps it's time for folks like Krugman to come out more often, not just once a week, to educate and enlighten people in the middle who seem open to advice and argument.
12
Maybe Mr. Trump can accomplish one positive in this campaign. The need for an overhaul of the tax system is woefully overdue!
6
Most Republicans, like most Democrats, of which I am a lifelong member of the DNC, are not stupid. They are smart, partisan to be sure, but at least have some semblance of sanity and sense of duty to country. They have some knowledge of how government operates. Sure they work the system, but they have to know the system to be able to work it.
Trump does not have such knowledge because he is as dumb as a post. Yet he has managed to fool some of the people most of the time. How is this possible? For the same reason a Times Square huckster can fool an highly educated tourist who thinks they can beat the odds, or beat the house at one of Trump's now-defunct casinos. There may be the occasional person who wins a modicum of money but most go home losers.
Trump is nothing more than one of those hucksters dressed in a suit armed with all the trappings of garish gold-plated glittery garbage creating an illusion of fame, fortune and success. Trump got these gullible rubes his pocket when they bought into his TV persona hook, line, and sinker with Trump's mantra: Being Wealthy and Greedy is good.
They will stick with Trump till the bitter end. They will go into the bunker with him. And they will all go down together. I hope they are ready for a rude awakening. That's what they will get deservedly so when realize they've been taken to the cleaners by Trump, Right Wing radio and FOX "news".
DD
Manhattan
Trump does not have such knowledge because he is as dumb as a post. Yet he has managed to fool some of the people most of the time. How is this possible? For the same reason a Times Square huckster can fool an highly educated tourist who thinks they can beat the odds, or beat the house at one of Trump's now-defunct casinos. There may be the occasional person who wins a modicum of money but most go home losers.
Trump is nothing more than one of those hucksters dressed in a suit armed with all the trappings of garish gold-plated glittery garbage creating an illusion of fame, fortune and success. Trump got these gullible rubes his pocket when they bought into his TV persona hook, line, and sinker with Trump's mantra: Being Wealthy and Greedy is good.
They will stick with Trump till the bitter end. They will go into the bunker with him. And they will all go down together. I hope they are ready for a rude awakening. That's what they will get deservedly so when realize they've been taken to the cleaners by Trump, Right Wing radio and FOX "news".
DD
Manhattan
10
Boy, this Clinton lady is tough. Her debating performance pushed me from just voting for her to actually being excited about the prospect of her presidency.
29
Saying that your vote only counts if you cast it in "a meaningful way" is just showing disdain for those who don't agree with Mr. Krugman's position that only a vote for Clinton is meaningful.
A vote on its own right is already a meaningful statement and action, is the citizen of a country expressing his/her will of having candidate X lead the nation. Is Mr. Krugman implying that votes not casted for Clinton are simply worthless?
If we downgrade the meaning of the act of voting just because that person didn't vote for your candidate, well, might as well discard democracy altogether...
A vote on its own right is already a meaningful statement and action, is the citizen of a country expressing his/her will of having candidate X lead the nation. Is Mr. Krugman implying that votes not casted for Clinton are simply worthless?
If we downgrade the meaning of the act of voting just because that person didn't vote for your candidate, well, might as well discard democracy altogether...
5
Speaking of complacency, you seem to have come to the point where your elevated status has convinced you that you can casually make up facts, a la David Brooks, to illustrate your points. You have, for instance, referred to Russia's "invasion" of Ukraine though there is no such event on record. Here, you only distort the historical record to vilify the left's opposition to HC, an opposition grounded in real events, not just media propaganda (and btw, your cheerleading is part of the propaganda.) In any event, the German left, communists and socialists, did not vote for Hitler and had a substantial plurality of the vote in a parliamentary system. They were excluded from the government formed by Hitler and the centrist parties who surmised that Hitler was better for business than the communists. The latter, of course, were among the first groups targeted by Hitler, hauled off to concentration camps, and in many cases exterminated. Since you seem to believe that Hitler's ascension to power had something to do with the indifference of the left or poor strategic voting, or want others to believe that, I though you might like to know.
9
Your article brings to mind the republican members of my family and their suspense of reality concerning the Orange One. How can supposedly pious people be so enamored of a proven liar, cheat, misogynistic adulterer and bully? Can manufactured anger and fear overpower reason? The one thing it can't do is excuse stupidity.
5
Before Election Day, voters ought to take a look at the UK and the remorse many feel for having voted for Brexit based on frustration or anger at the status quo--as you say, heart over head. Now, having succeeded in abandoning the European Union, they are belatedly realizing all the consequences that they refused to consider before the vote--and many seem horrified that their personal protest vote was matched by too many others. It would be wise for voters here to use their heads unless they are prepared to live with a Trump presidency.
3
"Mr. Ryan, who has received extraordinarily favorable press treatment over the years — portrayed as an honest, serious policy wonk with a sincere concern for fiscal probity."
This is the most reckless, dishonest assessment by the media. Ryan, a devotee of Ayn Rand for whom altruism is anathema, lacks conscience. He & Eric Cantor have had little concern for the inherently disadvantaged. Ryan would do something for them only when it is politically useful. His policy proposals, his tax plan etc. are very damaging for people who are weak. And he knows it. And the press has a responsibility to point out that. The press dismally failed in that.
No wonder the press has such a low approval among the public. As Joe Klein pointed out, all this down-sliding of the press started with their complicity with the impeachment of Bill Clinton for such a trivial indiscretion of him. He hurt Mrs. Clinton only. But in turn it hurt the country as a whole. Bill Clinton would have done far more for the country. He indeed escaped unscathed while his critics one after another fell!
Bill Clinton is now doing so much for the world's needy, but he & Mrs. Clinton are criticized mercilessly. The press is mostly mum.
This is the most reckless, dishonest assessment by the media. Ryan, a devotee of Ayn Rand for whom altruism is anathema, lacks conscience. He & Eric Cantor have had little concern for the inherently disadvantaged. Ryan would do something for them only when it is politically useful. His policy proposals, his tax plan etc. are very damaging for people who are weak. And he knows it. And the press has a responsibility to point out that. The press dismally failed in that.
No wonder the press has such a low approval among the public. As Joe Klein pointed out, all this down-sliding of the press started with their complicity with the impeachment of Bill Clinton for such a trivial indiscretion of him. He hurt Mrs. Clinton only. But in turn it hurt the country as a whole. Bill Clinton would have done far more for the country. He indeed escaped unscathed while his critics one after another fell!
Bill Clinton is now doing so much for the world's needy, but he & Mrs. Clinton are criticized mercilessly. The press is mostly mum.
6
Partisanship: the idea that a party's nominee must be supported at all costs. According to this theory, a Republican (or Democrat) would support a warmed-over eggplant for president over the opposing party's candidate. This has increasingly become normative behavior in America since the 1950's, as Prof. Krugman well knows, despite the faux "shocked!" tone of his essay. The surprising thing this year is not that the GOP apparatchiks like McConnell and Ryan haven't endorsed HRC, but that many courageous Republicans- Armitage, Scowcroft, Paulson, Chertoff, Hayden, Negroponte, Ridge, Ruckleshaus, Shultz, Will, et al- have crossed the party line and endorsed the rational candidate.
This may be how parties fracture and new allignments are formed. Francis Fukuyama and others have argued that our power is waning because of the toll excessive partisanship is taking on the foundations of American democracy. If any good can come out of the "Trump Debacle" it may be that it points to the absurd limits of partisanship and the need for cross-party coalitions.
This may be how parties fracture and new allignments are formed. Francis Fukuyama and others have argued that our power is waning because of the toll excessive partisanship is taking on the foundations of American democracy. If any good can come out of the "Trump Debacle" it may be that it points to the absurd limits of partisanship and the need for cross-party coalitions.
2
Mr. Krugman raises a great point. Evil prospers when good men do nothing. We all know this. It is clear that the conservative leadership in this country equates silence on an issue with active opposition. What they are hoping is that Democrats solve the of Trump for them by voting Hillary into office. That way, they can pull their heads out of the sand once the election is over and again wrap themselves in the robes of liberty and procliam they are the true patriots of this country whie Hillary Clinton is a threat to national security. Impeach her! We patriots will appoint independent counsel to revisit Whitewater! Benghazi! The EMAILS! We are fearless!
In reality though, when the Republic faces a clear and present danger to its very existence in the person of Donald Trump, when actual courage is required, they are silent.
This is how you know that the GOP is truly morally bankrupt. Leaders put self-interest ahead of the interest of the nation. Take for example, David Brooks. While Mr. Brooks has written extensively about how awful Trump is, he usually follows it up with a piece filled with false equivalency suggesting that Clinton is equally loathesome.
Kurgman is right. Clinton is not without substantial and very real faults but to suggest she is in the same universe of Trump is patently absurd. Trump is a pathological liar, a swindler, a bully, a mysoginist, a racist and a fraud. He is not remotely qualified to be a even a governor much less a president.
In reality though, when the Republic faces a clear and present danger to its very existence in the person of Donald Trump, when actual courage is required, they are silent.
This is how you know that the GOP is truly morally bankrupt. Leaders put self-interest ahead of the interest of the nation. Take for example, David Brooks. While Mr. Brooks has written extensively about how awful Trump is, he usually follows it up with a piece filled with false equivalency suggesting that Clinton is equally loathesome.
Kurgman is right. Clinton is not without substantial and very real faults but to suggest she is in the same universe of Trump is patently absurd. Trump is a pathological liar, a swindler, a bully, a mysoginist, a racist and a fraud. He is not remotely qualified to be a even a governor much less a president.
4
"A few seem to believe in the old doctrine of social fascism — better to see the center-left defeated by the hard right, because that sets the stage for a true progressive revolution. That worked out wonderfully in 1930s Germany."
That pretty much says it all. The people who opt out or vote third-party, like most of the Trumpkins, are in the main throwing a tantrum. Perhaps they hope that some sort of so-far unnoticed omnipotent parent will somehow intervene and make everything nice. Perhaps they feel that they can survive Trumpism for a while and do not care about those who cannot.
Soldiers being fired upon in a trench generally know not to shoot the guy next to them. Our system exploits divisions to keep the powerful in power. The tragedy of both the Trumpkins and the burnt-out Bernies is that they think that the enemy is coming to save them, and hence should be helped to do so.
That pretty much says it all. The people who opt out or vote third-party, like most of the Trumpkins, are in the main throwing a tantrum. Perhaps they hope that some sort of so-far unnoticed omnipotent parent will somehow intervene and make everything nice. Perhaps they feel that they can survive Trumpism for a while and do not care about those who cannot.
Soldiers being fired upon in a trench generally know not to shoot the guy next to them. Our system exploits divisions to keep the powerful in power. The tragedy of both the Trumpkins and the burnt-out Bernies is that they think that the enemy is coming to save them, and hence should be helped to do so.
4
Your statements about the GOP majorities and leadership in the Congress are true and fair. It is my hope that Americans break turnout records in this election. Clearly we need change that will focus on rebuilding the American economy so that it can achieve its potential for all income classes in our society.
This election is extremely important because we are making social and economic progress and it should not stop but accelerate.
Mrs. Clinton is quite capable of dealing with policy issues than can make a huge difference in the good that government can do. Mr. Trump is incapable of creating a better future for the American people and being a force for good in the World.
There are very large international & domestic issues & there are many areas of inequity in social programs and fiscal policy which need correction. A government led by Mrs. Clinton has the potential to reach politically acceptable fiscal policies that will benefit everyone. The tax code is just one of the huge challenges which we must take on. Economic development that will create living wage jobs is another much needed future challenge.
We are not realizing our potential in infrastructure. The Superconducting Maglev transport technology is just waiting to compete in domestic and international transport markets and should be fostered as a means to develop a new industry. Then there is global warming the biggest potential for US economic growth since sputnik and the race to space.
This election is extremely important because we are making social and economic progress and it should not stop but accelerate.
Mrs. Clinton is quite capable of dealing with policy issues than can make a huge difference in the good that government can do. Mr. Trump is incapable of creating a better future for the American people and being a force for good in the World.
There are very large international & domestic issues & there are many areas of inequity in social programs and fiscal policy which need correction. A government led by Mrs. Clinton has the potential to reach politically acceptable fiscal policies that will benefit everyone. The tax code is just one of the huge challenges which we must take on. Economic development that will create living wage jobs is another much needed future challenge.
We are not realizing our potential in infrastructure. The Superconducting Maglev transport technology is just waiting to compete in domestic and international transport markets and should be fostered as a means to develop a new industry. Then there is global warming the biggest potential for US economic growth since sputnik and the race to space.
1
Trump's message is a hodge-podge of wishes, desires, massive spending and epic government intervention in every part of life, but not surprisingly, his followers don't give a damn. Or, they are so ignorant and do not notice that this program, combined with massive tax cuts, is a program of a complete madman.
3
Every day Trump demonstrates his unfitness for office. Trouble is we have a fickle low information electorate that incredibly put a bunch of gleeful stalwart GOP obstructionists in power not once but twice since 2010.
No one wants 4 more years of blocked legislation, threats to shut down government, and bratty protests from the likes of Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan.
No one wants 4 more years of blocked legislation, threats to shut down government, and bratty protests from the likes of Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan.
6
Stories like the one about Trump's tax returns reveal more about the media than about Trump. For who is to blame if rich people benefit from "privatized gains and socialized losses," on their taxes and everything else? Rich people or the politicians who write the laws and regulations and appoint the people who enforce them?
Hillary Clinton has amassed a personal mega-fortune in excess of $150 million and a $.5 billion influence-peddling foundation from things like speaking fees paid for by billionaire business people looking to buy laws regulations and government appointees that will favor them over the rest of us. If the Times were truly as objective as it laughably pretends to be, the scandal would not be Trump's but Clinton's, for this a story less about business corruption than about political corruption.
Hillary Clinton has amassed a personal mega-fortune in excess of $150 million and a $.5 billion influence-peddling foundation from things like speaking fees paid for by billionaire business people looking to buy laws regulations and government appointees that will favor them over the rest of us. If the Times were truly as objective as it laughably pretends to be, the scandal would not be Trump's but Clinton's, for this a story less about business corruption than about political corruption.
6
It is evident that I respect Mr. Krugman than he respects me. I do not consider a vote for Gary Johnson a wasted vote. I consider Ms. Clinton a very poor candidate indeed with full measures of poor judgement and hubris. Of course, Trump is a separate league wherein he is completely unfit for office.
In close on to 40 years of voting, I have never failed to cast a ballot in a presidential election. I am compelled to make it clear that I am not lazy or uninvolved. But I cannot vote for Hilary.
In close on to 40 years of voting, I have never failed to cast a ballot in a presidential election. I am compelled to make it clear that I am not lazy or uninvolved. But I cannot vote for Hilary.
7
Trump is emboldening Putin (plutonium deal suspended) and terrifying Europeans. His candidacy has already weakened our country. The difficulties that Secretary Kerry is having with Lavrov are also attributable to the Trump candidacy.
As the quintessence of what the Republican Party has become since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, he is revealing the US electorate at its worst.
As the quintessence of what the Republican Party has become since the presidency of Ronald Reagan, he is revealing the US electorate at its worst.
3
Donald Trump is like the unveiled portrait in "The Picture of Dorian Gray" showing the true disgusting nature of what "America" has devolved into. Hillary and the establishment rush to replace the veil and pretend it is not so in order to continue profiting (in dollars and accrued power) from the system and social norms we have created. "It Can't Happen Here" has already happened: militarized police, oligarchic political power, corporatized "media", slave labor in prison sweatshops, torture, spying on citizens, drone assassinations - let's face up to the reality. Oh, but we haven't have we? We barely acknowledge the ecocide all around us, nor move in any meaningful way to tackle greenhouse gas levels that will devastate social order within a generation or two. I live in the uncontested state of California. Although Jill Stein is not my ideal candidate, I will vote for the Green Party platform which embodies the positions that most closely demonstrate an understanding of reality and policies aimed at addressing these challenges.
3
Unquestionably we are much better off today than we should have been able to expect we would be, when viewed from the bottom of that deep chasm left by Bush.
And this despite the fact that since 2010 the GOP-dominated House has done absolutely nothing except pass lots of anti-abortion measures. The 112th, the 113th and now the 114th congress’s, that have endured unceasing obstruction led by Boehner/Ryan in the House and McConnell in the Senate, are the most shameful, lowest rated and least effective in US history
And this despite the fact that since 2010 the GOP-dominated House has done absolutely nothing except pass lots of anti-abortion measures. The 112th, the 113th and now the 114th congress’s, that have endured unceasing obstruction led by Boehner/Ryan in the House and McConnell in the Senate, are the most shameful, lowest rated and least effective in US history
11
I haven't read over all the comments, but a topic that seems to be missing is survival of the human race. Darwin wrote extensively on the subject of evolution, adapt to your environment or become history (it may take awhile, but it is a certainty) . Trump and his fellow travelers along with millions of followers deny global warming. If nothing is done about it, or worse, if the republican party has its way and heats the world up further with burning of fossil fuels, the human race will become fossils, and we all know what happened to them.
4
Much as I admire Paul Krugman, I sometimes wish he'd stick to what he knows. I agree with 80 to 90 percent of his comments, but the 10 to 20 percent he gets wrong, he gets badly wrong.
The signatories to the "Scholars and Writers for America" are few. I've never heard of any but 10 or so of them, but to call them a "pathetic group" plays directly into the charges of elitism leveled by Trump supporters. And, sadly, there is an elitist element in Krugman's thinking. A long list of very distinguished economists and policymakers insisted that the 2008 financial collapse and ensuing Great Recession could not (emphatically not) happen.... So much for distinguished groups.
Hillary Clinton's supporters should be trying to encourage progressives like myself that we will not be treated as so many Democrats (like Bill Clinton ... or Paul Krugman) have treated us for the past 35 or 40 years. Bernie Sanders, to his credit, is doing this. I am persuaded — by Bernie Sanders, not by Paul Krugman.
Some on the left have thought that centrist losses and right-wing victories would force revolutionary change. I have shared that view at times, but there's little if any evidence to support it. I'm largely persuaded by arguments for incremental change. But Hillary Clinton has done little beyond talk the talk on such change. And Krugman's parallel between today's progressives and putative predecessors in the 1930s is at best foolish. At worst... revolting is the kindest word I can come up with.
The signatories to the "Scholars and Writers for America" are few. I've never heard of any but 10 or so of them, but to call them a "pathetic group" plays directly into the charges of elitism leveled by Trump supporters. And, sadly, there is an elitist element in Krugman's thinking. A long list of very distinguished economists and policymakers insisted that the 2008 financial collapse and ensuing Great Recession could not (emphatically not) happen.... So much for distinguished groups.
Hillary Clinton's supporters should be trying to encourage progressives like myself that we will not be treated as so many Democrats (like Bill Clinton ... or Paul Krugman) have treated us for the past 35 or 40 years. Bernie Sanders, to his credit, is doing this. I am persuaded — by Bernie Sanders, not by Paul Krugman.
Some on the left have thought that centrist losses and right-wing victories would force revolutionary change. I have shared that view at times, but there's little if any evidence to support it. I'm largely persuaded by arguments for incremental change. But Hillary Clinton has done little beyond talk the talk on such change. And Krugman's parallel between today's progressives and putative predecessors in the 1930s is at best foolish. At worst... revolting is the kindest word I can come up with.
7
Maybe it just the fact that mobs prefer to be led by mobsters. The laws of the jungle, aka, lying, cheating, and preying on others is much easier, that is, more intuitive, instinctive and unconstrained than the 'rule based', and relatively difficult pursuit of higher human values. Folks in the lower spectrum of economic well being are largely forced operate on survival-driven instinct and intuition. In their day-to-day lives, they just don't have a lot of extra 'room' to spend time on their yachts contemplating their navel.
The parable about the dancing and the building of the golden calf at the base of the mountain is a classic warning about the undue influence of mammon.
In that respect, it should be noted that, on the whole, democratic doctrine promotes human values, and even the crooks have to give up a little to the masses in order to maintain a 'people based' power base, the 'masses do get some chance to compete, and some hope that they too could get some navel contemplation time.
Granted, the mammon based GOP power base is simpler to construct, and understand, but it does have this tendency to denigrate human values (even while espousing support for a mantle of subservient values that promote subservience to mammon).
'Alpha maleism', and mammon seem to trump sanity, and help to intitutionalize, racial, gender, and other forms of inequality right down through the core of the GOP.
'Stuff' is important, but the worship of stuff is dangerous.
The parable about the dancing and the building of the golden calf at the base of the mountain is a classic warning about the undue influence of mammon.
In that respect, it should be noted that, on the whole, democratic doctrine promotes human values, and even the crooks have to give up a little to the masses in order to maintain a 'people based' power base, the 'masses do get some chance to compete, and some hope that they too could get some navel contemplation time.
Granted, the mammon based GOP power base is simpler to construct, and understand, but it does have this tendency to denigrate human values (even while espousing support for a mantle of subservient values that promote subservience to mammon).
'Alpha maleism', and mammon seem to trump sanity, and help to intitutionalize, racial, gender, and other forms of inequality right down through the core of the GOP.
'Stuff' is important, but the worship of stuff is dangerous.
1
"Donald J. Trump: Genius At Large"
If everyone was as "genius"
As Donald J. Trump
And taxes nobody paid
Who would pay first responders
And our soldiers at sea
And who would pay for Trump's military upgrade
If everyone was as "genius"
As Donald J. Trump
And lost a billion dollars a year
Who would pay all the generals
And veterans, too
All those who Donald holds dear
If everyone was as "genius"
As Donald J. Trump
And declared a net operating loss
Who would pay for the monuments
To Donald J. Trump
And how would he pay for his next divorce
If everyone was as "genius"
As Donald J. Trump
And taxes nobody paid
Who would pay first responders
And our soldiers at sea
And who would pay for Trump's military upgrade
If everyone was as "genius"
As Donald J. Trump
And lost a billion dollars a year
Who would pay all the generals
And veterans, too
All those who Donald holds dear
If everyone was as "genius"
As Donald J. Trump
And declared a net operating loss
Who would pay for the monuments
To Donald J. Trump
And how would he pay for his next divorce
6
yes, many voters and political leaders are either cowards or ignorant. and it is important that they be called on that cowardice and ignorance.
although raised in a republican family and self-identifying as a republican for a number of years, i and members of my family could never support anyone running for office as a republican who has not publicly denounced trump. placing the country over party loyalty seems like an obvious choice, but too many people clearly are looking toward their own future advancement.
those who claim support for the third party candidates are likely willfully ignorant or, equally bad, egocentric--they place their personal "identities" above civic responsibility. i should be familiar with that--in 1980 i voted for the independent candidate john anderson and possibly helped usher in reagan and reaganism. never again.
although raised in a republican family and self-identifying as a republican for a number of years, i and members of my family could never support anyone running for office as a republican who has not publicly denounced trump. placing the country over party loyalty seems like an obvious choice, but too many people clearly are looking toward their own future advancement.
those who claim support for the third party candidates are likely willfully ignorant or, equally bad, egocentric--they place their personal "identities" above civic responsibility. i should be familiar with that--in 1980 i voted for the independent candidate john anderson and possibly helped usher in reagan and reaganism. never again.
8
I see a lot of comments from folks who have forgotten about the Electoral College, i.e., if you live in a state where one or the other major candidate has a significant majority, how you vote will have no bearing on who carries that state.
So, I live in Texas, and I will vote against Trump. It doesn't matter how I do so, and in no way will it help Trump win the electoral votes of Texas. Same with California, Nebraska, and any number of other states.
Now, if in early November I see that Clinton has considerably narrowed the gap in Texas, I will vote for her. And should it tend the other way in California,
I'm fairly certain that some folks there will change their minds.
And down ticket, where my vote actually counts, I will vote accordingly.
So, I live in Texas, and I will vote against Trump. It doesn't matter how I do so, and in no way will it help Trump win the electoral votes of Texas. Same with California, Nebraska, and any number of other states.
Now, if in early November I see that Clinton has considerably narrowed the gap in Texas, I will vote for her. And should it tend the other way in California,
I'm fairly certain that some folks there will change their minds.
And down ticket, where my vote actually counts, I will vote accordingly.
25
I'm not just being asked if Hillary is qualified -- I'm sure she is - I'm also being asked if she embodies all of the women who have made their place in this country. And, I'm not sure she does.
3
How is Trump any better? Not with Hillary = For Trump. The math isn't any simpler than that.
2
Nobody embodies everyone else. Hillary listens to people because she knows this about herself.
5
Trump, with his utter lack of knowledge, is just the Republican's next Regan, and we all know how that turned out. Theirs are the tax policies that allowed The Donald and his ilk to pay no taxes for two decades. Republicans play the long game in self interest.
18
Reagan was way better schooled than Trump. Too bad Reagan didn't get all that some serious people tried to teach him.
The list of academics supporting Trump reads like list of who's not anyone in American academia although Hillsdale College in Michigan, a nursery-school for right wing nut jobs, looms large for the Trumpists. But this fact, like so many others, may be irrelevant. While the chattering classes were napping the bolsheviks of bloviation have been planning their battle against the Enlightenment. It has happened in History before. Chaos looms.
8
Many people don't understand that long term stability of all complex systems too complex to fully understand depends on negative feedback. They give positive feedback to all the wrong things. Gerrymandering, for instance, is a positive feedback pathway contributing to the present incapacity of the system to negotiate differences equitably that historically leads to violence.
3
"jeering at Mrs. Clinton, portraying minor missteps as major sins and inventing fake scandals out of thin air." Unfortunately, this has been a curse both Clintons have been "born with." Unless they are exceptionally good, they would be pariahs, not deserving anything special in life. Some people are that way. But both, especially Mrs. Clinton fails to understand this. And they have given, especially Mrs. Clinton enough ammunitions to her critics to indulge in their diatribe.
When she announced her candidacy last year, MSNBC, a most liberal media outlet painted her as a bad person. Only did they "warm up" to her after she was about to win.
Then she, as Collin Powell emailed, displays her hubris. She DID GLOAT after her excellent pitch perfect performance in the first debate. I was intensely worried that she would mess up in that debate. But post-debate, she is resorting to her unlikable words & screams. I am worried about her next 2 debates.
She is an exceptionally competent person. And she would do great things for America & the world. Perhaps her quirks are inseparable from her. Unlike prez Obama is aggravating Syria's agony, she would put a stop to it.
One thing is that Donald Trump is an unrestrained crude person & most impartial, thinking people don't want him in the White House. Most of them would vote for her, even if it is by holding their nose, I hope. Otherwise the world would be in serious trouble.
When she announced her candidacy last year, MSNBC, a most liberal media outlet painted her as a bad person. Only did they "warm up" to her after she was about to win.
Then she, as Collin Powell emailed, displays her hubris. She DID GLOAT after her excellent pitch perfect performance in the first debate. I was intensely worried that she would mess up in that debate. But post-debate, she is resorting to her unlikable words & screams. I am worried about her next 2 debates.
She is an exceptionally competent person. And she would do great things for America & the world. Perhaps her quirks are inseparable from her. Unlike prez Obama is aggravating Syria's agony, she would put a stop to it.
One thing is that Donald Trump is an unrestrained crude person & most impartial, thinking people don't want him in the White House. Most of them would vote for her, even if it is by holding their nose, I hope. Otherwise the world would be in serious trouble.
14
We are all unique in ways that can seem awkward to each other. Sincere people try to understand what other people are telling them in their terms, to better communicate the questions they may have, and state the exceptions they may have.
Every Democrat running for a Senate seat should challenge their Republican opponents on the current tax law allowing Trump & his ilk not to pay income taxes while the rest of us do.
Ask them if they agree with Christie, Guiliani and other surrogates if Trump is a genius for not paying taxes while refusing to disclose his tax forms?
Ask them if they agree with Christie, Guiliani and other surrogates if Trump is a genius for not paying taxes while refusing to disclose his tax forms?
11
The GOP establishment are not as stupid as Mr. Krugman calls them. The stubborn 40 some % that Trump enjoys amply shows the GOP establishment have no grass roots backing in their own support base! They have shown themselves to be self serving cowards, setting aside the national interest. The les timid GOP intellectuals are obviously unable to sway their party's supporters. The GOP top brass have much soul searching to do and reengineer their party's platform to its original balanced conservative credentials and boldly dump the racists, fascist who can fashion their own party. Too late for 2016 but possible for 2020. God Bless Lincoln's ghost!
6
Lincoln was a republican in name only. He would have nothing to do with these guys. He is the read books, Shakespeare, and everything else. Those 40% you're talking about probably have a half dozen books read between them.
2
Dr. Krugman has this idea where rationality wins the day.
Perhaps it will turn out to be so, but rationality is not drives so many voters to Mr. Trump.
And the lack of support of Sec Clinton is an indication of how poorly she is running her campaign. Her campaign should emphasize her many many positives, as the Dem Convention did. But, no, instead they decided to go another, more negative direction against Trump. Wrong choice. Drives me crazy.
Perhaps it will turn out to be so, but rationality is not drives so many voters to Mr. Trump.
And the lack of support of Sec Clinton is an indication of how poorly she is running her campaign. Her campaign should emphasize her many many positives, as the Dem Convention did. But, no, instead they decided to go another, more negative direction against Trump. Wrong choice. Drives me crazy.
2
That's because no one listens to her positive aspects. If they did she'd be winning by 30 points right now. They decided that the only thing that works is the hundreds of negatives of the Donald.
3
The verdict is in. Donald Trump is diagnosable under criteria set up by the American Psychiatric Association. However, one symptom of Trumpaphobia, a condition suffered by the left rather than Mr. Trump, is the denial of all the bad things liberals have done to hurt Americans other than themselves. These are things that Trump in his delusive state mentions ad nauseum; they are never-the-less serious problems that may now never be properly addressed.
4
I can understand the diehard Trump supporters that no amount of mind-boggling negative revelations of him or persuasion will change their minds. However, what I cannot fathom is the behavior of the skeptics, the undecided, Third Partyers and the, to sit out this election voters. Can't they see the Elephant in the room? If they think they are being intellectual trying to protest, now is not that time. Now is the time to gather all forces and stop this Demagogue from entering the Oval Office.
8
No intellectual would ever vote third-party; they are all for Hillary.
2
You are mincing words where it hurts, and republicans seem to take the brunt of our discontent. And for good reasons. They are inconsistent with the principles they so dogmatically emphasize (small government, fiscal prudence and other suspicious sounding verbiage, long worn-out in practice). Just take the heads of the G.O.P. in Congress, two hypocrites, and cowards, playing a game of appeasement towards an explosive and dangerous thug exclusively so they can keep their little pseudo-jobs. Shameless, this business of supporting the unsupportable. To some of us, these cheap un-representatives are just political prostitutes seeking office and money to stay relevant. They deserve neither.
9
With only two major parties in this country, people like Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan have very little choice but to support their nominee if they want to maintain their positions in the government. And for a politician, there is no higher priority than keeping their jobs.
Likewise for voters. If there are only two major parties, then people are forced to vote for the the least objectionable person. If they vote for a minor candidate or if they don't vote at all, they are accused of supporting the more objectionable candidate.
Maybe it's time to move to a more diverse political environment in which people have more choices. Then there wouldn't be a need to engage in these kinds of political calculations. People would just vote for the candidate whose positions most closely match their own.
Likewise for voters. If there are only two major parties, then people are forced to vote for the the least objectionable person. If they vote for a minor candidate or if they don't vote at all, they are accused of supporting the more objectionable candidate.
Maybe it's time to move to a more diverse political environment in which people have more choices. Then there wouldn't be a need to engage in these kinds of political calculations. People would just vote for the candidate whose positions most closely match their own.
5
Define stupidity. Is it supporting Trump because fellow travelers see an opportunity to get in on his con? Is it supporting Trump because the same people who elect you are just as fooled by Trump. Trump has never said anything different from GOP orthodoxy he just embellishments the basic theme. A wink is as good as a nod to a blind horse, but screaming works even better.
The only thing stupid about these opportunists is their core constituency. The GOP supplies enemies great and small to rally true patriots creating second class citizens and institutionalized exemptions to torment them along with lesser forms of God's creation to murder as enemies of the state. In return for that marvelous self correcting social order they provide themselves deregulation and removal of oversight on all their grand plans to lie, cheat and steal from every American. The icing on that stupid cake is exemption from taxation to retain all the money those plans manage to separate from every American who can't afford to get in on the deal and are unwilling to pay through the nose to persecute people for God and country.
If Trump wins they win, too. If Trump loses they still win just not as big. All they have to do is nothing. That only a chosen few profit from these well planned and rehearsed outcomes is the feature of the system not a flaw. The only change is who is heading the organized criminal conspiracy AKA the GOP.
The only thing stupid about these opportunists is their core constituency. The GOP supplies enemies great and small to rally true patriots creating second class citizens and institutionalized exemptions to torment them along with lesser forms of God's creation to murder as enemies of the state. In return for that marvelous self correcting social order they provide themselves deregulation and removal of oversight on all their grand plans to lie, cheat and steal from every American. The icing on that stupid cake is exemption from taxation to retain all the money those plans manage to separate from every American who can't afford to get in on the deal and are unwilling to pay through the nose to persecute people for God and country.
If Trump wins they win, too. If Trump loses they still win just not as big. All they have to do is nothing. That only a chosen few profit from these well planned and rehearsed outcomes is the feature of the system not a flaw. The only change is who is heading the organized criminal conspiracy AKA the GOP.
1
It's time for all sane, responsible, patriotic Republicans to admit that their party really botched this election and vote for Hillary Clinton. They can spend the next four years grooming someone competent for election in 2020, but this one has to go to Clinton if only because the alternative, Trump, is essentially national suicide. Whatever your feelings about Clinton, we will at least survive her administration with our country intact. The same cannot be said about a Trump presidency. This also applies to all of Sanders's supporters who now refuse to back Clinton. Abstention or third-party votes are essentially votes for Trump. Don't sacrifice the country just to maintain some weird idea of ideological purity. Now is not the time for posturing and self-congratulations. Now is the time to make sure Trump does not destroy our nation.
9
I have got news for Paul Krugman. Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell are not running for president -- Trump is.
It is a mystery to me why Krugman has always reserved his most vicious diatribes this election for GOP moderates. He has let Trump off comparatively lightly.
It was the same story during the primaries. Krugman attacked Trump's rivals for the GOP nomination, not Trump himself. Assuming he had any influence with primary voters, he helped get Trump the nomination.
Why? One possibility is that on policy he is aligned with Trump on policy -- social security, Medicare, the war in Iraq, TPP, and so on. Another possibility is that this is a case of a mutual non-aggression pact between blowhards. Finally, there is the possibility that he wants Clinton elected in the worst way -- so much so that he was willing to gamble on the chance that Trump might become President because he thought Trump was the weakest GOP candidate in the general election.
It is a mystery to me why Krugman has always reserved his most vicious diatribes this election for GOP moderates. He has let Trump off comparatively lightly.
It was the same story during the primaries. Krugman attacked Trump's rivals for the GOP nomination, not Trump himself. Assuming he had any influence with primary voters, he helped get Trump the nomination.
Why? One possibility is that on policy he is aligned with Trump on policy -- social security, Medicare, the war in Iraq, TPP, and so on. Another possibility is that this is a case of a mutual non-aggression pact between blowhards. Finally, there is the possibility that he wants Clinton elected in the worst way -- so much so that he was willing to gamble on the chance that Trump might become President because he thought Trump was the weakest GOP candidate in the general election.
4
McConnell and Ryan are NOT moderates!
1
This isn't rocket science.
A large plurality, if not a majority, of Americans want to see a narrow Clinton victory. This is especially true for moderate Republicans. The best way to achieve that, and to avoid to ire of the GOP and the Tea Party come primary season, is to offer lukewarm support for Trump publicly while expecting him to fail at the polls, but not fail so badly that it drags down the Republican's chances in Senate (or even the House). That is their end goal, so they are acting as best they can as rational agents to thread the needle toward that outcome.
Ryan, to his credit, has explicitly called out Trump for making "racist" comments. That's not exactly a lapdog sound bite. But his endorsement of Trump is still a little feckless, and he's clearly rooting for a narrow Trump-loss.
But to the broader point: yes, if the polls are close, the vast majority of moderate republicans will vote for Clinton privately while ostensibly backing Trump publicly, because they value their party and their careers over their country (to the extent they're willing to tolerate a slim chances that Trump could win). That rubs me the wrong way to.
And if you want to see the opposite--a politician bravely risking their popular base because they understand what's at stake in this election--check out Bernie. A borderline marxist willing to hold his nose and vote for Clinton because he won't tolerate even a small chance (via Stein or Johnson peel-off votes) that Trump could win.
A large plurality, if not a majority, of Americans want to see a narrow Clinton victory. This is especially true for moderate Republicans. The best way to achieve that, and to avoid to ire of the GOP and the Tea Party come primary season, is to offer lukewarm support for Trump publicly while expecting him to fail at the polls, but not fail so badly that it drags down the Republican's chances in Senate (or even the House). That is their end goal, so they are acting as best they can as rational agents to thread the needle toward that outcome.
Ryan, to his credit, has explicitly called out Trump for making "racist" comments. That's not exactly a lapdog sound bite. But his endorsement of Trump is still a little feckless, and he's clearly rooting for a narrow Trump-loss.
But to the broader point: yes, if the polls are close, the vast majority of moderate republicans will vote for Clinton privately while ostensibly backing Trump publicly, because they value their party and their careers over their country (to the extent they're willing to tolerate a slim chances that Trump could win). That rubs me the wrong way to.
And if you want to see the opposite--a politician bravely risking their popular base because they understand what's at stake in this election--check out Bernie. A borderline marxist willing to hold his nose and vote for Clinton because he won't tolerate even a small chance (via Stein or Johnson peel-off votes) that Trump could win.
3
Paul "von Hindenburg" Ryan, Enabler in Chief, just like his namesake in 1933.
But perhaps we should cut Paul some slack; for all their differrences, he and Trump have something very essential in common: faith-based economics, aka Voodoo II (or is it III?). How the GOP can be considered the party of economic progress, even for the 1%, is beyond me. (Maybe even the 1% are wising up; see the stock market reaction to the Trump debate fiasco.) Besides the economic record of recent presidential administrations, you have the wonderful laboratory of state governments, giving us Exhibit A, Brownbackistan, which is even too much for some in the GOP, or the contrast between Wisconsin and Minnesota in their economic health. Minnesota also had the expeeriment of an "oursider" heding the government, which should have immunized any objective observer against leaving government to amateurs.
But perhaps we should cut Paul some slack; for all their differrences, he and Trump have something very essential in common: faith-based economics, aka Voodoo II (or is it III?). How the GOP can be considered the party of economic progress, even for the 1%, is beyond me. (Maybe even the 1% are wising up; see the stock market reaction to the Trump debate fiasco.) Besides the economic record of recent presidential administrations, you have the wonderful laboratory of state governments, giving us Exhibit A, Brownbackistan, which is even too much for some in the GOP, or the contrast between Wisconsin and Minnesota in their economic health. Minnesota also had the expeeriment of an "oursider" heding the government, which should have immunized any objective observer against leaving government to amateurs.
3
Part of me wants to see a Trump presidency for the simple fact that he will, if give half a chance, totally destroy the United States of America. That's what the voters of this country so richly deserve given the present political environment. The U.S. will become a pariah nation, reviled by every foreign leader except Putin and Kim Jong Un. Those who vote for Trump will learn the meaning of buyers' remorse, but it will be too late to stop the damage he will inflict on the whole country. One thing is certain; neither Trump nor Clinton will have a snowball's chance in Hell of winning a second term. With Trump we might end up with a military takeover to bring back some modicum of order. Civil rights will go out the window, perhaps forever. The gutless wonders who abstain from voting will soon realize the error of their ways, but they'll never admit that they are to blame. I'd like to see unemployment go to 50% and the U.S. dollar drop the same amount against the currencies of the rest of the world. When inflation soars to an annual rate of 100% or more and real estate and stock values drop by 80%, perhaps those who voted for Trump, directly or indirectly, will get the message. Trump will be happy to buy real estate for a few cents on the dollar of today's value. This country deserves Trump more than ever in its history. Those who do not speak Russian or Chinese would be well advised to start studying.
1
I, famously, have called Christie, Gingrich & Guiilani "Trump's Strumpets" - and a great punk band they are indeed!
4
I am SO tired of hearing these hypocrites deflect legitimate criticism of Trump into spirited defenses that insult my intelligence. Every single one of them is lying and pandering. Please, people, use your common sense and disregard these screaming bullies.
5
The third party option is not realistic this election. Gary Johnson stated just a couple of weeks ago that a solution to global warming is to move to other planets. He didn't say which inhabitable planets that he has suddenly discovered, how you would colonize them, and what lucky travelers would get a ride there. Of course, he also is representing a party that is against Social Security, Medicare, the ACA, public education, and environmental regulations.
Trump is like an alien takeover of the Republican Party. Extraterrestrials are one of the few explanations for why the Party of Lincoln morphed into the Party of Bigotry and Stupid. Watching the Trump supporters is like watching a lynch mob in a twilight zone: they shout, rant, wave their arms, and spout hate speech in a manner that is unacceptable in a normal society. Trump spins down into complete incoherence, tabloid concerns, and 70s sex scandals.
He isn't presidential material, and Hillary Clinton is highly qualified and experienced. But the alien takeover means that some kind of seething hatred and frenzy is inside those people that will rend its way out with enough craziness.
Trump is like an alien takeover of the Republican Party. Extraterrestrials are one of the few explanations for why the Party of Lincoln morphed into the Party of Bigotry and Stupid. Watching the Trump supporters is like watching a lynch mob in a twilight zone: they shout, rant, wave their arms, and spout hate speech in a manner that is unacceptable in a normal society. Trump spins down into complete incoherence, tabloid concerns, and 70s sex scandals.
He isn't presidential material, and Hillary Clinton is highly qualified and experienced. But the alien takeover means that some kind of seething hatred and frenzy is inside those people that will rend its way out with enough craziness.
7
Dear Trumpsters: you don't like Political correctness? Great. I have been admitted to MIT and have a Graduate Degree from Stanford. You are poor because you are lazy, stupid and racist. How do you like them apples?
15
"...So remember: Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way..."
Of course, Krugman is here to tell you what is meaningful.
Of course, Krugman is here to tell you what is meaningful.
4
Let's look at all the candidates. Donald Trump by most people standards is mentally unstable. And that may be his best attribute.
Gary Johnson see if they have the intelligence of a assistant manager at a Burger King. What's Aleppo? Foreign leaders? Try reading the newspaper Mr. Johnson. Jill Stein is an absolute ridiculous human being. She says if she wins the presidency, Lol, she wants Edward Snowden and her cabinet. Your choice for VP is as mentally disturbed as the Donald maybe more.
That leaves Hillary Clinton the person President Obama called the most call five person to be president in history . And he's not alone with this assessment. Even many of the opposition party know this to be true. This is no contest only a charade.
Gary Johnson see if they have the intelligence of a assistant manager at a Burger King. What's Aleppo? Foreign leaders? Try reading the newspaper Mr. Johnson. Jill Stein is an absolute ridiculous human being. She says if she wins the presidency, Lol, she wants Edward Snowden and her cabinet. Your choice for VP is as mentally disturbed as the Donald maybe more.
That leaves Hillary Clinton the person President Obama called the most call five person to be president in history . And he's not alone with this assessment. Even many of the opposition party know this to be true. This is no contest only a charade.
9
Trump had officially joined the 47%. No wonder Mitt won't vote for him!
4
Suspect GOP is 'betting' that if Trump elected, Trump will parade around, fly around, host parties with Melania and Ivanka and give press conferences saying outrageous things and thoroughly enjoy himself and Mike Pence (in Dick Cheney fashion) well run the country. A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for a Mike Pence administration - isn't it?
2
RE Henry Kissinger not endorsing anyone: might that not be "cowardice," but an awareness that were he to endorse Hillary Clinton -- whom he very likely prefers -- it would lose her voters among the "Bernie or bust" crowd? I am quite positive Kissinger sees Trump as a carnival barker, and H. Clinton as a serious former Secretary of State, with whom he could have an intelligent discussion on policy.
Mr. Kissinger's family fled Europe prior to WW2. I doubt he is comfortable with the ugly passions and sentiments Mr. Trump is fomenting.
Mr. Kissinger's family fled Europe prior to WW2. I doubt he is comfortable with the ugly passions and sentiments Mr. Trump is fomenting.
Very few publicans have any principles, except for office holders whose principle is what do I have to do to be elected. Shameful.
2
Trumps enablers are aplenty. Politics in the USA works this way, GOP supports their Ambulance Chaser candidate and when the election is over, they still reap the rewards whether he wins or not. Everyone says this reboots the GOP but the GOP does not need a reboot, it needed to recalibrate and do better. Supporting Trump is a hole that they almost get away with. Ryan will continue as House Speaker and if HRC is elected, continue with obstructionism with his minority Tea Party Republicans. If they truly want to save their party, denounce Trump, compromise with HRC and have a win win situation. It will not happen because GOP is the party of NO Surrender!
2
Wonderful reporting Mr. Krugman!
I have been waiting for the parallels to be drawn between Donald Trump and Leona Helmsley.
For those who need reminding, please watch the following: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tVi88apOnA0
Further, note the parallels in their disdain for the masses for paying taxes:
Leona's "Only little people pay taxes" and Donald's
'not paying federal taxes “makes me smart."'
I have been waiting for the parallels to be drawn between Donald Trump and Leona Helmsley.
For those who need reminding, please watch the following: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=tVi88apOnA0
Further, note the parallels in their disdain for the masses for paying taxes:
Leona's "Only little people pay taxes" and Donald's
'not paying federal taxes “makes me smart."'
4
If these younger people would take the time to read just one of the following books on social engineering it just might help their choice in the election:
l.How To Change the World by Daniel Bornstein 2004
2.The ARt of Political Manipulation by William Riker 1986 or
3. Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking by Chris.Hadnazy 2011
l.How To Change the World by Daniel Bornstein 2004
2.The ARt of Political Manipulation by William Riker 1986 or
3. Social Engineering: The Art of Human Hacking by Chris.Hadnazy 2011
Prejudice made it easy for certain angry middle class folks to believe it was the black guy’s fault when the GOP’s Trickle Down economics crushed them like grapes. We reelected Obama and the hatred grew. The GOP knew Hillary was on deck so they honed the Crooked Hillary branding so that the haters had someone new to hate. Better still, a woman. Turns out Hillary is a darn good choice, after you scrape off the GOP mud.
Enter Trump, the Inciter in Chief. Trump has perhaps said one true thing in all these months: He could shoot someone and still not lose his supporters. THEY DO NOT CARE about all the things the rest of do in electing our President, like decency, facts, knowledge, compassion, decorum, etc., because the hate-vote DOES NOT CARE. They believe he will save them from their angry lives when in fact Trump will toss them under the bus on day one of his (I can’t say it) pres, pres, pres… .
So-called good conservatives, as Krugman points out, have turned into moral cowards because of their extreme opposition to the continuation of Obama's policies, especially Obamacare and prospects of a lefty SCOTUS. They're so opposed that they are willing to turn the reins of our great country over to what's looking more and more like a madman.
Enter Trump, the Inciter in Chief. Trump has perhaps said one true thing in all these months: He could shoot someone and still not lose his supporters. THEY DO NOT CARE about all the things the rest of do in electing our President, like decency, facts, knowledge, compassion, decorum, etc., because the hate-vote DOES NOT CARE. They believe he will save them from their angry lives when in fact Trump will toss them under the bus on day one of his (I can’t say it) pres, pres, pres… .
So-called good conservatives, as Krugman points out, have turned into moral cowards because of their extreme opposition to the continuation of Obama's policies, especially Obamacare and prospects of a lefty SCOTUS. They're so opposed that they are willing to turn the reins of our great country over to what's looking more and more like a madman.
6
Paul--
Great point: A classification scale that catalogs leaders by courage, based on your reasonable assumption that leaders have the intelligence to appreciate Trump's inabilities. Therefore, it is what those leaders do with that judgement that shows the courage of their convictions.
A 5-point scale seems to fall out - from (1) making their judgements known and promoting a vote for Hillary (the anti-Trump vote), to (2) speaking out but waffling on the action to take, to (3) remaining silent, to (4) engaging in false equivalencies to appear "balanced," to (5) (worst of all) twisting, ignoring and inventing facts/data to create faux Trump abilities ("genius").
Great point: A classification scale that catalogs leaders by courage, based on your reasonable assumption that leaders have the intelligence to appreciate Trump's inabilities. Therefore, it is what those leaders do with that judgement that shows the courage of their convictions.
A 5-point scale seems to fall out - from (1) making their judgements known and promoting a vote for Hillary (the anti-Trump vote), to (2) speaking out but waffling on the action to take, to (3) remaining silent, to (4) engaging in false equivalencies to appear "balanced," to (5) (worst of all) twisting, ignoring and inventing facts/data to create faux Trump abilities ("genius").
If it were possible to penetrate Mr. Trump's inner-sanctum I'm sure it would reveal a sense of frightening decay, and devastating defeat.
3
You know, until we can get greed out of our lives, none of our problems will be solved.
It is the root of all evil.
Radix malorum est cupiditas
It is the root of all evil.
Radix malorum est cupiditas
4
One thing that might encourage more Americans to vote is the elimination of the Electoral College, with the president being elected by popular vote.
The Electoral College system is, at this point, ineffective and lends itself to corruption, as the elections of 2000 and 2004 with Republican tampering in Florida and Ohio, respectively. Had the election been decided by popular vote in those cases, the results might well have been different.
As a further example: I, as a Californian, do not have to vote for Mrs. Clinton, a candidate I find unsuitable. I won't vote for her, knowing that my state will go blue anyway. If we elected a president by popular vote, however, I would be compelled to vote for Mrs. Clinton because the prospect of that loser Trump in the White House would be more than I could risk.
The Electoral College system is, at this point, ineffective and lends itself to corruption, as the elections of 2000 and 2004 with Republican tampering in Florida and Ohio, respectively. Had the election been decided by popular vote in those cases, the results might well have been different.
As a further example: I, as a Californian, do not have to vote for Mrs. Clinton, a candidate I find unsuitable. I won't vote for her, knowing that my state will go blue anyway. If we elected a president by popular vote, however, I would be compelled to vote for Mrs. Clinton because the prospect of that loser Trump in the White House would be more than I could risk.
The 18-35 year old group that doesn't want to vote in this election is confusing to me. The average college loan debt from a Public University is around 25,000 and private colleges is double that figure. This fact alone should get these kids out to vote. The college loan debt most will default on because they can't make the huge payments every month. Another sad fact that they should be really angry with is Trump's almost billion dollar real state loss in 1995. Not only did he get a pass on taxes for 18 years on this carry over loss, his kid could get Federal Financial Aid to go to college. I do hope they show up at the polls for their own best interests.
4
For those who didn’t see it, Michael Moore offered a perspective on this yesterday on Meet The Press. In his opinion, a large number of Trump working class supporters are simply not listening to who the newspapers are endorsing, or who the elites are supporting. They view Trump as a “human Molotov cocktail” that they want to throw into the elite ranks of government.
He also offers perspective on the millennial vote and the premature giddiness in the Clinton campaign. The entire segment is worth a look, it is the third segment in the episode (begins at about minute 23:30)
http://www.nbc.com/meet-the-press/video/meet-the-pressoct-2-2016/3108399
He also offers perspective on the millennial vote and the premature giddiness in the Clinton campaign. The entire segment is worth a look, it is the third segment in the episode (begins at about minute 23:30)
http://www.nbc.com/meet-the-press/video/meet-the-pressoct-2-2016/3108399
2
If you really think Trump would be a potential disaster, you have two choices: do your part to oppose him or do nothing, and given our current voting system, the only way to do something to oppose him is to vote for Hillary, even if you don’t like her.
The reason this is so is because of our outmoded binary voting system which virtually forces us to cast our vote for the lesser of two viable evils in order to avoid the worse one slipping in. With this system, good 3rd party candidates virtually always serve only the function of being spoilers, splitting reasonable voters and helping to let the worst candidate in.
An optional rating, range or ranking voting system might help to mitigate this problem.
The reason this is so is because of our outmoded binary voting system which virtually forces us to cast our vote for the lesser of two viable evils in order to avoid the worse one slipping in. With this system, good 3rd party candidates virtually always serve only the function of being spoilers, splitting reasonable voters and helping to let the worst candidate in.
An optional rating, range or ranking voting system might help to mitigate this problem.
2
If Henry Kissinger does vote, it's pretty clear he'd be voting for Hillary.
3
Unfortunately, greed for revenue from waning media enterprises, driven by the Media-Campaign Advertising Complex, could explain that industries characterizations (email, trust, Benghazi) that pushed the race closer after the convention. The temptations of large ad buys generating significant revenue/profit in a close race was probably to much for some in the media plutocracy to resist. The epic fail at the debate by Trump sent the house of cards crashing to the table. Watch for a media driven rebound, as greed, from segments of a very sick industry, is a mighty powerful force.
3
It's easy to understand the rise of Trump.
Our government stopped working for "We the People" a long time ago.
The American people are desperate. The people they elected to represent them are corrupt and only looking out for themselves.
Trump means something different - something that probably won't end well, but enough with the status quo.
Our government stopped working for "We the People" a long time ago.
The American people are desperate. The people they elected to represent them are corrupt and only looking out for themselves.
Trump means something different - something that probably won't end well, but enough with the status quo.
5
They art hey are looking out for the Supreme Court as well as lower marginal tax rates.
Henry Kissinger, not doing the right thing? You don't say...
4
This from "ck" in Rye: "Electing Trump would be big trouble for the ego of one side, but it's about as consequential to America as changing a couple notes in the national anthem."
No. This spectacularly ill-informed sentiment is what produced eight economy-trashing, world-maiming years of George W Bush; it dismisses the very real concerns and fears of what a Trump presidency would mean for minorities and women in this country; it forgets that the next president determines whether the Supreme Court will be a liberal or conservative majority for the next generation; it amazingly glosses over the fact that a Trump presidency would legitimize the "alt-right" fringe in this country as a particularly ugly and dangerous political force. I could go on. No, ck, the stakes could not be higher in this election. Vote like it matters because it will.
No. This spectacularly ill-informed sentiment is what produced eight economy-trashing, world-maiming years of George W Bush; it dismisses the very real concerns and fears of what a Trump presidency would mean for minorities and women in this country; it forgets that the next president determines whether the Supreme Court will be a liberal or conservative majority for the next generation; it amazingly glosses over the fact that a Trump presidency would legitimize the "alt-right" fringe in this country as a particularly ugly and dangerous political force. I could go on. No, ck, the stakes could not be higher in this election. Vote like it matters because it will.
6
“Scholars and Writers for America” - talk about a 'Basket of Deplorables...'
--John 10/03/16 - 12 noon
--John 10/03/16 - 12 noon
1
I for one am very happy Kissinger hasn't endorsed Clinton. That would have turned my stomach.
2
I loathe Donald Trump, but I'm getting tired of all the piling on by journalists and columnists. It's just lazy. These have to be the easiest columns and stories to write ever. There are three vitriolic attacks on Trump today on the op-ed page. Three. Tell me something new.
Why not do some analysis of how we got here. How America's elites on both the left and the right, and the conventional wisdom pundits so misjudged America. How they became so distanced from what is really going on in the country. How they actually thought Hillary Clinton best represented what middle class / working class Americans wanted and needed.
Yes, Donald is awful. Hillary barely much better. But the elites? The Acela corridor-based columnists and experts? The CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NYT WaPo, WSJ types? Completely out of touch.
Why not do some analysis of how we got here. How America's elites on both the left and the right, and the conventional wisdom pundits so misjudged America. How they became so distanced from what is really going on in the country. How they actually thought Hillary Clinton best represented what middle class / working class Americans wanted and needed.
Yes, Donald is awful. Hillary barely much better. But the elites? The Acela corridor-based columnists and experts? The CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, NYT WaPo, WSJ types? Completely out of touch.
5
Reply to Rima Rigas
The Krugman article is excellent and it has drawn out some of the fatuous and childish responses we expect from certain readers who sanctimoniously stand "above" the rest of us in a more pure atmosphere.
In fact, they are little more than children having temper tantrums and holding their breath because they can't get their way.
The real world isn't to their liking and they feel no obligation to adapt to it. They are vain, silly and egocentric.
They have forfeited any claim to respectful attention.
The Krugman article is excellent and it has drawn out some of the fatuous and childish responses we expect from certain readers who sanctimoniously stand "above" the rest of us in a more pure atmosphere.
In fact, they are little more than children having temper tantrums and holding their breath because they can't get their way.
The real world isn't to their liking and they feel no obligation to adapt to it. They are vain, silly and egocentric.
They have forfeited any claim to respectful attention.
4
I don't have a good sense of what a Trump presidency would mean. It could be far worse than anyone could anticipate, but who really knows. I do think a Clinton admin would be more predictable, and boring. Ok by me. Depends on her reaction to things she cannot control.
We should focus on which of the two is more likely to do the most damage to ourselves and others. Forget all the other stuff.
We should focus on which of the two is more likely to do the most damage to ourselves and others. Forget all the other stuff.
3
could a national version of Jesse Ventura and Arnold Swarzenneger's elections be upon us? I trust not. another strong debate performance will hopefully seal it for HRC.
2
Life Goes On
On the day (last Wednesday) that Congress voted to override President Obama’s veto of legislation that would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue the Saudi Arabian government, I happened to see a video of Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell criticizing the President.
Their diatribe seemed so familiar, I had to do a double-take and ask myself, "Don't I remember those guys from somewhere? Hmmm, could they possibly be the same legislators who, back in the day and without positive contributions of their own, used to pretend to be important on the political scene?"
Then I remembered who they were ... and immediately recalled their frequent photo-ops with John Boehner and Eric Cantor. I thought, "Omigod, I hope Hillary Clinton wins in 2016 so these guys will, once again, have a purpose in life ... practicing the skills they have honed over the past eight years."
On the day (last Wednesday) that Congress voted to override President Obama’s veto of legislation that would allow the families of 9/11 victims to sue the Saudi Arabian government, I happened to see a video of Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell criticizing the President.
Their diatribe seemed so familiar, I had to do a double-take and ask myself, "Don't I remember those guys from somewhere? Hmmm, could they possibly be the same legislators who, back in the day and without positive contributions of their own, used to pretend to be important on the political scene?"
Then I remembered who they were ... and immediately recalled their frequent photo-ops with John Boehner and Eric Cantor. I thought, "Omigod, I hope Hillary Clinton wins in 2016 so these guys will, once again, have a purpose in life ... practicing the skills they have honed over the past eight years."
5
Most telling about the decayed state of the Republican Party is that this hate-mongering buffoon, Donald Trump, stands as head of their party and the Republican leadership stands by loyally by his side. The Republican leadership demonstrates a complete disregard for our nation that now goes far beyond merely obstructing every effort to improve life in this country. They know full well that Trump is mentally unstable and completely ignorant and they refuse to admit that he is totally unqualified to be President, Commander-in-Chief.
Do third party voters especially in critical swing states want to help the Republican leadership do their worst to our nation? Do Ryan and McConnell. McCain and Priebus actually want Donald Trump to have the nuclear codes with his finger on the nuclear trigger? Do these people have no concern for the future of their children and grandchildren let alone the entire world?
Do third party voters especially in critical swing states want to help the Republican leadership do their worst to our nation? Do Ryan and McConnell. McCain and Priebus actually want Donald Trump to have the nuclear codes with his finger on the nuclear trigger? Do these people have no concern for the future of their children and grandchildren let alone the entire world?
7
When you think of despicable people, the first name which comes to my mind is Ted Cruz. However, I will admit that my opinion of him was changing when he refused to endorse the republican candidate and not shy about saying so. Then last week Cruz joined the rest of his spineless colleagues and jumped the shark. It is proof to me that the Republican Party has no interest in the welfare of the American people; they want power in all its possible iterations, and don't care who knows because they have no respect for their base or anyone else. God help us if the republicans control the Court, Senate and Congress, because we will lose our freedoms overnight and the face of our nation will be an orange faced baboon. See, even a liberal minded person can play the fear game.
4
Regarding Trump's congressional enablers, there is a school of thought that Trump will step aside, or be impeached, leading us to a Pence-Ryan administration. Thus, it is not only the presidency, but also the Senate that is important in this election cycle. Although bringing up Miss Universe was shrewd, Ms. Clinton and her party should move on from gloating and make it clear that Trump's lack of intellect and temperament have come to characterize much of the Republican party.
3
What do you think of this idea? Why doesn't someone just buy him off the ticket. He loves money more than the country. So just cut him a check.
Oh, how I despair. Being too old to move (no other country would have me), I cannot abide by the idea of him actually winning. Vote. Keep him out of there.
Oh, how I despair. Being too old to move (no other country would have me), I cannot abide by the idea of him actually winning. Vote. Keep him out of there.
3
All well and good. We know, and know, and know you hate Trump. How do you propose to separate Hillary from her middle of the road, status quo, centrist, big banker, big oligopoly, warmonger orientation. Or have you traveled right with Hillary? How do you propose to fix Clinton..
3
Vote for sanity. Trumpolini will bring the country to its knees. Vote!
1
I disagree with Prof Krugman on one point...I am very happy that Kissinger and Schultz have stayed out of this race publicly....There are too many Bernie Sanders supporters and other Dems who would count their endorsement of Hillary Clinton against her....Something about the company one keeps...
5
While you are toting things up, you should at least mention the extraordinary number of newspapers that traditionally supported Republican Presidential candidates have either supported Hillary or supported no one.
4
Give "Paul Wolfowitz some credit for political courage"
Wolfowitz is a war criminal.
Wolfowitz is a war criminal.
8
Kissenger endorsed Pinochet. Neo-con Wofowitz endorsed the Iraq invasion. Why should anyone care whom they support in this election?
4
You lefties are so intellectually bankrupt it's hysterical.
Look at your leaders Jill Stein and her crazy VP, lol. That third grade QB in the NFL making millions, lol. Susan Sarandon and her husband in him bathrobe lol. One of the worst actors on the planet Danny Glover, mr. indicate lol.
These are people who just never grew up or just destroyed too many brain cells. Leftist intellectuals who grew up are now liberals voting for Hillary Clinton.
Look at your leaders Jill Stein and her crazy VP, lol. That third grade QB in the NFL making millions, lol. Susan Sarandon and her husband in him bathrobe lol. One of the worst actors on the planet Danny Glover, mr. indicate lol.
These are people who just never grew up or just destroyed too many brain cells. Leftist intellectuals who grew up are now liberals voting for Hillary Clinton.
2
"Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way."
That's kind of a milquetoast wrap-up for a column lacerating others for being mealy-mouthed and pussy-footing in their opposition to Trump. It reminds me of Cruz's "Vote your conscience."
Elsewhere, Dr. Krugman does say ..."[Y]ou need to vote for Mrs. Clinton." But he distances himself from the sentiment by burying it in a longer sentence: "...only a handful have risen to the occasion and been willing to say..." etc. etc. It's like subtly placing a bag of popcorn in a movie scene and hoping folks will get hungry.
Why not just come right out and say it? Vote for Hillary! Your paper has done it. Why not you? If you've already said it elsewhere, say it again, in every column until the election is over and the threat is passed. Your country needs you, Dr. Krugman. Take a stand.
That's kind of a milquetoast wrap-up for a column lacerating others for being mealy-mouthed and pussy-footing in their opposition to Trump. It reminds me of Cruz's "Vote your conscience."
Elsewhere, Dr. Krugman does say ..."[Y]ou need to vote for Mrs. Clinton." But he distances himself from the sentiment by burying it in a longer sentence: "...only a handful have risen to the occasion and been willing to say..." etc. etc. It's like subtly placing a bag of popcorn in a movie scene and hoping folks will get hungry.
Why not just come right out and say it? Vote for Hillary! Your paper has done it. Why not you? If you've already said it elsewhere, say it again, in every column until the election is over and the threat is passed. Your country needs you, Dr. Krugman. Take a stand.
4
THE ART OF THE STEAL
By Donald Trump
How I blew a $300M inheritance and turned it into a Billion dollar tax shelter. You can do it too if you have a Rich daddy!!
Note: The $300 million amount is the inflation adjusted 2016 dollar equivalent of the $1 million "small loan" that Trump received from his daddy plus the $70M personal guarantee that his daddy that was required to provide in order to do the Grand Hyatt deal.
By Donald Trump
How I blew a $300M inheritance and turned it into a Billion dollar tax shelter. You can do it too if you have a Rich daddy!!
Note: The $300 million amount is the inflation adjusted 2016 dollar equivalent of the $1 million "small loan" that Trump received from his daddy plus the $70M personal guarantee that his daddy that was required to provide in order to do the Grand Hyatt deal.
7
Liberal math is so entertaining.
It is truly pathetic watching the New York Times sell out every bit of its credibility.
Neoconservative, war-mongering conservatives like Paul Wolfowitz are justifiably decried at every turn by liberals and progressives UNTIL they decide to support Hillary Clinton. Then, they're actions are courageous and worthy of respect.
It couldn't POSSIBLY be that Hillary Clinton represents an extension of their repugnant world views on a wider range of subjects Donald Trump and we should be extremely leery of their endorsements.
No, no, this is political courage and finally seeing the light.
Too funny.
Neoconservative, war-mongering conservatives like Paul Wolfowitz are justifiably decried at every turn by liberals and progressives UNTIL they decide to support Hillary Clinton. Then, they're actions are courageous and worthy of respect.
It couldn't POSSIBLY be that Hillary Clinton represents an extension of their repugnant world views on a wider range of subjects Donald Trump and we should be extremely leery of their endorsements.
No, no, this is political courage and finally seeing the light.
Too funny.
5
Thank you, Paul Krugman, you are correct. Especially about the media "inventing a Clinton crisis" out of thin air! Good grief, Mrs. Clinton is human, she does get sick ....we all do. The media, though as failed to call-out Donald each and every time he lies. Lately, Donald has taken to being a total bully with his rants about Ms. Machado, the Clintons marriage...as if he were an angel! And his latest, play-acting Hillary! He is a bully, bullies are knowing to be unhinged. The last week of this campaign, has brought us, all into the gutter with Donald tweeting at 2am, about sex tapes and adultery! Deplorable.
5
Or, if you are suicidal vote for Trump.
5
I've said it before but it bears repeating; Just as the Pontius Pilate routine didn't work for so well for the fifth Prefect of Judaea, it won't work here either.
Should Trump become our 54th president, the blood will be on McConnell's and Ryan's hands. No amount of hand washing or finger pointing will absolve them from their sins.
Should Trump become our 54th president, the blood will be on McConnell's and Ryan's hands. No amount of hand washing or finger pointing will absolve them from their sins.
9
Donald Trump is the Kim Kardashian of American politics.
6
The real question that needs to be asked is this: why did the Democrats force the nomination of the second most unpopular nominee in history down the public's throat? Why is Clinton STILL the nominee, in the face of all evidence of public displeasure with this dismal state of affairs, while they have the most popular politician IN THE COUNTRY -- who gained 47% of elected delegates' support in the primaries -- waiting in the wings?
I mean, this is the second coming of Hitler, right? Surely some things are more important than Mrs. Clinton's ego?
I mean, this is the second coming of Hitler, right? Surely some things are more important than Mrs. Clinton's ego?
6
I didn't realize primary voters had the power to force anything down someone else's throat?
3
Yes there is something very much more important intelligence, know how, experience, temperament.
As Obama says she has it all.
As Obama says she has it all.
1
So I'm guessing you're voting for Trump? Or, if not, you'll be perfectly fine with a Trump presidency?
Trump's IQ:
Median Carnival Barker: 100
Six bankruptcies ( 5 ea): 30
Billion dollar tax loss: 20
70 years being Trump: 30
Total: 180 (Genius!)
Median Carnival Barker: 100
Six bankruptcies ( 5 ea): 30
Billion dollar tax loss: 20
70 years being Trump: 30
Total: 180 (Genius!)
5
It's the MEDIA, and I don't mean "news." That would imply journalistic standards. That would imply equal behavior and accomplishment standards. There's been none of that. Like Hitler, the Republicans have broken through the "secrets" to lead a gullible population to destruction and slavery.
5
The SNL sendup of the first Presidential Debate by Alec Baldwin -- as a spot on Donald Trump and Kate Mckinnon -- as Clinton, was funny and brilliant. Or was it just brilliant?
4
We need less Trump is bad columns, and more Why Hillary would make a wonderful President. What a Clinton presidency would look like for the country.
Columns like yours and Blow's are entertaining, but I think I am going to skip anything that says Trump in the first sentence.
I cannot believe that the Times has on its front page, a continuation of the TRUMPED up case against Hillary Clinton. Shame on all of you.
Columns like yours and Blow's are entertaining, but I think I am going to skip anything that says Trump in the first sentence.
I cannot believe that the Times has on its front page, a continuation of the TRUMPED up case against Hillary Clinton. Shame on all of you.
6
The righteousness of the religious Republican party anti abortion stance along with supporting assault type weapons has always been delivered behind a cry for morality and fairness. It is natural that what we get from the repubs is the Biggest and Best Cry Baby Billionaire of All time
Ryan and others will find a new need to realign "against" everything .... term limits is one way to prevent this gridlock of ideology ... and a stronger third party!
Ryan and others will find a new need to realign "against" everything .... term limits is one way to prevent this gridlock of ideology ... and a stronger third party!
4
Barbara Bush attended a fundraiser for Ms. Hillary Rodham Clinton. George Bush, Sr. is voting for her.
Ladies of America NOW is the time to change the course of HIStory in America to OUR story. It is 240 years, and tens of centuries, past time for over one-half the population of America to stand up and say, "We will no longer be considered "less than". We demand equality in every aspect of civilization."
It is time for women to say, "No, it was not Eve's fault Adam ate that damned apple." Enough of this male-dominated fairy tale and social model.
Ladies of America NOW is the time to change the course of HIStory in America to OUR story. It is 240 years, and tens of centuries, past time for over one-half the population of America to stand up and say, "We will no longer be considered "less than". We demand equality in every aspect of civilization."
It is time for women to say, "No, it was not Eve's fault Adam ate that damned apple." Enough of this male-dominated fairy tale and social model.
8
Well just having returned from Spain, the nine hour time change kept me from getting up early enough to be read by the rest of you.
It appears the most recommended comments are in regard to a post by Rima Regas, whom I once considered an email friend. However her constant attacks on HRC nullified that. As with a majority of Bernie supporters, she and they equivocate Trump and HRC as being members of the establishment, and both as liars.
I challenge anyone to produce a research paper supporting the charges against HRC by the GOP, the American Enterprise Institute, the WSJ and its columnists. That is a documented investigation with footnotes, as any thesis requires. Not who said what, or what many believe, but the facts. As an example the WSJ criticisms are speculation, what ifs, and just blatent ad hominum arguments.
We have actual documentation of Trumps prevarications, and fraud. He is scheduled for trial in Federal Court for RICO, and a suit for fraud in the case of Trump University.
There is no comparison between the two. On has spent her life working for the betterment of the citizens, you may disagree with some of her projects, but they have been honest and decent.
The other has spent his life swindling investors, engaging in fraud, elevating his name upon the unsuspecting buyers of his "Luxury Products" and just plain flim flam, like a carnival barker. Would you buy a used car from this man, let alone elect him to run the country?
It appears the most recommended comments are in regard to a post by Rima Regas, whom I once considered an email friend. However her constant attacks on HRC nullified that. As with a majority of Bernie supporters, she and they equivocate Trump and HRC as being members of the establishment, and both as liars.
I challenge anyone to produce a research paper supporting the charges against HRC by the GOP, the American Enterprise Institute, the WSJ and its columnists. That is a documented investigation with footnotes, as any thesis requires. Not who said what, or what many believe, but the facts. As an example the WSJ criticisms are speculation, what ifs, and just blatent ad hominum arguments.
We have actual documentation of Trumps prevarications, and fraud. He is scheduled for trial in Federal Court for RICO, and a suit for fraud in the case of Trump University.
There is no comparison between the two. On has spent her life working for the betterment of the citizens, you may disagree with some of her projects, but they have been honest and decent.
The other has spent his life swindling investors, engaging in fraud, elevating his name upon the unsuspecting buyers of his "Luxury Products" and just plain flim flam, like a carnival barker. Would you buy a used car from this man, let alone elect him to run the country?
12
"Absence of proof is proof of absence" -- it's going to go down in history as the Clinton Defense. Just because nobody's managed to dig up the Goldman transcripts doesn't mean they don't demonstrate her loyalty to her generous employers/donors.
Mrs. Clinton has long had it within her power to refute the perceptions of her as corrupt. She has declined to do so. She doesn't have to be "equivalent" to Trump to cross the threshold of unacceptability.
Mrs. Clinton has long had it within her power to refute the perceptions of her as corrupt. She has declined to do so. She doesn't have to be "equivalent" to Trump to cross the threshold of unacceptability.
David, where is your high brow academic, peer reviewed research paper countering, fact by fact, all of the spurious and specious charges against Clinton? I would think there would be volumes and volumes of these laudatory, yet scientifically objective, papers, since Clinton has spent a lifetime mimicking Mother Theresa and Mother Goose.
Dear Mr. Krugman: There is no way to "meaningfully vote" when the choices are awful. We're choosing between totally unacceptable and minimally acceptable. That's no way to elect a President who is incidentally the leader of the (allegedly) "free world". Disclaimer: I will vote for Hillary Clinton and I urge a Clinton vote but I don't have to like it.
1
If everybody in the world were running for president Hillary Clinton would still get my vote. You were sounding like one of the "ridiculous".
2
I couldn't agree more, Prof. Krugman, you seem to have covered it. I would just add that, if you live in New York, not only should you vote for Mrs. Clinton, but you should call any friends you may have in Florida and Ohio and get out THEIR vote. Also, don't forget the down ballot races, so that President Hillary Clinton has a congress that she can work with.
10
This year highlights the elevation of partisanship over patriotism to a pinnacle previously unseen. The craven refusal to encourage a vote for Clinton is more cowardly and infinitely more dangerous than the policy fights of the past.
But, will the media hold them accountable? The media tends to adopt a narrative (such as "policy wonk Ryan" rather than the truthful, but more complex, "fantasy figures Ryan" ) and reporting often does little to disrupt this with facts.
At this point, the gutless GOP going unscathed is not the most pressing concern. Vote…Call…and Canvass---like your country depends on it!!
But, will the media hold them accountable? The media tends to adopt a narrative (such as "policy wonk Ryan" rather than the truthful, but more complex, "fantasy figures Ryan" ) and reporting often does little to disrupt this with facts.
At this point, the gutless GOP going unscathed is not the most pressing concern. Vote…Call…and Canvass---like your country depends on it!!
4
Once again I remind you: In 1933 the Nazi party finally came to power after many years of trying. It was supported by industrialists who convinced the Jewish banking establishment he could be controlled. The rest is history.
1
Mr. Krugman, I expect you will be verbally pounded, even by many of the people I know (thoughtful, smart and caring) who won't get past their feelings and trust their common sense.
"What are you gonna do, believe me or your own eyes?"
Chico Marx/DUCK SOUP
"What are you gonna do, believe me or your own eyes?"
Chico Marx/DUCK SOUP
4
Please, let's not look to Paul Wolfowitz for any sort of moral guidance in this election. His views are well represented by the undercard on the Trump ticket.
4
A vote for Trump IS a vote for change...of the same sort and result Thelma and Louise got when their T-Bird sailed off the cliff's edge into the Grand Canyon.
5
• While almost all Republican officeholders have endorsed Mr. Trump, the same isn’t true of what we might call the G.O.P. intelligentsia – actual or at least self-proclaimed policy experts, opinion writers, and so on.
“Our intelligentsia doesn't have a conservative wing because conservatism is intellectually bankrupt.”
~ SOCRATES
Trusted commenter
Downtown Verona, NJ
• But if you think that electing Mr. Trump would be a disaster, shouldn’t you be urging your fellow Americans to vote for his opponent, even if you don’t like her?
“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims... but accomplices.”
~ GEORGE ORWELL
• But for most it seems to be about politics as personal expression: they dislike Mrs. Clinton — partly because they’ve bought into a misleading media image....
“By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, journalism keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.” ~ OSCAR WILDE
My dislike and distrust of Mrs. Clinton has nothing to do with the Press. Ity germinated from her on its own when in 1998 she moved to NY State to carpetbag the Senate seat vacated by retiring Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Didn’t vote for her (or her surrogate, Kirsten Gillibrand) and won’t vote for her now.
I’ve since moved on.
“If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave.” ~ MO WILLEMS
I fear for the world which will be worse off no matter who is elected.
“Our intelligentsia doesn't have a conservative wing because conservatism is intellectually bankrupt.”
~ SOCRATES
Trusted commenter
Downtown Verona, NJ
• But if you think that electing Mr. Trump would be a disaster, shouldn’t you be urging your fellow Americans to vote for his opponent, even if you don’t like her?
“A people that elect corrupt politicians, imposters, thieves and traitors are not victims... but accomplices.”
~ GEORGE ORWELL
• But for most it seems to be about politics as personal expression: they dislike Mrs. Clinton — partly because they’ve bought into a misleading media image....
“By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, journalism keeps us in touch with the ignorance of the community.” ~ OSCAR WILDE
My dislike and distrust of Mrs. Clinton has nothing to do with the Press. Ity germinated from her on its own when in 1998 she moved to NY State to carpetbag the Senate seat vacated by retiring Daniel Patrick Moynihan. Didn’t vote for her (or her surrogate, Kirsten Gillibrand) and won’t vote for her now.
I’ve since moved on.
“If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave.” ~ MO WILLEMS
I fear for the world which will be worse off no matter who is elected.
2
If the Far Left thinks it's best to see the Center Left defeated by the Far Right, they need to keep in mind that Center Left powerlessness makes Far Left policy ever less likely. How can you take and hold the far side of anything if you cannot even begin to move in that general direction? The Right learned this lesson long ago, the Left has yet to even begin to get it. It's one of the things that makes the Right so effective, even as they push nonsense.
Besides, if THIS particular Far Right is elected... there might not be a Far Left of ANY kind left when it's done!
Besides, if THIS particular Far Right is elected... there might not be a Far Left of ANY kind left when it's done!
1
The 3rd party voters dislike Hillary Clinton, in part, to the tireless campaign campaign waged against her by no other than your fellow columnist, Maureen Dowd. Take a look at Sunday's editorial, 3/4 the way through it you'll see another irrelevant dig at HRC. The NY Times needs to take responsibility for their role in 3rd party voting.
p.s. I'm a moderate, not affiliated with any party.
p.s. I'm a moderate, not affiliated with any party.
4
Krugman suggests that we all should give "...Wolfowitz some credit for political courage."
Wolfowitz did all he could to get that blockhead Bush to invade Iraq, in part because Wolfowitz thought it would be good for Israel. I can't seem to find "political courage" in this or any other of Wolfowitz' resume.
Wolfowitz did all he could to get that blockhead Bush to invade Iraq, in part because Wolfowitz thought it would be good for Israel. I can't seem to find "political courage" in this or any other of Wolfowitz' resume.
6
Mr. Krugman, This may be semantics, but McConnell and Ryan ARE stupid in a very fundamental sense - in the way that Oscar Wilde described individuals who know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
3
I tried to read some of the scholars and writers of America argument for the support of Donald Trump,but there was no link to there views. I wonder what they could be thinking now reading about Mr Trumps main concerns about beauty pageant sex tapes or Bill Clinton's womanizing proclivities. Dear Trump supporters, ARE YOU EMBARRASSED YET !
3
There are many votes you can cast for Donald Trump. You can cast an angry one, a fearful one, a frustrated one, a rank and file Republican one. A xenophobic one, a bigoted and / or a misogynist one. There's only one kind of vote you can't make for Donald Trump: an intelligent one.
5
A vote not cast for Hillary is a vote for Trump. We must all remember that we get what we deserve, particularly, the villains of the piece: the profit-seeking and for-the-moment-free press; the Republican political establishment; Henry Kissinger and George Schultz; the feckless of those on the left supporting third-party candidates, and the third of young voters who intend to opt out of this election.
6
Paul Wolfowitz supports Hillary for good reason: they share the same foreign policy views. Besides, he knows she won't be able to raise his taxes if he she actually wanted to, and everyone understands the crusade for "free trade" will resume after election day, just as it did with Obama. She *is* a social liberal, but it's harmless, a sop to the Democratic base, in lieu of economic populism.
What's not to like?
What's not to like?
1
Has has it not occurred to Krugman that millions find Hillary so disgusting they are willing to vote for ANY alternative, no matter who, or what they represent?
4
I think it's clear that "millions" have swallowed the lies the Republicans have told about Hillary for decades. Millions more hate/fear women too much to vote for her. (Too "disgusting".)
1
Some day I hope you will tackle the important and not simple question, why do so many people dislike Mrs. Clinton? Start with Pogo...
3
Have young voters really been tricked by the media into disliking Clinton, as you suppose? Or is it just that fact that our peers and friends were the ones who were sent to their deaths in Iraq?
3
Emotions > Reason. That explains everything about modern politics.
My recommendation would go further -- not only should everyone with a conscience be voting for HRC irrespective of party affiliation or proclivity, but voting for any challenger to a Republican who has either endorsed - or failed to affirmatively disavow Trump. The choice is so stark -- that the failure to vocally say one is against Trump as President and supporting HRC should ipso facto be disqualifying for any public office anywhere. If "millennial", "angry white voters" etc. why nothing changes, why nothing moves . . . it's because you keep re-electing these unprincipled cowards to office again and again. THAT WOULD BE A REVOLUTION.
5
Paul Wolfowitz? Political courage? Man, you are now in total desperation mode. And Gary Johnson only gets mentioned as a third party candidate because he's loused up so bad with Aleppo et. al. Her name is Jill Stein and presents the only platform worth voting for. Every time she's ignored only makes the void more obvious.
1
New Gallup Poll Shows 57% of Americans Want a Major 3rd Party ...
https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/.../new-gallup-poll-shows-57-of-americans-...
3 days ago -
The majority of americans want a major 3rd party, which means the only reason a 3rd party vote is a wasted vote is because the two major parities have managed to convince the majority that it is. If the majority voted that 3rd party they would win the election. Not a waste.
https://libertyblitzkrieg.com/.../new-gallup-poll-shows-57-of-americans-...
3 days ago -
The majority of americans want a major 3rd party, which means the only reason a 3rd party vote is a wasted vote is because the two major parities have managed to convince the majority that it is. If the majority voted that 3rd party they would win the election. Not a waste.
1
Professor, please keep the lectures for the classroom. The NYT readers know how to cast our votes in a meaningful way.
1
"So remember: Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way."
And what way would that be, Paul? I hate to sound bitter but I am. The last time I voted in a presidential election (2004), I distinctly remember voting for John Kerry, but when the votes were tabulated, they showed that Kerry got zero votes from my state. George W. Bush got ALL of SC's 8 votes. (A Republican friend of mine had a similar experience when he voted in DC.)
Why do I so vehemently want my vote to count when it only counts for approximately 1/150 millionth of a vote? To paraphrase John Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE, "Because it is my vote! Because I cannot have another in my life!"
And what way would that be, Paul? I hate to sound bitter but I am. The last time I voted in a presidential election (2004), I distinctly remember voting for John Kerry, but when the votes were tabulated, they showed that Kerry got zero votes from my state. George W. Bush got ALL of SC's 8 votes. (A Republican friend of mine had a similar experience when he voted in DC.)
Why do I so vehemently want my vote to count when it only counts for approximately 1/150 millionth of a vote? To paraphrase John Proctor in THE CRUCIBLE, "Because it is my vote! Because I cannot have another in my life!"
The man has no honor, integrity, class, empathy, etc., etc. ......... Apparently, he has infected the Republican party.
7
Let's start with fellow-traveller NYT: retread headlines in today's edition about Clinton infidelities. This is journalism?
4
I I am voting for Clinton as the lesser evil, but Paul Wolfowitz? Why shouldn't he support Clinton? She supported the Iraq War until it interfered with her presidential ambitions.
3
Funny that the neocons and defense industries prefer Hillary over Trump.
The war machine must not be interrupted.
The war machine must not be interrupted.
6
Wonderful column, Mr. Krugman, but perhaps you missed the other missing person in all of this - Bernie Sanders.
It seems he, more than anyone, is wanting to see "the center-left defeated by the hard right, because that sets the stage for a true progressive revolution." Many friends say if Hillary loses it's because Bernie bailed in order to further his own career.
He has been missing more than anyone in this post-primary election period. His lackluster, infrequent appearances on her behalf show him - in my mind - to be as selfish and childish as Trump.
And how anyone in this country could vote for Gary Johnson, "protest" vote or not, is beyond my understanding. He doesn't even know what or where Aleppo is.
It seems he, more than anyone, is wanting to see "the center-left defeated by the hard right, because that sets the stage for a true progressive revolution." Many friends say if Hillary loses it's because Bernie bailed in order to further his own career.
He has been missing more than anyone in this post-primary election period. His lackluster, infrequent appearances on her behalf show him - in my mind - to be as selfish and childish as Trump.
And how anyone in this country could vote for Gary Johnson, "protest" vote or not, is beyond my understanding. He doesn't even know what or where Aleppo is.
7
I do wish the NYTimes would do a proper well researched article on opportunist Jill Stein. Anyone who thinks she is a true Green candidate needs to take a closer look. For a medical doctor, she should know better than to tolerate and encourage antisocial pseudoscience. There's a reason Bernie turned to Hillary rather than Jill Stein. It's a much better way to get knowledge and action on the environment into the public sphere.
9
Only four short years ago, Paul Ryan lamented the "47%" who didn't pay federal income taxes (ignoring that even low-paid workers pay SS and Medicare)). He called them "takers" as opposed to "makers" and implied they were lazing about in social-welfare "hammocks."
Today, Paul Ryan endorses a candidate who has quite possibly not paid income taxes for 20 years and refuses to address the claim with evidence.
Could someone in the press corps ask Paul Ryan to explain the apparent change of heart?
Someone?
Today, Paul Ryan endorses a candidate who has quite possibly not paid income taxes for 20 years and refuses to address the claim with evidence.
Could someone in the press corps ask Paul Ryan to explain the apparent change of heart?
Someone?
16
Beyond that, Ryan leads a GOP that is dedicated to the Takers -- the 1% that has extracted virtually all the economic gains of the economy since (and largely due to) Reagan.
And of course the want the rest.
And of course the want the rest.
1
ntractable. Execrable. Egregious. Abysmal. The epithets keep piling on, as everyday elapses with Trump, launching missiles of castigations on his opponents, from his arsenal. He will not act as a debater, but as a baby from an incubator. His psycho-social development seems quite a bit murky, since he is still menacingly mired in the early stages of an infant, with id, ego, and superego. In Freudian terms, Trump has over-developed id and ego, but the superego still seems vestigial.
Consequentially, he allegedly evolved into a caterwauling sourpuss. The superego slowly vamoosed. Dems., obviously, will, instead of bowdlerizing the contents of his speeches, do well by embracing apophasis, while discussing his taxes, his university, his business debacles, and his chauvinistic styles. Those probably will be an attempt to eclipse Hillary's fund receipts from countries like Saudi Arabia, where women are not allowed to drive, among other things.
His speeches quickly fester into something like a bunch of doggerel verses, without any caesuras. He can, technically, be a low hanging fruit for Hillary in the next debate, since he does not and will not listen to his debate instructors. And that will be the Dems. druthers, and this golden opportunity should not be frittered away. If Trump becomes the POTUS, his can be an infernal government, and he will merrily maintain his status as a blabber mouth.
Consequentially, he allegedly evolved into a caterwauling sourpuss. The superego slowly vamoosed. Dems., obviously, will, instead of bowdlerizing the contents of his speeches, do well by embracing apophasis, while discussing his taxes, his university, his business debacles, and his chauvinistic styles. Those probably will be an attempt to eclipse Hillary's fund receipts from countries like Saudi Arabia, where women are not allowed to drive, among other things.
His speeches quickly fester into something like a bunch of doggerel verses, without any caesuras. He can, technically, be a low hanging fruit for Hillary in the next debate, since he does not and will not listen to his debate instructors. And that will be the Dems. druthers, and this golden opportunity should not be frittered away. If Trump becomes the POTUS, his can be an infernal government, and he will merrily maintain his status as a blabber mouth.
2
The Republican leadership does not have the courage of their convictions.
They say they are in defense of marriage, but then overlook Trump's disdain for the institution whether he's adulterating or on his third. They say they are for financial responsibility, but then recklessly support Trump's economic plan that will crater the good name of the US dollar while further concentrating wealth in the hands of the <1%.
They say they are for security at home and abroad, yet Trump's attitude and behavior has put us at risk by swatting the hornet's nest and playing right into the hands of the terrorists' PR playbook for recruitment.
They say they are for global free-trade between nations and further becoming the world leader in trade, but support the tyrant who insists on a broad agenda of isolation from the rest of the world. Indeed, they support Trump despite the fact his number one tactic in achieving isolation is offending all other nations and their citizens.
They say they are the strong and just arbiters of right and wrong and will use the military to resolve conflicts, using diplomacy afterwards to clean up the mess, but Trump will not even say he'll respect the military treaties the US has signed and has only claimed to wipe out IsIs, a chimera of terrorists that cannot just be wiped out.
The Republican leadership is a morally relative gang of corporatists who will take whatever opportunity arises to advance their cause empowering the juggernaut of the wealthy.
They say they are in defense of marriage, but then overlook Trump's disdain for the institution whether he's adulterating or on his third. They say they are for financial responsibility, but then recklessly support Trump's economic plan that will crater the good name of the US dollar while further concentrating wealth in the hands of the <1%.
They say they are for security at home and abroad, yet Trump's attitude and behavior has put us at risk by swatting the hornet's nest and playing right into the hands of the terrorists' PR playbook for recruitment.
They say they are for global free-trade between nations and further becoming the world leader in trade, but support the tyrant who insists on a broad agenda of isolation from the rest of the world. Indeed, they support Trump despite the fact his number one tactic in achieving isolation is offending all other nations and their citizens.
They say they are the strong and just arbiters of right and wrong and will use the military to resolve conflicts, using diplomacy afterwards to clean up the mess, but Trump will not even say he'll respect the military treaties the US has signed and has only claimed to wipe out IsIs, a chimera of terrorists that cannot just be wiped out.
The Republican leadership is a morally relative gang of corporatists who will take whatever opportunity arises to advance their cause empowering the juggernaut of the wealthy.
11
They are a business, and answer only to their shareholders.
Note, the fact that PK thinks having the backing of paul wolfowitz is a good thing is beyond me. Kissinger well he's got 4 million civilian deaths on his hands. Henry Kissinger's “mad and illegal” bombing: What you need to know ...
www.salon.com/.../henry_kissingers_mad_and_illegal_bombing_w...
Salon
Feb 12, 2016 - Sanders is right about Kissinger. His civilian death toll nears 4 million, his policies built today's Middle East.
Krugman's reasons for supporting clinton here are the reasons I'll never vote for her. If the dem establishment understood this we wouldn't have such a deeply unpopular candidate running for president. It shows how out of touch he is with the current political situation in the USA. That he is a creature of the washington bubble that has caused the very rise of the populists (left and right) he constantly whines about. Paul thinks he's right even when what he says proves him wrong. UGH. Hence i left the dem party to become an independent when clinton won the nomination. Ok, Trump says crappy things, but being endorsed by war criminals and promoters of genocide is in fact much much worse. The fact that Krugman doesn't grasp this not only disturbs me greatly, but it says a great deal about why his views should be ignored. Clinton considers the genocidal kissinger to be a friend, he's a respected figure of the establishment, yet shouldn't be. He should be living a life in disgrace. Who hqs friends who killed 4 million people, HRC. I never will.
www.salon.com/.../henry_kissingers_mad_and_illegal_bombing_w...
Salon
Feb 12, 2016 - Sanders is right about Kissinger. His civilian death toll nears 4 million, his policies built today's Middle East.
Krugman's reasons for supporting clinton here are the reasons I'll never vote for her. If the dem establishment understood this we wouldn't have such a deeply unpopular candidate running for president. It shows how out of touch he is with the current political situation in the USA. That he is a creature of the washington bubble that has caused the very rise of the populists (left and right) he constantly whines about. Paul thinks he's right even when what he says proves him wrong. UGH. Hence i left the dem party to become an independent when clinton won the nomination. Ok, Trump says crappy things, but being endorsed by war criminals and promoters of genocide is in fact much much worse. The fact that Krugman doesn't grasp this not only disturbs me greatly, but it says a great deal about why his views should be ignored. Clinton considers the genocidal kissinger to be a friend, he's a respected figure of the establishment, yet shouldn't be. He should be living a life in disgrace. Who hqs friends who killed 4 million people, HRC. I never will.
2
Thanks. Totally agree. I'm considering Johnson or Stein as a pure protest vote. Hillary will surely win, but at least my conscience will be clean the morning of November 9.
You will cast your vote or de facto vote for Trump?
Bernie won't do that.
Bernie won't do that.
1
In the Midwest the dislike of the Democrats,and Hillary Clinton in particular, has created the "non-voter" by the millions thus adding strength to Trump. The news, starting with this paper, has to figure out on how to change this. Indeed very dangerous. We don't want to be a rebirth of Hitler Germany with their weak sidestepper "Wir haben es nicht gewusst" (we just didn't know).
8
Example A today's NYT front page about Mrs Clinton:"Grappling With Infidelity and Accusations"
This commercially driven news organization is complicit by supporting 'false equivalency' articles using sex as the hook.
This commercially driven news organization is complicit by supporting 'false equivalency' articles using sex as the hook.
7
I thought a fact-based article on the subject was somewhat helpful.
Where I agree with you is that there should have been a half dozen articles about the positive things Hillary and the Clinton Foundation has done.
There should also be more on how Chaffetz and Republicans defunded embassy security and spent millions trying and failing (except amongst the credulous) to blame Hillary.
There should be an expose on far fight Judicial Watch, who played the NYTimes about Hillary's "crimes". There was an apology, but it was buried, and the NYT increases its complicity in this by failing to follow through.
Where I agree with you is that there should have been a half dozen articles about the positive things Hillary and the Clinton Foundation has done.
There should also be more on how Chaffetz and Republicans defunded embassy security and spent millions trying and failing (except amongst the credulous) to blame Hillary.
There should be an expose on far fight Judicial Watch, who played the NYTimes about Hillary's "crimes". There was an apology, but it was buried, and the NYT increases its complicity in this by failing to follow through.
3
I appreciate your columns, Paul Krugman, and any light shed on the menace of Trump! I wish headlines and article titles could find other words to express their content and refrain from using Trump's name. It does not need to appear multiple times on the front page.
4
When you choose your leadership from a gerrymandered district in Wisconsin and a senator from Kentucky, why would you expect them to be thinking progressively about the country. Neither of these guys have a clue about how to keep the US as the leadership for the world. Both push for fossil fuels to continue to pollute the world without a care, stymie the ability of women and minorities to be equal with white males, take away voting rights from none R coalitions, allow the worst people in the world to continue in leadership as long as they pay a toll to Republicans. The list goes on and on. Look at what the 3 hardcore Rs on SCOTUS want the society to believe in. I fear for this country.
4
Republicans have for most of a half century painted a pretty bleak picture of our Nation. And so it has turned into a self fulfilled prophecy to an extent, even though they have not yet owned up to the damage they have inflicted.
The only way T rump can get elected is for independents and young progressives to stay away or vote 3rd party.
Those thinking of Johnson need to start paying attention and stop letting Limbaugh do their thinking for them.
At this time of creeping oligarchy putting a loud mouth, undisciplined oligarch in the White House would put the last nail into the coffin of our democracy.
Typically, when your house burns down you don't get to rebuild it with a bigger and better one.
The only way T rump can get elected is for independents and young progressives to stay away or vote 3rd party.
Those thinking of Johnson need to start paying attention and stop letting Limbaugh do their thinking for them.
At this time of creeping oligarchy putting a loud mouth, undisciplined oligarch in the White House would put the last nail into the coffin of our democracy.
Typically, when your house burns down you don't get to rebuild it with a bigger and better one.
4
Paul Krugman writes: "I’ve argued [that] the news media [ ] spent the month before the first debate jeering at Mrs. Clinton, portraying minor missteps as major sins . . . ."
I am wondering when we are going to be able to read the transcripts of the speeches Hillary Clinton made to Wall Street bank executives and the executives of other major corporate business interests in exchange for $23 million added to her personal wealth in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Undoubtedly, at least some of these profit-driven organizations will have issues come before her administration if she is elected President.
I know that Hillary said during the Iowa Democratic primary that "Anybody who knows me, also knows that I can't be bought." But, nevertheless, I still have some concerns in this regard. Apparently, Paul Krugman has absolute confidence regarding Hillary Clinton's personal integrity.
I am wondering when we are going to be able to read the transcripts of the speeches Hillary Clinton made to Wall Street bank executives and the executives of other major corporate business interests in exchange for $23 million added to her personal wealth in 2013, 2014, and 2015. Undoubtedly, at least some of these profit-driven organizations will have issues come before her administration if she is elected President.
I know that Hillary said during the Iowa Democratic primary that "Anybody who knows me, also knows that I can't be bought." But, nevertheless, I still have some concerns in this regard. Apparently, Paul Krugman has absolute confidence regarding Hillary Clinton's personal integrity.
1
HRC's private speeches and a microscope on her emails, again? Furiously digging, hoping to find anything to use against her. Pathetic!
We need to see DJT taxes. When he discloses the equivalent of what we've seen from her (aka what we're entitled to know) you might be able to make this point. And she can state that she will decide whether to release them AFTER the election.
We need to see DJT taxes. When he discloses the equivalent of what we've seen from her (aka what we're entitled to know) you might be able to make this point. And she can state that she will decide whether to release them AFTER the election.
1
"Voting your conscience" is a good idea if it makes an effective statement to someone who cares. I don't think anybody in government is ignorant of the various concerns that will be highlighted by 3rd party and non votes. I do think VoYoCo, this time around, is like claiming freedom from responsibility for killing because you don't personally slaughter the meat you eat. It's a dodge and the practical result could be much worse than we like to imagine. What we really must seriously work on is keeping the two major parties from feeling free to constantly shove losers and hacks down our throats.
3
"How, then, did the race manage to get so close on the eve of the debate? The reason is that at least since Reagan, Americans want "change" even if it means they will get screwed. Since Truman, there has not been two Democratic Presidents in a row unless there was an assassination. For decades due to the destruction of K-12, the increasingly right-wing media, "entertainment" and let's not forget Fox News, Americans now have the attention spans of gnats - at least one-half of American voters are morons.
6
The only real change will come in changing Congress. They make the laws and have done nothing for the American people in the last 6 years. Here is the way to get real change...elect different representatives. Voting has never been more important.
Does the american electorate fathom what’s at stake with Trump as President and McConnell and Ryan in charge of Congress? White supremacists empowered to burn Mosques and black churches. Voting rights shredded across the land. The Supreme Court packed with right wing ideologues. The GOP assault on women’s rights shoved into high gear. The fossil fuel industry unchained. With the planet at a tipping point on global warming, the US withdrawing from the Paris accord. The EPA gutted. The ACA repealed. A ground war begun with Iran over some perceived insult. Taxes dramatically lowered on corporations and the super rich and with huge boosts in military spending, deficits going through the roof. In short, a disaster of unmitigated proportions from which the country and the world might never recover. All this brought about by a profit driven, false equivalency, news as entertainment media who deserted the country in our hour of greatest need.
200
Trump has been finished for months. Every aspect of his fecklessness has been repeated ad museum by the NYT. You are wasting time by piling on. Why not spend some ink on the mendacious Clintons? Certainly we are mature enough to know the truth about her Secretary of State pay-to-play, demeaning of women who accuse her husband of sexual predation and the Clinton Foundation, to name a few.
Wrong. They should cover Clinton because there's a whole lot of positive information out there and your dismissal means you're not being exposed to the truth. Likely you're doing your best to ignore it, but there is plenty of positive information out there.
5
Henry Kissinger showed us what he was about sending thousands to their deaths extending Vietnam for political gain. He could live to 100 without gaining an ounce of grace. A true coward making proclamations from his comfy penthouse.
3
Defeating Trump will not mean that the defeat of bigotry and racism. Many of Trump's supporters are angry, white-power, racist, homophobic, uneducated,.... and they will still be out there once Trump is gone. What we need to do as a nation is to understand this dark side of out society and find a way to overcome it. We need to stop demonizing people - for whatever reason - or we risk doing what Germany did in the 1930's. We need to educate people so that the numbers who would support another candidate like Trump in the future would be vanishingly small.
6
Since both candidates are detested by the other half of the country, everyone should acknowledge that their candidate may be terrible. Anyone here celebrating the greatness of their candidate (actually, more common among Hillary supporters) - in the face of such intense antipathy throughout the country - is deluded, a political tool, and/or disrespectful toward their fellow citizens' judgement. (Which doesn't bode well for our democracy.)
I will not likely vote for Hillary - and find myself considering voting for Trump (very hard to write) - because I am mostly concerned about the long-term consequences of each vote.
The democrats should be voice of the down-trodden and have principles.
In my view, we're not just voting for the candidates, but also the PROCESS by which they got here - and both the 'ends' and 'means' are flawed with Hillary. With Trump, the means by which he got here (and by which Bernie nearly got here) is very impressive. There was a true groundswell of support from society's disenfranchised - while Hillary's process was like a coronation, using unethical and highly engineered, political tactics. Hillary relied on manipulation from a liberal media establishment (that I never really appreciated before - after 9/11, propaganda was also intense, but on both sides.) People here do not watch Fox news and do not see how its power has declined, nor how much they tried to bring down Trump during the nomination - and how dominant the liberal media now is.
I will not likely vote for Hillary - and find myself considering voting for Trump (very hard to write) - because I am mostly concerned about the long-term consequences of each vote.
The democrats should be voice of the down-trodden and have principles.
In my view, we're not just voting for the candidates, but also the PROCESS by which they got here - and both the 'ends' and 'means' are flawed with Hillary. With Trump, the means by which he got here (and by which Bernie nearly got here) is very impressive. There was a true groundswell of support from society's disenfranchised - while Hillary's process was like a coronation, using unethical and highly engineered, political tactics. Hillary relied on manipulation from a liberal media establishment (that I never really appreciated before - after 9/11, propaganda was also intense, but on both sides.) People here do not watch Fox news and do not see how its power has declined, nor how much they tried to bring down Trump during the nomination - and how dominant the liberal media now is.
3
Since WWII the presidency has gone back and forth between Republicans and Democrats about every 8 years. The Republican presidents were a disaster: Reagan invented trickle-down economics which began the slide to income inequality. Bush cut taxes on the rich that furthered income inequality and created the middle east disaster and a trillion dollar deficit. The Republican establishment cannot stand up to Trump because it has no policy except give more money to rich people like Trump.
5
Trump being sworn in as President is absolutely unimaginable. We've had great presidents (Washington, Lincoln, FDR, Truman), bad presidents (Buchanan, Harding, Hoover, Bush 43) and a vast majority of mediocre to passable presidents. But Trump is inferior to the worst of them in every way measurable for the standards of the presidency: temperament, knowledge, diplomacy, decency. Picturing Donald Trump inaugurated is a nightmare.
4
As I watch the nasty ping pong, I know that anyone capable of looking at all the information and evaluating it in the light of understanding, pragmatism, and experience is appalled at repellent Trump. It's no longer making much difference, though I've been a good few deserters since the debates.
What needs doing is for all sentient media to present Hillary's accomplishments and experience and the above-mentioned perspective in the same volume that the daily disgust articles about Trump are appearing.
When old-style unprejudiced media do cover Hillary it's with a yes but, or an overly "honest" in-depth on the one hand but on the other hand perspective.
Nobody cares any more that we all fear and despise Trump and what he represents.
The serious deficit is in knowledge about Hillary, her accomplishments, her history, who she is, and what she is capable of.
PLEASE!!!
What needs doing is for all sentient media to present Hillary's accomplishments and experience and the above-mentioned perspective in the same volume that the daily disgust articles about Trump are appearing.
When old-style unprejudiced media do cover Hillary it's with a yes but, or an overly "honest" in-depth on the one hand but on the other hand perspective.
Nobody cares any more that we all fear and despise Trump and what he represents.
The serious deficit is in knowledge about Hillary, her accomplishments, her history, who she is, and what she is capable of.
PLEASE!!!
3
I've heard no one on the left use the term "social fascism" to refer to the current presidential election. Can Krugman cite some sources there?
If Clinton wants to win the votes of young people, emphasize the abolition of student loan debt. Sanders did.
Here's another lesson from 1930s Germany. Fascism wins when (1) liberal democracies fail to address the everyday needs of ordinary citizens and (2) "respectable" conservative elites assure themselves that they can con control the fools of the extreme right.
If Clinton wants to win the votes of young people, emphasize the abolition of student loan debt. Sanders did.
Here's another lesson from 1930s Germany. Fascism wins when (1) liberal democracies fail to address the everyday needs of ordinary citizens and (2) "respectable" conservative elites assure themselves that they can con control the fools of the extreme right.
3
Paul Ryan, John McCain and the other cowards supporting Trump know just how dangerous the candidate is and have called his statements racist, disrespectful of our military, among others. Yet in the next breath, they maintain support for his presidency. This contradiction goes beyond cognitive dissonance. Such people put partisanship over leadership and ideology over patriotism.
6
How can you say Paul Ryan is intelligent, or thoughtful? He has along with Mitch McConnell sold his political integrity for 12 percentage of silver.
The comedy Alan King used to say the worst thing to be is boring, I think it is to be shallow. Ultimately, Ryan, McCain, and the others are are the true shallow men, afraid to standing up for their a ledged beliefs.
The comedy Alan King used to say the worst thing to be is boring, I think it is to be shallow. Ultimately, Ryan, McCain, and the others are are the true shallow men, afraid to standing up for their a ledged beliefs.
3
Trump is on a personal ego trip! How is he ever going to help you (serve you as a public servant)? Republicans and Trump supporters need to have their heads examined or simply get themselves institutionalized.
3
You write about Hillary's virtues and Trump's vices and then have the audacity to complain about the behavior of the news media? Maybe the reason the polls are so close is that the public is aware of Hillary's vices. Her emails are not minor missteps or a fake scandal. They are real. Her constant lies are real and intentional; they are "minor missteps" only to those people who do not value truth and honesty. You trash Trump every chance you get, but you still cannot get around Hillary's basic dishonesty, and her absolutely horrible judgments, from emails to voting for the Iraq war, from her missteps in Libya, Egypt, Syria and Iran to her reset button with Russia. You can't get around her history of support for NAFTA, GATT and the TPP (the gold standard) to her support for the repeal of Glass-Steagall to her support for criminal justice reform that resulted in the imprisonment of millions of non-violent drug offenders (mostly African-Americans). You can't get around Hillary's trashing of Bernie Sanders' proposals as naïve and unrealistic to the fact that she now says (is she telling the truth?) she is adopting those policies (free college education, Medicare for all).
No wonder you don't want to discuss Hillary's public policy positions. That is no reason to vote for Hillary. So you are left with the only possible reason to vote for Hillary, that she is not Donald Trump. How pathetic.
No wonder you don't want to discuss Hillary's public policy positions. That is no reason to vote for Hillary. So you are left with the only possible reason to vote for Hillary, that she is not Donald Trump. How pathetic.
3
I am truly impressed with all the artsy Leni Riefenstahl photos of Donald Trump. We'll need all that when we shame the Republican Party in the next election.
2
Putting Trump into power more and more looks like putting the fox in
charge of the chickens
charge of the chickens
3
Attitudes like this are exactly why we have such a polarized electorate. It's the old "if you're not with us, you're against us" concept. Expecting lifetime Republicans to not only decline to endorse the Republican nominee, but to also actively endorse a Democratic nominee is simply unreasonable. Is it courageous for them to support Clinton? Absolutely. But to decline to support the Democratic candidate is hardly "cowardice." Especially when the Democratic nominee is Hillary Clinton.
1
Krugman is correct that we now have no choice but to vote for Clinton, but it should be clear by now that Sanders would have been a stronger candidate against Trump.
2
We Democrats didn't want Saunders.
4
It's very difficult for me to understand how those yelling USA ,USA and those large numbers backing Trump are mostly the same people. It's crazy. Despite Clinton's faults, they pale in comparison to trump's total lack of qualifications for the office of President- and yet- we seem to have a close race. This election should be a shutout for Clinton- making Reagan's win over Mondale look close.
Why have so many Americans become so dumb? Answer? Anyone?
Why have so many Americans become so dumb? Answer? Anyone?
6
We are controlled by scripted "reality" sound bites now. If it ain't on one of "the shows", it ain't true.
The GOP's dog whistles, falsehoods, and obstruction are what have brought someone like Trump to the fore. Nothing has been getting done for the average citizens of this nation, except for the highly flawed ACA—which they have made sure to portray as "worse than slavery" and everything else evil.
Now that their ugly efforts have resulted in a candidate like Trump, you'd think those on the right with brains would be reconsidering their knee-jerk opposition and lying and start trying to work with the sane on the left. But no. Merrick Garland's nomination is still blocked; Hillary is still being called a criminal for things that, say, Colin Powell is given a pass on.
I used to believe that McConnell and Ryan were at least sincere in their beliefs. No more. They have shown their true colors. In their utter selfishness, from their greed to have their party in power to appoint SC justices, they're willing to inflict a dangerous, ignorant, prejudiced, lazy, and unstable man on the country and the world.
Every Republican who has supported Trump should be shown the door now and forever in the future. I can almost excuse Trump's supporters for being ignorant of his bad business record, his greed, his ignorance, and his fraud, if they are no more informed than he is. But I can't excuse those who must know what Trump is and still vote for or endorse him.
Now that their ugly efforts have resulted in a candidate like Trump, you'd think those on the right with brains would be reconsidering their knee-jerk opposition and lying and start trying to work with the sane on the left. But no. Merrick Garland's nomination is still blocked; Hillary is still being called a criminal for things that, say, Colin Powell is given a pass on.
I used to believe that McConnell and Ryan were at least sincere in their beliefs. No more. They have shown their true colors. In their utter selfishness, from their greed to have their party in power to appoint SC justices, they're willing to inflict a dangerous, ignorant, prejudiced, lazy, and unstable man on the country and the world.
Every Republican who has supported Trump should be shown the door now and forever in the future. I can almost excuse Trump's supporters for being ignorant of his bad business record, his greed, his ignorance, and his fraud, if they are no more informed than he is. But I can't excuse those who must know what Trump is and still vote for or endorse him.
8
Tokyo Tea,
Except for one sentence, I fervently agree with everything you wrote. Neither McConnell and Ryan were EVER sincere in their beliefs. All Republican beliefs have always been insincere since their overriding goal was to achieve NO taxation for the 1%.
Except for one sentence, I fervently agree with everything you wrote. Neither McConnell and Ryan were EVER sincere in their beliefs. All Republican beliefs have always been insincere since their overriding goal was to achieve NO taxation for the 1%.
I met Hillary Clinton in 1975, have followed her career, and think very highly of her, so I have no problem voting for her. For those who do, this piece speaks to a couple of very important points. First, an election is not a Rorschach test in which we express our personalities. It is the process by which we select the people who will govern us. Voters who do not understand that fact are a threat to democracy. Second, while lots of other things were involved, no Nader, no G. W. Bush, the worst American president to date. (I'd argue that is a statement of fact, not political opinion.) Given that we are facing the possibility of out doing Bush II, anybody who cares about their country and their futures should be voting for Hillary. Relax, if you get to know the real person, you'll like her.
10
The Trump crisis is far simpler to explain than even Mr. Krugman makes it. Trump's appeal is to the disaffected voters who are convinced Washington is broken and that change brought by someone like Trump is the only way to fix the brokenness. Correctly placing the blame for Washington's brokenness is where popular analysis is flawed. The brokenness of Washington (Congress) refers to the fact that the Republican controlled Congress refused to compromise on anything brought forward by President Obama resulting in perpetual stalemate. It was the Republican Congress led by Mitch McConnell and John Boehner that caused the gridlock.. ie... a broken Washington. So, among those who are not stupid, include along with McConnell and Ryan. include Boehner as the original causes that led to the rise of Trump. Yes, Washington is broken. But the brokenness is an artificial condition created by congressional leaders who made it their sole objective to destroy our president, and in turn destroy our functioning government. The rise of someone like Trump claiming to be here to fix the broken government is the direct product of the broken government created by McConnell and Boehner. It did not have to be this way except for the devious and malicious leadership of these Republican congressional leaders. And they still do not have the courage to speak up and atone for their sins. Mr. Krugman is right about that.
8
Brava, Hank!
1
"when Henry Kissinger and George Schultz piously declared that they were not going to endorse anyone, it was a profile in cowardice."
"Cowardice" here is not mere name calling; but it may not be apt.
A two-plus millennia movement defines "courage" as principled perseverance despite treats of loss (psychological, socio-economic or physical) and lures of gain (same spectrum). Only Hemingway defined it as "grace under pressure"--referring to men in tight pants torturing bulls.
Cowardice is caving in. complicity and collusion, not just clumsiness.
These Republicans always minded their manners in public. But they were always in politics for personal gain currying favor with the wealthy. Continuing to do so is no violation of their principles--they never had any--other than curry favor with the rich and powerful.
But of course even that could be a construed as a principle (see Plato's Republic)--and violated, say, in a weak moment of democratic fervor. Not Kissinger's brand of cowardice.
"Cowardice" here is not mere name calling; but it may not be apt.
A two-plus millennia movement defines "courage" as principled perseverance despite treats of loss (psychological, socio-economic or physical) and lures of gain (same spectrum). Only Hemingway defined it as "grace under pressure"--referring to men in tight pants torturing bulls.
Cowardice is caving in. complicity and collusion, not just clumsiness.
These Republicans always minded their manners in public. But they were always in politics for personal gain currying favor with the wealthy. Continuing to do so is no violation of their principles--they never had any--other than curry favor with the rich and powerful.
But of course even that could be a construed as a principle (see Plato's Republic)--and violated, say, in a weak moment of democratic fervor. Not Kissinger's brand of cowardice.
3
Follow the money trail on who is funding the third party that supports a Trump victory by denying Clinton the 270 electoral votes needed.
Gary Aleppo Johnson is a well paid Judas goat and the media needs to find his paymaster. Jill Stein, a useful idiot in the Nader mold.
Were is the money coming from?
Gary Aleppo Johnson is a well paid Judas goat and the media needs to find his paymaster. Jill Stein, a useful idiot in the Nader mold.
Were is the money coming from?
5
Practicing what all the accountants recommend in doing for his type of business, certainly does not make him a genius nor even smart.
5
You aim insightful arguments against two of three culprits here, Dr. Krugman.
You still fail to aim any at Secretary Clinton and her campaign advisers.
They very clearly thought the laws of politics had asserted themselves by the beginning of August, and then Secretary Clinton and her campaign all but vanished for a month, leaving Trump the main story of every news cycle.
She has now proven TWICE that the way to beat Trump is to get herself into the news cycles with positive stories and let him wither in comparison. That the race got close again after the conventions is at least partially her fault for ceding the national stage for an entire month. He thrives in that environment.
If you refuse to learn these lessons, our body politic remains vulnerable to another Trump.
You still fail to aim any at Secretary Clinton and her campaign advisers.
They very clearly thought the laws of politics had asserted themselves by the beginning of August, and then Secretary Clinton and her campaign all but vanished for a month, leaving Trump the main story of every news cycle.
She has now proven TWICE that the way to beat Trump is to get herself into the news cycles with positive stories and let him wither in comparison. That the race got close again after the conventions is at least partially her fault for ceding the national stage for an entire month. He thrives in that environment.
If you refuse to learn these lessons, our body politic remains vulnerable to another Trump.
2
Again we have to implore an editor's gloss over the Laureate's elocutions. "Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way" is a recipe for the further degradation of that vulnerable, innocent adverb, "only." What else should a vote do, but count? But Krugman misses the usefulness of the word, which belongs after the verb, if it is to achieve his purpose, to say nothing of a coherent sentence. Please lend him a hand.
3
I am a lifelong Republican and I will not vote for Donald Trump. I will "hold my nose" and vote for HRC because I'd rather have someone sitting in the White House who I disagree with politically rather than a man who has no capacity, in any measure you can name, to hold the office of President of the United States. It's as simple as that.
2
Read the interview with President Obama in the NY Times magazine. To call these people fellow travelers, I believe, is to be kind. They have given into the tea part/ freedom caucus of their party. Trump is a direct expression of this. Had they stood up long ago to them, and done what is right we, and they would not be in this position now. They are spineless. Fox and Limbaugh, have infused hate into American politics. Unless the rational faction refutes their positions we may well destroy America.
3
I think he is unfair in his characterization of Ryan...true Ryan's economic ideas are lunacy, but let's look at the job he has done compared to his predecessor, he has killed the idea of shutting down the government and the endless repeal of Obamacare votes. The house of representatives now is partly functional whereas under his predecessor the house was focused on government shutdowns, debt defaults etc. If Ryan came out in favor of Clinton he would be thrown out of the speakership and the republican party and we would have another idiot who would shut down the government and default the debt. So Paul...be careful what you wish for it isn't a perfect world, give credit to Paul Ryan for the improvements he has made, whatever his faults are.
1
I don't think the media is to blame for Clinton's low popularity. I will vote for her and think she will make a good president, even though I find her personality somewhat unpleasant. The problem is that for many voters an election is a popularity contest. I also think that many of Clinton's Democratic rivals would have won a landslide victory over Trump. By putting her own career ahead of the good of the country (if Trump wins, it will be because she was his opponent), she has shown herself to be almost as narcissistic has he.
There have been times when the arc of history has overwhelmed everything else. Benjamin Franklin thought this Republic would last 200 years. Well, he may have been close. For decades now, perhaps going back to the Kennedy assassination and/or Watergate and/or My Lai, there has been the usually unspoken feeling that the country has peaked and is declining. And since Kennedy we have not had a true leader in the White House. So now here we are with two undesirable candidates, one of which is a dangerous buffoon who's primary skill is shooting the messenger. Perhaps, like the alcoholic who is moving toward recovery, we've hit bottom and may reemerge as a different, and improved, nation.
The people whom I know who are right wing Christians have surprised me. They are supporting a man with no moral compass, who has not even a passing acquaintance with the truth, has cheated on a wife, been married three times, and whose present wife has posed sans clothing in magazines (her own business but hardly what one would expect in a potential First Lady). If this man were a Democrat they would be apoplectic. However, for them this is all about SCOTUS and the usual topics of abortion and gay marriage that have kept them firmly in the Republican camp. There is no reasoning with them. So they are a done deal as far as voting in the election. The far left is even more surprising.
They are willing to blow everything up politically in a fit of pique in order to set the stage for a more liberal candidate in four years (or so their reasoning goes). I do not understand these people. Have they completely forgotten that there is a Supreme Court Justice to be appointed? Are they really willing to bet civil rights and women's rights on a Trump Presidency in the hopes that the country will turn against him and his Party?
As for Ryan and McConnell and other Republicans supporting Trump, like the right wing Christians this is about SCOTUS and hanging onto a base that they dog whistled racism, xenophobia and misogyny to all these years and which Trump has not veiled in his rants, so the pretense is over.
Social progress is on the line right now. God help us if Trump wins.
They are willing to blow everything up politically in a fit of pique in order to set the stage for a more liberal candidate in four years (or so their reasoning goes). I do not understand these people. Have they completely forgotten that there is a Supreme Court Justice to be appointed? Are they really willing to bet civil rights and women's rights on a Trump Presidency in the hopes that the country will turn against him and his Party?
As for Ryan and McConnell and other Republicans supporting Trump, like the right wing Christians this is about SCOTUS and hanging onto a base that they dog whistled racism, xenophobia and misogyny to all these years and which Trump has not veiled in his rants, so the pretense is over.
Social progress is on the line right now. God help us if Trump wins.
227
I wish I could post headlines all over the country: It's about corruption!!!!!
This corruption is in both parties; it's so bad that a young person entering politics cannot survive unless they "buy in to this corruption". The longest organization in our country today is the NRA, formed as arifle club back in the 1800's. Since then it has increased its Board to about 56-79 members, all of whom are millionaire and billionaires. Since the 60's it has openly entered into politics and becoming one of the largest Lobbyist effecting our laws regarding justice, trade deals, etc. etc. In my mind it is just about a sub country unto itself under the guise of "protecting the 2nd amendment". In my mind it is protecting their sole grab on all the selling of arms to not only our Police, nationwide, and military, but to whomever world-wide they choose. The only concern is to increase their profits; and what do you suppose makes them more profit? terrorism, racism, and war!!!!!!!!
This corruption is in both parties; it's so bad that a young person entering politics cannot survive unless they "buy in to this corruption". The longest organization in our country today is the NRA, formed as arifle club back in the 1800's. Since then it has increased its Board to about 56-79 members, all of whom are millionaire and billionaires. Since the 60's it has openly entered into politics and becoming one of the largest Lobbyist effecting our laws regarding justice, trade deals, etc. etc. In my mind it is just about a sub country unto itself under the guise of "protecting the 2nd amendment". In my mind it is protecting their sole grab on all the selling of arms to not only our Police, nationwide, and military, but to whomever world-wide they choose. The only concern is to increase their profits; and what do you suppose makes them more profit? terrorism, racism, and war!!!!!!!!
Too many people view the presidential election as the end of their political involvement, not simply a major step in the process. Vote for Hillary, and then hold her feet to the fire. Democracy is not easy, it requires real work on the part of its citizens.
6
My first take on this tone deaf column will take a few days to get past censors when it may appear after no one is looking at the comments anymore. I'll try again with this one, but omit the name of the columnist which seems to be a no-no or a robo-higher-scrutiny trigger.
The column once again blames the party of the right for being, get this, on the right. Or it is the extremism that is objectionable, meaning Jeb Bush carrying out exactly the same policies, cutting taxes, appointing justices to outlaw abortion, and cutting regulations would be acceptable. But Bush would also support increased immigration and globalization, further hobbling the 90%. Please note that Clinton and Republicans except Trump, support increased immigration and globalization. Whatever you want to say about current levels of growth and competition and factories moving overseas, it's hard to argue for greater labor competition and more factories moving. But that is the position of Democrats, Republicans, liberal economic columnists, and the object of Obama's support of TPP and the immigration bill that passed the Senate. Failure of Democrats to stop stabbing workers in the back and fight corporations is what gives Trump traction.
Instead this column blames the media, the Republicans, and racists, pretending economics has nothing to do with it. Sad. Just look at unemployment, work participation, wage stagnation, and inequality.
The column once again blames the party of the right for being, get this, on the right. Or it is the extremism that is objectionable, meaning Jeb Bush carrying out exactly the same policies, cutting taxes, appointing justices to outlaw abortion, and cutting regulations would be acceptable. But Bush would also support increased immigration and globalization, further hobbling the 90%. Please note that Clinton and Republicans except Trump, support increased immigration and globalization. Whatever you want to say about current levels of growth and competition and factories moving overseas, it's hard to argue for greater labor competition and more factories moving. But that is the position of Democrats, Republicans, liberal economic columnists, and the object of Obama's support of TPP and the immigration bill that passed the Senate. Failure of Democrats to stop stabbing workers in the back and fight corporations is what gives Trump traction.
Instead this column blames the media, the Republicans, and racists, pretending economics has nothing to do with it. Sad. Just look at unemployment, work participation, wage stagnation, and inequality.
1
Mr. Krugman, all of these endorsements don’t matter at all to the 40%+ of Kool-Aid drinkers, who are in the Trump tank come hell or high water. But you are right, in that “sane Republican economists” and “conservative intellectuals” could influence wavering Republicans and independents by being more open and public in their support for Hillary Clinton. They should make the point that the GOP and the conservative cause as they know it has already been severely undermined by Trump. By then consciously supporting Trump, they will be sanctioning further damage to the nation as well. The “NeverTrump” movement has to become a rallying cry to save the country.
3
The greatest threat to any democracy is apathy. If many voters have tuned out, they are either too self-absorbed to care what is happening in the country or, having watched the republicans abuse and undermine the basic constitutional functions of government since at least 1994, they have concluded that voting is an exercise in futility. That is another way in which the republicans have done great, lasting harm to this country.
2
No, it's not that we merely "dislike" Hillary: we see her, not through your own rose-colored glasses, but in the blinding light of her record, going all the way back to Whitewater, Benghazi, and illegal email server, and the pay-to-play between the State Department and the Clinton Foundation. Her only success is that she has survived as a politician for so long. And we are absolutely sick and tired of the lesser-evilism that has truncated our political culture. The only "meaningful way" to cast a vote is if it accords with personal conscience, not as some sort of calculation in a zero-sum game. It is time to change the trajectory of our politics.
2
Every one of your objections to Hllary Clinton are based on misinformation. Whitewater was a very common real estate deal of the 1970s and the Clintons lost money on it. Eight or nine Republican lead investigations into Benghazi found no fault in her, no stand down order, nothing at all. Her private email server was not illegal, was known throughout her SOS term by everyone -- FBI, CIA, White House, had been done previously by Colin Powell -- and let's not forget the 20 million plus emails deleted by the Bush whitehouse as he was leaving office; and last, not a single piece of evidence pointing to pay to play between the State Dept and the Clinton Foundation -- which has an A rating from independent watchdogs. Compare that to a thin skinned, obese man (he went from being obese to "just" overweight by adding a new inch to his height), who would, if he could, date his daughter, who has no governmental experience of any kind and is a repeatedly failed
businessman. None so blind are you.
businessman. None so blind are you.
2
'Politics as personal expression...'
Professor, for a large segment of the vote, politics has always been, and will always be, about personal expression. In fact, these voters are what results in one candidate winning rather than the other. We don't live in a world where, for example, a person intractably opposed to same-sex marriage and abortion and gun control wakes up one morning and bemoans the folly of his old views.
Anyway, rather than railing against human nature, and scolding voters for behaving like voters, it's my hope you'll learn something from this election.
Democrats who want to win, should nominate the candidate who can assemble the broadest coalition of voters. This involves understanding who people beyond the base want to support, because the base would vote for a rabid dog as long as its from the right political party.
Professor, for a large segment of the vote, politics has always been, and will always be, about personal expression. In fact, these voters are what results in one candidate winning rather than the other. We don't live in a world where, for example, a person intractably opposed to same-sex marriage and abortion and gun control wakes up one morning and bemoans the folly of his old views.
Anyway, rather than railing against human nature, and scolding voters for behaving like voters, it's my hope you'll learn something from this election.
Democrats who want to win, should nominate the candidate who can assemble the broadest coalition of voters. This involves understanding who people beyond the base want to support, because the base would vote for a rabid dog as long as its from the right political party.
1
As a tax nerd/professional I have a number of clients with large loss carryforwards. Of course, none of them or their owners are running for President. To discuss the occasionally strange behaviors (large risk taking, indifference to current tax situation, etc) this creates in the taxpayer would take a book but the situation makes one wonder about Trump & his attitudes.
So, turns out Trump should not have been hosting Apprentice but more appropriately would have been connected with "The Biggest Loser." $961M is pretty impressive.
Also goes to show how bankers (like the gov't) can get caught in the sunk cost, too big to fail, game. Trump had to be rescued to preserve some of the loans' collateral.
So, turns out Trump should not have been hosting Apprentice but more appropriately would have been connected with "The Biggest Loser." $961M is pretty impressive.
Also goes to show how bankers (like the gov't) can get caught in the sunk cost, too big to fail, game. Trump had to be rescued to preserve some of the loans' collateral.
2
The major issue in American governance today is corruption. Pay to play is nothing new and it has occurred at all levels of government but it has never been as obvious at the highest levels as it is today. $500,000 speeches are probably only the visible tip of the iceberg and represent nothing less than illegal political contributions at best and simple bribery at worst. Soliciting and then concealing foreign contributions by a secretary of state to a family foundation, although legal, marks a new facet of corruption in American politics. To accuse those with overwhelming concerns regarding political corruption of being misogynists, fascists, homophobes, Islamophobes, charlatans and cranks is deplorable. There can be a fine line between illegal and unethical or immoral and we're witnessing the masters at walking the line. Machiavelli is not the role model for American democracy.
14
As anyone with some insight into American modern history (1970s onward) must realize - but few admit it - the election is not about Trump vs Clinton its about increasingly corrupt system where all levels of government are under full control of 1% vs change. The fact that the change under prez Trump is probably going to have disastrous consequences is the reflection of hopelessness with which most Americans view the future.
1
Complacency? Hell Paul it encourages nausea and revulsion. I am seriously considering not voting, the national office is a charade, a freak show of egos and pernicious personalities totally void of reality. This national election cycle is a sordid and vapid national game show packaged and presented to titillate and placate all the while dulling the senses and intellect. Today neither party is good for America as both today are only about what is good for their base. This is corporate America in office, a hostile takeover, a leveraged buyout so why should I vote for either when there is a snowball's chance in Hell my single vote will make or break the outcome? In my very small community I can get the Mayor on the phone or get a call back from members of the city council and sometimes single votes do count. So, yes, my connection at the local level of government is worth my involvement but at the national level? Pure fantasy.
2
Write on! But, leaked memos reveal that the Clinton campaign decided not to engage in "linkage" between Trump and Congressional Republicans. This is making the effort to translate Sec. Clinton's widening lead into helping "down ballot" Democrats particularly those in extremely tight Senate races. Retaking the Senate is almost as important as defeating Donald Trump. The Supreme Court vacancy hangs in the balance. Moreover, most of the Trump agenda of massive tax cuts for the rich, repealing Obamacare, deporting all Hispanic immigrants--both undocumented as well as their citizen children, rescinding the Iran nuclear deal, and defunding Planned Parenthood is also the Congressional Republican agenda. It's time to make the case against the entire Trump supporting Republican Congress.
1
Oh Please, Paul Krugman, who I used to admire, thinks Hillary is 'center left' and Trump is 'hard right'.
Hillary Clinton's politics are Center-Right Republicanism, of the Bob Dole, Jerry Ford school of government. Indeed, Obama's (same school) health care plan is the Dole plan, and it's proven to be an unworkable, too expensive mess (see today's Times front page).
And Trump, besides his dog whistling to the Klan (which ALL Republicans have done to one degree or another since Nixon), has many positions to the left of Clinton (eg, foreign policy, infrastructure spending).
For the rest of us who can't stand either one, we are sick and tired of being bullied into a Hobson's choice by the elites in this country.
Yes, there are differences between them, but for many of us little people, not enough to matter.
We will never be rid of this corrupt 'two party' one party state as long as people don't vote their actual beliefs and preferences.
And that's not an opinion you'll ever hear voiced at one of Hillary's Hampton billionaires-only fundraisers or on a certain floor of Trump Tower.
Vote for the person on the ballot that most represents your values. Period. There is no real democracy otherwise.
Hillary Clinton's politics are Center-Right Republicanism, of the Bob Dole, Jerry Ford school of government. Indeed, Obama's (same school) health care plan is the Dole plan, and it's proven to be an unworkable, too expensive mess (see today's Times front page).
And Trump, besides his dog whistling to the Klan (which ALL Republicans have done to one degree or another since Nixon), has many positions to the left of Clinton (eg, foreign policy, infrastructure spending).
For the rest of us who can't stand either one, we are sick and tired of being bullied into a Hobson's choice by the elites in this country.
Yes, there are differences between them, but for many of us little people, not enough to matter.
We will never be rid of this corrupt 'two party' one party state as long as people don't vote their actual beliefs and preferences.
And that's not an opinion you'll ever hear voiced at one of Hillary's Hampton billionaires-only fundraisers or on a certain floor of Trump Tower.
Vote for the person on the ballot that most represents your values. Period. There is no real democracy otherwise.
1
Turning on the TV this morning, I naively hoped that the revelations of Trump's losses of over $900 million in failed businesses, and his probable failure to pay taxes for the past 20 years would result in a reasoned approach to his candidacy. But no, instead we were subjected to the inane opinions of Rudy Giuliani, Chris Christie and right wing opinionistas justifying Trump. CBS is particularly guilty of throwing away neutrality to show the Trumpster in the best light possible, offering reasons for his despicable behaviors.
Mr. Krugman is right in shining a light on Paul Ryan, for example, whose economic policies would destroy the country, and whose endorsement of Trump is cowardice--he's so afraid of losing his own power that he's cast honor to the wind. There cannot be an intelligent or sane member of any party who can't see that Trump is a caricature of a thinking adult, not fit to be president of any organization.
Mr. Krugman is right in shining a light on Paul Ryan, for example, whose economic policies would destroy the country, and whose endorsement of Trump is cowardice--he's so afraid of losing his own power that he's cast honor to the wind. There cannot be an intelligent or sane member of any party who can't see that Trump is a caricature of a thinking adult, not fit to be president of any organization.
3
Many societal and economic problems facing the middle and lower classes are there by design to benefit the wealthiest class and to weaken the vast majority, who seem to have a constantly dwindling voice. This class seeks absolute power by economic and political means. They control a political party whose sole and main aim is to benefit that wealthiest class and to concomitantly weaken and injure the middle class and to do nothing for the lowest classes. Any Republican vote is a vote to continue this state of affairs. Trump is a Republican. He is of this wealthiest class. He never indicates in any fashion any repudiation of his class's assent to ever greater power. I can't understand why anyone not from the upper class with half a brain would vote to continue this gradual weakening and impoverishment of their own group.
2
Paul Krugman used to tell us why we should vote for Hillary Clinton; more recently, his columns have taken a different tone, telling us that we MUST vote for Clinton, and that any other choice is merely "symbolic," a childish "protest," or an utter "waste." I disagree. Yes, I recognize that Donald Trump is unfit to be president. If my lone vote were decisive, I would vote against him. But I prefer to vote for a candidate who espouses not only my views, but the views that I believe will begin to steer our nation in a better direction: Jill Stein of the Green Party. Hillary Clinton has been running for president since her Wellesley College commencement speech in 1969, yet has never explained why she wants to be president. I agree with her position on a couple of issues, but generally find her too centrist and too hawkish. Her repeated dishonesty and the way she and her husband have enriched themselves trouble me. If she loses this election whose fault will it be? Paul Krugman will blame progressives and young people, but the real culprits will be Hillary Clinton, who should not have run, and the Democratic Party, which moved in lockstep to nominate her. So, as I say, I want to vote for a candidate who stands for something, rather than cower at the unlikely prospect of a President Trump.
4
I'm puzzled by the commenters' refrain of "It's those young people - they don't know what they're doing by voting third-party and therefore electing Mr. Trump!"
How about the older people who are proudly voting third-party? I've seen many comments about voting Jill Stein/Gary Johnson and also about staying home or doing a write-in vote. (Really? A write-in vote?) Is everybody commenting at the Times on election articles a millennial? If not, maybe the blame/responsibility should be shared.
Are the editorial boards of the Chicago Tribune, the Detroit News, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, or the New Hampshire Union Leader comprised of young people? Because they've all endorsed Gary Johnson. So if it's a vote for Mr. Trump if millennials vote third party, aren't these endorsements of Mr. Johnson encouraging the same thing?
IMO people young and old need to educate themselves on Gary Johnson and Jill Stein. And it might not be a bad idea to have Ms. Stein/Mr. Johnson debate. If they're going to have a chance of tipping the election, people need to see that Sec. of State Clinton could politely destroy them in 30 seconds or less.
When Stephen Colbert did part of his show the other night about Mr. Johnson (including a Sept. 23 MSNBC interview which had not been publicized much) you could hear gasps in the audience as Mr. Johnson's clips played; I don't think were positive gasps.
https://youtu.be/tMR2B5GsaNY (Watch 1:15 to 1:53 and ask yourselves if this man should be president.)
How about the older people who are proudly voting third-party? I've seen many comments about voting Jill Stein/Gary Johnson and also about staying home or doing a write-in vote. (Really? A write-in vote?) Is everybody commenting at the Times on election articles a millennial? If not, maybe the blame/responsibility should be shared.
Are the editorial boards of the Chicago Tribune, the Detroit News, the Richmond Times-Dispatch, or the New Hampshire Union Leader comprised of young people? Because they've all endorsed Gary Johnson. So if it's a vote for Mr. Trump if millennials vote third party, aren't these endorsements of Mr. Johnson encouraging the same thing?
IMO people young and old need to educate themselves on Gary Johnson and Jill Stein. And it might not be a bad idea to have Ms. Stein/Mr. Johnson debate. If they're going to have a chance of tipping the election, people need to see that Sec. of State Clinton could politely destroy them in 30 seconds or less.
When Stephen Colbert did part of his show the other night about Mr. Johnson (including a Sept. 23 MSNBC interview which had not been publicized much) you could hear gasps in the audience as Mr. Johnson's clips played; I don't think were positive gasps.
https://youtu.be/tMR2B5GsaNY (Watch 1:15 to 1:53 and ask yourselves if this man should be president.)
6
Young voters probably don't remember the 1990s - but let me summarize it to them: it was a time when the economy was better and the government functioned. It worked so well that voters had the luxury of first world problems such as who Bill was having an affair with (enough to impeach him!). Karma rolled in, and voters got Bush and third world problems, which you are now living through. It's easy to blame both parties for what Bush did, but if you have a sibling, don't you just hate it when your parents blame the both of you for fighting even though your sibling is at fault? Some in the "establishment", a word young voters hate, fought the good fight so problems aren't worse than they are. But if you want to worry about first world problems again (because voters are NEVER happy), vote for Hillary.
2
More trying the shame the millennials into saving the DNC from the wreck of a candidate they shoved down our throats. Though Krug gets it right about Ryan: he's an intellectual lightweight and always has been.
1
It's the fault of talk radio. Bring back the Fairness Doctrine.
1
Mr Krugman is on his way winning a Nobel Prize for Blather
2
House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and their cohorts, just put up with Donald J. Trump's absurd, ignorant, and frankly dangerous commentaries. Did you catch it, last Monday night, when he suggested that the U.S. con front each other, across the just 2 1/2 miles of DMZ on the Korean Peninsula--right after China invades North Korea, as he suggested?
Are they afraid of losing his Political Base?
Besides Mr. Asininity warmed over, do you really wish to endure four years of the three Trumpkins, his adult children, less Tiffany, the one who hasn't been indoctrinated into the family scam yet?
Just think, Donald is going to: fire all the robots in China and Mexico; deport all the law-abiding migrant farm workers who have been paying taxes for decades; remove all of the PCs, iPhones and other Digital-Era baggage; make Japan, Germany and South Korea close their auto plants; etc.
NYC Policer Commissioner Bill Bratton, since retired, on the day after Trump proclaimed that he would be the Law and Order President, was asked to comment. Braxton responded: "What's his experience?"
Just think: the surreality TV star who gets to build and have things made overseas, and he gets paid to lend his name to it. Nice "work" if you can get it, huh? As former NYC Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, who truly is a billionaire, suggested at the DNC Convention, when speaking about Trump: "I'm from New York: I know a Con-Man!"
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Are they afraid of losing his Political Base?
Besides Mr. Asininity warmed over, do you really wish to endure four years of the three Trumpkins, his adult children, less Tiffany, the one who hasn't been indoctrinated into the family scam yet?
Just think, Donald is going to: fire all the robots in China and Mexico; deport all the law-abiding migrant farm workers who have been paying taxes for decades; remove all of the PCs, iPhones and other Digital-Era baggage; make Japan, Germany and South Korea close their auto plants; etc.
NYC Policer Commissioner Bill Bratton, since retired, on the day after Trump proclaimed that he would be the Law and Order President, was asked to comment. Braxton responded: "What's his experience?"
Just think: the surreality TV star who gets to build and have things made overseas, and he gets paid to lend his name to it. Nice "work" if you can get it, huh? As former NYC Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, who truly is a billionaire, suggested at the DNC Convention, when speaking about Trump: "I'm from New York: I know a Con-Man!"
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
3
Paul, Please tells how it is possible to loose almost i billion . Please comment on hostages (what we know and would can be deduced)
2
As one NY Times reader commented in another article (paraphrased), I was considering voting for Trump but decided that I love America more than I detest Hillary Clinton.
Or, to borrow from the movie "Big", why are people who are anything but fans of Clinton voting for her anyway? She's a grownup!
Or, to borrow from the movie "Big", why are people who are anything but fans of Clinton voting for her anyway? She's a grownup!
3
Does bankruptcy have any effect on Tax Loss Carry Forward?
You would have to really live in fantasy land to believe the media is out to get Hillary.
2
On the contrary, you would only have had to read the NYT's coverage on Clinton from the convention forward. Maureen Dowd and lots on emails and the Foundation with no findings of wrongdoing but lots of implication that "something" is wrong and that there isn't smoke without fire.
1
Many young people, I'm not one, likely remember the soaring oratory of candidate Obama and think all good or worthwhile candidates for the office should inspire them like 2008 and 2012. None of the presidential candidates in my lifetime could speak so eloquently as Mr. Obama, so many may feel anything less is not worth their attention. I'm sorry there aren't more people as dedicated and earnest as Mr. Obama but get over it. Not all quarterbacks are like Peyton Manning and not all candidates are like President Obama.
Sometime you just have to put the best players you have onto the field. Don't sit this one out kids!
Sometime you just have to put the best players you have onto the field. Don't sit this one out kids!
6
Sorry, but Bill Clinton has been the best speaker of the past generation, that includes his speech before the Democratic Convention in 2012, where he gave a superior argument for reelecting Barack Obama than Obama himself all campaign. But even if you think otherwise, certainly young people enraptured by Obama's rhetoric should be able to appreciate that that rhetoric doesn't translate into executive success.
1
Dr. K is correct - the House and Senate leadershiup IS smart ... they need to lose the election enough to NOT have Trump in the Oval Office, yet no so much that they lose control of either house of Congress. Their unwillingness to not endorse Trump is really just that simple.
3
Do you remember that old TV show, This is Your Life? One of the first reality TV shows.
Well, this election is: 2016 Election is Your Future. Vote for Sanity.
Thank you Professor Krugman!
Well, this election is: 2016 Election is Your Future. Vote for Sanity.
Thank you Professor Krugman!
3
In order to reach out to the millennials we need Jon Stewart to come out of retirement and do a daily show special until Election Day. Jon, your country needs you now more than ever.
9
Krugman used to be readable. Now his bias is so strong and his characterizations so harsh , that he deserves the "Donald Trump of the left" award.
1
"Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way": that is precisely why I (an old woman, not a millenial) intend to vote for Gary Johnson, to let both parties know how I feel about their candidates.
And when Trump is elected, I assume you'll send a not of apology to your children and grandchildren. If not, you should.
1
But, but...
If Trump is elected he will appoint only white guys.
This is what the republican base wants, has wanted since they were Dixiecrats. Now the GOP has come close to delivering on that dream, that promise. They can all go back to The Good Ole Days. They are so close...
You can't tell me that Mitch McConnell would be sorry to go back to 1948. He might not love Trump, but he's surely love that.
If Trump is elected he will appoint only white guys.
This is what the republican base wants, has wanted since they were Dixiecrats. Now the GOP has come close to delivering on that dream, that promise. They can all go back to The Good Ole Days. They are so close...
You can't tell me that Mitch McConnell would be sorry to go back to 1948. He might not love Trump, but he's surely love that.
3
What appalls me most about Paul Ryan & Mitch McConnell is that they support a man whom many believe to be a racist, sexist, demagogue. How can either of them support a man who excites crowds to yell out "Kill the bitch" or insinuates the assassination of Hillary as an option if he loses. Trump & many of his deplorable supporters are so violent, brutish and repellant that I cannot understand Ryan's or McConnell's support at all, unless they themselves are closet sexist, racist demagogues.
7
It has all been said about this election, but Krugman sets the horrible stage for the next one, featuring the current Speaker of the House. The "lame-stream" media has portrayed Paul Ryan as a stand-up guy, a real statesman. Liberal media bias? Don't think so! In fact, one only has to READ the Ryan "budget proposals" to see that they are indeed flim-flam. Thanks, Dr. Krugman.
6
Perhaps a side note, but not actually: Mike Pence, whom we hear tonight, describes himself as "a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican, in that order." I notice that nowhere in that statement is the word "American."
I'm well past the age of starting to collect Social Security and becoming part of Medicare. With so much more behind me than ahead, I feel for the young. If they want to elect Trump than they are going have to live with its effects far longer than I will. I recently told a young mother who doesn't like Trump but insists that she cannot vote for Hillary. My comment was, "Think of your sons." I also tell people to look at the platforms of the Libertarian and Green Parties and ask yourself if that's what you're interested in. Is isolation or just a focus on environmental issues satisfy you? What about working with other countries? All of us can see what a muddle George W. made of the Middle East. Think about the damage a man like Trump can wreak if he becomes POTUS?
4
Funny I always thought Ryan supported Trump because he shared Trump's disdain for minorities.
2
So you're O.K. with tax "relief" for the ultra wealthy, a rollback of Roe v. Wade, a Supreme Court packed with right wing zealots for generations to come, massive deportations, an expansion of Citizens United, our nuclear arsenal in the hands of a megalomaniac whose decisions are predicated on whim, the disgust of our allies and the glee of our adversaries …… you're o.k. with all this? That's what "sitting this one out" or voting third party means.
9
Mr. Krugman,
You would never accuse of Mitch McConnell of stupidity? How about his failure to do due diligence on what is now the 9/11 victims law. He and his cohorts voted for this legislation and doubled down by overriding the President's veto. Now he is blaming President Obama for not communicating/edifying with Congress early enough about the ill consequences of the law's passage. How could a leader of the Senate, not to mention the rest of Congress, not study the bill's content before passing it? This is dereliction of duty, not to mention idiocy. And we, the voters, elect these lazy, incompetent, finger-pointing representatives and senators to legislate! Oy vey!
You would never accuse of Mitch McConnell of stupidity? How about his failure to do due diligence on what is now the 9/11 victims law. He and his cohorts voted for this legislation and doubled down by overriding the President's veto. Now he is blaming President Obama for not communicating/edifying with Congress early enough about the ill consequences of the law's passage. How could a leader of the Senate, not to mention the rest of Congress, not study the bill's content before passing it? This is dereliction of duty, not to mention idiocy. And we, the voters, elect these lazy, incompetent, finger-pointing representatives and senators to legislate! Oy vey!
4
Another excellent piece Paul Krugman, thank you!
It was hard looking up your source on Wolfowitz, since it was way down in the Atlantic ariticle cited as hyperlink in your piece:
Paul Wolfowitz: NAY
Wolfowitz, the neoconservative leading light who served as deputy secretary of defense in the George W. Bush administration and later as president of the World Bank, tells Der Spiegel he will not vote for Trump and will likely vote for Hillary Clinton. He called Trump a security risk to the United States and said, “The only way you can be comfortable about Trump's foreign policy, is to think he doesn't really mean anything he says.” (August 26, 2016)
I would like you to write about the ideas in my comment to the piece on Trump's 1995 tax return. I wrote a NYT comment and on my blog InconvenientNews.wordpress.com: When billionaires use their legislated loop holes to avoid paying any taxes, the rest of us get to pay more, to pick up the slack. We are the chumps in this story.
It is time for repair. We should abolish the NOL, Net Operating Loss carry forward, for anyone worth over $200 million, and allow all citizens to wipe out student debt through bankruptcy. While we are changing the playing field, we should pass laws that say that the student debt interest rate must be pegged at the lowest 30 year mortgage rates, and no doctor’s office can charge someone without health insurance more than the lowest fee they accept from the strongest insurance company or government payer.
It was hard looking up your source on Wolfowitz, since it was way down in the Atlantic ariticle cited as hyperlink in your piece:
Paul Wolfowitz: NAY
Wolfowitz, the neoconservative leading light who served as deputy secretary of defense in the George W. Bush administration and later as president of the World Bank, tells Der Spiegel he will not vote for Trump and will likely vote for Hillary Clinton. He called Trump a security risk to the United States and said, “The only way you can be comfortable about Trump's foreign policy, is to think he doesn't really mean anything he says.” (August 26, 2016)
I would like you to write about the ideas in my comment to the piece on Trump's 1995 tax return. I wrote a NYT comment and on my blog InconvenientNews.wordpress.com: When billionaires use their legislated loop holes to avoid paying any taxes, the rest of us get to pay more, to pick up the slack. We are the chumps in this story.
It is time for repair. We should abolish the NOL, Net Operating Loss carry forward, for anyone worth over $200 million, and allow all citizens to wipe out student debt through bankruptcy. While we are changing the playing field, we should pass laws that say that the student debt interest rate must be pegged at the lowest 30 year mortgage rates, and no doctor’s office can charge someone without health insurance more than the lowest fee they accept from the strongest insurance company or government payer.
4
I wouldn't be surprised if Paul Ryan and his Tea Party colleagues will start Impeachment proceedings against Hillary Clinton on January 21st, especially after Trump said a loss at the polls can only happen through electoral fraud.
3
Time, perhaps, to remember Ernst Thälmann (16 April 1886 – 18 August 1944), the third party candidate in the German presidential election of1932. He was the leader of the Communist Party of Germany (KPD) during much of the Weimar Republic and ran against Hitler and von Hindenburg in 1932. He got 10% of the popular vote giving Von Hindenburg a win by only a few percentage points. Hitler's esteem rose due to the close election. Thalmann's people would never have voted for Hitler. If he didn't run, von Hindenburg might have crushed Hitler and consigned him to the dust bin of history. Hitler came to power a year later. As for Thälmann, he was immediately arrested by the Gestapo in 1933 and held in solitary confinement for eleven years before being shot in Buchenwald on Adolf Hitler's orders in 1944.
Vengeful guy, Hitler, thin-skinned, never forgot a snub. A supreme opportunist. Never paid any taxes.
Vengeful guy, Hitler, thin-skinned, never forgot a snub. A supreme opportunist. Never paid any taxes.
10
For starters, Wolfowitz as somehow courageous could be marketed as an emetic. Conservatives blunder about like blind pigs in the woods. Finding a truffle does not earn one a Purple Heart. Secondly, the knock on the media should be that they have to put butts in seats. It's a cash business and noxious nonsense fills the big tent. (Ah, the roar of the grease paint! The smell of the crowds!)
So the real source of our ire ought to be the consumers of this foul brew. But whatcha gonna do? You live next door to them, you work with them, they are on your school board, they are the parents of your children's friends, you sit next to them in church and temple. You know reason is no antidote- you've tried. Nor is patience- it, too, has been tried, and sorely so.
Our needs, one and all, are ecological. And I don't mean that as in "Love your Mother, man." (Though I do as well.) I mean it in the sense that viruses (such as memetic ideologies) thrive in hosts. Ameliorating the conditions that welcome such viruses is as critical as developing vaccines for them.
So the real source of our ire ought to be the consumers of this foul brew. But whatcha gonna do? You live next door to them, you work with them, they are on your school board, they are the parents of your children's friends, you sit next to them in church and temple. You know reason is no antidote- you've tried. Nor is patience- it, too, has been tried, and sorely so.
Our needs, one and all, are ecological. And I don't mean that as in "Love your Mother, man." (Though I do as well.) I mean it in the sense that viruses (such as memetic ideologies) thrive in hosts. Ameliorating the conditions that welcome such viruses is as critical as developing vaccines for them.
5
Krugman writes:
"But for most it seems to be about politics as personal expression: they dislike Mrs. Clinton — partly because they’ve bought into a misleading media image — and plan to express that dislike by staying at home or voting for someone like Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate. If polls are to be believed, something like a third of young voters intend to, in effect, opt out of this election. If they do, Mr. Trump might yet win."
When the fiscal and economic differences between the THREE candidates are so sharp, and the uptake by the millennial s so slight, perhaps Dr K should devote his columns to presenting how these differences will change the economic reality of the country. As a STEM, K can present sharp economic differences in policy of each. Leave the fluffy stuff to less economically informed commentators.
"But for most it seems to be about politics as personal expression: they dislike Mrs. Clinton — partly because they’ve bought into a misleading media image — and plan to express that dislike by staying at home or voting for someone like Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate. If polls are to be believed, something like a third of young voters intend to, in effect, opt out of this election. If they do, Mr. Trump might yet win."
When the fiscal and economic differences between the THREE candidates are so sharp, and the uptake by the millennial s so slight, perhaps Dr K should devote his columns to presenting how these differences will change the economic reality of the country. As a STEM, K can present sharp economic differences in policy of each. Leave the fluffy stuff to less economically informed commentators.
2
He has. Over and over and, well, over. As has the Times.
It's one of the ways I know that Trump'd drop taxes on the wealthy while spending a ton on military hardware we don't need and blowing a massive new hole in the budget, that Gary Johnson's claim of cutting the budget 40% the first year is nuts, atuff like that.
The fact that you refuse to read don't mean it ain't there.
It's one of the ways I know that Trump'd drop taxes on the wealthy while spending a ton on military hardware we don't need and blowing a massive new hole in the budget, that Gary Johnson's claim of cutting the budget 40% the first year is nuts, atuff like that.
The fact that you refuse to read don't mean it ain't there.
Paul, you must be joking when you say that HRC's problems are the result of bad media portraying "minor missteps as major sins, and inventing fake scandals out of thin air." There is no "thin air" involved. Her lies, obfuscations and corruption are plain to see, as are her failures in judgement and yes, high crimes and misdemeanors. Funny thing is, she is simply another side of Donald Trump, not the opposite. Two sides of the same coin.
1
And yet oddly, none of you Trump shills EVER are able to name exactly what she did that is "high crimes and misdemeanors," which just so's ya know, is ground for impeaching somebody who ACTUALLY HOLDS A FEDERAL OFFICE.
Name it. Put salt on its tail. Be specific.
Never going to happen.
Name it. Put salt on its tail. Be specific.
Never going to happen.
What if the U.S. has become a dark power, immutable in ever-growing feudalism?
4
With two candidates flawed,
And one a complete fraud,
It's a Sophie's choice,
That let's no one rejoice,
The proof there is no God.
And one a complete fraud,
It's a Sophie's choice,
That let's no one rejoice,
The proof there is no God.
4
Professor Krugman,
You are uniquely unqualified to wag your finger at the left supporting third-party candidates. Back in the Spring and Summer, there were a lot of progressives and liberals looking to gently, supportively and sympathetically invite those disappointed by Bernie Sander's loss into the Clinton tent. To try to understand and appreciate their perspective and to show some modicum of consolance, compromise and compassion.
... and then there were the bomb throwers. The ones who haughtily dismissed Sanders' supporters as "Bernie Bros", rubbed their faces in defeat, treated them as ridiculous strawmen, and demanded that they fall into line.
I, along with a lot of others, begged you at the time to consider your rhetoric and how it would play to those who were disappointed by the primary, but sympathetic to your politic and economic worldview. Each time, you just doubled down on your insults and taunting. It was embarrassing and monumentally unhelpful and its results were absolutely predictable.
So, please spare us the lecture about a desire for a "true progressive revolution" resulting in national socialism. If you were morally serious about forming a true voting coalition, you could have considered it six months ago.
You are uniquely unqualified to wag your finger at the left supporting third-party candidates. Back in the Spring and Summer, there were a lot of progressives and liberals looking to gently, supportively and sympathetically invite those disappointed by Bernie Sander's loss into the Clinton tent. To try to understand and appreciate their perspective and to show some modicum of consolance, compromise and compassion.
... and then there were the bomb throwers. The ones who haughtily dismissed Sanders' supporters as "Bernie Bros", rubbed their faces in defeat, treated them as ridiculous strawmen, and demanded that they fall into line.
I, along with a lot of others, begged you at the time to consider your rhetoric and how it would play to those who were disappointed by the primary, but sympathetic to your politic and economic worldview. Each time, you just doubled down on your insults and taunting. It was embarrassing and monumentally unhelpful and its results were absolutely predictable.
So, please spare us the lecture about a desire for a "true progressive revolution" resulting in national socialism. If you were morally serious about forming a true voting coalition, you could have considered it six months ago.
4
LOL, Krugman is like clinton. They can't learn from past mistakes
Take unfettered political, financial and power ambition; combine them with no moral direction with a healthy dose of personal cowardice, and up springs the Republican leadership. It is a terrible thing to say, and I think less of myself for thinking and writing it, but I know what jobs Henry would have had in the camps as he self-justifies.
2
Explain how "unfettered political, financial, and power ambition" describes anybody more completely than it does the Clintons.
I didn't
It is astonishing that the cause of so many problems in this country - trump and his ilk - actually present themselves as the solution. He does not even try to hide that he will be given the problem - even more tax cuts and loopholes. PT Barnum - had it right there is a sucker born every minute. Those who complain and moan about their plight will really have something to cry about if he gets elected.
2
Considering the economic credibility of Paul Ryan:
I read Ayn Rand more than 60 years ago and with nothing more than two semesters of high school economics determined her view of capitalism wan't even good fiction--and I was only fifteen.
I read Ayn Rand more than 60 years ago and with nothing more than two semesters of high school economics determined her view of capitalism wan't even good fiction--and I was only fifteen.
4
I think the Republican choice to defy science on climate change has corrupted them to the point where they know they can just lie about anything, and their loyalists will accept it. Very sad era for United States. I keep hoping Trump will be the catalyst for a media enlightenment; a "have you no decency" moment that pushes the pendulum back toward reality.
5
Voting should be a serious undertaking - the Founders intended that the course of the nation be guided by the collective wisdom of the electorate. The voting booth is not the place for "sending a message" or for an expression of pique - you're being asked to choose who you think would best lead the country.
This is the first election in memory where only a single candidate is qualified for the office. Trump, Johnson, and Stein are manifestly incapable of the job, and voters who select any of them is not taking their job seriously.
This is the first election in memory where only a single candidate is qualified for the office. Trump, Johnson, and Stein are manifestly incapable of the job, and voters who select any of them is not taking their job seriously.
7
". . . a third of young voters intend to, in effect, opt out of this election."
If they don't vote, they're not voters, so call them what they are: lazy, ignorant, deplorable basement dwellers. In some cases, as they demonstrated during the Bernie revolution, they are violent. In many cases, like Trump and Bernie, they are women haters.
It was clear all along that they wouldn't vote. Too much trouble. And it was clear all along that they are clueless. They know/care nothing about our country. They would gladly hand it over to Trump to teach a lesson to those they despise for being less ignorant.
If they don't vote, they're not voters, so call them what they are: lazy, ignorant, deplorable basement dwellers. In some cases, as they demonstrated during the Bernie revolution, they are violent. In many cases, like Trump and Bernie, they are women haters.
It was clear all along that they wouldn't vote. Too much trouble. And it was clear all along that they are clueless. They know/care nothing about our country. They would gladly hand it over to Trump to teach a lesson to those they despise for being less ignorant.
4
A Republican who endorses Clinton this year would forever lose his/her Republican street cred, as well as the confidence of old friends who were willing to take a bullet for the GOP this year. If a Republican believes either that Trump can't win, or that the Republican will survive the Trump phenomenon, then why not stay loyal to the Red side? But there's less calculation than weirdness out there among Trump supporters in the hinterlands. I canvass in my area, and one person who was "leaning Trump" said that Trump would probably lead us to "the brink of war" and be a one-term president, but that the country needs a "shock" and Trump would deliver it.
3
People need to read historical accounts of the political climate in Germany in the 1930's as Hitler rose to power. History is repeating itself. If Donald Trump is elected President, it will be the end of the American Democracy and we will take the whole world down with us as we ignite in flames. This is serious. Our children and grandchildren will never forgive us. And for all those younger Americans who are considering voting for Gary Johnson. He does not believe in Global Warming, one of the most serious challenges facing the entire world. Unplug your iPhones, shut down your video games and use your minds. How can the most educated society on earth allow this to happen?
9
i have confidence that President Trump will be impeached before all his Cabinet nominees are confirmed. as for the "most educated society," we can blame totalitarian capitalism -- like Trump's -- for being eclipsed by much of the world decades ago.
Trump's a fool not a thug. The Republic will survive.
Part of the Hillary Clinton media narrative is that she is a terrible candidate and should be doing much better -- This narrative does not take into account the historical legacy that it is difficult for any party to win three presidential terms in a row, and that in itself is a real obstacle to her election, and has nothing to do with Clinton's history, personality, or policies.
2
If a third of young voters vote for a 3d party candidate, or don't vote at all, and Trumps edges his way into the White House, Bernie Sanders will deserve some of the credit for it. Why? Because he, more than anyone else, brought young voters into the campaign by promising them pie-in-the-sky outcomes. Elect Sanders and the system would be dismantled and rebuilt. We'd be Denmark writ somewhat larger. Couldn't happen, and it was irresponsible to tell young, inexperienced voters that it could. So, having led them down this path, Sanders needs to help lead them back. He must help settle the raw emotions he called out. He seems now to understand that it is his job to do. It isn't that he needs to help save Clinton's candidacy, but to help save all of us from a calamity we have never faced -- electing a proto fascist as president.
6
Agree that old Bernie deserves a lot of blame. He hates Hillary, and he would like to see her defeated.
To him, Trump has some good qualities: he's a man; he likes Russia; and he's not a Democrat.
To him, Trump has some good qualities: he's a man; he likes Russia; and he's not a Democrat.
Just like this entire election seasons. Place blame on everyone else for ' clinton's clear faults
2
The race is close because both parties have ignored the middle class in their zeal to appease the donor class.
Large numbers of white working people have seen their standard of living drop as corporations and the uber-wealthy have increased their economic and political power.
Hillary represents business as usual, while the crazy and dangerous person promises change. A large segment of voters are desperate.
Large numbers of white working people have seen their standard of living drop as corporations and the uber-wealthy have increased their economic and political power.
Hillary represents business as usual, while the crazy and dangerous person promises change. A large segment of voters are desperate.
1
This column reflects a trend in major media outlets urging voters to "do the right thing" and not waste their votes. There is more to this election than Trump/Clinton. The whole mess is a glaring, flashing neon sign telling us our nomination and elections processes are messed up and need major attention and change. I say this: don't throw your vote away endorsing a system that gave you this and could even give you worse in the future.
Consider what I call "strategic voting" as a means to get around the Electoral College, which, along with state laws favorings the two major parties, has put our country in a lockstep process with whatever those two parties offer. Strategic voting means using your brain and considering whether it is possible to vote for a third party or a write-in candidate without harming the outcome.
Here in Maryland, as an example, Trump supporters can easily vote for anyone they choose. Likewise, Hillary Clinton is so far ahead in this state that it is possible to cast a protest vote against both candidates. I would not consider this tactic in a state like Florida, where every vote could be crucial, but if I lived in Texas, I'd vote for whomever I pleased (other than Trump) because it is the only way to have even a minor impact.
The calm, steady as you go voices will always preach making your vote count. I say, yes, but make it count as a protest to this unfortunate system and in favor of changing if for the better.
Consider what I call "strategic voting" as a means to get around the Electoral College, which, along with state laws favorings the two major parties, has put our country in a lockstep process with whatever those two parties offer. Strategic voting means using your brain and considering whether it is possible to vote for a third party or a write-in candidate without harming the outcome.
Here in Maryland, as an example, Trump supporters can easily vote for anyone they choose. Likewise, Hillary Clinton is so far ahead in this state that it is possible to cast a protest vote against both candidates. I would not consider this tactic in a state like Florida, where every vote could be crucial, but if I lived in Texas, I'd vote for whomever I pleased (other than Trump) because it is the only way to have even a minor impact.
The calm, steady as you go voices will always preach making your vote count. I say, yes, but make it count as a protest to this unfortunate system and in favor of changing if for the better.
6
This is eyebrow raising and plainly sinister in intent, classic propagandist innuendo; "... who understand perfectly well what he is and what his election would mean."
How dare I, a hard left liberal on most issues, disagree with such a clever disparagement aimed at Trump? Well I can and I have to because even though I don't like the guy, because I am able to rub elbows at work with good people who support him, I take his supporters to be my fellow Americans. Trump is us as much as is Clinton, maybe more because Trump has cleared away much of the GOP boilerplate.
Anyone who's read Chomsky thoroughly and actually grasps what he says, rather than simply lumping him into a liberal ball of wax, knows that in general two party government is "flim-flam" and presenting Trump vs Clinton as some huge difference is flim-flam. Electing Trump would be big trouble for the ego of one side, but it's about as consequential to America as changing a couple notes in the national anthem.
So yes claim to be progressive and then intone that you miss the support of Kissinger and Schutlz. Talk about flim flam!
How dare I, a hard left liberal on most issues, disagree with such a clever disparagement aimed at Trump? Well I can and I have to because even though I don't like the guy, because I am able to rub elbows at work with good people who support him, I take his supporters to be my fellow Americans. Trump is us as much as is Clinton, maybe more because Trump has cleared away much of the GOP boilerplate.
Anyone who's read Chomsky thoroughly and actually grasps what he says, rather than simply lumping him into a liberal ball of wax, knows that in general two party government is "flim-flam" and presenting Trump vs Clinton as some huge difference is flim-flam. Electing Trump would be big trouble for the ego of one side, but it's about as consequential to America as changing a couple notes in the national anthem.
So yes claim to be progressive and then intone that you miss the support of Kissinger and Schutlz. Talk about flim flam!
6
Having read me some Chomsky, I don't seem to recall where he said that there's no diff at all between the two candidates. I also don't seem to recall where the man said, "what the heck, maybe if enough of the little people suffer, they'll wake up and do what I tell them to do."
I do, however, recall what Krugman just had to say about these disgusting, faux-left theories of better living through more suffering. Oh, and that there are a lot of clever, clever Trump supporters on line these days.
I do, however, recall what Krugman just had to say about these disgusting, faux-left theories of better living through more suffering. Oh, and that there are a lot of clever, clever Trump supporters on line these days.
I'm glad you brought up 1930s Germany. We are now at the 1930s Germany moment for this country. I can now see how the ridiculous, the cruel, the despicable can become normalized in a modern society. It is sobering to see, frightening to contemplate. I pray fervently that it does not take a catastrophic spate of violence to return our country to what our good people aspire it to be and to make, unfortunately, so many Republicans become serious adults. After all, there will be no United States out there to come to the rescue and make a new better world, as there was for Germany and Japan in the 1940s.
10
I've heard Trump apologists say that Trump's tax avoidance is what is expected of any competent responsible businessman in order to protect his employees and shareholders by paying no more tax than what is required. This makes sense if we were talking about business taxes, but I don't see how escaping personal income tax payments protects the business or the employees. Sounds as if he's using the business to protect himself.
7
Give credit to Trump. What he is doing is unwittingly launching a massive tax revolt. The President leads by example. President Trump, who pays no taxes, should be honored by having all us working class, tax paying stiffs emulate him. Then let's see what happens. Bernie has called for a political revolution. That pales in comparison to a tax revolution.
1
It is tragic that many of the voters who will vote for Trump or a third party candidate would be among the most seriously injured if, in fact, Trump were to win the election. This includes young Americans and working class Americans. And for any Progressive who is thinking about voting against Secretary Clinton, I suggest Googling "ritual suicide" because that is exactly what they would be doing. This country has survived and (mostly) succeeded all these years by political compromise and moderation. Those who refuse to accept this do great harm to this nation and to their own long term interests.
4
Sorry but Emailgate is not a minor misstep, it suggests an abuse of power and voters should be able to have access to all of the emails BEFORE the election so an informed decision can be made. Just as people demanded Trump 's taxes, people demand the prompt release of the Emails held by the State Department . Why is the Dept moving at a glacial pace ?
All we ever hear from prominent HRC shills is there is no evidence of any "pay for play" involving the Clinton Foundation; however the recent batch of released emails tells us a million dollar donor requested and received a meeting with State Department officials and a second million dollar donor requested and was granted a seat on an advisory committee despite lacking the experience to provide a meaningful contribution. We are told the first donor merely wanted to provide information but that was the donor's explanation, who knows what the truth is. The second donor resigned his committee seat after his situation was publicized. If the emails had remained hidden he would still be on the committee. What other transactions are hidden in these emails? The nation has the right to know.
All we ever hear from prominent HRC shills is there is no evidence of any "pay for play" involving the Clinton Foundation; however the recent batch of released emails tells us a million dollar donor requested and received a meeting with State Department officials and a second million dollar donor requested and was granted a seat on an advisory committee despite lacking the experience to provide a meaningful contribution. We are told the first donor merely wanted to provide information but that was the donor's explanation, who knows what the truth is. The second donor resigned his committee seat after his situation was publicized. If the emails had remained hidden he would still be on the committee. What other transactions are hidden in these emails? The nation has the right to know.
I like to think I'm an optimist or at least I try to be, and these days that's quite a task. So, I have a hope, perhaps really a prayer that a not insignificant number of Trump supporters will not actually vote for him come November 8.
I can understand that there are a large number of angry voters. Who wouldn't be given the state of government today? But I cannot believe there are that many voters who would willingly, happily, enthusiastically hand the country over to a man who seems only to excel in proving how unqualified he is for the job he claims to want.
I believe too that many of the politicians who claim to support Trump actually do not. They certainly must realize the catastrophe that a Trump presidency would represent regardless of any hoped for supreme court nominations he might make - and so far how often has he been predictable or even honest? And I am certain they also know what it will mean for them and their party when that catastrophe is emblazoned with the label "Trump: Brought to you by the Republican Party".
So even though I'm not a very religious man I pray every day that a) Trump will continue to be Trump, a monumentally unqualified boorish man-child and b) that the better angels of our collective intellect will save us and many people will not want to cast a vote for such an awful man and risk the damage he would do to this country.
I can understand that there are a large number of angry voters. Who wouldn't be given the state of government today? But I cannot believe there are that many voters who would willingly, happily, enthusiastically hand the country over to a man who seems only to excel in proving how unqualified he is for the job he claims to want.
I believe too that many of the politicians who claim to support Trump actually do not. They certainly must realize the catastrophe that a Trump presidency would represent regardless of any hoped for supreme court nominations he might make - and so far how often has he been predictable or even honest? And I am certain they also know what it will mean for them and their party when that catastrophe is emblazoned with the label "Trump: Brought to you by the Republican Party".
So even though I'm not a very religious man I pray every day that a) Trump will continue to be Trump, a monumentally unqualified boorish man-child and b) that the better angels of our collective intellect will save us and many people will not want to cast a vote for such an awful man and risk the damage he would do to this country.
4
Apparently, Krugman feels it was okay for him to jeer at Sanders and his "unrealistic socialist policies" (traditional New Deal policies, really) all during the primaries, but when the media turns its unusual brand of scrutiny (focusing on irrelevant side issues) on Hillary, it's simply going too far.
"Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way."
Apparently by, "meaningful way", Krugman means, voting for the winner. But in an era of record numbers of Americans living in poverty, an unprecedented global environmental threat - neither of which were brought up in the first "debate" - and far more voters choosing to register as independents than align with the two major corporatized parties while the Democrats and Republicans bar independent candidates from the debates, clearly we have a very weak level of democracy.
And what a fine pass we've reached when a Republican candidate's insincere campaign promises to rectify the damage from job-killing trade deals is the message that's resonating through much of the working class.
Most of us on the left, if we are in swing states, will hold our noses and vote for Clinton. But a yearning for democracy has been sparked across a wide swath of the public, and sooner or later this house of cards that both parties have offered us in lieu of real democracy will come tumbling down.
"Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way."
Apparently by, "meaningful way", Krugman means, voting for the winner. But in an era of record numbers of Americans living in poverty, an unprecedented global environmental threat - neither of which were brought up in the first "debate" - and far more voters choosing to register as independents than align with the two major corporatized parties while the Democrats and Republicans bar independent candidates from the debates, clearly we have a very weak level of democracy.
And what a fine pass we've reached when a Republican candidate's insincere campaign promises to rectify the damage from job-killing trade deals is the message that's resonating through much of the working class.
Most of us on the left, if we are in swing states, will hold our noses and vote for Clinton. But a yearning for democracy has been sparked across a wide swath of the public, and sooner or later this house of cards that both parties have offered us in lieu of real democracy will come tumbling down.
5
That the two principal presidential candidates are the most hated should tell us we are in big trouble. Either will hurt our nation. Hillary will help the super-rich and create more wars. Openly nasty Trump will create chaos from no public office experience. And nobody really knows which is most likely to be elected despite the NYT analysis.
While those GOP nutcases lost to Trump fair and square in a low-turnout and ideologically conflicted primary, Bernie lost because the press (e.g. Krugman and NYT) and the DNC undermined him, with super-delegates and intra-party intrigue. The political process is corrupt - the GOP and Democrat party bosses control the candidate process. Third-party candidates are blocked from the debates.
What to do? Yes, the presidential race will be a resounding failure. Next are the congressional elections. Congress under stunningly stupid leadership is paralyzed, and neither Trump nor Hillary will get cooperation. We'll see more interim budgets, blocked Supreme Court nominees, a few bills with buried clauses worded by corporations. There's no way to get money out of government. The only hope is to dump the whole, unpatriotic bunch.
People must put aside their apathy, get involved and educated about political process, organize new groups strong enough to bring up political candidates with probity. Democracy, or rule of the people, requires vigilance and energy. I'm not too optimistic.
While those GOP nutcases lost to Trump fair and square in a low-turnout and ideologically conflicted primary, Bernie lost because the press (e.g. Krugman and NYT) and the DNC undermined him, with super-delegates and intra-party intrigue. The political process is corrupt - the GOP and Democrat party bosses control the candidate process. Third-party candidates are blocked from the debates.
What to do? Yes, the presidential race will be a resounding failure. Next are the congressional elections. Congress under stunningly stupid leadership is paralyzed, and neither Trump nor Hillary will get cooperation. We'll see more interim budgets, blocked Supreme Court nominees, a few bills with buried clauses worded by corporations. There's no way to get money out of government. The only hope is to dump the whole, unpatriotic bunch.
People must put aside their apathy, get involved and educated about political process, organize new groups strong enough to bring up political candidates with probity. Democracy, or rule of the people, requires vigilance and energy. I'm not too optimistic.
2
Thank you for continuing to call out Paul Ryan's flimflammery. After an election in which Trump is elected we get Republican control of all three branches of government. The morally malleable Trump, who not only lacks experience governing but lacks interest in doing so, will be an incredibly weak President. In fact that's why our enemies and rivals (e.g Putin, China) like him. With a weak President, we will finally achieve a long cherished goal of Republican puppet master and government dismantlement advocate, Grover Norquist: Congressional Governance. Virtually every Republican candidate has signed Norquist's revenue avoidance pledge a/k/a tax reduction including supposed moderate rational candidates. The Ryan budget, privatizing Medicare, gutting social security and on and on is holy grail to these folks.
There are two cons going on, the whole Trump campaign and the intellectually bankrupt economics of movement conservatism of which Ryan is current poster boy. A weak Republican President e.g. Trump has all that is required for Trump and the Congressional Governance crowd, "enough working digits" to sign the Ryan budget as Norquist described GOP requirements for a President in 2012 to CPAC, advocating for Romney, then expected to be malleable to Congress (~8-12% approval ratings now). In fairness Romney looks like a tower of strength and moral rectitude compared to Trump.
As for millennials and Trump's working class supporters - they'll likely get the worst of it.
There are two cons going on, the whole Trump campaign and the intellectually bankrupt economics of movement conservatism of which Ryan is current poster boy. A weak Republican President e.g. Trump has all that is required for Trump and the Congressional Governance crowd, "enough working digits" to sign the Ryan budget as Norquist described GOP requirements for a President in 2012 to CPAC, advocating for Romney, then expected to be malleable to Congress (~8-12% approval ratings now). In fairness Romney looks like a tower of strength and moral rectitude compared to Trump.
As for millennials and Trump's working class supporters - they'll likely get the worst of it.
4
Remember that it is not uncommon for members of congress to vote for a bill that they they fully expect to fail - if only to impress their "constituencies" (whomever they might be) ...
now, it appears that many of our citizens may have decided to "rebel against big government", and vote for the "loser" - in order to satisfy some personal need for adolescent gratification, such as for having "showed them" that nobody-tells-me-what-to-do, or some other childish reason (feel free to pick one for yourself) ...
now, this most crucial election just might depend on how many of those people there are still out there ...
as Mr. Krugman has wisely recommended, "Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way" ... but you may have to grow up first.
now, it appears that many of our citizens may have decided to "rebel against big government", and vote for the "loser" - in order to satisfy some personal need for adolescent gratification, such as for having "showed them" that nobody-tells-me-what-to-do, or some other childish reason (feel free to pick one for yourself) ...
now, this most crucial election just might depend on how many of those people there are still out there ...
as Mr. Krugman has wisely recommended, "Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way" ... but you may have to grow up first.
2
If theft, slander, fraud, tax avoidance, ignorance, inexperience, racism, contempt for women are okay for Trump supporters but 3 emails out of 3500 disqualify Hillary. It is a matter just balancing the equities it is accepting whatever Trump says as true and not listening to anyone else.
Mobs don’t think; the follower the leader. Trump has raised a mob of white nativists haters: but Ryan and McConnel are not part of the ignorant mob. They follow the money and want power for their own ultra right wing agenda. For them it is not just a matter of “Ven zee furor sez vee ist zee master race....”
I remember those post WW2 days of Joe McCarthy and HUACK where the right wing used to ask: What looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and hangs aground with other ducks? Their targets were so call “fellow travelers” or “pinkos.”
For 2016 a much more valid question would be: “What looks like a fascist, talks like a fascist, lies like a fascist, belongs to a party of fascists and supports Donald Trump for president.” For years the GOP has been dog whistling its fascism; but Trump has turned on the lights. Trump and his party (and it is his party now) is the American Fascist Party and its leaders know that Trump is a fascist and support him.
If you want to be a patriot and not a dupe, do not play games with your vote. It will be a fascist or a center-left Democrat, vote to save our country.
Mobs don’t think; the follower the leader. Trump has raised a mob of white nativists haters: but Ryan and McConnel are not part of the ignorant mob. They follow the money and want power for their own ultra right wing agenda. For them it is not just a matter of “Ven zee furor sez vee ist zee master race....”
I remember those post WW2 days of Joe McCarthy and HUACK where the right wing used to ask: What looks like a duck, walks like a duck, quacks like a duck and hangs aground with other ducks? Their targets were so call “fellow travelers” or “pinkos.”
For 2016 a much more valid question would be: “What looks like a fascist, talks like a fascist, lies like a fascist, belongs to a party of fascists and supports Donald Trump for president.” For years the GOP has been dog whistling its fascism; but Trump has turned on the lights. Trump and his party (and it is his party now) is the American Fascist Party and its leaders know that Trump is a fascist and support him.
If you want to be a patriot and not a dupe, do not play games with your vote. It will be a fascist or a center-left Democrat, vote to save our country.
7
A vote for Gary Johnson is either naive or irresponsible, or both. I'm discouraged that one out of ten of us are willing to waste their vote that way. Perhaps not surprising, though, when about half of rest of us will vote for Trump.
5
Add to the list of Republican elected officials who should be questioned is Cathy McMorris Rodgers who has a child with Down's Syndrome but who still supports Donald Trump in spite of his mocking of a disabled reporter. Her silence on the matter speaks volumes about her .
5
My goodness, what a surprise that Krugman is feeling desperate enough to yet again rally the self-serving establishment Democratic voter. I speculate that for the most part Krugman is preaching almost entirely to the choir because most disenchanted progressives are put-off by being bludgeoned by the NYT writers and commenters who are obviously economically well off, thriving on the status quo, and have no burning need to complain.
This time, however, Krugman has struck a new low by engaging in an extraordinary cheap shot by associating progressives with social fascism (a.k.a. Nazism.) This egregious attack by a self described liberal goes too far when he accuses millions of progressive and/or liberal Americans as fascists – it will not soon be forgotten, certainly not by election day!
Krugman either doesn't understand or feigns ignorance of the plight of millions of Americans who have for decades been disenfranchised and marginalized by the Republican AND Democratic establishment. Millions have lost hope and have disengaged, and many more have forsaken the corrupt political duopoly for independent status. When the millennials turn to the Democratic establishment they are admonished and told to wait their turn. Young millennials are expected give up their dreams, tow the line, and watch those of greater economic power play the game to serve their best interests.
You MUST vote for Hillary if you know what is good for you!!!
This time, however, Krugman has struck a new low by engaging in an extraordinary cheap shot by associating progressives with social fascism (a.k.a. Nazism.) This egregious attack by a self described liberal goes too far when he accuses millions of progressive and/or liberal Americans as fascists – it will not soon be forgotten, certainly not by election day!
Krugman either doesn't understand or feigns ignorance of the plight of millions of Americans who have for decades been disenfranchised and marginalized by the Republican AND Democratic establishment. Millions have lost hope and have disengaged, and many more have forsaken the corrupt political duopoly for independent status. When the millennials turn to the Democratic establishment they are admonished and told to wait their turn. Young millennials are expected give up their dreams, tow the line, and watch those of greater economic power play the game to serve their best interests.
You MUST vote for Hillary if you know what is good for you!!!
4
it's "toe the line" not "tow the line"
2
Way to go Krugman, self centered, self absorbed, liberal bubble, elitist. How about a little self reflection why you and your ilk are to blame for Trump. You are better than, most, but that's not saying much. Democrats have set the bar very low. Obama favored a grand bargain to cut the deficit, froze federal workers salaries, ignored millions losing their homes and dropping out of the workforce, and is still pushing for the TPP.
A progressive agenda wouldn't always play defense as you do, content to argue against austerity. Where is the outrage? Kudos for recognizing education isn't the answer and damage of recession is permanent. Trump supporters aren't all racists or just racists. China in two and most favored nation, NAFTA, scrap it. No more Trump.
A progressive agenda wouldn't always play defense as you do, content to argue against austerity. Where is the outrage? Kudos for recognizing education isn't the answer and damage of recession is permanent. Trump supporters aren't all racists or just racists. China in two and most favored nation, NAFTA, scrap it. No more Trump.
3
If all of the people explaining their vote for Trump as a vote for change, would vote to change the Congress from Republican to Democrat-controlled, we wouldn't have to listen to the insufferables like McConnel and Paul Ryan.
9
Why is it that Hillary spokes-pundits can't figure out why millennials are not excited about doubling the national debt every 8 years, perpetual foreign wars, mass incarceration for victimless crimes, or blank check subsidies for Big Pharma and Academia?
Only a third of states are remotely in play this November. Elsewhere, voters should feel free to vote their first preference. If Hillary draws less than 40% of the popular vote, denying her a mandate, while Trump comes in third, their votes will not have been "wasted," as Dr. Krugman puts it.
It is true that Gary Johnson briefly thought, in a discussion of polls and the 2000 Nader effect, that ALEPO was some kind of acronym -- the American League of Election Pollsters Online? But in its article shaming him, the NY Times got Aleppo wrong twice before finally looking it up -- first as the "de facto capital of Islamic State," and then as the "Syrian capital." So is the Times now disqualified from reporting on foreign affairs? See http://www.moonofalabama.org/2016/09/nyt-ridiculing-of-gary-johnson-fail...
Only a third of states are remotely in play this November. Elsewhere, voters should feel free to vote their first preference. If Hillary draws less than 40% of the popular vote, denying her a mandate, while Trump comes in third, their votes will not have been "wasted," as Dr. Krugman puts it.
It is true that Gary Johnson briefly thought, in a discussion of polls and the 2000 Nader effect, that ALEPO was some kind of acronym -- the American League of Election Pollsters Online? But in its article shaming him, the NY Times got Aleppo wrong twice before finally looking it up -- first as the "de facto capital of Islamic State," and then as the "Syrian capital." So is the Times now disqualified from reporting on foreign affairs? See http://www.moonofalabama.org/2016/09/nyt-ridiculing-of-gary-johnson-fail...
2
People dislike Hillary Clinton for a few simple reasons: She's smart, she's deeply knowledgeable and competent, she's strong and direct, she's powerful and - worst of all - she's a woman!!!! This is what people hate! Also - many people fear progress - as in progressives. So she's got two major blots against her - woman and progressive. Really terrible, eh?
She also happens to be a lovely, charming, well-behaved "Lady." She knows how to behave in company. People don't like that either - if it makes her stronger and more powerful - as it does. All actually admirable characteristics except that she's a woman - hence, blots against her with The Backward and The Ignoranti - who sadly abound in this country.
She also happens to be a lovely, charming, well-behaved "Lady." She knows how to behave in company. People don't like that either - if it makes her stronger and more powerful - as it does. All actually admirable characteristics except that she's a woman - hence, blots against her with The Backward and The Ignoranti - who sadly abound in this country.
8
Well said! I'll take the lady over the bully any day!
Again, I have to ask: is this the New York Times, or Pravda? "Vote for the hand-picked candidate of the ruling party and ruling class, or you're helping the fascists!" It's amazing to wake up to find myself in Russia.
But what's more extraordinary is the historical revisionism. Here we have a Jewish columnist placing the blame for the rise of Hitler on the German left and the German working/middle class.
Take note.
It wasn't the American government, who called in all foreign debts in response to the Great Depression. It wasn't the 6 million+ in unemployment. It wasn't the out-of-control speculation of the 1920s. It wasn't the Treaty of Versailles. It wasn't the copious support given to the Nazi Party by German industrialists. It wasn't the widespread use of propaganda and physical intimidation.
It was the *left*, and the poor, beleaguered people of Germany who had no alternatives, no hope, and no recourse.
Explain to me something, Paul. If you REALLY see a parallel here -- which I doubt -- can you tell me how we got to the point where the institutions of the world's oldest federation and one of its oldest (purportedly) electoral democracies are now of comparable standing public to the fledgling Weimar Republic's?
But what's more extraordinary is the historical revisionism. Here we have a Jewish columnist placing the blame for the rise of Hitler on the German left and the German working/middle class.
Take note.
It wasn't the American government, who called in all foreign debts in response to the Great Depression. It wasn't the 6 million+ in unemployment. It wasn't the out-of-control speculation of the 1920s. It wasn't the Treaty of Versailles. It wasn't the copious support given to the Nazi Party by German industrialists. It wasn't the widespread use of propaganda and physical intimidation.
It was the *left*, and the poor, beleaguered people of Germany who had no alternatives, no hope, and no recourse.
Explain to me something, Paul. If you REALLY see a parallel here -- which I doubt -- can you tell me how we got to the point where the institutions of the world's oldest federation and one of its oldest (purportedly) electoral democracies are now of comparable standing public to the fledgling Weimar Republic's?
3
Actually, what Krugman said is that those who vote for the unelectable perfect are the enemy of the electable good.
A third-party liberal candidate will not be elected this year. Those who believe a Donald Trump election will result is such a horrid experience that a truly liberal candidate would be elected to succeed him are simply naive. As Krugman suggests, the ascendance to power of a meglomaniac is more likely to result in the maniac remaining in power, just as it did in Germany in the 1930's. It's very nice to summarize the CliffsNotes for Modern European History, but the point of Krugman's argument was not that the German left supported Hitler, but that the radical left parties with their naivite, their insistence upon idealogical purity, and their utter rejection of practical thinking, made the rise of the Nazi Party possible, and ultimately unavoidable. In the election of 1930 the parties of the left splintered their vote preferring to quarrel with one another, and the communists abstained. Once the Nazis became the leading opposition, they were invited into the government (albeit only with a 20% share), they were able to mobilize the "beleagured" uneducated unemployed into a violent militia, and through decrees and force take over the country with a very popular non-politically-correct blowhard as their leader.
A third-party liberal candidate will not be elected this year. Those who believe a Donald Trump election will result is such a horrid experience that a truly liberal candidate would be elected to succeed him are simply naive. As Krugman suggests, the ascendance to power of a meglomaniac is more likely to result in the maniac remaining in power, just as it did in Germany in the 1930's. It's very nice to summarize the CliffsNotes for Modern European History, but the point of Krugman's argument was not that the German left supported Hitler, but that the radical left parties with their naivite, their insistence upon idealogical purity, and their utter rejection of practical thinking, made the rise of the Nazi Party possible, and ultimately unavoidable. In the election of 1930 the parties of the left splintered their vote preferring to quarrel with one another, and the communists abstained. Once the Nazis became the leading opposition, they were invited into the government (albeit only with a 20% share), they were able to mobilize the "beleagured" uneducated unemployed into a violent militia, and through decrees and force take over the country with a very popular non-politically-correct blowhard as their leader.
Paul Ryan, the Republican Speaker of the House has decided to support Donald Trump, a presidential nominee his own Party can’t understand what he stands for. Ryan keeps ignoring Trump’s racism; political ignorance; compulsive behavior to criticism; ideas without a plan to “use’ him in an attempt to keep the Republican Party in control of Congress once Trump’s supporters go to the polls to vote down the ballot for Republicans – that would be Ryan’s greatest victory considering the Republican Party is like a ship drowning.
Some of Sander’s supporters and young voters have decided to vote for Gary Johnson without realizing they are holding on to the wrong pole, a Libertarian presidential nominee who couldn’t even name his favorite leader in the world, a ship without a sail. Hillary Clinton is their best choice since she’s implementing issues that “align with Sanders” and his followers. Senator Sanders is supporting Hillary Clinton just to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office. This isn’t the time to revolt – there might be nothing left to fight for 4 years from now.
Some of Sander’s supporters and young voters have decided to vote for Gary Johnson without realizing they are holding on to the wrong pole, a Libertarian presidential nominee who couldn’t even name his favorite leader in the world, a ship without a sail. Hillary Clinton is their best choice since she’s implementing issues that “align with Sanders” and his followers. Senator Sanders is supporting Hillary Clinton just to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office. This isn’t the time to revolt – there might be nothing left to fight for 4 years from now.
208
Professor Krugman's continuing failure to acknowledge the manner in which the president is elected -- by the Electoral College -- suggests he should stick to economics. When he berates third-party voters, he should recognize that an accurate statement here would be, if you are considering a third-party candidate in one of a handful of states -- Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, Nevada, for instance -- then you might consider whether your vote could result in achieving your least desired outcome in your state. That would be that Trump would win the electoral votes of that particular state rather than Hillary Clinton. If that happens in a swing state, then possibly, that particular state could be the one that decides the election. And if Trump wins as a result, that would be a bad thing.
But for people in states like Texas or California, it is highly unlikely that the electoral votes will go to anyone but the Republican in the first case or the Democrat in the second. And the same is true for most of the states of the Union. If, by chance, Texas were on the cusp, that would mean Clinton was poised for an epic landslide win, and if California were close to going Trump, then Trump would be poised for a similar landslide win. No matter how you cut it, then, voting third party to express one's ACTUAL POLICY PREFERENCES (not an irrational distaste for Hillary Clinton) makes perfect sense.
Leaving aside that one vote has nearly no probability of swinging a national election.
But for people in states like Texas or California, it is highly unlikely that the electoral votes will go to anyone but the Republican in the first case or the Democrat in the second. And the same is true for most of the states of the Union. If, by chance, Texas were on the cusp, that would mean Clinton was poised for an epic landslide win, and if California were close to going Trump, then Trump would be poised for a similar landslide win. No matter how you cut it, then, voting third party to express one's ACTUAL POLICY PREFERENCES (not an irrational distaste for Hillary Clinton) makes perfect sense.
Leaving aside that one vote has nearly no probability of swinging a national election.
2
Sure, anyone on the left (meaning anyone to the left of Paul Krugman) who doesn't actively support Hillary Clinton is a believer in social fascism or a budding member of Hitler youth.
This columnist would do better to stick to economics, and try to get more of that right, before lecturing the nation on its civic duty and subjects he doesn't want to research or understand.
This columnist would do better to stick to economics, and try to get more of that right, before lecturing the nation on its civic duty and subjects he doesn't want to research or understand.
2
Concerning the MSM media, I don't know if the right has successfully bullied them into thinking they must appear to be "fair and balanced" by criticizing Clinton and Trump equally or whether they really have become simply entertainers seeking ratings. Since there is a thriving conservative MSM (Wall Street Journal editorial page, Fox, right wing talk radio, websites like Breitbart) that clearly is not "fair and balanced," I don't know why anybody in the MSM should shy away from being objective and telling it like it really is. The right will still charge them as being biased regardless of how contorted their efforts at appearing to be neutral.
1
The Clintons ruled for 8 years
Enough for one family
No more Clintons or Bush families in White House
Enough for one family
No more Clintons or Bush families in White House
2
And to add insult to injury, the Times gives top billing to a story about Hillarys' failure to dump Bill, leaving the impression she is nothing more than an opportunist.
Perhaps she is, but look at the other charlatan.
Perhaps she is, but look at the other charlatan.
1
I remain shocked that John McCain has pledged to support Trump, especially considering Trump questioned the sincerity of a mother whose son died for our country. McCain's strategy is to hope that Trump does not win. That does not sound like the McCain that so many of us revered and respected for so many years. What happened?
2
Hillary's vote on the Iraq war, her support of the TPP, her position on DOMA (which she supported before she didn't), the email fiasco, her undermining of stability in Libya and other failures were not "minor missteps" and for Krugman to characterize all this as minor is a disservice to the country. Yes, Trump is every bit as odious as Krugman claims but it is far from clear that Clinton is much better. I will vote for the candidate who best represents my beliefs, Jill Stein. And If that leads to Trump being elected, Krugman and his colleagues at the NYT have only themselves to blame. They could have and should have supported a better Democratic nominee for President.
2
This is exactly the reasoning that got us George Bush, due to the Florida debacle. Maybe that suits you fine. However, if the standard you set leads to casting your vote for someone with absolutely no chance to have any impact at all, why even bother to participate in the electoral process? What good is the protest vote? Can you identify a situation in this country when it had any real effect? I can: I would contend that voting for Ralph Nader, who had nil chance of succeeding, had just the effect that enough people voting not for Trump but against Clinton will have. We are electing someone for an executive position, not to make ourselves feel morally satisfied. The bogus claim that if Trump wins it is because Clinton did not make the case misses the deep divide in this country. And you think that this newspaper has enough power to shift the election to Clinton if they only wanted to? What a bizarre conceit.
I would like to know who is waiting in the wings - who are the people who will be setting the policies, proposing the rules and laws and fashioning the political agenda once this republican candidate is elected. We don't vote for these people, but with a candidate this shallow, it would be good to know who will actually be doing his job.
A lower marginal rate on income pass through entities.
Read it again Mr. Krugman. Yes, there are many high income people with this tax structure who don't need the tax cap.
However, the vast majority are small businesses and start ups. and they are being taxed to death. Throw in the Dodd-Frank regs which makes it very unattractive for banks to lend small business loans and you have very little investment.
Krugman can't explain the 1% GNP, and he can do is complain. And no one he vilifies anymore than Mr. Ryan.
And let's face it Paul, you and your feckless brethren don't want to vote for Hillary either.
How do I know that? Simple, she would already be President. Throw in a nobody from VT that won 22 states, and came darn close on a bunch of others, and there you have it.
No sir, you want to vote for Obama.
Read it again Mr. Krugman. Yes, there are many high income people with this tax structure who don't need the tax cap.
However, the vast majority are small businesses and start ups. and they are being taxed to death. Throw in the Dodd-Frank regs which makes it very unattractive for banks to lend small business loans and you have very little investment.
Krugman can't explain the 1% GNP, and he can do is complain. And no one he vilifies anymore than Mr. Ryan.
And let's face it Paul, you and your feckless brethren don't want to vote for Hillary either.
How do I know that? Simple, she would already be President. Throw in a nobody from VT that won 22 states, and came darn close on a bunch of others, and there you have it.
No sir, you want to vote for Obama.
1
Perhaps instead of castigating young voters for being disenchanted, apathetic, and protest-voting, Dr. Krugman should consider and write about why it is there that is general sentiment. I can't say I blame them for feeling that way. Many of the commenters here are well-meaning but are mostly middle-aged and cannot relate to the younger generation of newer voters.
1
"Younger generation of newer voters"?
Oh, yes! you mean deep thinkers who are enamored with quick fixes and are such purists that one time they helped put a real idealist, a genius named Geo. Bush into office. Of course, those were, and are, the few of the "younger generation" that actually vote.
You might mean those of the "younger generation" who vote for populist candidates and 3rd party candidates like Libertarian, Gary Johnson, who
doesn't know that Aleppo is a Syrian city that is being decimated and also doesn't believe we should pay income tax, etc,..
Oh, you mean young voters who prefer the Green Party candidate who supported the disastrous Brexit vote, is against children being vaccinated and says it causes autism, and wants to withhold all aid to Israel?
It's obvious to the "younger generation" those choices are better than a candidate that throughout her life has fought for education for disabled and disadvantaged children; who, has constantly battled for women's rights; who as First Lady pushed a bill for universal health care; who has a Senate voting record more liberal than any nominee since Mondale; who established an A rated charity which aids 435 million people world wide and to which she tithes a substantial part of her earnings; etc.,.
Who can blame the "younger generation" for being cynical about Hillary, a person who has devoted her entire life to public service and who has largely gotten nothing but hatred and vilification for her efforts?
Oh, yes! you mean deep thinkers who are enamored with quick fixes and are such purists that one time they helped put a real idealist, a genius named Geo. Bush into office. Of course, those were, and are, the few of the "younger generation" that actually vote.
You might mean those of the "younger generation" who vote for populist candidates and 3rd party candidates like Libertarian, Gary Johnson, who
doesn't know that Aleppo is a Syrian city that is being decimated and also doesn't believe we should pay income tax, etc,..
Oh, you mean young voters who prefer the Green Party candidate who supported the disastrous Brexit vote, is against children being vaccinated and says it causes autism, and wants to withhold all aid to Israel?
It's obvious to the "younger generation" those choices are better than a candidate that throughout her life has fought for education for disabled and disadvantaged children; who, has constantly battled for women's rights; who as First Lady pushed a bill for universal health care; who has a Senate voting record more liberal than any nominee since Mondale; who established an A rated charity which aids 435 million people world wide and to which she tithes a substantial part of her earnings; etc.,.
Who can blame the "younger generation" for being cynical about Hillary, a person who has devoted her entire life to public service and who has largely gotten nothing but hatred and vilification for her efforts?
1
We have entered the Twighlight Zone. Trump is really a Democrat in disguise as a Republican and really does not want to be POTUS. He is doing everything he knows how to scare the living daylights out of us to vote for Hillary.
How far does Donald need to go to scare us into voting for Hillary? As what he has done so far has not worked.
Real world - who is going to work to "correct" the tax code so that Trump will finally pay his fair share of taxes - Trump or Hillary?
How far does Donald need to go to scare us into voting for Hillary? As what he has done so far has not worked.
Real world - who is going to work to "correct" the tax code so that Trump will finally pay his fair share of taxes - Trump or Hillary?
1
If you do not vote for Clinton, you will get Trump. It really is that simple. That's aside from the fact that there are good reasons not to vote for Jill Stein even if she had the slightest chance of winning; for instance, that she is completely inexperienced; her platform is a load of warmed-over Sixties-redux fantasy codswallop; that the professional credibility and judgement of a doctor who's an anti-vaxxer is reasonably open to question; and that she has no experience in government beyond serving on a town council. You might as well write in my cat. (I'm skipping over Johnson because the NYT reader base leans to the left and is more likely to contemplate voting for Stein than for Johnson.)
Government is a job for emotionally and intellectually mature people. Given a choice between A and B, you cannot insist you want C, or D, or Alpha or the Square Root of Minus One, and if you don't get it, you will hold your breath until you turn blue. Only small children and the mentally ill refuse to live in the world as it is.
Government is a job for emotionally and intellectually mature people. Given a choice between A and B, you cannot insist you want C, or D, or Alpha or the Square Root of Minus One, and if you don't get it, you will hold your breath until you turn blue. Only small children and the mentally ill refuse to live in the world as it is.
267
Johnson is as big a fool as is Stein. He only had the good fortune to enter politics in a a place where foolishness is no disqualification.
" Only small children and the mentally ill refuse to live in the world as it is." Quite so. But small children and most persons with mental illnesses are still more realistic about clear and present danger than are most Trumpkins.
" Only small children and the mentally ill refuse to live in the world as it is." Quite so. But small children and most persons with mental illnesses are still more realistic about clear and present danger than are most Trumpkins.
1
One thing's for sure: we will get the president that we deserve.
1
She gets my vote as the lesser of two evils. But Krugman's columns fail to inspire or persuade because they start with the assumption that any and all criticism of Clinton comes out of ignorance and bigotry. Yet it is possible to have legitimate disagreements with Clinton on a range of policies, including her support for trade deals, deregulation, and wars of choice and to be wary of her ties to Wall Street and big business. Many Democrats still admire the legacy of the New Deal and do not share the neoliberal outlook of today's Democratic Party establishment and NYT pundits. That is their right. Dr. Krugman may disagree with their old-fashioned liberalism, but should try sticking to the issues without name-calling or stereotyping people of goodwill whose views happen to differ from his.
I have a nagging suspicious that Trump's tax return was sent out by a Trump acolyte who knows Trump just cannot become president but who sees too much personal risk to him or herself to not publicly support him.
Krugman, a Nobel Memorial Prize winner pronounced all Republican candidates to be wrong on economics - and Mr Sanders as well.
The sole exception :
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/09/07/opinion/paul-krugman-trump-is-right...
The professor has succeeded
The sole exception :
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/09/07/opinion/paul-krugman-trump-is-right...
The professor has succeeded
Did you read your own link, Tales? He wasn't praising Trump. He was criticizing the Republican economic plan.
"So am I saying that Mr. Trump is better and more serious than he’s given credit for being? Not at all — he is exactly the ignorant blowhard he seems to be. It’s when it comes to his rivals that appearances can be deceiving. Some of them may come across as reasonable and thoughtful, but in reality they are anything but."
"So am I saying that Mr. Trump is better and more serious than he’s given credit for being? Not at all — he is exactly the ignorant blowhard he seems to be. It’s when it comes to his rivals that appearances can be deceiving. Some of them may come across as reasonable and thoughtful, but in reality they are anything but."
Ryan, McConnell and the others in the GOP have missed a huge opportunity for themselves and their party by not openly endorsing HRC. There's a far better chance of their moving Hillary to the right (remember Obama 's willingness to succumb to an unfavorable "grand bargain" with Boehner?)
than going down in flames with Trump. They could exact compromises from her that they could never have dreamed of. And by seizing the moral high ground of putting country ahead of party they'd regain instant credibility with the constituencies that they can't attract now.
It would amount to a landslide victory for HRC, but a re-election of enough congressional candidates to leave a moderate, conservative, but smaller GOP. But that version of the GOP would have a much higher ceiling.
A defeated Trump has no interest or ability to keep his defeated base organized or coherent any more than Sarah Palin had or did. And the emerging activists that would emerge would be even more demagogic, more unhinged and more nuts--as they try to turn the volume from "eleven" to "twelve".
An endorsement of Hillary and a rejection of the nuts would set the stage for a FOX news more in the Rupert Murdoch tabloid version than the overtly ideological Roger Ailes version. Murdoch even likes Hillary and is clearly more comfortable and compatible with a stable, reasonable negotiating partner than one who is ready to go to war with FOX (see Megan Kelly),
But they just aren't clever enough.
than going down in flames with Trump. They could exact compromises from her that they could never have dreamed of. And by seizing the moral high ground of putting country ahead of party they'd regain instant credibility with the constituencies that they can't attract now.
It would amount to a landslide victory for HRC, but a re-election of enough congressional candidates to leave a moderate, conservative, but smaller GOP. But that version of the GOP would have a much higher ceiling.
A defeated Trump has no interest or ability to keep his defeated base organized or coherent any more than Sarah Palin had or did. And the emerging activists that would emerge would be even more demagogic, more unhinged and more nuts--as they try to turn the volume from "eleven" to "twelve".
An endorsement of Hillary and a rejection of the nuts would set the stage for a FOX news more in the Rupert Murdoch tabloid version than the overtly ideological Roger Ailes version. Murdoch even likes Hillary and is clearly more comfortable and compatible with a stable, reasonable negotiating partner than one who is ready to go to war with FOX (see Megan Kelly),
But they just aren't clever enough.
John C, what makes you think they'd be better at extracting concessions from HRC? She's always been to the left of Bill in her own views, and she's ten times more scrappy, engaged, effective and wily in dealing with Congress than her husband or any Democratic candidate since him.
Look, I am going to vote for Hillary Clinton after having voted for Bernie Sanders in the primary, but I must say that while I abhor Donald Trump and find the GOP Congressional delegation and RNC repellant, I think you are being unfairly dismissive and condescending towards many voters who, for a variety of reasons, do not want to vote for Hillary Clinton.
Yes, the media has trashed Hillary Clinton for nearly 25 years. Yes, they--your colleagues--are creative false equivalencies between Clinton and Trump. Yes, they--this paper--have blown up Benghazi and Clinton's email scandal but were mostly silent on the more than a dozen Benghazis when Bush was president, and the Bush administration's and Colin Powell's alleged destruction of emails.
BUT: Hillary Clinton voted for the Iraq War. Hillary Clinton and her husband supported the very deregulation that, accelerated under George W. Bush, led to the second worst economic collapse in US history. Hillary Clinton and her husband at times seemed to use black voters for their own advancement, then discard them when needed. Overall, I think Hillary Clinton would be a far better president than Donald Trump, whose behavior, rhetoric and vision are all extremely alarming. But please just try to understand why some voters cannot support Clinton.
Also: it's not the millennials who'll be voting for Trump; it's white people your age and older who are overwhelmingly supporting Trump. Lay off the millennials!
Yes, the media has trashed Hillary Clinton for nearly 25 years. Yes, they--your colleagues--are creative false equivalencies between Clinton and Trump. Yes, they--this paper--have blown up Benghazi and Clinton's email scandal but were mostly silent on the more than a dozen Benghazis when Bush was president, and the Bush administration's and Colin Powell's alleged destruction of emails.
BUT: Hillary Clinton voted for the Iraq War. Hillary Clinton and her husband supported the very deregulation that, accelerated under George W. Bush, led to the second worst economic collapse in US history. Hillary Clinton and her husband at times seemed to use black voters for their own advancement, then discard them when needed. Overall, I think Hillary Clinton would be a far better president than Donald Trump, whose behavior, rhetoric and vision are all extremely alarming. But please just try to understand why some voters cannot support Clinton.
Also: it's not the millennials who'll be voting for Trump; it's white people your age and older who are overwhelmingly supporting Trump. Lay off the millennials!
3
He's not saying millennials will vote for Trump. He's saying that by voting for third-party candidates, they might enable Trump to win. If he gers more votes than Clinton, it doesn't really matter which way he got there.
Voting for Clinton cancels out actual votes for our potential American Hitler. Third-party votes don't.
Voting for Clinton cancels out actual votes for our potential American Hitler. Third-party votes don't.
Yeah, Trump had a terrible week. All the media has joined Krugman in saying so.
Hillary trounced him in the debate. Krugman and all the media told us so.
And yet the average of the national polls shows that in the past week since the debates, Trump has actually gained ground on Hillary and her lead has shrunk from 3% to 2.5%. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_electi...
Could it actually be that the peasants are revolting and that the neo-liberal neo-con policies of Clinton are so toxic to so many that they would rather take a chance on a clown?
Perhaps your intellect would be better spent analyzing what is the Problem with Clinton and how it could be fixed. Blaming conspiracies and the mainstream media is something we expect from the Sarah Palins of the world, not Nobel economists.
Interesting, now that the polls are running against you, that you are finding solace in the betting markets. Have you found them more reliable than polls? The betting markets lost on Brexit.
Your hysteria is unbecoming and ultimately counter-productive.
Hillary trounced him in the debate. Krugman and all the media told us so.
And yet the average of the national polls shows that in the past week since the debates, Trump has actually gained ground on Hillary and her lead has shrunk from 3% to 2.5%. http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2016/president/us/general_electi...
Could it actually be that the peasants are revolting and that the neo-liberal neo-con policies of Clinton are so toxic to so many that they would rather take a chance on a clown?
Perhaps your intellect would be better spent analyzing what is the Problem with Clinton and how it could be fixed. Blaming conspiracies and the mainstream media is something we expect from the Sarah Palins of the world, not Nobel economists.
Interesting, now that the polls are running against you, that you are finding solace in the betting markets. Have you found them more reliable than polls? The betting markets lost on Brexit.
Your hysteria is unbecoming and ultimately counter-productive.
1
I started this election cycle declaring that I wouldn't vote since I wasn't happy with HRC and I couldn't stand Trump. Then came the conventions and the third party candidates and, although HRC clearly looked better than Trump I thought I could vote for Johnson or Stein. Upon inspection I saw that Stein is about anger and rebellion, slash and burn. And It turns out Johnson thinks Aleppo is one of the Marx Brothers and to boot can't name ONE foreign leader, a real foreign policy wonk.
So here we are, after the first debate, after Trump's epic meltdown, after his sleazy minions declare him a "genius" for establishing a tax loss of $916 million.
I'll be voting for HRC in November, not because I love her but because if I can't tell the difference between her and the other three - especially Trump - the I don't deserve to vote.
So here we are, after the first debate, after Trump's epic meltdown, after his sleazy minions declare him a "genius" for establishing a tax loss of $916 million.
I'll be voting for HRC in November, not because I love her but because if I can't tell the difference between her and the other three - especially Trump - the I don't deserve to vote.
400
The republican media has made it a major practice of the past 25 years to put Hillary down for everything. The sheep believe it. These are the same sheep that think Trump will actually help our country or make their lives better. If it wouldnt be so damning for our whole country, I would like to see those people eat their words if he is elected and makes our country the worst it's ever been. I have listened to Gary Johnson. Nice guy, but his plans make no sense at all. We need to start teaching government or civics again if so many young people dont realize voting for a 3rd party is throwing your vote away.
3
I love how the generation that gave us Trump and Clinton constantly berates young people to not waste their vote.
3
Perhaps economists like to think of themselves as know-all. Physicists and biologists are known for such confidence and self-assurance, as are the members of the logorheic tribe of writers.
But who will save the Union from Trump and Clinton in November 2016?
But who will save the Union from Trump and Clinton in November 2016?
Calling on GOP grifters to act like adults is not going to happen. We know all too well how the GOP has failed to govern in the last several years, and how purely political they were in going after Obama on any and every issue. Their fear of losing a smidgen of political power (money!) is more all-consuming than any religious belief or allegiance to one's country.
5
Reflexive Hillary hatred - as Dorothy Rabinowitz of the WSJ surprisingly, but correctly, pointed out - has been born out of the mindlessness that grips politics these days. It exists within both parties but, largely since Gingrich, appears to have completely overtaken the Republican party.
I'd love to see a balanced analysis of issues and character, but as Prof Krugman points out, journalism has become a game of 'gotcha', reporting even the most minor missteps or misstatements. But I guess that doesn't grab headlines . . . When was the last time we saw 'puff' piece on either candidate? Admittedly, it's a challenge to find much redeeming in Donald Trump. However, in a public service career of nearly 40 years, could there be nothing right that Hillary has done?
I'd love to see a balanced analysis of issues and character, but as Prof Krugman points out, journalism has become a game of 'gotcha', reporting even the most minor missteps or misstatements. But I guess that doesn't grab headlines . . . When was the last time we saw 'puff' piece on either candidate? Admittedly, it's a challenge to find much redeeming in Donald Trump. However, in a public service career of nearly 40 years, could there be nothing right that Hillary has done?
3
You accidentally hit the nail on the head here. Her years of public service have amounted to almost nothing. Almost all policy she has put her fingers on has ended in failure. The ones that haven't, she has dubious claim to (e.g., CHIP). The only "public" she has "served" are the publicly-traded corporations on the NYSE.
1
You may choose to not place the "stupidity" label on Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan, but what they are doing now and the obstruction they have wrought on this country for the past 8 years is both stupid and dangerous.
For Henry Kissinger to stay mum is beyond a profile of cowardice. It is a display of unconscionable immorality, pure and simple. With Kissinger deep knowledge of history and his own personal experience with white supremacy -- having been born in Southern Germany in 1923 to Jewish parents who fled Germany in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution -- he should know better. Trump's rhetoric, rallies and tactics mirror those of Hitler as he rose to power. Apparently, the man most known for Realpolitik is willing to have it replaced with Fakepolitik.
What is most disconcerting is the the 40% of hard-core Trump supporters will still be with us no matter what happens on November 8th -- those who have fallen prey the rating-hunger news media's and GOP narrative of HRC. We will still have to deal with these unthinking and unaware "citizens" who find racist, misogynist and xenophobic rhetoric appealing, and who are duped by a man whose shallow policies and "leadership" style would inflict irreparable harm on them and all of us.
For Henry Kissinger to stay mum is beyond a profile of cowardice. It is a display of unconscionable immorality, pure and simple. With Kissinger deep knowledge of history and his own personal experience with white supremacy -- having been born in Southern Germany in 1923 to Jewish parents who fled Germany in 1938 to escape Nazi persecution -- he should know better. Trump's rhetoric, rallies and tactics mirror those of Hitler as he rose to power. Apparently, the man most known for Realpolitik is willing to have it replaced with Fakepolitik.
What is most disconcerting is the the 40% of hard-core Trump supporters will still be with us no matter what happens on November 8th -- those who have fallen prey the rating-hunger news media's and GOP narrative of HRC. We will still have to deal with these unthinking and unaware "citizens" who find racist, misogynist and xenophobic rhetoric appealing, and who are duped by a man whose shallow policies and "leadership" style would inflict irreparable harm on them and all of us.
4
PK: I stipulate to your bill of particulars. Then there's this: "something like a third of young voters intend to, in effect, opt out of this election." This is a diagnosis of the overall condition of society; people vote according to their perceived interests, naturally. But when a large slice of society doesn't see the relevance of the presidency to their lives, what can we say to them? If there are only two paths out of a burning house and you don't "like" either, you stay and burn?
3
There are zero paths out of this burning house. That's the real issue.
2
Dr Krugman never fails to disappoint ,his diatribes against Trump and for Secretary Clinton ,show that Princeton continues as a cheerleader for the left albeit the espoused policies of the group having failed again and again.Fellows like Krugman and many more on the Princeton faculty hi jacked the teaching of rational thought decades ago and remain relevant as long as the times is willing to publish their views.I believe the USA is at a cross roads this election,carry on the way we are the Robin Hood approach with annual GDP growth below 2% or try economic policy that may get growth north of 3%,whoever has a shot at that wins my vote.
2
When I hear someone say that the decades of tax-cut trickle-down trillions lost to the rich is a "Robin Hood approach", I wonder how that person can actually live in the world the rest of us do.
1
Actually, regardless the President, there is no way off this planet and its dwindling resources.
Over population is the problem tbat will cause mankind to go extinct.
The sustainable number is around 4 billion; which begs solution.
Dwindling resources and global warming will solve the problem in less than another 100 years, if catastrophic disease, and worldwide conflict don't.
We humans are on a petard, which we built, and nature stands ready, with the match.
Over population is the problem tbat will cause mankind to go extinct.
The sustainable number is around 4 billion; which begs solution.
Dwindling resources and global warming will solve the problem in less than another 100 years, if catastrophic disease, and worldwide conflict don't.
We humans are on a petard, which we built, and nature stands ready, with the match.
1
Never cease to be astonished at obtuseness and unfairness of your commenters: prejudging a man who has not even run for political office,much less occupied one.More helpful and enlightening to vent your spleens at one party rule in Washington, party of money,slaves to lobbyists of "sociedades anonimos," and chambers of commerce, whose motivation is to promote profits of business community by offshoring, open borders, foreign trade deals and H-1B visas,intended to increase profits of 1 percenters at our expense,:impoverished working class folks.DT wants to level the playing field, make America livable for all Americans, which is why both establishment parties oppose him.Theory is that majority of commenters r white, well to do,college educated with bank accounts, and would not choose to live in the Hood, or visit,even if they were paid to do so.Yet they r the first to demean us Trump supporters as racist and bigots.Can't think of many in my sociological group who ever heard of the word,"xenophobic" before Times and its lemming like readers brought it up.Until contrary proof is offered,believe that op ed articles r written by 1 percenters intended for consumption by other 1 percenters. Not a democratic way of managing one of the few independent news outlets in the paper.More input is needed from other side of the barricades, those dissenting with the majority view, and carrying water for Mr Trump.
"prejudging a man who has not even run for political office"
Trump is being judged on his actions and the content of his character, both of which have been found wanting. The idea that he can't be judged on his suitability to hold the office of President because he's never been a politician is quite simply ridiculous.
Trump is being judged on his actions and the content of his character, both of which have been found wanting. The idea that he can't be judged on his suitability to hold the office of President because he's never been a politician is quite simply ridiculous.
I listen to what he says, and I think about it.
For example he wants to deport 11-12 million immigrants, how would the country do this. Create a new immigration department dedicated to arresting the immigrants? How many people would that require? What would be the daily quota per agents of this department? Let's be generous and say they each agent arrests 10 immigrants per day, 5 days a week and not on Holidays. That would be 50 per week times 50 weeks which is 2500 for one year. You would need 480, 000 agents to gather 12 million people in one year.
That's absurd.
And where are you going to house them?And then the transportation, how would that be done? Transporting 12 million people to their individual country of origin is a logistical nightmare. Are you thinking of just piling them in cattle cars? Like the Jews in WWII? Or driving them home packed in big semis? Or loading them in shipment containers and sailing to countries of origin? Absurd and horrific!!
This is why many of us think Trump is just a con-man conning a large portion of the American people.
For example he wants to deport 11-12 million immigrants, how would the country do this. Create a new immigration department dedicated to arresting the immigrants? How many people would that require? What would be the daily quota per agents of this department? Let's be generous and say they each agent arrests 10 immigrants per day, 5 days a week and not on Holidays. That would be 50 per week times 50 weeks which is 2500 for one year. You would need 480, 000 agents to gather 12 million people in one year.
That's absurd.
And where are you going to house them?And then the transportation, how would that be done? Transporting 12 million people to their individual country of origin is a logistical nightmare. Are you thinking of just piling them in cattle cars? Like the Jews in WWII? Or driving them home packed in big semis? Or loading them in shipment containers and sailing to countries of origin? Absurd and horrific!!
This is why many of us think Trump is just a con-man conning a large portion of the American people.
@BRAD BLUMENSTOCK: In ALGERIA in 1962,in final months of "Algerie francaise,"which I was a witness to, and after Evian, an expression often heard was "ali fet met(The past is dead)!" This was followed by a "Paix des Braves,"in which both sides, pieds noirs and Algerians, decided they would "repartir a zero,"put the past behind them. (Common misconception is that all pieds noirs left after independence , but actually 200,000 remained to finish out their days.)Unfortunately, same cannot be said for FLN's treatment of pro French harkis, who suffered a horrible fate at hands of FLN:150,000, grosso modo, were killed in aftermath of war.But I digress.Re Trump, show fair play, even if he has not until now, and give him benefit of doubt. Remember that those he dealt with as a developer: Jimmy Burke, Carlos Marcello,Santos Traficante, were not constitutional scholars. DT's trying to adjust to a different, highly educated crowd: those with Ph.D's, j.d.'s who read Foreign Affairs, whose December 1989 issue, by the way, reviewed my book, "Challenging De Gaulle." No one should be held accountable for past mistakes:If that were the case, HRC never would have been nominated.You should rethink your position.Besides, liberal media would love a Trump presidency. Think how the ratings would spike. DT attracts thousands to his rallies. Clinton attracts a few hundred, With HRC, it's hard to feel the vibe.
Just this morning I read an online post by Fox news putting an idiotic, negative spin on the leaked audio of Clinton talking about millennials living in basements. When you read the entire statement by Clinton, it's a perfectly legitimate assessment of the situation that millennials face, and Clinton's statement is very supportive of millennials. But apparently we've reached the stage where any intelligent and thoughtful comment by any politician that can't be reduced down into a bumper sticker slogan is automatically rejected.
1
You are correct, Mr. Krugman.
We're not voting for "favorite saint" here. We have two candidates who are not saints. We want to vote for a person who is sane, who is competent, who has a deep knowledge of international situations, and who knows how government works. Put everything else aside and look at our country as being in need of stability, as it always is, and think of the country a whole.
The Feckless ones you mention are a disgrace. Something is obviously wrong with the present lot. There's not a patriot among them. Self-absorbed individuals.
There's plenty of guilt to go around in this election cycle and the Press in
particular bears much of the blame.
We're not voting for "favorite saint" here. We have two candidates who are not saints. We want to vote for a person who is sane, who is competent, who has a deep knowledge of international situations, and who knows how government works. Put everything else aside and look at our country as being in need of stability, as it always is, and think of the country a whole.
The Feckless ones you mention are a disgrace. Something is obviously wrong with the present lot. There's not a patriot among them. Self-absorbed individuals.
There's plenty of guilt to go around in this election cycle and the Press in
particular bears much of the blame.
If Trump is elected I say we should do what he has done--not pay taxes. File a return, yes, but not pay the tax due. If a million people did that the IRS would be frozen like a deer in the headlights. And the government couldn't operate--until they come up with a fair tax plan--and penalties and interest amnesty. We need a taxpayer revolt.
86
And you know trump didn't pay taxes he owed by what means? He hasn't released his tax returns, and the ones from over twenty years ago that nytimes surreptitiously obtained show he had almost billion dollar loss that year (1995), so didn't owe any taxes. That loss could have been credited against future income to reduce his tax liability, and surely was, but doing so doesn't mean one is shirking their duty to pay taxes.
That the nytimes awarded this comment as one of its best shows how eager it is to spread the lie that trump illegally failed to pay his taxes--something which would be defamation and legally actionable if they said it.
That the nytimes awarded this comment as one of its best shows how eager it is to spread the lie that trump illegally failed to pay his taxes--something which would be defamation and legally actionable if they said it.
jdvnew - don't trust the power of the vote? Me neither. But it is all we really have, and if used properly by enough of us is powerful enough to keep Trump from reaping more tax benefits from the rest of us.
This issue certainly puts a spotlight on the advantages the wealthy enjoy when they can throw oodles of money at our feckless legislators to get preferential treatment the rest of us can only dream of. Tax reform should be our #1 priority in 2017; another year of Trump not paying his fair share should be chief motivator.
True, the Republican establishment has disgraced itself by supporting Trump. As Mr. Krugman notes, they let us down when it mattered. But forgive me for being less than enthusiastic about Mrs. Clinton. She also, with her vote for the Iraq war, let us down in a big way when it mattered. I'll vote for HRC, but I am very disappointed that she's the best the Democratic party could come up with. She's running for President as one would run for student council. She has all the credentials, but no vision, or at least not any vision that she has been able to articulate.
31
People who think Hillary has no real "vision" have not looked at her life-long fight for children ... for their health and the health of their families, for their education. She has been a fighter for the littlest among us since she entered public service, and even before.
But then, if the future of our nation's children is not important to you, you might indeed think she has no "vision."
But then, if the future of our nation's children is not important to you, you might indeed think she has no "vision."
I don't understand how someone who was deceived into voting for the Iraq invasion can be held responsible....for being lied to. Don't forget, they even lied to Colin Powell.
Isn't Bernie the only one who had the guts to vote against the war? So if Clinton had joined him there would have been two against all the others. You can't seriously think dumbya would have changed his mind because of two votes.
Paul, I wish you'd devote a column or two to the way Trump's tax changes will likely effect his own family. I'm requesting this because I goad Trump supporters every day, and they seem really sensitive to this argument. It's the one argument that makes them really angry. Not at Trump, but at me. Which of course tells me that they don't want to hear it.
Just a thought.
Just a thought.
4
We hold out hope that a rational process will settle in. There is enough evidence to sway any appraisal against helping Trump win this election. Yet there is still a lot of support for him. How to evaluate the motives of others?
Social science can help, but who really reads that stuff? Your uncle will not change his mind at Thanksgiving dinner when he learns that he is just like the people in that study you read. It is more likely that you will reinforce his conviction that you all are elitists and you think you know what's good for others when you don't. And who can say he's wrong?
I would summarize Trump's message this way: There is no shame in being motivated by self-interest.
Many people feel that they have been forced to accept changes in their economic and social lives. Trump has amplified these underlying resentments. The refusal to feel shamed for one's beliefs is in the middle Trump's resilience. Trump's fellow travelers are a collection of people who have elevated this idea with their own mental math. Self-interest takes many forms, and Trump is the figurehead for self-interest as public service.
I blame the media too, but more for lowering expectations than anything else. Edward Bernays said it in 1928 in a paper called "Putting Politics on the Market."
Politics needs to acquire the technique of big business to do away with inefficiency in campaigning. When this is achieved, it is possible that political supply and demand can be brought closer together.
Social science can help, but who really reads that stuff? Your uncle will not change his mind at Thanksgiving dinner when he learns that he is just like the people in that study you read. It is more likely that you will reinforce his conviction that you all are elitists and you think you know what's good for others when you don't. And who can say he's wrong?
I would summarize Trump's message this way: There is no shame in being motivated by self-interest.
Many people feel that they have been forced to accept changes in their economic and social lives. Trump has amplified these underlying resentments. The refusal to feel shamed for one's beliefs is in the middle Trump's resilience. Trump's fellow travelers are a collection of people who have elevated this idea with their own mental math. Self-interest takes many forms, and Trump is the figurehead for self-interest as public service.
I blame the media too, but more for lowering expectations than anything else. Edward Bernays said it in 1928 in a paper called "Putting Politics on the Market."
Politics needs to acquire the technique of big business to do away with inefficiency in campaigning. When this is achieved, it is possible that political supply and demand can be brought closer together.
The main take-away from the huuge support Trump still maintains, is that we have to triple our efforts to combat the unconscionable racism and hate for "others" that we have in large swaths of our country... Then we can dissect the huuge wealth disparity that has overtaken our country in the last 30 years.
1
Republicans know that there are fortunes to be made in the ruin of a country. Accordingly, they are doing everything they can to ruin this one and to make sure the profits go to them. As for the rest of us, they don't care. We are the peasants.
If they can sucker some peasants into helping them smash, they feel entitled to do that.
If they can sucker some peasants into helping them smash, they feel entitled to do that.
2
I keep hoping that the normally reasonable Gov. Weld wakes up from our national nightmare and declares uncategorically that the Libertarian ticket is a farce and that he is voting for Clinton. Frankly I am embarrassed for him as he sits by helplessly and watches his running mate make a fool of himself with discomfiting regularity.
3
"... A lot of the answer, I’ve argued, lies in the behavior of the news media, which spent the month before the first debate jeering at Mrs. Clinton, portraying minor missteps as major sins and inventing fake scandals out of thin air."
And so much of this column and this newspaper was devoted to disparaging or ignoring Bernie Sanders, who would have easily defeated Trump and whose candidacy would have created an entirely different dynamic form what we now have.
Sanders' political life and his campaign was all about the public good and there's no way Trump could have distorted Bernie's life or campaign to mean anything else. Trump could never have rummaged through Bernie's baggage the same way he has shuffled through Hillary's because Bernie has always been on the up and up.
Too bad the news media and this columnist had not been on better behavior during the Democrat's primaries, when Bernie was reaching people of all persuasions and winning key states despite so often being dubbed "unelectable."
And so much of this column and this newspaper was devoted to disparaging or ignoring Bernie Sanders, who would have easily defeated Trump and whose candidacy would have created an entirely different dynamic form what we now have.
Sanders' political life and his campaign was all about the public good and there's no way Trump could have distorted Bernie's life or campaign to mean anything else. Trump could never have rummaged through Bernie's baggage the same way he has shuffled through Hillary's because Bernie has always been on the up and up.
Too bad the news media and this columnist had not been on better behavior during the Democrat's primaries, when Bernie was reaching people of all persuasions and winning key states despite so often being dubbed "unelectable."
5
It is true that technology has heightened the ability of media to shape, distort and alter the facts in more ways than ever. Selective editing, fact obscuring headlines, innuendo, euphemistic downplaying and general positioning have always been tools of the deceitful.
I will grant that the "Mainstream media" has taken the concept to new heights and congratulations on your many such usages on the Trump campaign. I have not been a fan of bombast and huge egos but your magnitude of your hypocrisy gives me new energy to support anyone brave enough to oppose the US Democratic Republic hating media.
Bravo... You have created thousands if not millions of Trump voters... Those of us with brains and insight to see the elitist feudal society pushers for what they are.
I will grant that the "Mainstream media" has taken the concept to new heights and congratulations on your many such usages on the Trump campaign. I have not been a fan of bombast and huge egos but your magnitude of your hypocrisy gives me new energy to support anyone brave enough to oppose the US Democratic Republic hating media.
Bravo... You have created thousands if not millions of Trump voters... Those of us with brains and insight to see the elitist feudal society pushers for what they are.
I'm saving a Presidential protest vote for when my country's choices aren't between sane foreign policy (Clinton) and potential nuclear war (Trump).
I'm voting for the sane candidate, not the unhinged one: I'm voting Clinton.
I'm voting for the sane candidate, not the unhinged one: I'm voting Clinton.
7
Were Trump to win, we would be governed to a great extent by his 3 stooges: Giulliani, Christy, and Gingrich, 3 guys who have been rejected by voters nationally. Add Cruz, Ryan, McConnell, and Priebus in the Trump Court. And Pence for national social policy and Bolton for foreign policy. This is not funny.
When Hillary wins, we will see attacks on her and resistance to her policy proposals and actions, which will exceed by a factor of ten all that was thrown up against Obama. I don't see how we can survive that, either.
When Hillary wins, we will see attacks on her and resistance to her policy proposals and actions, which will exceed by a factor of ten all that was thrown up against Obama. I don't see how we can survive that, either.
The one thing this piece leaves out is that the spinelessness currently on display within the Republican establishment completely demolishes the curious argument from some Trump supporters that it's ok to vote for him because "the system" will rein him in. If Ryan, McConnell and company can't stand up to Trump after the past week of bizarre, manifestly out-of-control behavior, you can just forget about it if he should somehow acquire the powers of the Presidency.
Of course, the rest of us can do something about this: hand the Republicans a defeat they will never forget, which is exactly what they deserve after putting us all in such mortal danger.
Of course, the rest of us can do something about this: hand the Republicans a defeat they will never forget, which is exactly what they deserve after putting us all in such mortal danger.
3
Gee, if we could all be as smart as Paul Keigman.
The media is responsible for the image of Hillary Clinton ( fake scandals ), but not for Donald Trump. The accurately portray him as a failed businessman who is xenophobic and a bigot.
Luckily for us all, Krugman sees through the critical reporting of Clinton and explains to us all how it really is.
( and for good measure he employs the Hitler reference).
Thanks Paul for explaining it to the unenlightened.
The media is responsible for the image of Hillary Clinton ( fake scandals ), but not for Donald Trump. The accurately portray him as a failed businessman who is xenophobic and a bigot.
Luckily for us all, Krugman sees through the critical reporting of Clinton and explains to us all how it really is.
( and for good measure he employs the Hitler reference).
Thanks Paul for explaining it to the unenlightened.
1
Love these articles that are teaching the left wing liberal reader to hate the rich. In my world I would call the author one of the rich. Wonder how much he pays in taxes. Even your left wing Michael Moore jumps on the tax savings every chance he has. Welcome to the real world.
1
The NYT revelation that Trump has not paid his fair share in taxes is giving the GOP a new chance to twist themselves in knots defending him. Christie said it shows business acumen, rather than greed. Do none of these individuals understand that taxes pay for society? Even Christie just had to approve a gas tax increase in NJ. Someone like Trump, who thinks so little of the government that he would say his tax dollars would have just been squandered should not approach the Presidency, and any responsible person would have to know this.
1
Trump is no tax genius; just can afford good CPAs.
Trump is not much of a business man, having lost nearly a billion dollars and declared bankruptcy several times.
Being elected President would have been his ultimate con.
Trump is not much of a business man, having lost nearly a billion dollars and declared bankruptcy several times.
Being elected President would have been his ultimate con.
260
How many of those who lost money to Trump managed to reduce their taxes based on those losses. Obviously Trump's losses compounds to losses for the tax payer too.
2
I absolutely think he will be pour next President unless people start waking up and talk about the bottom-line isssues and get off of slamming the two parties or each other. Simply put, our system has become CORRUPT! It's up to us to get at the root cause and elect a person that we can all support to change the tide in favor of we the people.
Doing the right thing always takes a measure of courage. There are always consequences to standing for something. That's why it takes courage. The Republican Party has shown itself to be utterly devoid of courage. I have long described the difference between the two parties this way: Democrats put their country first and party second, Republicans put their party first and the country second. And they continue to do so.
6
I do not preach to disappointed Millennials. Indeed, I favor idealism. But as a Bernie supporter, I do offer one down-to-earth suggestion. Vote for your own self interest. Presently, that means deciding if Hillary or Trump represents the best path to an ultimate (not instantaneous -- remember who controls Congress) progressive agenda, or, to frame it negatively, who is most likely to thwart that agenda.
4
The drumbeat of lesser evilism misses a key point. The reason Trump has so much support is that the system, the capitalist system, has chipped away worker's wages, jobs, etc. Wars are now endless. Water systems, roads and bridges go unrepaired.
Yet with all of this, Clinton offers four more years of the same! A vote for Clinton will only make Trump or someone like him stronger over the next four years.
That is why a vote for a third party is not wasted.
People need to get into the streets to advance their interest like Black Lives Matter movement and the Chicago Teachers Union.
So vote for a socialist on election day.
Yet with all of this, Clinton offers four more years of the same! A vote for Clinton will only make Trump or someone like him stronger over the next four years.
That is why a vote for a third party is not wasted.
People need to get into the streets to advance their interest like Black Lives Matter movement and the Chicago Teachers Union.
So vote for a socialist on election day.
4
Please remember, in your half truth telling, that "the same" will only happen if the brick wall, obstructionist Congess is kept in place. You are in the same category as those screaming that Hillary wants to tear up the Second Amendment. A knowledge of how government works, or doesn't work, is a nice precursor to commenting on the state of affairs.
Our government has three branches and two of them have to work closely to keep things running smoothly. This has not been happening for 6 years, through no fault of President Obama's.
Our government has three branches and two of them have to work closely to keep things running smoothly. This has not been happening for 6 years, through no fault of President Obama's.
I am so tired of reading about "dislike" for Mrs. Clinton. Even the "liberal media" seems to have bought into this as a reality, reinforcing it by repeating it over and over. That attitude seems so destructive for her campaign.
I like Hillary Clinton. A lot. I think she is brilliant, wise, good, and careful in a way that is important in a dangerous world. I cannot think of any person in American politics today whom I would rather see as our next president. Why are those of us who are such strong Clinton supporters covered so little even by "our" media?
I like Hillary Clinton. A lot. I think she is brilliant, wise, good, and careful in a way that is important in a dangerous world. I cannot think of any person in American politics today whom I would rather see as our next president. Why are those of us who are such strong Clinton supporters covered so little even by "our" media?
19
Because, as corporate entities primarily interested in profits and market share, today's media outlets, so-called, try always to make statements that will not displease large segments of their audience.
So, you cannot read about the evil and bottomless pit of untruth that is Trump without also reading about the intense, vast dislike of Hillary.
Yes, Republican leaders are spineless, willfully ignorant fools, happy to abandon their country (quaint notion, that) for some perceived advantage. But so, too, are the media, couching their cowardice in ridiculously obviously self-serving claims of fairness and journalistic wisdom.
Krugman is very, very good, but he is not immune.
So, you cannot read about the evil and bottomless pit of untruth that is Trump without also reading about the intense, vast dislike of Hillary.
Yes, Republican leaders are spineless, willfully ignorant fools, happy to abandon their country (quaint notion, that) for some perceived advantage. But so, too, are the media, couching their cowardice in ridiculously obviously self-serving claims of fairness and journalistic wisdom.
Krugman is very, very good, but he is not immune.
Dr. Krugman should have explored another segment of Trump's fellow travelers, namely the American business community. Why have America's business leaders been so silent in the face of Trump's assault on free trade and globalization?
Is it because America's executives and entrepreneurs think they'll make more money with Trump than they would under Clinton? Is the marginal tax rate the only factor they're capable of taking into consideration? What about shareholder value when the corporations they govern discover that their costs have skyrocketed under Trump's assault on imports?
Is it because America's executives and entrepreneurs think they'll make more money with Trump than they would under Clinton? Is the marginal tax rate the only factor they're capable of taking into consideration? What about shareholder value when the corporations they govern discover that their costs have skyrocketed under Trump's assault on imports?
3
I find Paul Ryan particularly disturbing. He knows full well that Trump is only interested in winning, not running a country. Ryan waits in the wings hoping for a Trump presidency so that he will be free to set the legislative agenda for his party from the comfort of his speakership position. His "better way" agenda may shock trump supporters. It contains the usual tax cuts for the wealthy as well as social security reform and wide-spread corporate deregulation. More give-aways to the rich, the corporations and wall street. Not really what they are voting for.
3
I think a more "meaningful way" to cast my vote in New York is to vote for Jill Stein. True, she's not a viable candidate. But Clinton is assured of winning New York. Most people in blue states who vote for Clinton just want to end up on the winning team. Krugman is playing here on this baser level of human nature. "We must vanquish the vile Trump". What we need to vanquish is the corporatist agenda of our one party system. Does a vote for Jill Stein in an already blue state accomplish this? Hardly, but it's at least a step in that direction. One thing we learned from the Sanders campaign is the power of small activist groups to achieve meaningful change: the fight for $15 and gay marriage just to name two victories. If the Greens were to win 3 - 4 million votes nationally without endangering Clinton's victory, it would help to energize the most activist progressive base in the country. Think about it.
2
There are so many reasons that disqualify Trump as being fit to be President of the United States but one of the biggest for me is that he has proudly admitted to not paying any taxes for decades. He and his enablers declare that makes him smart or even a genius. I say it makes him and other rich people like him unpatriotic and un-American.
The taxes the Trumps and other rich people don't pay means less money to support our troops and veterans, infrastructure and all of the other things that make for a great society. And Trump doesn't compensate for not supporting our country by giving to charity (even to his own so called "charity") because he doesn't need any more deductions to lower his tax bill. His disastrous business dealings that impoverishes others takes care of that.
I hope that "the little people" in this country wake up and demand changes in the tax code so that the rich pay their fair share of taxes on their enormous incomes. Let's make America truly great again for everyone, not just the rich!
The taxes the Trumps and other rich people don't pay means less money to support our troops and veterans, infrastructure and all of the other things that make for a great society. And Trump doesn't compensate for not supporting our country by giving to charity (even to his own so called "charity") because he doesn't need any more deductions to lower his tax bill. His disastrous business dealings that impoverishes others takes care of that.
I hope that "the little people" in this country wake up and demand changes in the tax code so that the rich pay their fair share of taxes on their enormous incomes. Let's make America truly great again for everyone, not just the rich!
4
You can do that by voting against anyone the Koch organizations stand with. All those anti-Democratic commercials with alphabet soup names at the bottom tell you who not to vote for.
Sorry, Dr. Krugman, but the GOP memory hole is long gone, replaced by a toxic waste landfill, trying to contain, without success, middle class erasure, DOD waste, scapegoating of our most defenseless, WMD fairy tales, torture memos, tax cuts during wartime, government shutdowns, mindless obstruction, financial collapse, no budget, no energy policy, no transportation funding, no entitlement reform, no force authorization, no tax reform and support of the most irresponsible major party candidate in US history.
4
Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan, with their tepid support for Trump protect their Republican bona fides, but their motives are suspect. They have been successful in using Congress to box President Obama into limited actions--on judicial appointees, environmental protection, infrastructure improvements, immigration reform--with obstruction, frivolous votes, poison pill amendments, specious arguments about tax reform and deficits, shutdowns and and recesses. Why wouldn't they use the same tactics to "manage" and sideline a President Trump?
1
It's quaint to see how traditional columnists like Krugman try to keep up with the latest developments, but they're always "out-tweeted" by the likes of Trump who instantly tweets his reactions late into the night. The genius of Trump is that he realizes there is no deadline or even a timeframe. Rather, the news is always ongoing and always changing. It's just the latest tweet, and then it's gone. The traditional media do not understand this phenomenon. So we continue to hear about how well Hillary did in the debate, but the debate is gone. It's over. So Hillary went to bed that night confident that she had won, but Trump remained to talk with the reporters. He realized that the situation had morphed into something else. For him the "debate" never stops, and he never stops feeding it.
38
Actually, Ed, after a few moments in the "spin room", Donald left, while Hillary met with her supporters. Mr "Stamina" went home to his bed while Hillary continued on.
4
The flaw in that argument is that election day IS a deadline and a timeframe. What, you think Trump, like the Black Knight in Holy Grail, will just keep going or something?
Staying up late at night tweeting that you won a debate in which you were embarrassed coupled with a week-long attack on a Hispanic beauty queen is genius? Sorry, you are confusing intelligence with low-brown entertainment. Being first to say something stupid, flagrantly false and/or offensive is not the gold standard for political discourse, no matter how often our broken corporate media treats these rants seriously.
2
It is striking that Trump almost perfectly mirrors the temperament of his political party. Republicans act like they are working, but what have they accomplished? Ask Trump the same question. Republicans act like they are friends of the working man but are really great friends to the 1%. So too is Trump. Republicans like to throw temper tantrums like shutting down the government and blocking Supreme Court nominations. Temper tantrums are Trump's MO. When have you seen the Republican party behave generously toward their supposed base? No, they are hugely selfish like their candidate who brags about not paying taxes. How many times have republicans inserted outrageous riders into bills they know the democrats will dislike and have to oppose? This deceitful behavior is personified by their candidate, a serial liar. The party that wrecked the voting rights act and has erected voter suppression as a strategy insults our traditions of inclusion with blatant bigotry. Their candidate uses insults and bigotry at every campaign stop. Have you ever seen genuinely warm laughter from Trump's hand-chosen advisors Giuliani and Gingrich, or from Trump himself? Like their party, they are all perpetually angry. Notice how republicans distracted the public attention from mass shootings with their Benghazi obsession? Trump distracts attention from his violation of the Cuba embargo with his fat-shaming, a beauty queen. Trump is the perfect reflection his party and sadly, his supporters.
363
Absolutely right on, East End. Why people vote for republicans, who actually endorse programs harmful to these voters, continues to baffle me. The GOP has mastered the art of negativity and hammering home false "talking points". Perhaps the repetition makes the lies true.
What is even more amazing is the support of the white lower to middle class male, not part of the 1%, who the Republicans have no intention of helping. They are the angry people, uneducated, and afraid.
I agree. The onley work the Republicans in Congress have done in the last 8 years has been to prevent the government from working. They are very eager to approve buying fighter planes costing a billion dollars each but not one cent for adequate healthcare, or education.
I agree with everything in this column, but would also add the utter hypocrisy of his surrogates, particularly former prosecutors Guiliani and Christie, who described his tax machinations "genius". Not only does it make their embrace of his dated "law and order" policy prescriptions look absurd, but I think the American people need to know that Governor Christie contributed to Trump's stockpile when he forgave his friend the 30 million dollars he owed the state for his casino debacles, bankruptcies that hurt Christie's own constituents, from workers to investors, and with the "pardon", his own state's treasury, already gutted due to his feckless management.
Then, of course, there are the serial adulterers Rudy and Newt self righteously implying that their behavior should not prevent them from defending Trump's flagrant infidelity and vulgar comments about women, because that's a matter they have dealt with with a higher power. Given their flagrant opportunism, one would have to surmise that the higher power they bow down to is the GOP nominee for POTUS.
As for the motley assortment of former reality show contestants, token members of minorities, conspiracy theorists and alt right folk, the less said and the less they say, the better.
Trump has a way of tainting everyone he touches, including people one might otherwise have some respect, as outlined by Mr. Krugman, and including the competent Ms. Conway and the holier than thou, Governor Pence.
Then, of course, there are the serial adulterers Rudy and Newt self righteously implying that their behavior should not prevent them from defending Trump's flagrant infidelity and vulgar comments about women, because that's a matter they have dealt with with a higher power. Given their flagrant opportunism, one would have to surmise that the higher power they bow down to is the GOP nominee for POTUS.
As for the motley assortment of former reality show contestants, token members of minorities, conspiracy theorists and alt right folk, the less said and the less they say, the better.
Trump has a way of tainting everyone he touches, including people one might otherwise have some respect, as outlined by Mr. Krugman, and including the competent Ms. Conway and the holier than thou, Governor Pence.
282
Pence never was anything but a tool of the billionaire rightist faction of the Republican right-wing, since his days as a conservative radio commentator.
Pence was an ineffective, unrepresentative House Representative. He was a poor governor of Indiana, headed for defeat when he got out of the game.
No one who knows Pence's long record of carrying water for the reactionary right has any respect for him.
Pence was an ineffective, unrepresentative House Representative. He was a poor governor of Indiana, headed for defeat when he got out of the game.
No one who knows Pence's long record of carrying water for the reactionary right has any respect for him.
1
I cannot understand how people see that Trump cannot focus on any one problem for several minutes, and yet are willing to assume he has studied the tax codes and absorbed all of its intricacies.
1
Your observations are greatly needed! Your expressing them in this forum gives me hope. Thank you.
1
The general public is fully aware of who Mrs. Clinton is. We know her all to well. Most Democrats who elected President Obama as the Democratic nominee voted against her for her vote to authorize President Bush to go to war in Iraq. Almost all women know her as an enabler for her husbands predatory behavior against women as President. Most all of us believe she was pushing very hard for the US to interject itself in the terrible civil conflict in Libya that ended very badly. We all know her for bad judgement on her e-mail server when Secretary of State.
One of the problems Mrs. Clinton faces is both Bernie Sanders and Mr. Trump have successfully attacked trade as the devil for our loss of jobs and wages. It's totally absurd when it's clear the US even with it's slow recovery is still the greatest job creating economy in the world. Neither Sanders or Trump have been challenged on this notion that trade is just as much about customers as it is about labor. That Germany, one of the highest wage countries in the world runs a trade surplus.
Mrs. Clinton, instead of really attacking the perception and educating working class people, has run from her position. Everyone knows Mrs. Clinton has supported free trade all of her life. It's a reasoned position but one she has failed to adequately address. Instead she treats these working class people as stupid. They vote and they live in the rust belt.
The reason to vote for Mrs. Clinton is Donald Trump.
One of the problems Mrs. Clinton faces is both Bernie Sanders and Mr. Trump have successfully attacked trade as the devil for our loss of jobs and wages. It's totally absurd when it's clear the US even with it's slow recovery is still the greatest job creating economy in the world. Neither Sanders or Trump have been challenged on this notion that trade is just as much about customers as it is about labor. That Germany, one of the highest wage countries in the world runs a trade surplus.
Mrs. Clinton, instead of really attacking the perception and educating working class people, has run from her position. Everyone knows Mrs. Clinton has supported free trade all of her life. It's a reasoned position but one she has failed to adequately address. Instead she treats these working class people as stupid. They vote and they live in the rust belt.
The reason to vote for Mrs. Clinton is Donald Trump.
2
Cognitive dissonance on the part of those whose jobs, communities, and lives have been the most exploited by Trump are his own core following. The most recent revelations about Trump never paying taxes and holding his own following beneath contempt leaves them with the choice of doubling down yet again, or coping with the anger of having been suckered and publicly made fools of. This is the same dynamic he already exploited successfully in Trump U. He's completely comfortable with that. In his own bubble, he will simply pad over to the couch and read the National Enquirer for comfort before picking up his Android to tweet at 4AM.
It is time for everyone who knows any of the fence sitters or cynics to prod them now. Chances are if they had actually gotten their acts together they actually would have voted for Bernie, instead of complaining that they were 'robbed.' There are no acceptable excuses for allowing this nation to fall into the small grasping hands of Trump.
It is time for everyone who knows any of the fence sitters or cynics to prod them now. Chances are if they had actually gotten their acts together they actually would have voted for Bernie, instead of complaining that they were 'robbed.' There are no acceptable excuses for allowing this nation to fall into the small grasping hands of Trump.
4
My theory is that the republicans realize that we need to raise taxes and don't want to be forced into doing so by the economic realities of an aging population. They would rather sit idly by and lay the blame elsewhere. If the country burns in the meantime, so be it - at least it's not their "fault"…
They're afraid that if they endorse Hillary they will be forced to take some responsibility for what needs to be done. It is true cowardice.
They're afraid that if they endorse Hillary they will be forced to take some responsibility for what needs to be done. It is true cowardice.
46
The last thing we need is to raise taxes.
It has been said that Republican politicians will say and do anything to get and stay elected. It has also been said they will always put party first and country second.
I see nothing in this campaign to refute this.
Only in America.
I see nothing in this campaign to refute this.
Only in America.
26
It's the Republicans who put party first and country second? Oh, that's rich.
This Presidential election will become the most significant in history, if the Campaign Circus created by the infotainment media raises public awareness of the need to revoke the broadcast licenses of these networks. They appear to have become addictive and socially damaging!
4
The Republican leadership is in a terrible bind. If they support Trump, they are supporting a bombastic, lying, and dangerous bully, but if they disavow him then they will risk the wrath of his supporters. They have obviously decided they can't afford to alienate the millions of working class people they have so carefully bamboozled over the last 30 years to stay in power. I suspect that Ryan and McConnell are holding their noses and counting on Trump losing, so they can get back to business as usual — fooling a lot of the people a lot of the time in order to preserve the domination of the Republic by rich white men.
65
There are millions of potential voters who have never voted before, can't stand Washington, and haven't learned the lessons of history well enough to steer clear of a dictator wanna be. The only history they know anything about is their own history of feeling like the doormat of the political establishment. Republican nominee Trump has gotten into their heads, and is quickly building his cult of personality to steamroll an unsuspecting complacent electorate and grab hold of the reins of power. Polls don't begin to tell the story and Trump doesn't need a "ground game" because master manipulator that he is, the head game he is playing is all he needs. Hillary Clinton will need to be at her best from now till the election and those who know how dangerous Trump is will have to get out and vote for her to even have a chance. It is much more serious than it appears to be.
45
the republican establishment might be thinking that either 1. they can control Trump (they obviously can't) and so can get their policies through him, or 2. Trump will quickly lose interest in all but ceremony and Pence will be the defacto president, thus putting an uber-conservative evangelical in an office he couldn't win in a general election (more variations on the republican bait and switch)...another good reason to vote for Hillary.
22
People need to understand that this election is not about YOU. It is about electing a Chief Executive for the United States of America.
Statistically it is evident that no third party candidate is going to win, and with less than 20% of the popular vote, may not get even one Electoral College vote. In 1992, H. Ross Perot got 18.9% of the popular vote and Zero EC votes.
As between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, one of whom will most likely be elected POTUS, it appears to me that the choice is clear. Hillary will get my less than enthusiastic vote, for certain.
When a liberal paper like the New York Times and a conservative paper like the Dallas Morning News or the Arizona Republic agree that Hillary Clinto is a better choice than Donald Trump, one is hard pressed to disagree.
Statistically it is evident that no third party candidate is going to win, and with less than 20% of the popular vote, may not get even one Electoral College vote. In 1992, H. Ross Perot got 18.9% of the popular vote and Zero EC votes.
As between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, one of whom will most likely be elected POTUS, it appears to me that the choice is clear. Hillary will get my less than enthusiastic vote, for certain.
When a liberal paper like the New York Times and a conservative paper like the Dallas Morning News or the Arizona Republic agree that Hillary Clinto is a better choice than Donald Trump, one is hard pressed to disagree.
32
It's so disparaging to see how the leaders of our country have put partisan politics and self interest before the good of our country.
I think it's time to clean out the stale and crusty politicians. I plan to start with the Republicans by voting a Democratic tickets and encouraging my friends to do the same.
I think it's time to clean out the stale and crusty politicians. I plan to start with the Republicans by voting a Democratic tickets and encouraging my friends to do the same.
19
Time for term limits in Congress. No more career politicians.
2
Mr. McConnell and Mr. Ryan know perfectly well what they are doing. They have weighed the political cost of denouncing a clearly un-hinged candidate or keeping quite. The cost, in their eyes, would be a split of what is left of the Republican party into the (as Mr. Krugman calls it) intelligentsia and the reactionary part of the party, thus loosing the rabid Trump supporters in the process. (I have news for your Mr. Ryan, Mr. McConnell - The party of Reagan gone.)
The enablers like Mr. Ryan and Mr. McConnell crave holding onto power more than the prosperity of the country. Good people of conscious know Trump should never be elected dog catcher, let alone President, and have made their opinions heard. The hypocrisy of the Republican leadership should make all Americans sick to their stomach. All that is left is to make them pay politically for their self indulgent behavior.
The enablers like Mr. Ryan and Mr. McConnell crave holding onto power more than the prosperity of the country. Good people of conscious know Trump should never be elected dog catcher, let alone President, and have made their opinions heard. The hypocrisy of the Republican leadership should make all Americans sick to their stomach. All that is left is to make them pay politically for their self indulgent behavior.
39
Karl Marx and Paul Ryan have a lot in common, in that they made (or make up) economic policies based on statistics that just don't add up... GHWBush got it right when he called Republican Reaganomic policies "Voodoo Economics"
Donald Trump's random often contradictory economic comments seem to be designed to keep our 0.1% rich oligarchy (and his Real Eastate ventures) solvent... Karl Marx was at least trying to show that a "workers contribution" to the cost of a product/service was "stolen" by the rich to make them richer and keep the poor, poorer. Definitely self-serving/self dealing - it is amazing that anyone could believe that if he wins they will win too!
Donald Trump's random often contradictory economic comments seem to be designed to keep our 0.1% rich oligarchy (and his Real Eastate ventures) solvent... Karl Marx was at least trying to show that a "workers contribution" to the cost of a product/service was "stolen" by the rich to make them richer and keep the poor, poorer. Definitely self-serving/self dealing - it is amazing that anyone could believe that if he wins they will win too!
20
I can't say enough against Mitch McDonnell, the Republican leader of the Senate.
What so called leader in that chamber would say that the business of the Senate is to deny Barack Obama another term for president after he was elected by the voters?
He than more than anybody else is responsible for the unworkable, dysfunctional state that Congress has become.
What so called leader in that chamber would say that the business of the Senate is to deny Barack Obama another term for president after he was elected by the voters?
He than more than anybody else is responsible for the unworkable, dysfunctional state that Congress has become.
87
The Republicans are living in an episode of the Twilight Zone and as a consequence they are stuck like deer in the headlights.
Their worst nightmare has come true. They have made a pact with the devil except this time the devil doesnt have horns!!
On second thought, given Trumps over the top hairdo, maybe he does have horns.
Their worst nightmare has come true. They have made a pact with the devil except this time the devil doesnt have horns!!
On second thought, given Trumps over the top hairdo, maybe he does have horns.
5
Staying home or voting for Gary Johnson is not a protest vote. A protest vote that will clearly tell Congressional representatives that you want a Congress that works is to vote against incumbent Senators up for re-election and against your incumbent member of Congress.
It will then be clear to new representatives that selling favorable governmental decisions to campaign contributors will not be tolerated, they cannot ignore the interests of voters.
It will then be clear to new representatives that selling favorable governmental decisions to campaign contributors will not be tolerated, they cannot ignore the interests of voters.
9
How can anyone in their right mind vote Mr. Trump for president? For the past 14 months or so I struggled with this question, together with many, many other people.
By the same token, how can anyone who shudders thinking of a Trump presidency vote for anyone else than Hillary - after the real Y2K disaster? I held my nose when I voted for Al Gore, but I convinced my (then) very young son to not vote for Ralph Nader.
Parents, tell your adult children to vote. And please, tell them to not vote for any small-party candidates. It's your duty.
By the same token, how can anyone who shudders thinking of a Trump presidency vote for anyone else than Hillary - after the real Y2K disaster? I held my nose when I voted for Al Gore, but I convinced my (then) very young son to not vote for Ralph Nader.
Parents, tell your adult children to vote. And please, tell them to not vote for any small-party candidates. It's your duty.
13
It's your duty as a parent to let your children vote their conscience.
As I recall, New Jersey went for Gore, and it was likely by a lot more than a handful of votes. Yet, Gore lost because he could not carry his home state, and because the Republicans manipulated the Florida outcome all the way up to a shameful Supreme Court decision. You might as well have removed the clothes pin and voted your conscience.
Hating Trump is not the same as liking Hillary. If this election goes as Krugman would like, we will wake up to have a President Hillary Clinton who much more than half of America recognizes to be a corrupt liar with poor judgment. Not just the Republicans who vote for Trump. But many of the Democrats and Independents who vote for the corrupt liar with poor judgment because she is not as bad as Trump. This is the exact story that Krugman is telling. There really is not much good to speak of Hillary beyond the story that she is better than Trump. Krugman needs to constantly try to knock down Donald Trump because of the American public's low opinion of Hillary. Krugman will succeed, and we will have a President Hillary Clinton who the public believes is a corrupt liar with poor judgment who just happened to be slightly better than the lowest of the low. And, again, America will have a President whose only selling point is that he/she is not quite as bad as the absolute worst (W, Trump).
11
I think the level of badness is logarithmic, like decibels or the Richter scale. "Clinton is not quite as bad as Trump" is like saying that a firecracker is not quite as loud as a bomb, since the nominal difference in decibels is that the bomb is about double the firecracker. Trump is a fascist maniac who could cause WW III. Clinton is a run of the mill moderately self-dealing moderate.
1
"much more than half of America recognizes [Clinton] to be a corrupt liar with poor judgment."
And this recognition is the result of what? Numerous Republican congressional investigations into Benghazi, more investigations than 9/11 or the Kennedy assassination received, yet with no proof of wrong doing. A full blown conspiracy theory about emails. Where are C. Powell's private-server emails, GW Bush's emails, Dick Cheney's emails or Mr. Trump's deleted emails in a 2006 lawsuit for that matter? Why do Mrs, Clinton's actions receive more investigation? Because Congress is in the hands of the Republicans. Add to this the feckless broadcast media for whom their bottom line is now more important than their 1st Amendment duty. Then there is Mr. Trump's disrespectful and offensive behavior. He does not mention Mrs. Clinton's name with out adding the word "crooked." He calls for her imprisonment and encourages attempts on her life. There is no evidence of wrong doing by Mrs. Clinton or the Clinton foundation. All the evidence points in the opposite direction. But Trump can do and say whatever he wants because he is a what? A reality TV celebrity. Finally, we the voters, have a responsibility to inform ourselves beyond what can be found on social media, and to not let an election become some sort of reality show game.
And this recognition is the result of what? Numerous Republican congressional investigations into Benghazi, more investigations than 9/11 or the Kennedy assassination received, yet with no proof of wrong doing. A full blown conspiracy theory about emails. Where are C. Powell's private-server emails, GW Bush's emails, Dick Cheney's emails or Mr. Trump's deleted emails in a 2006 lawsuit for that matter? Why do Mrs, Clinton's actions receive more investigation? Because Congress is in the hands of the Republicans. Add to this the feckless broadcast media for whom their bottom line is now more important than their 1st Amendment duty. Then there is Mr. Trump's disrespectful and offensive behavior. He does not mention Mrs. Clinton's name with out adding the word "crooked." He calls for her imprisonment and encourages attempts on her life. There is no evidence of wrong doing by Mrs. Clinton or the Clinton foundation. All the evidence points in the opposite direction. But Trump can do and say whatever he wants because he is a what? A reality TV celebrity. Finally, we the voters, have a responsibility to inform ourselves beyond what can be found on social media, and to not let an election become some sort of reality show game.
3
It is depressing that so many democrats are busy thinking of reasons to not vote for the democratic nominee. Given the likely makeup of the Congress for the forseeable future, a Hillary Clinton administration would probably be an extension of President Obama's administration. I like President Obama and it would be fine with me if he could serve a couple more terms. Hillary Clinton will make a good president. To me the choice is easy. On January 20, 2017 either Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump is going to be sworn in as the next President. It is inconceivable that anyone of normal intelligence cannot see that Clinton is a better choice. If Trump is elected we will have the Apprentice (or worse) everyday for at least four years.
But a major problem for the democrats is that their supporters only like to show up at the polls every four years and not then if they can think of a reason not to. In the meantime, the republicans have taken control of congress, the supreme court, state governorships, and state legislatures. Once in power the republicans naturally do everything they can to stay there.
So this idea that we can wait for a "true progressive" who is coming sometime in the future is crazy. If the true progressive did come and was elected, he would still face a republican congress, republican supreme court, etc.
But a major problem for the democrats is that their supporters only like to show up at the polls every four years and not then if they can think of a reason not to. In the meantime, the republicans have taken control of congress, the supreme court, state governorships, and state legislatures. Once in power the republicans naturally do everything they can to stay there.
So this idea that we can wait for a "true progressive" who is coming sometime in the future is crazy. If the true progressive did come and was elected, he would still face a republican congress, republican supreme court, etc.
8
"That worked out wonderfully in 1930s Germany."
The difference now is that the new Fuehrer would have the most powerful military and military-industrial complex ever in existence, all "ready to go" at his disposal. No need to wait a decade to build it up.
The difference now is that the new Fuehrer would have the most powerful military and military-industrial complex ever in existence, all "ready to go" at his disposal. No need to wait a decade to build it up.
12
Indeed. This is one of the things (maybe the biggest thing) that makes Trump so scary. Can you imagine a Hitler with the might of our military and nuclear force at his disposal? Hitler was defeated by the industrial and military resources of the US and the USSR. Who would stop Trump?
2
For those wishing to protest by voting third party, because that is what it is, neither third party candidate can actually win this year, please remember that, at least for those of us on the left, we have an historic opportunity to re-take the Supreme Court which would be huge with effects lasting way beyond a Clinton presidency. If we lose this election however and the Senate remains controlled by the GOP, we could see a right-wing court unlike any of us have know in our lifetime especially with so many left-leaning justices in their 70s and 80s. This Court could put our social safety-net, workers rights, environmental protections, women's reproductive healthcare, consumer protections, political rights, social and racial justice reforms, and many more in jeopardy of being obliterated. And this is just the Court. Have you thought about how a Trump presidency might effect immigrant families or those of religious minorities? What about Mr. Trumps expressed admiration for authoritarian regimes and how his Presidency might destabilize the world? And do you care about a free press? Well Mr. Trump doesn't and would likely use his position as president to find ways to crack-down or force self-censorship on those seeking to hold his administration accountable. The idea of a protest vote this year boggles the mind. The stakes are just too high. I hope there are enough of us to do the heavy lifting and keep Trump out of the White House
20
Too bad the DNC superdelegates didn't consider your argument as to the importance of the supreme court picks before ignoring the polling that showed Bernie stomping Trump and Hillary barely holding on.
1
Based on the experience of the last 7years, if Clinton wins, the Republican elite will make it their goal for the next 4 years to not allow her to accomplish anything and make her "one term president"--just like they have tried against president Obama. Unless people wake up and put the country first and throw these Republican bombs out, we are going to continue to be at standstill. So, if you can not fathom the possibility of DT presidency, please consider his open and hidden enablers in this election as well. Please throw them out for the sake of our country. Enough is enough!
29
"[…] Mr. Ryan, who has received extraordinarily favorable press treatment over the years-"
History will not be nearly as forgiving of Ryan and McConnell.
Many of our current woes can be traced to McConnell's infamous statement that his "No. 1 priority (was) to make (Obama) a one-term president". This disgraceful pronouncement was made at the very beginning of Obama's first term. And despite all the hate-mongering and obstructionism led by the likes of McConnell and Ryan, Obama has been very effective, and he leaves office with high approval ratings. Many believe he will go down in history as one of the best presidents to have graced the Oval office. By contrast, McConnell will be cited over and over in the history books, and in a very harsh and ugly light.
History will not be nearly as forgiving of Ryan and McConnell.
Many of our current woes can be traced to McConnell's infamous statement that his "No. 1 priority (was) to make (Obama) a one-term president". This disgraceful pronouncement was made at the very beginning of Obama's first term. And despite all the hate-mongering and obstructionism led by the likes of McConnell and Ryan, Obama has been very effective, and he leaves office with high approval ratings. Many believe he will go down in history as one of the best presidents to have graced the Oval office. By contrast, McConnell will be cited over and over in the history books, and in a very harsh and ugly light.
36
McConnell and Ryan, twin posters boys for Profiles in Cowardice.
Trumps fellow travelers, and the mish-mash of has-beens, nuts, and weirdos that the media refer to as his "surrogates," are the stars of what might best be called Trump's "lunaverse." The biggest problem with the media is that, after the election is over, none of these empty opportunists will suffer at all for what they are trying to do to this country. If they knew they'd never be allowed to be in the mainstream media again for their support for this clownish fascist, they might think twice about backing such a creature in the next election. And so would everyone else who considers themselves a pundit.
8
'Lunaverse', love it!
Looking back in recent history I get the strong impression that third party candidates have had a significant influence on presidential elections. Ronald Reagan may not have beaten Carter had there been no John Anderson, that year's third party candidate. I am also convinced that George W. Bush and Bill Clinton owe their presidencies to third party candidates. It is impossible to know what would have been the difference had those third party folks not come in and stirred the pot.
The problem for Republicans should Trump win, is they'll have no legs to stand on should they oppose the liberal policies he is sure to put forward. For the lower middle class (from whence come his supporters) conservative dogma has produced negative results. More of the same means more of the same. If he wants his supporters to feel vindicated for supporting him, then Trump must pursue the liberal policies put forward during the New Deal era. That is, high taxes on the very rich, and lots of government programs putting millions of people to work. The fact that Trump is a bigot will not work against him. Remember, during the New Deal era, the south was solidly Democratic and liberal. Tax the rich and put the rest to work.
The problem for Republicans should Trump win, is they'll have no legs to stand on should they oppose the liberal policies he is sure to put forward. For the lower middle class (from whence come his supporters) conservative dogma has produced negative results. More of the same means more of the same. If he wants his supporters to feel vindicated for supporting him, then Trump must pursue the liberal policies put forward during the New Deal era. That is, high taxes on the very rich, and lots of government programs putting millions of people to work. The fact that Trump is a bigot will not work against him. Remember, during the New Deal era, the south was solidly Democratic and liberal. Tax the rich and put the rest to work.
4
Really? Donald will tax the rich ?. You are dreaming...Donald s only interest is money and himself. This is a man who brags about scamming the tax system. I see him eviscerating the Medicare system ...starting another war to keep people distracted from his own incompetence lowering taxes on the wealthy and eliminating as much regulation as he possibly can. Aside from being a malignant narcissist with an overlay of bi polarity...he is George Bush on steroids...and we know how that turned out .
Mr. Krugman, I couldn't agree with you more. The media has played a central role in its attempt to camouflage the real Donald J. Trump behind their insidious efforts to derail Hillary Clinton's campaign. Like you, I have found much of the early coverage of Hillary Clinton to be critical in often subtle and poisonous ways. Frankly, I was perplexed by the media's attempts to promote Donald Trump as a viable choice to be our next president when it seemed so obvious to me that he wasn't.
As you suggest, it is true that the media can play a central role in fashioning general popular opinion. They hold a great deal of power in their hands and I can only hope that they'll exercise that power in a truthful and meaningful fashion for the benefit of us all.
As Nixon's Watergate proved in the past, our media plays an essential role in keeping the political "ledger" balanced so that we, the people, can make educated choices that directly impact the quality of our collective future.
As you suggest, it is true that the media can play a central role in fashioning general popular opinion. They hold a great deal of power in their hands and I can only hope that they'll exercise that power in a truthful and meaningful fashion for the benefit of us all.
As Nixon's Watergate proved in the past, our media plays an essential role in keeping the political "ledger" balanced so that we, the people, can make educated choices that directly impact the quality of our collective future.
15
Look Krugman should know the formal rules of logic dictate that it can't be the media. You can't explain the rise of populists (left and right) in Europe as well with the excuse it's the media. I think he's making a deliberate obfuscation in order to justify his own position as a dishonest broker of truths and the methods we wants to use. If he started to examine the rise of the populists within it's proper context he'd have to refute many of the beliefs he's had his entire life. He's unable to do that. But honestly even a 6th grader can understand that it can't be the media when you add in the populists of europe to the wider story of what is going on. Now, I have my view of an answer, but what I can't understand is how Krugman promotes a view that the formal rules of logic state can't be true. But those who know economics when such issues arise you make an assumption that something is actually true (when it clearly isn't) in order to make your model work. I guess his assumption is all those other populists don't actually exist. But the simple fact is, he can't be right. He should know better. But he's not willing to question the dogma he believes in and hence is unable to come up with the correct answer
1
What is transparent to me with respect to Trump is that he uses the populist movement purely as a vehicle to promote his own ambitions. He could care less about those middle class workers who have blindly given their trust and allegiance to him.
He tapped into a general sense of economic malaise that seemed to coincide with the passage of trade agreements. (and, it should be said, with the near universal support of the Republican party).
I think it's pretty obvious to anyone paying attention that Trump does not have an empathic or compassionate bone in his miserable body. He's a selfish, boorish adolescent who's primary concern is in advancing his own personal agenda.
Trump University and the thousands who were sold a false bill of goods and lost their life savings in a worthless product is proof enough. But, if not, there's his stiffing of who knows how many hundreds, if not thousands, of contractors who have worked for him in the past.
And, lastly, the fact that he has refused to release his tax returns based upon a bogus argument that he is under an "audit" and that his lawyers have advised against it -- LIES, Lies, and more lies. (If his lies were a form of currency, he'd be a true billionaire.) Turns out, Trump is just another sorry loser who hasn't paid a dime in taxes in probably over 20 years. And he is the first not to do so in 50 years!
He tapped into a general sense of economic malaise that seemed to coincide with the passage of trade agreements. (and, it should be said, with the near universal support of the Republican party).
I think it's pretty obvious to anyone paying attention that Trump does not have an empathic or compassionate bone in his miserable body. He's a selfish, boorish adolescent who's primary concern is in advancing his own personal agenda.
Trump University and the thousands who were sold a false bill of goods and lost their life savings in a worthless product is proof enough. But, if not, there's his stiffing of who knows how many hundreds, if not thousands, of contractors who have worked for him in the past.
And, lastly, the fact that he has refused to release his tax returns based upon a bogus argument that he is under an "audit" and that his lawyers have advised against it -- LIES, Lies, and more lies. (If his lies were a form of currency, he'd be a true billionaire.) Turns out, Trump is just another sorry loser who hasn't paid a dime in taxes in probably over 20 years. And he is the first not to do so in 50 years!
1
Dr Krugman,
In 1964 I was 16 and reading George Orwell. Barry Goldwater was the GOP nominee for President of the United States of America. My father was as political junkie and explained to me that when Goldwater said, "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." that when Goldwater said those words they were straight out of the mouth of Big Brother and the Newspeak Dictionary.
Barry Goldwater is credited with saying those words but they were written by Karl Hess a political philosopher , libertarian, anarchist and writer on the fringe of American Society.
When the feudalism of the Southern Whigs met the anarchy of a tax protester and gun advocate today's GOP was born. Donald Trump would be Karl Hess' worst nightmare. While Hess did not believe in government Trump believes government is there to fulfil his every wish and every dream.
Dr Krugman, although I don't share your economic philosophy I too am a liberal. I reject zealotry and try to find reasonable accommodation. There is no reasoning with today's GOP they are a product of two extreme non complimentary philosophies, and in Ryan and McConnell you have two victims of worlds they don't understand.
Hess was an Atheist and although the GOP has a few Atheists in its inner circle ot is a party of true believers. I hate the tern fellow traveller it is a term used to denigrate even those that would defend the other side. Trump simply echoes the GOPs duality.
In 1964 I was 16 and reading George Orwell. Barry Goldwater was the GOP nominee for President of the United States of America. My father was as political junkie and explained to me that when Goldwater said, "Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." that when Goldwater said those words they were straight out of the mouth of Big Brother and the Newspeak Dictionary.
Barry Goldwater is credited with saying those words but they were written by Karl Hess a political philosopher , libertarian, anarchist and writer on the fringe of American Society.
When the feudalism of the Southern Whigs met the anarchy of a tax protester and gun advocate today's GOP was born. Donald Trump would be Karl Hess' worst nightmare. While Hess did not believe in government Trump believes government is there to fulfil his every wish and every dream.
Dr Krugman, although I don't share your economic philosophy I too am a liberal. I reject zealotry and try to find reasonable accommodation. There is no reasoning with today's GOP they are a product of two extreme non complimentary philosophies, and in Ryan and McConnell you have two victims of worlds they don't understand.
Hess was an Atheist and although the GOP has a few Atheists in its inner circle ot is a party of true believers. I hate the tern fellow traveller it is a term used to denigrate even those that would defend the other side. Trump simply echoes the GOPs duality.
6
Even William F. Buckley Jr understood that libertarianism was the greatest "enemy" of his "conservatism." Ayn Rand was no friend of the "conservative" movement and Buckley hated Rand more than he hated Stalin.
1
What Trump truly represents is a party in which the middle is much like mainstream America filled with people like myself and Dr Krugman. The anger and vitriol is an acknowledgement of the vast chasm between conservatives and libertarians.
The last time I remember seeing such a large chasm was in the late 18th century when Samuel Johnson did battle with Edmund Burke and Johnson spoke for the Tories and Burke spoke for the Whigs but at that time liberals and conservatives occupied different tents.
There is no room for rational human beings in the GOP tent its philosophical differences are too vast and that divide is manifest in the nihilisms of McConnell, Ryan and Trump. The GOP is rightly called the party of NO and what the GOP world looks like can only be called Chaos.
The last time I remember seeing such a large chasm was in the late 18th century when Samuel Johnson did battle with Edmund Burke and Johnson spoke for the Tories and Burke spoke for the Whigs but at that time liberals and conservatives occupied different tents.
There is no room for rational human beings in the GOP tent its philosophical differences are too vast and that divide is manifest in the nihilisms of McConnell, Ryan and Trump. The GOP is rightly called the party of NO and what the GOP world looks like can only be called Chaos.
2
I dislike Hilary Clinton, not because I have bought into a misleading image, but because I have been watching her for more than a quarter century and become increasingly disillusioned by her hawkishness, her secrecy, and some of her friendships, things about which apparently even some of her aides wince. But I'm voting for her, just as Bernie Saunders, who so well highlighted her flaws, will. The Republicans are going to take a long time to earn back the support of the well-educated, but the Democrats need as well to spend more time thinking about the problems of people who are less well to do, particularly in rural areas. This was something Bill Clinton could manage in the 1990s, but Hilary is less adept at it. And one reason is the ways in which both of them eroded our trust, as well as the ways in which Republicans who should have known better, attacked them in ways that made us tempted to overlook those erosions of trust as simply partisan.
1
Political courage has never been a hallmark of the GOP. Far too often they do their most destructive work in the dark far from preying eyes, just the way they like it. This was especially evident with the rise of Donald Trump. When Mitch McConnell and Paul Ryan endorsed him they clearly put party ahead of country. Ryan's whole reputation itself is based on fraudulent assumptions, as Paul Krugman aptly noted. When Ryan had numerous opportunities to rethink his endorsement, like so many other Republicans, he double down as a signal to wavering Republicans to stand firm to the committed fascist, who is a clear and present danger to the United States. This demonstrated for all to see that the GOP is more interested in raw power than the public good. In the process they they demean the essence of our political system.
3
Trump internally is under a lot of stress and this explains his Mannheim, Pennsylvania drift off of the ranch where he mocked Hillary's faltering steps as she tried to get into her van the day of the 9/11 commemoration.
Trump knows instinctively that an embarrassing loss would devastate his brand image which is one of his major "properties." It's an important glue across his empire.
Even now we can start to imagine how he will paint the loss. He has begun to introduce his new lines for that happening.
In a nutshell: We all wonder if Trump's numbers will start dribbling down or if they will continue to oscillate.
The next debate which is a Town Hall with questions from both the moderator and the audience will be the next point of inflection.
Nine women cannot have a baby in one month and I don't see how Donald can pack in the needed knowhow in the next few weeks. And by then the meaning of the billion dollar loss and carry forward will have sunk in. He is a flamboyant fearless and reckless business person and no genius.
Trump knows instinctively that an embarrassing loss would devastate his brand image which is one of his major "properties." It's an important glue across his empire.
Even now we can start to imagine how he will paint the loss. He has begun to introduce his new lines for that happening.
In a nutshell: We all wonder if Trump's numbers will start dribbling down or if they will continue to oscillate.
The next debate which is a Town Hall with questions from both the moderator and the audience will be the next point of inflection.
Nine women cannot have a baby in one month and I don't see how Donald can pack in the needed knowhow in the next few weeks. And by then the meaning of the billion dollar loss and carry forward will have sunk in. He is a flamboyant fearless and reckless business person and no genius.
1
It will be interesting to see the voter turnout in this year of discontent. For a nation of ideals and over reporting we have a bad batting average, around 54%, in presidential years. Congress has done little to change this problem- even the NFL knows that Tuesday is an unpopular work day, and the party of no and its voter id laws are working hard to discourage participation. For whatever reason, we have an election for the motivated and the impassioned rather than those with a mind toward the general good. I do not think the founders expected the apathy of 46% of its citizens in troubled times when it considered the value of common wisdom. With a completely full ballot box, America would have a more even handed, representative set of politicians and wrest the reigns of power away from the extremes- but that does not seem to be a goal in the "I win when you lose" era .
I don't expect the Times to publish this, given their unabashed endorsement of Hillary Clinton, but the elephant in the room is her and the DNC's conniving to steal the nomination from Bernie Sanders. There are currently lawsuits pending in several states, where the exit polls in the Democratic primary varied wildly from statistical norms, which is evidence of election fraud. Understand that exit polls are not a prediction of an outcome; they're confirmation of how a vote went. Exit polls are what this country uses to certify elections in other countries, and by that standard our own government would not certify the nomination of Hillary Clinton as the nominee of the Democratic Party for President. She cheated to win, and subverted democracy in the process. The Times, and the rest of MSM colluded with her in doing so, by ignoring this issue. So who is cowardly? She's an essentially unelectable candidate whose great good fortune is to have an even more unelectable candidate (but one who didn't cheat to win his nomination) as an opponent. And of course she has the full financial backing of the oligarchy and the 1% behind her.
7
Geez, this is crackpot analysis. Bernie lost. That starship has left the known universe. Who are going to vote for? Gary "what's Aleppo?" Johnson. And don't forget, "I'm having an Aleppo moment." Once is a flub, twice is a totally NOT ready gaffe. WAKE UP.
These young voters who won't vote because Bernie wasn't chosen only show how immature and spoiled they are. They act like brats who go on a temper tantrum because they can't get what mommy and daddy won't give them.
We live in the greatest country in the world that allows us the right to chose who will represent us in the White House. Will it be a woman who has intelligence and experience for the job or Donald Trump who has already shown by so much evidence that he is mentally unfit for such an important position in our nation.
These young voters should reflect that there are people literally dying to come to the US to enjoy the freedom of voting and living in a democracy that guarantees our right to choose our president and instead sit back, pout and not vote because Bernie wasn't chosen.
We live in the greatest country in the world that allows us the right to chose who will represent us in the White House. Will it be a woman who has intelligence and experience for the job or Donald Trump who has already shown by so much evidence that he is mentally unfit for such an important position in our nation.
These young voters should reflect that there are people literally dying to come to the US to enjoy the freedom of voting and living in a democracy that guarantees our right to choose our president and instead sit back, pout and not vote because Bernie wasn't chosen.
3
Gary -- I resent your dismissive attitude toward those with whom you disagree politically. I am 69 years old and a progressive Democrat. I did not vote for Clinton in the primary, and I won't vote for her now. And suggesting that I am having a "temper tantrum" only strengthens my resolve.
Oh, yes, Gary. You're certainly helping things.
And by the way, you said this: "We live in the greatest country in the world that allows us the right to chose who will represent us in the White House."
That's right. And that also means young voters can go third party if they want to.
And by the way, you said this: "We live in the greatest country in the world that allows us the right to chose who will represent us in the White House."
That's right. And that also means young voters can go third party if they want to.
Paul, everything you say in this column is spot on. But even given that, you have to ask yourself a question: if Trump is such a manifestly abysmal candidate, and if Hillary is so well qualified for the Presidency, they why isn't she crushing his candidacy? How can such a historically inept candidate come this close to being elected as the leader of the free world? How?
What is broken in the American political system that would enable a candidate like Trump to get so close to the Oval Office, and who may yet win it?
The answer is obvious. There may be structural issues in the political machines that let him get this close. But while those are contributing factors, they aren't the answer. Neither is the contrived set of weaknesses of his opponent.
No, the answer is this: enough Americans are as stupid as he is, and their numbers could well usher him into the White House.
With all the flag waving and foot stomping and hate and violence and abject ignorance flooding his rallies and messaging, Trump exemplifies the kind of vile values that would make past Presidents spin in their graves. Would Eisenhower, or Kennedy, or Lincoln, or Roosevelt, or any other past President support the kind of insane anti-Democracy rhetoric that spews from his mouth?
Trump's supporters emerge from the cesspool of their trash TV mentality to lap up his dangerous vitriol. It is them who are the problem. Trump has only has capitalized on their ignorance.
What is broken in the American political system that would enable a candidate like Trump to get so close to the Oval Office, and who may yet win it?
The answer is obvious. There may be structural issues in the political machines that let him get this close. But while those are contributing factors, they aren't the answer. Neither is the contrived set of weaknesses of his opponent.
No, the answer is this: enough Americans are as stupid as he is, and their numbers could well usher him into the White House.
With all the flag waving and foot stomping and hate and violence and abject ignorance flooding his rallies and messaging, Trump exemplifies the kind of vile values that would make past Presidents spin in their graves. Would Eisenhower, or Kennedy, or Lincoln, or Roosevelt, or any other past President support the kind of insane anti-Democracy rhetoric that spews from his mouth?
Trump's supporters emerge from the cesspool of their trash TV mentality to lap up his dangerous vitriol. It is them who are the problem. Trump has only has capitalized on their ignorance.
7
A perfect example of uncommon sense and the absolute truth!
Some comments suggesting either candidate is giving any thought to demand management, wealth creation and capital markets in the historically distinct conditions of hoarding would go a long way to improving the rhetoric and policy discussions for the 2016 presidential campaign.
Mr. Trump promises fresh wealth creation by cutting regulatory costs and simplifying taxes.
Should he prevail, his fresh Jacksonian approach may well put liquidity in investors' and business men and women's hands, stimulating the growth he promises.
His policies may also yield fresh robber barons and more pollution, and Mr. Ryan's may lead to private sector retirement annuity markets to supersede Social Security.
Mrs. Clinton relies on time tried FDR and JM Keynes.
Perhaps those war horses may yet draw, but it is difficult to see how well or far they might without increasing undoing debt and regulatory costs.
Let's have something fresh addressing wealth in information to reanimate capital markets and stimulate aggregate demand with liquidity addressing hoarding.
Mr. Trump promises fresh wealth creation by cutting regulatory costs and simplifying taxes.
Should he prevail, his fresh Jacksonian approach may well put liquidity in investors' and business men and women's hands, stimulating the growth he promises.
His policies may also yield fresh robber barons and more pollution, and Mr. Ryan's may lead to private sector retirement annuity markets to supersede Social Security.
Mrs. Clinton relies on time tried FDR and JM Keynes.
Perhaps those war horses may yet draw, but it is difficult to see how well or far they might without increasing undoing debt and regulatory costs.
Let's have something fresh addressing wealth in information to reanimate capital markets and stimulate aggregate demand with liquidity addressing hoarding.
1
Actually, let's pay attention to the logic of one of Trump's fellow travelers, Rudy Giuliani.
Mr Giuliani has stated that the disclosure of Trump's tax return indicating its ~$900m loss, which implies that Trump has not paid any federal income taxes since then, only underscores Trump's brilliance. He goes further to say that only Trump understands the disaster of our tax code since he's been able to game it so adroitly and that only Trump can fix it.
Seriously.
The same logic could be made that in a country such as our own, wherein obesity is rampant, only Hannibal Lecter could fix our broken dietary guidelines.
Trump's fellow travelers, ranging from McConnell to Ryan to Giuliani to every American who chooses to vote for the Donald, have serious flaws in their ability to think rationally.
Mr Giuliani has stated that the disclosure of Trump's tax return indicating its ~$900m loss, which implies that Trump has not paid any federal income taxes since then, only underscores Trump's brilliance. He goes further to say that only Trump understands the disaster of our tax code since he's been able to game it so adroitly and that only Trump can fix it.
Seriously.
The same logic could be made that in a country such as our own, wherein obesity is rampant, only Hannibal Lecter could fix our broken dietary guidelines.
Trump's fellow travelers, ranging from McConnell to Ryan to Giuliani to every American who chooses to vote for the Donald, have serious flaws in their ability to think rationally.
6
Indeed, the real danger is to take things for granted. Just because Mr Trump is awful in many regards could prevent the obsession for change for the sake of changes. After all, in spite of the politically motivated impeachment at the end of President Clinton's final years, America was prosperous and on top of the world; yet, the masses gambled away their future! Some people may argue VP Gore should have won. But face it, the fact that it was so close means the voters were itching for changes. Now, Mr Trump has tapped into voters' anger, a potent irrational force. Sure, to rational people, self-destruction makes no sense. However, we had the experience before. Don't tempt fate to try that again, ever!
2
Donald Trump's fellow travelers are dopplegangers of Adoph Hitler's fellow travelers:
'Hitler was 'a “Munich rabble-rouser” — regarded by many as a self-obsessed “clown” with a strangely “scattershot, impulsive style” — into “the lord and master of the German Reich.”'
'Hitler was an egomaniac who “only loved himself” — a narcissist with a taste for self-dramatization and a “characteristic fondness for superlatives.” His manic speeches and penchant for taking all-or-nothing risks raised questions about his capacity for self-control, even his sanity.'
'Hitler’s shrewdness as a politician was based on his “keen eye for the strengths and weaknesses of other people” and an ability to “instantaneously analyze and exploit situations.”'
'Hitler was known for a “bottomless mendacity”.'
'A former finance minister wrote that Hitler “was so thoroughly untruthful that he could no longer recognize the difference between lies and truth” and editors of “Mein Kampf” described it as a “swamp of lies, distortions, innuendoes, half-truths and real facts.”'
'“Hitler adapted his speeches to suit the tastes of his lower-middle-class, nationalist-conservative, ethnic-chauvinist and anti-Semitic listeners.”
'He peppered his speeches with coarse phrases and put-downs of hecklers. He fomented chaos by playing to crowds’ fears and resentments and offered himself as the visionary leader who could restore law and order.'
http://tinyurl.com/jehvg4m
A vote for Trump is a vote for destruction.
'Hitler was 'a “Munich rabble-rouser” — regarded by many as a self-obsessed “clown” with a strangely “scattershot, impulsive style” — into “the lord and master of the German Reich.”'
'Hitler was an egomaniac who “only loved himself” — a narcissist with a taste for self-dramatization and a “characteristic fondness for superlatives.” His manic speeches and penchant for taking all-or-nothing risks raised questions about his capacity for self-control, even his sanity.'
'Hitler’s shrewdness as a politician was based on his “keen eye for the strengths and weaknesses of other people” and an ability to “instantaneously analyze and exploit situations.”'
'Hitler was known for a “bottomless mendacity”.'
'A former finance minister wrote that Hitler “was so thoroughly untruthful that he could no longer recognize the difference between lies and truth” and editors of “Mein Kampf” described it as a “swamp of lies, distortions, innuendoes, half-truths and real facts.”'
'“Hitler adapted his speeches to suit the tastes of his lower-middle-class, nationalist-conservative, ethnic-chauvinist and anti-Semitic listeners.”
'He peppered his speeches with coarse phrases and put-downs of hecklers. He fomented chaos by playing to crowds’ fears and resentments and offered himself as the visionary leader who could restore law and order.'
http://tinyurl.com/jehvg4m
A vote for Trump is a vote for destruction.
167
As a student of history, i have thought that Trump's entire campaign mimics the rise of NATIONAL Socialism, in it's tactics. That the press so totally missed this is typical of their cowardice, including , many in this paper. The lies and the big lies and the repeated lies until they become truths are all hallmarks of Dr. Goebbles. Let us pray that history does not continue to repeat itself.
1
Unfair -- Trump is more Mussolini than Hitler.
1
I would recommend the recent nyt book review by Michiko Kakutani on the first volume of the Hitler bio by VolkerUllrich, Hitler: Ascent 1889-1939, for a description of some chillingly similar actions/tactics between Herr Schicklegruber & Hair Drumpf. It give one real pause to the idea (as Sinclair Lewis wrote) that "It can't happen here."
2
No matter who wins there will be no significant change. The system is rigged as we found out from Trump's failure to pay any income taxes for both 1% Republicans and Democrats. Clinton has no clue about the struggles of Americans. Neither does Trump. Neither offers a positive vision to believe in.
9
The MSM is the problem. Look at the landing page of the NYTimes. There are no articles about the rest of the world. It is no wonder people do not worry about the impact of the presidential election on the world. The landing page has stories about Clinton infidelities, Trump tax shelter, people's feelings about Trump, Obama as tourist, and Sculley's retirement. Nothing about Germany, the Philippines, South America, Africa or American public policy, or the sausage making that created the tax code. Knowledge is power and the places we can learn from are more and more parochial and commercial. We are ignorant and getting more ignorant about the big picture of American policy, the world and the intertwining of our fate with the fate of the world. If the Times thinks it is against their business interests to put the news into context, there is no way we can make informed decision.
65
To know what is going on in the rest of the world, read The Economist, not the New York Times or the Washington Post.
I am a Millennial voter, and I was firmly for Sanders and donated a considerable amount of money to his campaign. Had the choice been between Hillary and some generic Republican, I probably would have voted 3rd party because I think Hillary is a creature of Wall Street.
But Trump is not a Republican. Trump is an existential threat to the republic. He is already threatening the peaceful transition of power and the faith in the validity of the election process. Trump is probably the greatest threat to stability and continuity that the world has seen since the 1940s. Even Stalin was stable.
The unstable crazies are usually only in control of countries with little ability to materially impact the world. The US is still the most important country on the planet.
Donald Trump could endanger the world, and it is our responsibility to vote for Hillary. I won't like it, but I believe I have a duty to protect both the republic and the world.
And the Republicans who are choosing party over republic should be punished severely.
But Trump is not a Republican. Trump is an existential threat to the republic. He is already threatening the peaceful transition of power and the faith in the validity of the election process. Trump is probably the greatest threat to stability and continuity that the world has seen since the 1940s. Even Stalin was stable.
The unstable crazies are usually only in control of countries with little ability to materially impact the world. The US is still the most important country on the planet.
Donald Trump could endanger the world, and it is our responsibility to vote for Hillary. I won't like it, but I believe I have a duty to protect both the republic and the world.
And the Republicans who are choosing party over republic should be punished severely.
387
Thank you Collin. I want to believe there are lots more millennials like you who are mature and pragmatic enough to see what is at stake here. Please, please have this conversation with any of your friends who are considering a third party vote. This baby boomer is counting on you to help keep Trump out of the White House.
1
Bless you, Collin. If we can elect a Democratic Senate to go with Hillary Clinton, you may see change that you will like. She understands climate change, which, ultimately, is the only issue in this election as it is about our lives (food, water, etc.).
I hope you are talking to your friends.
I hope you are talking to your friends.
1
Amazing that Mr. Trump has actually revolutionized American politics for the better...not for his vision so much as for his lack of it; not so much for his clarity of purpose but for his obfuscations and certainly not for his leadership in any way, shape or form. Mr. Trump has unwittingly laid bare the ferocious nature of the pretenders who claim to honor and defend the Constitution. Rudy Giuliani and Chris Christie deserve special mention in their bizarre rationale of Trump's 'genius' in his unconscionable fiscal treachery when it comes to paying his taxes. Republicans and Democrats alike must recoil at the brazen, shameless manipulation by Trump and his advisors of US taxation law.
In this instance it's not a question of 'Have you no sense of decency Sir?' It's a statement reversing the order of the first two words and replacement of the question mark with an exclamation point.
In this instance it's not a question of 'Have you no sense of decency Sir?' It's a statement reversing the order of the first two words and replacement of the question mark with an exclamation point.
15
We are a nation of (anonymous) tantrum-throwing, blame-casting, name-calling, foot-stamping whiners enamored of foul-mouthed bullies ("speaking truth-yeah!") and consumed by amplified anxieties (life is scarier now? Try being a ten-year old instructed to hide under a wooden desk as protection against a nuclear bomb). Curiously only one person avoids all that, stays focused and carries on despite the invective piled on her: Hillary Clinton.
46
The never-ending shrill political jeremiads of the famous economist is getting tiresome. I would rather read Ross Douthat’s columns on Donald Trump. I sincerely long for the day when the learned professor returns to his area of expertise.
Knowingly or unknowingly Donald Trump has touched on the three big problems facing the country; over extended American commitments abroad, trade deals that have sacrificed a significant section of people here and massive illegal immigration. Unfortunately, he does not have either the character or the temperament to be the president. But the republic will not end even if he does. There are enough checks and balances in the system.
Knowingly or unknowingly Donald Trump has touched on the three big problems facing the country; over extended American commitments abroad, trade deals that have sacrificed a significant section of people here and massive illegal immigration. Unfortunately, he does not have either the character or the temperament to be the president. But the republic will not end even if he does. There are enough checks and balances in the system.
7
Prof. Krugman, Now it is getting repetitive. If Hillary is such a good candidate, then she will win on her own. Even otherwise, I think there is nothing we could do. By the way what are the important economic news:
1. China's debt to GDP ratio
2. Collapse of Pound
3. Deutsche bank bailout
4. OPEC meet
None of them may be earth shattering in themselves, but it seems they need to be discussed. These topics are complex and the significance or lack thereof needed to be understood.
We request you to give us more ideas of similar topics, if you think the topics I have mentioned are not signficant.
Leave Hillary alone for God's sake.
1. China's debt to GDP ratio
2. Collapse of Pound
3. Deutsche bank bailout
4. OPEC meet
None of them may be earth shattering in themselves, but it seems they need to be discussed. These topics are complex and the significance or lack thereof needed to be understood.
We request you to give us more ideas of similar topics, if you think the topics I have mentioned are not signficant.
Leave Hillary alone for God's sake.
5
Two years ago I believed that the cycle of one party getting eight years in the white house (1953-61,61-69,69-77, 93-2001,2001-2009) would continue and the Republicans would take over. They had several articulate individuals - Bush, Rubio, Cruz, Romney, Kasich - who could ultimately support one another and beat a party who had no new faces, only elderly fringe candidates.
Then, they nominated the one Republican who could make Hillary Clinton look like a better choice.
You can't make this stuff up.
Then, they nominated the one Republican who could make Hillary Clinton look like a better choice.
You can't make this stuff up.
8
"....they nominated the one Republican..."?
Bush is a Bush, Rubio is immature, Cruz makes vipers seem cuddly, Romney is the 1% (of the the 1%). Kasich? Who knows? He barely got a word in, and when he did, he sounded like a shrill old biddy.
They all made Clinton look like a better choice.
The only palatable candidate that the GOP has had in 6+ election cycles was Jon Huntsman in 2012, and they threw him under the bus immediately. He was a moderate Republican, and to the right wingnuts, that equates to being a clone of Michael Moore or Bill Maher.
You are right, you can't make this stuff up.
Bush is a Bush, Rubio is immature, Cruz makes vipers seem cuddly, Romney is the 1% (of the the 1%). Kasich? Who knows? He barely got a word in, and when he did, he sounded like a shrill old biddy.
They all made Clinton look like a better choice.
The only palatable candidate that the GOP has had in 6+ election cycles was Jon Huntsman in 2012, and they threw him under the bus immediately. He was a moderate Republican, and to the right wingnuts, that equates to being a clone of Michael Moore or Bill Maher.
You are right, you can't make this stuff up.
I'm a registered Independent in Massachusetts, and I plan to vote a straight Democratic ticket except for Mrs. Clinton. I am able to do this in part because Massachusetts is a 'safe' state for her: there is no question that she will gain the state's electoral vote. And I choose to do this in part as a protest vote against the two-party system and how it has worked this year. Are these two the best the political process could come up with? If so, it's time to shake up the political process. So I'm voting for either Senator Warren or Michelle Obama. (I would like to have a woman President; just not the one the system is offering us.) If there were the slightest chance of Trump prevailing in Massachusetts' I'd hold my nose and vote for Clinton: but there isn't.
10
All it takes to secure a Trump presidency is for more people to what you are doing. When will you get that a "protest vote" is not a protest, it's a vote. The voting booth is not the place for protest - it is the place where we choose among the candidates available.
I am not an HRC fan, but I will vote for her enthusiastically and with zeal so that I can say that I did everything in my power to avoid a Trump presidency.
If you believe as I do that a President Trump would be a disaster for our nation, its standing in the world, and perhaps its very security, then in my opinion the only rational vote is for Clinton.
I am not an HRC fan, but I will vote for her enthusiastically and with zeal so that I can say that I did everything in my power to avoid a Trump presidency.
If you believe as I do that a President Trump would be a disaster for our nation, its standing in the world, and perhaps its very security, then in my opinion the only rational vote is for Clinton.
19
Well, it must be quite a luxury for you to stage your completely pointless, and actually harmful, protest. Most of us DON'T live in Massachusetts or New York, so we know that our votes for Hillary (like her or not) are necessary to keep our nation - including MA- from having an immature imbecile with ADHD guiding the ship of state.
The piece you and your like-minded "protest voters" fail to "get" in all of this is that the narrower the margin of victory for Ms. Clinton, the more the rancor, the mistrust, the national divisiveness will continue over the coming years. The greater the frustration with the "rigged system" will be. Cries of "Lock her up" and "The election was stolen" will increase from those who, in their frustration and fear, don't know any better than to put their faith in a man who is a caricature of what our current economically rigged system rewards - i.e., greed, self-interest over common good, brashness over equanimity. We will continue to endure the ugliness (and then some) of the Obama years, and the littlest minds in Congress will be emboldened to continue to inflame and obstruct.
No one wants to suffer discomfort. But anyone suffering from cancer would be overjoyed to have the option of replacing it with a sinus infection. There IS a major difference between the two. The Trump cancer has to be stopped, and all it takes is a vote.
The piece you and your like-minded "protest voters" fail to "get" in all of this is that the narrower the margin of victory for Ms. Clinton, the more the rancor, the mistrust, the national divisiveness will continue over the coming years. The greater the frustration with the "rigged system" will be. Cries of "Lock her up" and "The election was stolen" will increase from those who, in their frustration and fear, don't know any better than to put their faith in a man who is a caricature of what our current economically rigged system rewards - i.e., greed, self-interest over common good, brashness over equanimity. We will continue to endure the ugliness (and then some) of the Obama years, and the littlest minds in Congress will be emboldened to continue to inflame and obstruct.
No one wants to suffer discomfort. But anyone suffering from cancer would be overjoyed to have the option of replacing it with a sinus infection. There IS a major difference between the two. The Trump cancer has to be stopped, and all it takes is a vote.
14
There are only three choices when you're voting: (1) I'm voting for Trump, (2) I'm voting for Clinton, or (3) what everybody else decides is ok with me.
It doesn’t matter what message you think you are sending, because no one will receive it. No one is listening. The system is set up so that every choice other than ‘R’ or ‘D’ boils down to “I defer to the judgement of my fellow citizens.” Instead of a "protest" you're really just abdicating your responsibility to everyone else. Real protest usually has some element of danger to it, because normally you're protesting against some kind of status quo. But, the "protest" vote isn't brave, because it's anonymous. Its just a move you make to feed your own ego.
You are not guaranteed a candidate you love, or even like. Voting is simply making a choice, which sometimes is hard to do. The easy way out is to throw up your hands and give up. You do have the right to do so, of course. But, don't pretend it's a "protest" when it isn't. You are just too lazy to make a choice and have decided that whoever else everyone else picks will be fine for you.
It doesn’t matter what message you think you are sending, because no one will receive it. No one is listening. The system is set up so that every choice other than ‘R’ or ‘D’ boils down to “I defer to the judgement of my fellow citizens.” Instead of a "protest" you're really just abdicating your responsibility to everyone else. Real protest usually has some element of danger to it, because normally you're protesting against some kind of status quo. But, the "protest" vote isn't brave, because it's anonymous. Its just a move you make to feed your own ego.
You are not guaranteed a candidate you love, or even like. Voting is simply making a choice, which sometimes is hard to do. The easy way out is to throw up your hands and give up. You do have the right to do so, of course. But, don't pretend it's a "protest" when it isn't. You are just too lazy to make a choice and have decided that whoever else everyone else picks will be fine for you.
227
Mr. Krugman,
Regardless your rough propensity to label millions who believe as Americans, in their freedom of choice right, many of those labeled do in point of fact agree with you, but principles prevent the sacrifice of one's ideals, for the lesser of two evils.
So, what does one do ?
The answer, for me, and I dare to say, for most of the electorate, is, as I keep repeating, Hillary Clinton must, immediately, and unequivocally, adopt the Sanders original platform in its entirety, and specifically state that as President she will not stop until Medicare for All occurs, fully tuition-free Public College occurs, a minimum $15 per hour wage with annual cost of living increases tied to real inflation, for all, occurs, and a promise to rebuild Americas' infrastructure, putting millions of people back to work, occurs.
Attacking Trump as a ploy, to keep the people from seeing the truth of corporate (Hillary being their representative) Americas' plan to maintain the status quo, is clearly not working, so give it up already, and join with the electorate in a real plan to address the crippling inequality, and make America truly great again, for everyone, which incidentally will have the effect of stabilizing a troubled world.
You, and your partners in the media, can see the writing on the tenement walls; accept it, and cease being terrified of constructive change.
Regardless your rough propensity to label millions who believe as Americans, in their freedom of choice right, many of those labeled do in point of fact agree with you, but principles prevent the sacrifice of one's ideals, for the lesser of two evils.
So, what does one do ?
The answer, for me, and I dare to say, for most of the electorate, is, as I keep repeating, Hillary Clinton must, immediately, and unequivocally, adopt the Sanders original platform in its entirety, and specifically state that as President she will not stop until Medicare for All occurs, fully tuition-free Public College occurs, a minimum $15 per hour wage with annual cost of living increases tied to real inflation, for all, occurs, and a promise to rebuild Americas' infrastructure, putting millions of people back to work, occurs.
Attacking Trump as a ploy, to keep the people from seeing the truth of corporate (Hillary being their representative) Americas' plan to maintain the status quo, is clearly not working, so give it up already, and join with the electorate in a real plan to address the crippling inequality, and make America truly great again, for everyone, which incidentally will have the effect of stabilizing a troubled world.
You, and your partners in the media, can see the writing on the tenement walls; accept it, and cease being terrified of constructive change.
7
" . . . it’s dismaying to see the fecklessness of those on the left supporting third-party candidates"
One problem is that many of the young left-leaning voters now considering a third-party candidate just don't remember the year 2000 and the Ralph Nader effect. (In their defense, at age 4 or so one takes little notice of national elections.)
A repeat of the year 2000 disaster seems quite possible. But we are a strangely a-historical nation and we continue to allow a whole generation of voters to be able to say, in all sincerity, "Ralph who?"
The cybersphere desperately needs a brief, replicable summary of that pivotal election, pointing out the devastating effect of those thrown-away third party votes.
Please write one Professor Krugman! (Hint: Twitter)
One problem is that many of the young left-leaning voters now considering a third-party candidate just don't remember the year 2000 and the Ralph Nader effect. (In their defense, at age 4 or so one takes little notice of national elections.)
A repeat of the year 2000 disaster seems quite possible. But we are a strangely a-historical nation and we continue to allow a whole generation of voters to be able to say, in all sincerity, "Ralph who?"
The cybersphere desperately needs a brief, replicable summary of that pivotal election, pointing out the devastating effect of those thrown-away third party votes.
Please write one Professor Krugman! (Hint: Twitter)
5
Particularly poisonous is the venality of the mass media, assuming they haven't been infiltrated outright by Trumpites. Speaking of infiltration, look at the websites who've been writing Trumpite headlines with more nuanced articles under them. They know that low-information voters only read the headlines. That's not a coincidence, it's paid propaganda. Hey, put Goebbels online, big ratings, more clicks.
4
Personalities aside, isn't this really a vote for the right or the center right? So many of us have acknowledged our socialist leanings due to Bernie's campaign that we are having to hold our noses when casting our vote. Different members of the establishment are backing each candidate.
If Trump pulls it off the military-industrial complex will be fully funded and looking forward to the next war. Any thought of climate change and its impact on our environment will go unfunded in the race to make America great again.
If Clinton wins a bunch of policy wonks will get a chance to try out their latest theories regarding war and the environment with the backing of Wall St. It's not going to be pretty for us socialists. But it may be the best way forward.
If Trump pulls it off the military-industrial complex will be fully funded and looking forward to the next war. Any thought of climate change and its impact on our environment will go unfunded in the race to make America great again.
If Clinton wins a bunch of policy wonks will get a chance to try out their latest theories regarding war and the environment with the backing of Wall St. It's not going to be pretty for us socialists. But it may be the best way forward.
5
Perhaps Republican legislators are looking past Mr. Trump and all of his tomfoolery and seeing what an endorsement for his opponents might do to their own legislative bodies, and their own positions. Endorsing Ms. Clinton especially could mean a whole slew of voters pulling the Democratic lever and wrecking potential havoc on their seats of power--in addition to having to deal with an unfriendly Executive. After all, as Chris Christie's dirty trickster Mr. Wildstein is quoted as saying, in an editorial on this page today, he only had one constituent and that was the governor. So too, the Speaker and Majority Leader may have only one constituent and it is himself or his party. Right, Wrong, Conscience, Ethics, the People...well, these are things that politicians tend to look past quite easily--though I admire editorialists who point it out when they do.
2
I almost never disagree PK, but on this one I will offer at least a partial dissent. One way the Clinton campaign can engineer the lollapalooza we all want is by persuading straight ticket Republican party voters to stay home. Trump doesn't get their vote and neither do the down ballot Republican candidates. The democrats have enough votes to win if they turn their people out. That has been true for 3 decades. This strategy is the reasoning behind the ads which reveal Trump's true nature through his quotes. If the country club Republicans stay home the Dems might win the Senate and make substantial gains in the house.
7
I don't much care for an attack on Trump supporters as morally bankrupt. I take it as a corruption of language unhelpful to discourse. Similarly, acts of terrorism are repeatedly defined even by laudable public figures as cowardly; feeds a general comfort in unreality. Some Trump supporters must be fully aware that they are trading in an image of respect for the office of president in pursuit of their political aims. Many of the dissatisfied electorate might find themselves in the state of a sick man considering a dangerous medical procedure. Declarations of morality to him recall the uncomforting friends of Job.
4
Professor Krugman -- let me state up front that I am going to vote for Clinton. But I am one of those who "don't like her", but not because I have been manipulated by the media. Let me list the ways:
. the Rose Law firm records suddenly appeared, by magic, on her night-table
. she voted for the Iraq War Resolution
. she voted for the Iraq War Resolution without going to a secure location to read the National Intelligence Estimate. So she voted for a resolution that enabled the president to send our kids to war without doing her due diligence.
. her explanations for the email server fiasco are a complete crock. I am a computer science professional and carrying one device that talks to multiple email servers was possible in 2009. This was all about secrecy, which she has not admitted.
This is far from a complete list. We should be hiring presidents because they have demonstrated good judgment. We probably would not be here today but for Jack Kennedy negotiating the Cuban Missle Crisis mine field perfectly. Clinton has exhibited terrible judgment on multiple occasions. If her Republican opponent wasn't suffering from multiple personality disorders, my vote would be different. But Trump is so obviously completely unqualified that keeping him out of the White House has to be the primary objective. Unfortunately, that means voting for the lesser of two evils.
We really need to ask ourselves how we held a Presidential Tournament and these two people got to the Finals.
. the Rose Law firm records suddenly appeared, by magic, on her night-table
. she voted for the Iraq War Resolution
. she voted for the Iraq War Resolution without going to a secure location to read the National Intelligence Estimate. So she voted for a resolution that enabled the president to send our kids to war without doing her due diligence.
. her explanations for the email server fiasco are a complete crock. I am a computer science professional and carrying one device that talks to multiple email servers was possible in 2009. This was all about secrecy, which she has not admitted.
This is far from a complete list. We should be hiring presidents because they have demonstrated good judgment. We probably would not be here today but for Jack Kennedy negotiating the Cuban Missle Crisis mine field perfectly. Clinton has exhibited terrible judgment on multiple occasions. If her Republican opponent wasn't suffering from multiple personality disorders, my vote would be different. But Trump is so obviously completely unqualified that keeping him out of the White House has to be the primary objective. Unfortunately, that means voting for the lesser of two evils.
We really need to ask ourselves how we held a Presidential Tournament and these two people got to the Finals.
14
We know how Hillary did: the DNC and Obama strong-armed all competitors out of the way and then rigged the system against the one challenger, Bernie.
How didi Hillary get to the Finals? She and the corrupt DNC fixed the primary while the corporate media winked.
Mrs. Clinton's domestic policies favor the "Main Street", while Mr. Trump's favor the "Wall Street." That much has been clear all along. He embraces the Republican "Trickle Down" economics (initiated by Reagan), which has managed to devastate the middle class in this country. So it is likely his election will exacerbate income inequality in the nation. However, any changes he can make in trade policies might benefit the "Working Poor." Clintons initiated our unfair trade policies by enacting NAFTA.
Mrs. Clinton is far too hawkish on foreign policy. As it is, our misguided foreign policies under both Democratic and Republican presidents has gotten us into costly, often illegitimate wars in the Middle East, draining trillions of dollars sorely needed at home. There is no end in sight in either Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen or Syria. We are needlessly bleeding money in these conflict zones in pursuit of ill-advised and ill-thought-out "Regime Change" policies. Mrs. Clinton has been a strong advocate of regime changes. No wonder most Republican neocons support her!
Now we have taken on Russia and China, which can only benefit our military-industrial complex and blow up our deficits even more. It will not help solve our domestic economic problems. Mr. Trump is at least talking about rethinking some of our misguided foreign policies.
So we have a situation in which neither candidate excels in both domestic and foreign policies. Here lies a major problem in this election.
Mrs. Clinton is far too hawkish on foreign policy. As it is, our misguided foreign policies under both Democratic and Republican presidents has gotten us into costly, often illegitimate wars in the Middle East, draining trillions of dollars sorely needed at home. There is no end in sight in either Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Yemen or Syria. We are needlessly bleeding money in these conflict zones in pursuit of ill-advised and ill-thought-out "Regime Change" policies. Mrs. Clinton has been a strong advocate of regime changes. No wonder most Republican neocons support her!
Now we have taken on Russia and China, which can only benefit our military-industrial complex and blow up our deficits even more. It will not help solve our domestic economic problems. Mr. Trump is at least talking about rethinking some of our misguided foreign policies.
So we have a situation in which neither candidate excels in both domestic and foreign policies. Here lies a major problem in this election.
3
Ryan and company are betting that Trump will lose, and that over time voters, and especially media commentators, will conveniently forget, or at least ignore, that they supported him. Unfortunately, I think they are right. There won't be any accountability. Then they will be able to happily return to business as usual and do their best to make Hillary a one term President, by blocking anything she proposes, on the one hand, and condemning gridlock on the other.
7
This election is not just about the possibility of electing a dangerous person to be president; it is also about the possibility of democratic breakdown in the event that Trump wins. For those people who are considering voting for a third party candidate or sitting the election out, because they cannot abide Trump but cannot get themselves to support Hillary--please consider this prospect. What if this is the last vote you will cast, because a Trump Presidency might bring down the long experiment with democracy in the U.S.? Angry people, weakened political institutions, and likely a severe economic downturn, plus a power-hungry narcissist in the White House could make the unthinkable thinkable.
5
Hey! That sounds like change! This is a change election! We want change! The in-laws just moved in. The neighbors are too loud. We need a new roof. So I'm going to start a fire in the kitchen!
I hope everyone realizes that Senator Sanders will be in a very strong position in the senate if Hillary Clinton is elected and the Democrats take the senate. Empower Sanders and Elizabeth Warren by giving them a Democratic president.
35
While everyone remembers Nader's run in 2000, does anyone actually remember (without looking it up) what percentage of the vote he gained? How well did his candidacy "send a message." Let me say, not at all, or we wouldn't have had the 2004, 2008, 20012 and 2016 elections we did.
Maybe Sanders' candidacy woke up a younger generation and that is a good thing. He kept us talking about the right things, and he is also a profile of an adult in politics, recognizing that if you lose one vote, you keep speaking, keep trying to get people to understand. A vote for Stein or Johnson is such a waste -- nobody will remember what they achieve. They'll only remember who won, (Clinton or Trump) and who lost.
Maybe Sanders' candidacy woke up a younger generation and that is a good thing. He kept us talking about the right things, and he is also a profile of an adult in politics, recognizing that if you lose one vote, you keep speaking, keep trying to get people to understand. A vote for Stein or Johnson is such a waste -- nobody will remember what they achieve. They'll only remember who won, (Clinton or Trump) and who lost.
24
I was so hoping you would write about the tax revelations.
17
As I've told friends and family membesr to do when they vote, they should vote against not only Mr. Trump but against the whole GOP ticket. That is the only way that people like Ryan and McConnell will learn not to ever nominate demagogues like Trump for POTUS.
294
And how will Democrats learn not to ever nominate liars like Hillary for POTUS?
I think of it much more positively. Don't just vote against the Republicans, proactively vote FOR the entire Democratic ticket. Not only does that send a message to Ryan, McConnell and their ilk, it shows that we are for a positive approach to solving our country's problems.
2
Yes, Simon! And if you can persuade your friends and family members we may get a Senate that will work with Hillary Clinton. Think Supreme Court judges, climate change, Citizens United.
1
Another ridiculous, and increasingly annoying, 'shame column' by Mr.Krugman.
Shame everyone that doesn't come out to endorse Mrs.Clinton or has the audacity to vote for another candidate, even if it isn't Trump.
Anybody that in the same column praises Paul Wolfowitz for having "political courage" and calls "those on the left supporting third-party candidates" feckless and social fascists, whose a prime cheerleader of global laissez faire neoliberal economics that got us into the mess we are in now, should be rejected as a credible moral authority on telling anybody how to vote.
This is your second column in a row asking "How, then, did the race manage to get so close...?"
After blaming everything from sexism/misogyny, uninformed millennials, Bernie Bros etc. to those pesky third parties for this race to be tight, in your last column you said it was because "a lot more Americans than we’d like to imagine are white nationalists at heart" and the main stream media was mean to Mrs.Clinton.
Today it's the Republican political establishment, "G.O.P. intelligentsia", "Republican economists", and last but not least the feckless social fascists on the left.
Of course!
Instead of blaming and shaming everything and everyone for Mrs.Clinton's lack of appeal to so many "deplorable" Americans, start at your own front door and call out the reign of failed neoliberal policies that you yourself championed, combined with liberal interventionism, as the root causes of the rot we're in.
Shame everyone that doesn't come out to endorse Mrs.Clinton or has the audacity to vote for another candidate, even if it isn't Trump.
Anybody that in the same column praises Paul Wolfowitz for having "political courage" and calls "those on the left supporting third-party candidates" feckless and social fascists, whose a prime cheerleader of global laissez faire neoliberal economics that got us into the mess we are in now, should be rejected as a credible moral authority on telling anybody how to vote.
This is your second column in a row asking "How, then, did the race manage to get so close...?"
After blaming everything from sexism/misogyny, uninformed millennials, Bernie Bros etc. to those pesky third parties for this race to be tight, in your last column you said it was because "a lot more Americans than we’d like to imagine are white nationalists at heart" and the main stream media was mean to Mrs.Clinton.
Today it's the Republican political establishment, "G.O.P. intelligentsia", "Republican economists", and last but not least the feckless social fascists on the left.
Of course!
Instead of blaming and shaming everything and everyone for Mrs.Clinton's lack of appeal to so many "deplorable" Americans, start at your own front door and call out the reign of failed neoliberal policies that you yourself championed, combined with liberal interventionism, as the root causes of the rot we're in.
41
It can be both. There are plenty of racists in America and also plenty of clueless liberal supporters of intervention and neoliberal economics.
Agree - my post: as a registered Republican and long term GOP voter (in the Presidential), the only thing I'll agree with Krugman on is that I am NOT voting for Trump - but nor will I vote for Clinton. Typical Krugman ... love-the-DEMs (and Hillary) - hate-the-GOP - and gee, no "bash Bush" this time. He talks about Hillary's "virtues and minor missteps" - gimme a break, she's a congenital liar since being in politics since "Whitewater" to "First Lady" to current day. And c'mon, no comment on her lying / obfuscating indictable email saga, and off the hook thanks to FBI'er Jim Comey - recently revealed has having $6 million given or earned in private life from a corporation with ties to Clinton Foundation, and whose brother works for a law firm servicing the Foundation; or her egregious, inept performance as Secretary re: Benghazi - as she also immediately revealed to her daughter the event was terrorism, but trotted out her Rep to UN to proclaim for a week on TV shows, the blatantly false scenario of a spontaneous "protest" to a video. Don't forget Hillary's debacle with Libya and the Arab Spring, or the Iran nuclear deal, or "reset" with Russia, or her constant vacillating many issues - one being TPP. No, Mr. Krugman - I'll be voting my ethics + principles + conscience and vote for Evan McMullin if he can get on the NY ballot, though cannot write-in Gov. John Kasich - a most eminent 24+ years pol (Congress + Governor), "woulda" been a great President.
1
100% accurate, but we all know the great paul krugman is never wrong even when he contradicts himself in his own editorial content
3
I suspect the Republican establishment is counting on Trump screwing up enough that impeachment will be in order. If it comes to that they don't expect the Democrats to back Trump. So they will be happy to have Trump removed from office and replaced by generic conservative President Pence, with a new VP (Ryan?) in his place.
22
Third party votes could deny anyone the 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.
The support of the fellow travelers to a third party is all about keeping the down ticket races winnable. And winning the Presidency.
You can lose the popular vote, the majority of the electoral vote, and still be president.
In the event of no candidate receiving 270 electoral votes the election goes to the House.
A House controlled by the republicans elects president Trump.
Third party money and voting support is a stealth Trump campaign that could deliver the presidency.
The support of the fellow travelers to a third party is all about keeping the down ticket races winnable. And winning the Presidency.
You can lose the popular vote, the majority of the electoral vote, and still be president.
In the event of no candidate receiving 270 electoral votes the election goes to the House.
A House controlled by the republicans elects president Trump.
Third party money and voting support is a stealth Trump campaign that could deliver the presidency.
42
A GOP House - in the event of Hillary or Donald not attaining the minimum electoral votes - will NOT select Trump, they can and will select some eminent GOP'er, whether Ryan or Romney - or better yet, Gov. John Kasich. So I'll root for Evan McMullin and/or Gary Johnson to thwart the Hill-Billy clan and the Donald - though my vote in New York is academic as she is a shoo-in to win NY
Most of the Trump voters support him purely out of emotion. Ration, reason and empirical evidence do not matter, and cannot sway them.
39
If young voters deserve the respect of more experienced voters – and they do – we must not stop reminding them that a vote for Hillary Clinton is the only way to stop the election of a man whose views should frighten and disgust any educated young person, man or woman.
Gestures and protest votes just do not mean anything in the real world.
If supporting Donald Trump, a man who trashes every decent impulse which Republicans and Democrats claim to hold dear, we must establish a permanent downside for officeholders who shirk their duty to renounce Trump. They must be convinced that continuing to pretend Trump is a viable choice to become our president will destroy their careers, regardless of the election outcome.
McConnell and Ryan and others must state publicly that Donald Trump is unfit to sit in the Oval Office. It would be better for them and the G.O.P. and our nation if they also endorsed Hillary Clinton, but they need to know that failure to urge voters not to vote for Trump will force these Republican leaders to carry a stain of shame for the rest of their lives.
For the mainstream media who have created the Trump mess, they need to know that absolutely no one will forgive or forget their opportunistic deceit.
Gestures and protest votes just do not mean anything in the real world.
If supporting Donald Trump, a man who trashes every decent impulse which Republicans and Democrats claim to hold dear, we must establish a permanent downside for officeholders who shirk their duty to renounce Trump. They must be convinced that continuing to pretend Trump is a viable choice to become our president will destroy their careers, regardless of the election outcome.
McConnell and Ryan and others must state publicly that Donald Trump is unfit to sit in the Oval Office. It would be better for them and the G.O.P. and our nation if they also endorsed Hillary Clinton, but they need to know that failure to urge voters not to vote for Trump will force these Republican leaders to carry a stain of shame for the rest of their lives.
For the mainstream media who have created the Trump mess, they need to know that absolutely no one will forgive or forget their opportunistic deceit.
27
The Republican leadership feel no sense of shame over their performance of the past 8 years of pseudo ideological and racist intransigence towards President Obama and the Democrats thereby derailing almost all meaningful change in the lives of their fellow citizens, save perhaps for the really rich ones. The worries over carrying a "stain of shame" implies some sort of conscious compassion, one that they evidently don't possess. It appears the only thing they fear is losing power.
2
I would suggest, Selena61, that the word "shame" has a broader meaning. Someone can engage in deplorable conduct for political or monetary gain without, apparently, feeling any shame. They still are susceptible -- when the full effect of their behavior becomes widely known and the overriding rationale they utilized to justify their actions no longer exists -- to be shamed publicly. You may prefer the term "disgraced," and no politician wants to experience that.
The media has been a terrible enabler through out this entire campaign. They thought Trump would make the campaign more interesting and that he would disappear before the end of the primaries. They covered him more gave him more free airtime; now they have this scary psychopath and they are all calling for the public to ignore him.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if all media outlets stopped reporting 24 hours a day on this election what the out come would actually be.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if all media outlets stopped reporting 24 hours a day on this election what the out come would actually be.
33
Maybe this is off topic, but I hope that Paul Krugman will write about Trump's income taxes soon. Even Ronald Reagan criticized wealthy people who pay no income taxes as free riders. And what about the Republican argument of the past decade that it's wrong for middle and lower income people to pay nothing, that everyone should have skin in the game?
Most important, while may be legal for a rich person to pay zero, such a person should never be allowed to run the country. How can a man who's paid nothing toward the military be allowed to command it? This is insane!
Most important, while may be legal for a rich person to pay zero, such a person should never be allowed to run the country. How can a man who's paid nothing toward the military be allowed to command it? This is insane!
91
I think it all comes down to one question: do you put your party or your country first?
74
Mr. Krugman… When are you going to admit that the Democratic Party Super Delegates and narrow special interest groups nominated the most unfavorable Democratic Party Presidential candidate in modern history.
Even after last week's debate, Hillary Clinton was still losing the independent vote by more than 10 points – 34% Hill to 45% Trump. If Democrats can’t win the independent vote, the only path to victory is depressing the independent vote and turning out her base.
We need to take a longer view…. http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/this-election-take-the-long-histori...
Even after last week's debate, Hillary Clinton was still losing the independent vote by more than 10 points – 34% Hill to 45% Trump. If Democrats can’t win the independent vote, the only path to victory is depressing the independent vote and turning out her base.
We need to take a longer view…. http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/this-election-take-the-long-histori...
7
Super delegates never affected the outcome. True independents amount to less than 5% of the electorate and they very predictably break 60/40 for the fastest gainer in the last two weeks or so. Just what is the difference between this and what would be posted by a Trumpanzee troll.
4
This is nonsense. LACK of super delegates allowed the Republicans to nominate Trump. Each party, a private organization, has the right to control its nominating process. The notion that the Democratic Party would be better off without super delegates is proven wrong right before your eyes by the Republican's nomination of Trump.
In addition, you buy into the very negative image of Clinton that the media propagates. It isn't that Democrats have nominated an unfavorable candidate, it's that she is viewed by the media lens according to a different set of standards than other candidates.
In addition, you buy into the very negative image of Clinton that the media propagates. It isn't that Democrats have nominated an unfavorable candidate, it's that she is viewed by the media lens according to a different set of standards than other candidates.
3
The argument appears as follows. Today, there is nothing at a restaurant or grocery store that fits my particular palate. So, I will not eat today because tomorrow there may be better food on offer. We only get to buy food every four years. I'm quite happy with what my party is serving. But, you may be sorely aggrieved that your party has disappointed you. On the other hand, the other party is serving poison. Eat your peas. Maybe, sometime in the future you can get caviar. In the meantime, don't starve to death. So silly.
5
I have voted every November since 1968, often for Democrats sometimes for Republicans, always for the candidates I thought were best regardless of party. This election has destroyed my faith that people of both parties, of all parties are well intentioned and differ only in their approach to issues.
In this election I have seen fully revealed the moral and intellectual depravity of the Republican Party. I cannot vote for Donald Trump. Nor will I in the near future vote for anyone who brands themselves Republican, because anyone who did not divorce themselves entirely from Trump and his ilk is a danger to this country. Anyone who did not denounce Trump and his followers has betrayed the ideals and dreams upon which this country was founded.
In this election I have seen fully revealed the moral and intellectual depravity of the Republican Party. I cannot vote for Donald Trump. Nor will I in the near future vote for anyone who brands themselves Republican, because anyone who did not divorce themselves entirely from Trump and his ilk is a danger to this country. Anyone who did not denounce Trump and his followers has betrayed the ideals and dreams upon which this country was founded.
134
Maybe, by not openly endorsing Hillary, Republican leaders don't want their constituency to learn that they can vote for a democrat. In 2008, two friends, both women and both registered republicans, asked me if they were "allowed" to vote for Obama. It would be interesting to poll how many people are unaware they can vote for whomever they choose in a general election.
The answer is yes, you can. You will still wake up the next day registered the way you were when you went to sleep.
The answer is yes, you can. You will still wake up the next day registered the way you were when you went to sleep.
27
Rudy Giuliani and Chris Christy lecturing to anybody about morals is a real joke. Both of these men were Federal Prosecutors appointed by Republican presidents and never cease to bring up their "law and order" credentials. Somewhere in between the Federal Building in lower Manhattan and the Federal Building in Newark, NJ these two appear to have lost their moral compass. They are falling all over themselves trying to kiss Trump's backside as they hope for an appointment to the Attorney General spot in a Trump cabinet. They have no shame.
77
My guess is Paul Wolfowitz feels very confident that Hillary Clinton can spread enough carnage to feel vindicated in his endorsement of her.
8
I’m a Bernie Sanders Voter: Here’s Why I’ll Vote Trump
Posted on October 2, 2016 by Eric Zuesse.
Hillary has instead contradicted herself frequently — and even voted in Congress, and acted as the U.S. Secretary of State — in ways that directly contradict her mealy-mouthed progressive statements. Her record shows that she’s actually the anti-Bernie, the opposite of Bernie. Trump (as I shall document here) is definitely not that (despite his frequent appeals to conservatives for their votes). This article will document the reasons why any reasonable and well-informed progressive will vote for Donald Trump.
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2016/10/im-bernie-sanders-voter-heres-ill...
Posted on October 2, 2016 by Eric Zuesse.
Hillary has instead contradicted herself frequently — and even voted in Congress, and acted as the U.S. Secretary of State — in ways that directly contradict her mealy-mouthed progressive statements. Her record shows that she’s actually the anti-Bernie, the opposite of Bernie. Trump (as I shall document here) is definitely not that (despite his frequent appeals to conservatives for their votes). This article will document the reasons why any reasonable and well-informed progressive will vote for Donald Trump.
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2016/10/im-bernie-sanders-voter-heres-ill...
7
However, Trump is an ignoramus, and a racist, xenophobic and misogynistic thug.
If 'progressives' are willing to overlook these minor details, because of their rage against Hillary Clinton, the first thing that they should do is to contact the good people at Merriam-Webster and urge them to correct the definition of 'progressive' - in the political sense - to reflect this dramatic change in their principles.
'Progressives' like these would have nauseated that great and good man, Michael Harrington.
If 'progressives' are willing to overlook these minor details, because of their rage against Hillary Clinton, the first thing that they should do is to contact the good people at Merriam-Webster and urge them to correct the definition of 'progressive' - in the political sense - to reflect this dramatic change in their principles.
'Progressives' like these would have nauseated that great and good man, Michael Harrington.
1
Wow--read your link and NO reasonable and well-informed progressive could possibly vote for Trump because the well-informed will realize all of the misleading characterizations in the diatribe. If you really believe all of the misrepresentations in that piece (and ignore how Trump actually fits into many of the things it (erroneously) accuses Clinton of), you should stay home--or write-in Bernie, if that makes you feel better.
1
Any "progressive" who votes for Donald Trump is clearly not well informed.
2
Generally, the popular media, the one that most people follow, deals in scandals and campaign errors because it requires no knowledge and no work. How much easier it is to spout "expertise" on these matters than wade through proposals and explain their complexities. Has anyone really listened to Gary Johnson? He is a nice guy but totally unclear about his proposals and is unable to explain their relevance. I cannot help but point out the delicious irony of one of the people in his list of "intellectuals". It is one Michael Tremoglie. Before returning to him, let me point out that Trump and his top surrogates, Giuliani and Gingrich have all had three wives. The Tremoglie name is made up of two Italian words "tre" three and "moglie" wives" three wives. Maybe, they can use it as a campaign slogan.
14
Venality, misoginy and stupidity are all given a pass or glossed over, but they are and have for some time been the hall mark of those we consider our nation's leaders.
Ignorance and sloth are the two best suited to describe many, if not most, of us.
Regardless the outcome of this election it is our children and theirs who will suffer our folly.
Ignorance and sloth are the two best suited to describe many, if not most, of us.
Regardless the outcome of this election it is our children and theirs who will suffer our folly.
9
“If polls are to be believed, something like a third of young voters intend to, in effect, opt out of this election. If they do, Mr. Trump might yet win.” Vietnam war protesters called the sixties “the decade that ate its young.” This may be the decade in which the young get their revenge. Those of us who survived the sixties and seventies may end up getting purged in this decade’s new sulking children’s revolution.
10
then this generation of know nothings will get exactly what they deserve.
god help them.
god help them.
Would agree that both McConnell and Ryan could not be accused of being stupid, but they are of the same con artist fabric as their party's nominee for president, who, however, could be accused of stupidity.
30
I'm glad Prof Krugman wrote this editorial, and hope everyone takes note of how their representatives are handling the Trump dilemma.
I live in Tennessee, and was surprised and embarrassed when Senator Bob Corker, a good, hard-working man, showed an interest in being Trump's running mate. Ambition, I can understand. Insanity, no. Since then, Senators Corker and Alexander and Governor Haslam have gone quiet. Either they agree with Trump but are afraid of alienating the women, minorities, and multitude of others he was repeatedly offended, or they are alarmed by the possibility of a Trump presidency but are afraid of damaging their political careers with the Republican majority. Either way, they owe it to Tennesseans to show their true colors.
As for McConnell and Ryan, they want Pence. While Trump is busy being the shiny little ornament on top of the cake and figuring out ways to make money on the presidency, he'll be doing the real dirty work.
I live in Tennessee, and was surprised and embarrassed when Senator Bob Corker, a good, hard-working man, showed an interest in being Trump's running mate. Ambition, I can understand. Insanity, no. Since then, Senators Corker and Alexander and Governor Haslam have gone quiet. Either they agree with Trump but are afraid of alienating the women, minorities, and multitude of others he was repeatedly offended, or they are alarmed by the possibility of a Trump presidency but are afraid of damaging their political careers with the Republican majority. Either way, they owe it to Tennesseans to show their true colors.
As for McConnell and Ryan, they want Pence. While Trump is busy being the shiny little ornament on top of the cake and figuring out ways to make money on the presidency, he'll be doing the real dirty work.
25
Your vote only counts if you vote for a viable candidate. If you've lived as long as I have, 63, you realize the remorse you will feel if you vote for a vanity candidate, and your worst nightmare wins in the wake.
42
After PK's absurdly partisan commentary on the Democratic primaries, it's hard to take him seriously when he harps on about media bias against Hillary, no matter how accurate his points may be. He stands convicted of the same crime.
PK lost much credibility in his trashing of a candidate who espoused positions PK himself had been advocating for years (e.g., single-payer healthcare). Once lost, it's hard to regain trust.
PK lost much credibility in his trashing of a candidate who espoused positions PK himself had been advocating for years (e.g., single-payer healthcare). Once lost, it's hard to regain trust.
17
I thought PK said things that needed to be said during the primaries, and I'm grateful for it. He was not taken in by the flashy louder candidate.
My post: Agree - my post: as a registered Republican and long term GOP voter (in the Presidential), the only thing I'll agree with Krugman on is that I am NOT voting for Trump - but nor will I vote for Clinton. Typical Krugman ... love-the-DEMs (and Hillary) - hate-the-GOP - and gee, no "bash Bush" this time. He talks about Hillary's "virtues and minor missteps" - gimme a break, she's a congenital liar since being in politics since "Whitewater" to "First Lady" to current day. And c'mon, no comment on her lying / obfuscating indictable email saga, and off the hook thanks to FBI'er Jim Comey - recently revealed has having $6 million given or earned in private life from a corporation with ties to Clinton Foundation, and whose brother works for a law firm servicing the Foundation; or her egregious, inept performance as Secretary re: Benghazi - as she also immediately revealed to her daughter the event was terrorism, but trotted out her Rep to UN to proclaim for a week on TV shows, the blatantly false scenario of a spontaneous "protest" to a video. Don't forget Hillary's debacle with Libya and the Arab Spring, or the Iran nuclear deal, or "reset" with Russia, or her constant vacillating many issues - one being TPP. No, Mr. Krugman - I'll be voting my ethics + principles + conscience and vote for Evan McMullin if he can get on the NY ballot, though cannot write-in Gov. John Kasich - a most eminent 24+ years pol (Congress + Governor), "woulda" been a great President.
Yep. I used to be a faithful reader, but now realize I was a bit too gullible regarding Krugman. I only came today because someone mentioned his favorable citing of Wolfowitz.
Krugman made easily refuted excuses for Clinton's support of the Iraq War and today he praises Wolfowitz as though his Clinton support was a positive. It really isn't. I am voting for Clinton as the lesser evil, but one should not throw away one's critical faculties in order to be a partisan hack. It's not even good politics to do this -- all Krugman is doing is preaching to the faithful.
Krugman made easily refuted excuses for Clinton's support of the Iraq War and today he praises Wolfowitz as though his Clinton support was a positive. It really isn't. I am voting for Clinton as the lesser evil, but one should not throw away one's critical faculties in order to be a partisan hack. It's not even good politics to do this -- all Krugman is doing is preaching to the faithful.
2
Agreed, Dr.K, our votes only count if we cast them in a meaningful way. But this presidential election campaign has been unique for many reasons, not least of which is the comprehension for Republicans, Tea Party folk, that voting for Hillary Clinton means no change from the last eight years of the Democrat's reign under President Obama. Mr. Trump- meanie, toddler, misogynist, bigot,narcissist - would be the bloviator in chief and would represent a newish broom to sweep clean and give what used to be the GOP a victory after two defeats of their presidential candidates, McCain and Romney. Not blaming the media, social, mainstream and lame for the present state of affairs isn't a solution. Whether Millennials and young voters opt out of voting, or write in clever names, or vote for the 3rd and 4th party candidates to protest the choice of The Hillary or The Donald - or opt out of voting this go-round - will ensure the election of Donald Trump. As wentthe Weimar Republic, so could go ours in a month. Thanks for the update, Dr. K.
Was it Ted Cruz (the unliked Senator from Texas) who said "vote your consciences". He was right about that. Bitter pill we have to swallow - if you don't vote for Hillary Clinton, she won't win.
Was it Ted Cruz (the unliked Senator from Texas) who said "vote your consciences". He was right about that. Bitter pill we have to swallow - if you don't vote for Hillary Clinton, she won't win.
4
I agree that the yearning for " creative destruction " of the system that we see exhibited on both sides ( on the right, they love the madman smashing the system and on the left some dream of a progressive phoenix to rise from the ashes of a Trump presidency ) is terrifying. However can we completely ignore the sexism that infects our society as a contributing factor ? How revealing is it that the " Leader of the Free World " has not yet been a woman ? The Republican Party still can not get behind as simple an idea as equal wages for woman without listing several caveats. One Republican state legislature amended an anti-sexual harassment proposal to include a dress code ( lest their passions be inflamed ). On the left, perhaps there is still some resistance to a woman president. To be clear there are many progressives of good faith who oppose Mrs. Clinton for solid policy reasons. I hope there similar conservatives. However, sexism like racism is an infection whose symptoms can be hard to recognize. Patriarchy dies hard ( and too often violently.) As a Bernie guy ( to old to be a bro) I will vote for the first woman president, maybe not the woman I would have wanted, but the one on the ballot. It is well past time. I already joined Bernie's " Our revolution." to keep fighting the fight.
41
One thing's for sure: We will get the president we deserve. But it's rather ridiculous for Mr. Krugman to claim that HRC's problems are the result of bad press, "minor missteps," or "fake scandals" invented out of "thin air."
There is no thin air here, Mr. Krugman. All of that is all too real, and too obvious to be swept under the table as you seem to want to do. . In many respects, HRC is simply the other side of Donald Trump, but not the opposite. More like two sides of the same coin.
There is no thin air here, Mr. Krugman. All of that is all too real, and too obvious to be swept under the table as you seem to want to do. . In many respects, HRC is simply the other side of Donald Trump, but not the opposite. More like two sides of the same coin.
1
".... on the left some dream of a progressive phoenix to rise from the ashes of a Trump presidency"
The ashes you refer to might well be actual ashes rather than the metaphorical ones you refer to. Ones that there will be no rising from.
I'm reminded of something Einstein once said when asked what weapons might used in a World War III. He replied: "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
The ashes you refer to might well be actual ashes rather than the metaphorical ones you refer to. Ones that there will be no rising from.
I'm reminded of something Einstein once said when asked what weapons might used in a World War III. He replied: "I know not with what weapons World War III will be fought, but World War IV will be fought with sticks and stones."
2
Paul Krugman and his liberal conscience have summed up the decades-old policy failures of the GOP establishment. A massive failure which has culminated in 2016 in its nomination of an Orange Demagogue. That Trump is unfit to lead this country is elf-evident, an amazing, Yuuge, no-brainer. Believe me.
The question I have for his supporters and those dithering in spasmodic hand-wringing fueled by anti-Clinton loathing: Do you have siblings, sons and daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, wives or husbands, boyfriends and girlfriends? If so, do you love them? And if so, would you let them alone for five minutes near a man like Trump?
Whatever your responses may be, just cast your vote.
The question I have for his supporters and those dithering in spasmodic hand-wringing fueled by anti-Clinton loathing: Do you have siblings, sons and daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, wives or husbands, boyfriends and girlfriends? If so, do you love them? And if so, would you let them alone for five minutes near a man like Trump?
Whatever your responses may be, just cast your vote.
23
In this shadow of absolute Insanity...the mere possibility of a Trump Presidency...I celebrate that Today I can, at least do my minimal step and, living in Minnesota, cast my Early Vote for a Candidate who is Running with the purpose of Serving the Country. Meanwhile, we tolerate a full-fledged Psychopathic Personality....who is frittering by twittering away time and money, purely in order to Serve Himself. As a 79 Year old White Man. Trump does not know enough to Care...or care enough to Know. I won't be around very long....but I fear the chronic Presence of this Bloviating Blowhard, who's only goal in his life is to occupy Not the Oval Office....but to occupy the Center of the World's Attention. Meanwhile, he also is being successfully Used by manipulative seekers of their own Ultimate Power. Thanks to Paul Krugman...I get a glimpse of some sanity for my Grand Children.
40
To those who don't find Hillary pure enough and wish to sit this one out:
"When you are up to your armpits in alligators it's hard to remember that your job is to drain the swamp."
First, get rid of the orange alligator that is a clear and present danger. Then, get to work on the political swamp. This means a lot more that showing up once every four years. Get involved in local politics, vote in every election, and realize that it will take years to reach your goal, not a month!
"When you are up to your armpits in alligators it's hard to remember that your job is to drain the swamp."
First, get rid of the orange alligator that is a clear and present danger. Then, get to work on the political swamp. This means a lot more that showing up once every four years. Get involved in local politics, vote in every election, and realize that it will take years to reach your goal, not a month!
108
Wrong approach. If you are trying to win people over to your views, you don't start off by trivializing their concerns about your candidate. I am voting for Clinton as the lesser evil. I didn't arrive at this decision because of condescending lectures about how I am being too pure if I don't like her record on the issues.
2
Thank you, John.
I have said for years that you get the government you deserve.
If we elect deplorable Don then we have no one to blame except those people who decided that their vote does not count and that apathy is better then compromise.
I have said for years that you get the government you deserve.
If we elect deplorable Don then we have no one to blame except those people who decided that their vote does not count and that apathy is better then compromise.
2
Echoing Dr. Krugman's thoughts about 1930's Germany, there were those Germans who thought they could control the man they helped bring to power. They were tragically wrong.
90
If Trump is elected he will have to work with Congress to get anything done. And no Congress, Republican or Democrat, is going to allow him to do anything unless it meets with its approval.
1
You assume Trump would, if elected, govern. Around the time Pence accepting the position, The Times reported that Trump simply wants to sit behind the desk of the Oval Office and fly around in Air Force One while the Vice President does all the work. Kasich, to his credit, turned it down. Pence apparently leaped for the opportunity. In addition, a President Trump, assuming he tries to act as President the way he acts as candidate, seems likely to be impeached and removed from office, bringing in Pence as President, de jure, not simply de facto.
3
The same was said about Hitler.
It didn't work then and it won't work now.
A dictator/demagogue eliminates its opposition first and then marginalizes reasonable political positions and then consolidates their power through delegitimization of the press and other governmental organizations.
I have told my husband and family that if Deplorable Donald is elected then they should ready the legal defense fund we are going to need.
Let the civil disobedience begin.
It didn't work then and it won't work now.
A dictator/demagogue eliminates its opposition first and then marginalizes reasonable political positions and then consolidates their power through delegitimization of the press and other governmental organizations.
I have told my husband and family that if Deplorable Donald is elected then they should ready the legal defense fund we are going to need.
Let the civil disobedience begin.
1
But, if Trump throws bones to the crazies to get some of the things he wants we all lose. I for one don't trust the people who keep getting reelected to their seats in the House and Senate who reject reality while favoring inverted socialism where profits are private and costs, be they monetary, social, or environmental, are socialized.
1
Mr. Trump couldn’t have gotten as far as he has without the support of many people who understand perfectly well what he is .
Correct. That, sadly included Mr. Krugman who cherry picked from Mr. Trump's random uttering to announce to all the world :
Trump is Right on Economics
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/09/07/opinion/paul-krugman-trump-is-right...
In order to attack 100 times more reasonable Republican candidates such as Jeb Bush and John Kasich.
What was he thinking ?
Correct. That, sadly included Mr. Krugman who cherry picked from Mr. Trump's random uttering to announce to all the world :
Trump is Right on Economics
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/09/07/opinion/paul-krugman-trump-is-right...
In order to attack 100 times more reasonable Republican candidates such as Jeb Bush and John Kasich.
What was he thinking ?
5
PK is intelligent enough to know that even those mythical monkeys with typewriters occasionally come up with something true. You neglected to include the Professor's caveat: "So am I saying that Mr. Trump is better and more serious than he’s given credit for being? Not at all — he is exactly the ignorant blowhard he seems to be. It’s when it comes to his rivals that appearances can be deceiving. Some of them may come across as reasonable and thoughtful, but in reality they are anything but."
So Krugman should have given the pathetic GOP Establishment candidates a free ride in order to avoid Trump winning the GOP nomination with a plurality of the primary vote?
Yet it is your paper that sends Megan Twohey on the NYT front page top story to ask us to judge Ms. Clinton on how well she handled her husband's infidelity? as unelected first lady? I guess this must be the fair and balanced that "balances" Donald's tax "problems" and his routine of calling women something akin to worthless sex objects for men's consumption?
44
I worked as law clerk for a federal judge who wrote his opinions using the word feckless. I love that word and used it in many briefs on appeal for over 28 years.
As for Trump and his cheating ways and his cheating friends, he is going berserk blaming the Clintons for what Trump is guilty of. Trump knows lies and cheating because he's done both so long.
As for Trump and his cheating ways and his cheating friends, he is going berserk blaming the Clintons for what Trump is guilty of. Trump knows lies and cheating because he's done both so long.
20
I agree totally with your call. As a WI voter, I will remember Ryan as one who lacked the courage and leadership to take a clear stand against Trump -- regardless of election outcome. He does not represent our state and will need to find another job when his term is up. He's an embarrassment and brings shame to WI.
61
The endorsements of NBA stars for Clinton (LeBron, Curry, etc.) are saner than those of Republican economists. Remember this the next time you hear the economists' proposals to lower taxes on the wealthy.
25
Professor: How About Having a Round Table Debate....with ACTUAL
Democrats...vs Republicans
Do you think ...that you Professor Krugman...might be willing to debate someone
with the acumen of William F. Weld...
Just saying....this would be the most responsible means to flush out what
Your Economic philosophy is versus the Republican/Libertarian philosophy
is....and then...after this Round Table Debate...done responsibly...and
responsibly moderated...after this....Debate...we could draw some conclusions
as to which way our economy might be addressed by those in government.
say...Paul Krugman vs Bill Buckley...just imagine what the outcome would be.
and then we could find common ground and go forth.
Democrats...vs Republicans
Do you think ...that you Professor Krugman...might be willing to debate someone
with the acumen of William F. Weld...
Just saying....this would be the most responsible means to flush out what
Your Economic philosophy is versus the Republican/Libertarian philosophy
is....and then...after this Round Table Debate...done responsibly...and
responsibly moderated...after this....Debate...we could draw some conclusions
as to which way our economy might be addressed by those in government.
say...Paul Krugman vs Bill Buckley...just imagine what the outcome would be.
and then we could find common ground and go forth.
3
Paul Krugman v Bill Buckley, now that would be a show. Except that Krugman is still very much alive.
6
For the next Debate, one point of economic interest to be addressed by the two Presidential nominees might cover an agenda for Corporate Reform: aligning the interests of Management with those of Shareholders.
If Bill Buckley was still alive would he be a Republican? The current embodiment of the Republican Party is not conservative in any manner. Unbridled greed, power lust, and a desire to impose one's religion on others have nothing to do with being conservative.
I recall any number of conservatives proclaiming loud and long that followers of other candidates are sheeple or lemmings and providing graphic descriptions of why this is true. It is apparent that Trump's followers meet the description even more closely and would follow him off a cliff no matter how much worse it may get between now and election day.
16
Gary Johnson is NOT interested in anything that happens outside of New Mexico. Then he is OK as governor, but NOT as president. Jill Stein is a complete unknown but there are comments that she is opposed to vaccination. This from a MD? Trump we know about--if anything--we know too much. A column on Trump's detailed economic plans would be very informative. How he plans to reduce trade deficits, how he plans to reduce the national debt, and how he will "make America great again" should provide themes for the next month.
8
Any such column would only be a fuzzy snapshot of Trump's plans since they change moment to moment, not to mention that what he spouts is self-contradictory at the same time it is completely vague.
1
I just want to thanks the NYTimes for having a columnist like Paul Krugman on staff. These are times that demand one speak up and align oneself with the currents and power that is coursing though our country. A false move, or election, could totally derail this Republic, could lead to the Soviet situation of tanks at the doors of our government, as chaos led to the destruction of reason in theirs.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene
Hugh Massengill, Eugene
24
Hear, hear. I only wish Trump voters as a group were serious readers of the NYT.
13
Wow, and as a middle aged life long dem I'd like to see him fired. If one is well informed about issues you realizes how readily he distorts facts, how he lies by omission, and how unbalanced and unfair his writing is. I may disagree with his opinions, that's fine, but come to your opinion by accurately presenting the facts. Not by cherry picking. Let others come to your opinion based upon valid argument structures. I hate to say this but in essence he's the equivalent of someone who cheats to win and he knows this. It's only the uninformed who don't know this. I'm sorry but integrity matters to me, it matters how you present your position. In fact, while this isn't academia, as a professor, he knows he's routinely violating acceptable standards
I only with Trump voters as a group were serious readers of anything short of slogans.
I hear people all the time "She is such a liar, she lies all of the time". I am afraid that the right has done their job of smearing her very well. To my mind, looking at policy and what she has actually supported over the years I find her to me a boring centrist, she leans a little left but for the most part centrist.
I don't believe that we are in for anything extraordinary with her as the President. I do believe that a Trump Presidency is a far more terrifying prospect. He clearly doesn't have a grasp of even the most basic functions of government or the Presidency. I have confidence that at least she is capable of doing the job.
I don't believe that we are in for anything extraordinary with her as the President. I do believe that a Trump Presidency is a far more terrifying prospect. He clearly doesn't have a grasp of even the most basic functions of government or the Presidency. I have confidence that at least she is capable of doing the job.
61
Clinton has proven to be very dedicated to fulfilling her commitments. If she wins she will work hard for the platform including the elements negotiated with Sanders. If we are smart enough to give her a congress she can work with many liberals will be pleasantly surprised.
3
The scariest part of this was yesterdays display by Rudy and Christie. spitting out that their man was a genius, followed by other trump sheep in agreement. Total display of ignorance as they head us toward the cliff.
58
Of all the nonsense I've ever heard is the Hillary is a flawed candidate. Which candidate, ever, wasn't flawed? Why that should be a talking point is idiotic. However, it allows a bigot like Trump to call her "crooked Hillary." That Hillary took a king's ransom for speeches is a fact. She ought to tell us what she said and put an end to it. I do not expect perfection from her, but I expect someone who will not thrust us either into a recession, or into a war. Obviously, the patriotic Trump hasn't paid taxes because he's "smart." Is he hoping we all can become smart like him? The bigger sell off of the press is enlarging the silly notion that Trump is crazy, but I don't like Hillary. And, yes, it has abetted this notion. For the press to point this out without explaining the logical contradiction is an error of gigantic magnitude. There is a false equivalency between Trump and Clinton. He has no policy. He has words like someone in the 1930's used to get elected. He would like to reduce us to tribalism and we have all seen it's lamentable result in places like Iraq and other mid-east bastions of insanity. As Ophelia in "Hamlet said: "Woe is me to have seen what I see, see what I see"
35
You have forgotten that he made a profit from the mortgage crisis, and calls that "good business." Good business = buying up properties os people down on their luck and exacerbating their situation even more? That's nearly as bad as speculating in foods such as grain and the lot - no scruples, no moral values.
1
Hillary Clinton has done everything and anything to appeal to the hard Left. She's moved toward that unbearable pinko, Sanders, to my chagrin, on almost every issue. I'm so afraid, so frightfully afraid, dears, that the aforementioned hard Left is going to make major inroads into the Democratic Party and turn it into something quite monstrous. Why on Earth couldn't sensible Republicans have gotten behind Clinton the moment Trump won the nomination? Had they done so, she wouldn't have had to pretend to be a socialist.
At this point, it's hard to know what the socialists want. She's become as progressive as progressive can be; and yet that isn't enough. How can socialists vote for Gary Johnson, whose ideology is the antithesis of socialism? Never underestimate the ignorance of politically active millennials.
If I hear another word about Wall Street or corporations, just one single word more, I shall resort to hara-kiri. How hard is this: Donald Trump is a fool and a bigot, a menace to America, to the world. Voting for anyone not named Hillary Clinton, should you do so, will be the dumbest thing you will ever do, ever.
At this point, it's hard to know what the socialists want. She's become as progressive as progressive can be; and yet that isn't enough. How can socialists vote for Gary Johnson, whose ideology is the antithesis of socialism? Never underestimate the ignorance of politically active millennials.
If I hear another word about Wall Street or corporations, just one single word more, I shall resort to hara-kiri. How hard is this: Donald Trump is a fool and a bigot, a menace to America, to the world. Voting for anyone not named Hillary Clinton, should you do so, will be the dumbest thing you will ever do, ever.
22
"Hillary Clinton has done everything and anything to appeal to the hard Left."
Not in this universe.
Not in this universe.
It is a mistake to say that the election race is getting close. Elections are about voters, not candidates. Everyone who goes to the polls in November will have equal influence on the outcome.
Trump's vote in NY will not help him get NY's 29 Electoral College Votes. Clinton's vote in NY is no more important than Trump's.
Forget, for a moment, how people categorize themselves on the issues, party affiliation, etc. Most - research from previous elections tells us - about 90% of the people who will actually vote for either Trump or Clinton decided on their choice before the conventions. Voters are not like coins that can land heads or tails without regard to their previous behavior. Once they've made up their minds, they will stick to it. Really, Dr. K. - how likely are you to change your mind? So is everyone else.
Every time Republicans trash-talk Obama, they tell the majority of people who voted in the last two elections that they were stupid. Not a winning strategy. Voters will not be swayed into saying they made a bad choice when they don't feel that's true.
No one wants to vote for a loser. Trump's falling poll ratings will keep many of his supporters from bothering to vote.
If the latest (10/2/2016) reported state voter polls were actual election results, Clinton would have 314 Electoral College Votes, Trump 209. Colorado and Iowa are, in the latest polls, too close to call. Real Clear Politics designates 16 states as battleground: Trump has a lead in four.
Not close.
Trump's vote in NY will not help him get NY's 29 Electoral College Votes. Clinton's vote in NY is no more important than Trump's.
Forget, for a moment, how people categorize themselves on the issues, party affiliation, etc. Most - research from previous elections tells us - about 90% of the people who will actually vote for either Trump or Clinton decided on their choice before the conventions. Voters are not like coins that can land heads or tails without regard to their previous behavior. Once they've made up their minds, they will stick to it. Really, Dr. K. - how likely are you to change your mind? So is everyone else.
Every time Republicans trash-talk Obama, they tell the majority of people who voted in the last two elections that they were stupid. Not a winning strategy. Voters will not be swayed into saying they made a bad choice when they don't feel that's true.
No one wants to vote for a loser. Trump's falling poll ratings will keep many of his supporters from bothering to vote.
If the latest (10/2/2016) reported state voter polls were actual election results, Clinton would have 314 Electoral College Votes, Trump 209. Colorado and Iowa are, in the latest polls, too close to call. Real Clear Politics designates 16 states as battleground: Trump has a lead in four.
Not close.
5
Professor Krugman,
As usual, you bring the voice of sanity to a too often crazy media circus.
Thank you and please keep it up.
As usual, you bring the voice of sanity to a too often crazy media circus.
Thank you and please keep it up.
24
This is a critically important column. We must go after the guilty after this election which not only includes the Trump supporters who should have known better, but also the professional Hillary haters like Maureen Dowd who also should have known better.
20
Hillary Clinton's virtues? What are those exactly? Knowing how to hide evidence and avoid prosecution? Clinton worshippers' ability to ignore reality is awe inspiring.
2
Sanity: that's a major consideration.
Also, no political figure in the last thirty or forty years has had to endure such relentless probing by her political opponents. Can you think of an organization like Judicial Watch in connection with any other figure? And what evidence has all that turned up? Nothing. Her response to the e-mail affair was badly bungled by her, because she doesn't believe she will get a fair shake. Sadly, she may be right. People who are not willing to consider - despite all the evidence, or the lack of it - that she may not be the crooked, manipulative and grossly ambitious shrew they so badly need her to be, are essentially flat-earthers and birthers at heart.
Also, no political figure in the last thirty or forty years has had to endure such relentless probing by her political opponents. Can you think of an organization like Judicial Watch in connection with any other figure? And what evidence has all that turned up? Nothing. Her response to the e-mail affair was badly bungled by her, because she doesn't believe she will get a fair shake. Sadly, she may be right. People who are not willing to consider - despite all the evidence, or the lack of it - that she may not be the crooked, manipulative and grossly ambitious shrew they so badly need her to be, are essentially flat-earthers and birthers at heart.
1
As is the talent to do the same among Trumpists. She has not committed any crimes, and has not cheated anyone. If her husband was too lively in some areas of life for his own good, that is that couple's private life. What counts in politics is knowledge, the will to serve your country and its people. And as to those constant comments about socialism, learn what it actually is, in modern European countries.
1
Clinton must be really good at that game since the GOP has been trying to bring her down for 25 years and as of yet has not been able to get the goods on her. On the other hand, it might be the case that the GOP and its propaganda wing have been attacking her because it is profitable and serves to deligitimize the Democratic Party in general, while also playing into the meme that government is bad so it isn't worth one's time to vote. Looking at it from that angle, perhaps they have never really intended to "get" Clinton since to do so would eliminate her as a useful political bogeywoman.
1
Maybe my imagination, but it seems the mainstream media wants a close dramatic race and reports to that end. More drama sold; more soap sold.
15
The Chicago Tribune endorsed Johnson, giving cover to all the Republicans in the collar counties who see who Trump is, but can't stomach Hillary (if the Trib endorses Johnson, that must mean that my vote is legit)... the libertarian agenda, which it appeals to some (no taxes - yay) is inconsistent and downright scary, e.g., military only for defense at our shores, which is complete withdrawal from the world and from being an influence/power in the world (yet, inconsistently, they claim that we would honor our treaties, many of which call for military action to defend allies)...
16
Right. Gary, "Where's Allepo?", Johnson.
1
As Trump continues to spiral into outright madness, one can only
imagine how the cowardice made note of here will evolve.
Only the dodging of the cowards' actions will be left,
as Trump is taken away to be institutionalized before election day.
Perhaps the whole mess might make Republicans more supportive
of mental health care, anyway.
imagine how the cowardice made note of here will evolve.
Only the dodging of the cowards' actions will be left,
as Trump is taken away to be institutionalized before election day.
Perhaps the whole mess might make Republicans more supportive
of mental health care, anyway.
15
Dr. Krugman, you're preaching to the choir here.
I just watched a snippet of a Trump rally that seemed wilder and more lunatic than ever. Of course it was all about Clinton, how "terrible" she was, that everything she did was "bad", and how she was so "weak" she couldn't walk to her car. Followed by, "I don't think she is loyal to Bill, if you know what I mean."
So, yes, the 3rd grader is in action, complete with physical mimicking of her tough day fighting pneumonia. It's a 70-year old temper tantrum that gets angrier the more he perceives he's trying to get out of a hole.
I have a hard time even his hard-core supporters can imagine this man in the oval office. As for those who want to vote for "What's Aleppo? Johnson or 3% Stein, they have to know it's essentially throwing away a vote.
People can't afford to be cavalier about his election, if they know what's good for their interests. On every level, Trump is unfit: economically, socially, and in terms of foreign affairs.
If you want to put a wild man in the White House, remember your choice next winter. And that goes for all the "feckless" Republicans who feel donor support and tax breaks are worth listening to verbally disgusting, and ignorant demagogue. One who might try to destroy the very constitution he knows nothing about.
I just watched a snippet of a Trump rally that seemed wilder and more lunatic than ever. Of course it was all about Clinton, how "terrible" she was, that everything she did was "bad", and how she was so "weak" she couldn't walk to her car. Followed by, "I don't think she is loyal to Bill, if you know what I mean."
So, yes, the 3rd grader is in action, complete with physical mimicking of her tough day fighting pneumonia. It's a 70-year old temper tantrum that gets angrier the more he perceives he's trying to get out of a hole.
I have a hard time even his hard-core supporters can imagine this man in the oval office. As for those who want to vote for "What's Aleppo? Johnson or 3% Stein, they have to know it's essentially throwing away a vote.
People can't afford to be cavalier about his election, if they know what's good for their interests. On every level, Trump is unfit: economically, socially, and in terms of foreign affairs.
If you want to put a wild man in the White House, remember your choice next winter. And that goes for all the "feckless" Republicans who feel donor support and tax breaks are worth listening to verbally disgusting, and ignorant demagogue. One who might try to destroy the very constitution he knows nothing about.
96
The prospect of Trump winning scares the hell out of me. I voted for Sanders in the Primary and will be voting for Clinton because I fear Trump will destroy The United States as we know it.. I respect all the members of the GOP who have crossed Party lines to endorse Hillary Clinton as a display of true patriotism, choosing Country over Party. I am disgusted by the members of the GOP who somehow find Trump acceptable as a candidate to represent their Party. But then again "The Deplorables" have long been the Party's base, just under wraps. But now the racist drunk uncle at the family gathering has commandeered the Party and the sober and sane adults, rather than quietly sobering him up and ushering him into obscurity they're cheering him on and handing him more booze. There should be repercussions for aiding and abetting Trump's popularity is a very sad comment on the state of the US. While it is easy to find fault with Clinton, it is hard for me to comprehend how anybody could seriously consider Trump a tolerable candidate for POTUS, there is no choice. I just don't get how anyone could accept Trump as your Party's Standards Bearer and not expect the Party to be irrevocably damaged, even if he prevails. My fear is that a Trump victory would have the same affect on the GOP and the US as Hitler's political victory had on the Nazi Party and Germany. I pray Trump loses in a devastating landslide and he takes his brand and his enablers with him never to be heard from again.
102
You are right, the really funny part is if Trump should win and destroy the country as I am sure he will and of course not be able to full 1% of the promises he made, in 4 years there will be no GOP!! Just think of all those coal miners, picks in hand, waiting for the mines to reopen on february 1st!!
12
There's this to be said about the Republican Party. They deserve to be totally defeated at the polls, every last one of them.
The stresses placed on our society by their economic policies, the way they've rigged the tax code, the courts, and the markets to favor the rich - that helped make Trump possible.
Their employment of the politics of division paved the way for Trump to bring the alt-right into the mainstream. Their constant attacks on government has legitimized the campaign of a man who knows nothing about government or democracy.
Their inability to screen Trump out through the primary system or do any kind of vetting shows how hospitable the party has become to hosting a mega-social parasite like Trump.
The Republican Party has become a danger to America.
The stresses placed on our society by their economic policies, the way they've rigged the tax code, the courts, and the markets to favor the rich - that helped make Trump possible.
Their employment of the politics of division paved the way for Trump to bring the alt-right into the mainstream. Their constant attacks on government has legitimized the campaign of a man who knows nothing about government or democracy.
Their inability to screen Trump out through the primary system or do any kind of vetting shows how hospitable the party has become to hosting a mega-social parasite like Trump.
The Republican Party has become a danger to America.
123
Yes and they legitimized being armed and using those arms for political redress when they can not win electorally! Can you say domestic terrorists?
15
The republican party has been a grave danger to the United States for at least 35 years, probably closer to 60.
2
As an independent, I will vote for Hillary AND will not vote Republican again until all these GOP cowards are out. I can not in good conscience vote for a party that supports the likes of Donald Trump, or who espouse party over country. The GOP is lost and discriminatory.
142
A "third of voters plan to opt out of this election." Someone needs to explain to these young people that if Trump is elected, he may have the power to change the Supreme Court into a hard-right court for 40 years, their entire lifetime. If they're content to watch gay rights, women's rights, environmental rights slip away, by all means, sit at home. On the other hand, if they're concerned about the country they and their children will live in, it's time to get off the couch, put down the phone, and go vote!
102
Very well said, Paul Krugman, particularly on this day, when some of us are asked to examine our conscience and consider how we have behaved in these days.
Let's hope for a happy, healthy, sweet and Sane New Year.
Let's hope for a happy, healthy, sweet and Sane New Year.
12
If Trump is elected President it will not be most Republicans who are responsible. They did everything possible to stop him from being their nominee. He was nominated and could win by the actions of independents and disaffected blue collar Democrats.
I'm not quite sure you fully grasp how primaries, open only to registered members of political parties, work. Hint: if they voted in the republican primaries they are no longer either democrats nor independents.
7
Open primaries in so many states...many of my friends changed their registration to vote either for or against Trump in the Florida primary. Labels mean nothing to most people.
Michael Moore explained why he thinks many workers are supporting Trump--they are so angry at governments' failure to address problems (lost middle-class jobs, the 2008 recession, congressional obstructionism) that they are throwing a Molotov cocktail (Donald Trump) at Washington. In other words, they don't support Trump, they want to bring down our government.
Frustration and anger with government is everywhere. Bernie supporters, Trump supporters, Hillary supporters. The Republican Party is at the heart of this anger and frustration. Only Hillary supporters are channeling their outrage constructively; Bernie supporters who will not support Hillary are being politically immature; Trump supporters are politically destructive.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party is subversive. Their leadership has orchestrated bringing America to this precipice of demise. Nominating Trump is not just being irresponsible, it is nothing short of treason--undermining our government for their political ambitions and personal gain.
The GOP has been turning American values upside down since Ronald Reagan put the wealthy on welfare while robbing the middle class. The GOP has turned Congress from legislating to political lynching. For 8 years they have been attempting to bring down President Obama. For the past 2 years they have been targeting Hillary Clinton.
If Trump and Bernie supporters want government to work they must vote Republicans out of everywhere; they must vote for Hillary.
Frustration and anger with government is everywhere. Bernie supporters, Trump supporters, Hillary supporters. The Republican Party is at the heart of this anger and frustration. Only Hillary supporters are channeling their outrage constructively; Bernie supporters who will not support Hillary are being politically immature; Trump supporters are politically destructive.
Meanwhile, the Republican Party is subversive. Their leadership has orchestrated bringing America to this precipice of demise. Nominating Trump is not just being irresponsible, it is nothing short of treason--undermining our government for their political ambitions and personal gain.
The GOP has been turning American values upside down since Ronald Reagan put the wealthy on welfare while robbing the middle class. The GOP has turned Congress from legislating to political lynching. For 8 years they have been attempting to bring down President Obama. For the past 2 years they have been targeting Hillary Clinton.
If Trump and Bernie supporters want government to work they must vote Republicans out of everywhere; they must vote for Hillary.
168
If Michael Moore is correct, what do people who want to bring the government down plan after the collapse? Like Donald, who can't pay attention long enough to do debate prep or read the TelePrompTer without veering into verbal insanity, no idea of step two would be my guess.
Bad news folks, he can and will do severe damage way before the government is brought down with worldwide implications, so by all means support Trump/Putin, autocrats for the future. Putin will play that narcissistic bully like a fiddle.
Bad news folks, he can and will do severe damage way before the government is brought down with worldwide implications, so by all means support Trump/Putin, autocrats for the future. Putin will play that narcissistic bully like a fiddle.
1
I await an explanation from someone as to whose money was the 916 million dollars.
My suspicions were that it did not come out of Trump's own pockets, so how is it he gets to claim the losses for himself?
My suspicions were that it did not come out of Trump's own pockets, so how is it he gets to claim the losses for himself?
71
In your parade of baddies who may contribute to a Trump win, from feckless libs to soulless GOP elected officials, you forgot one group.
Who?
The people who threw all their weight behind Clinton in the primaries, even when polls showed- quite clearly!- that she would be a weak candidate, significantly weaker than her main rival, Sanders.
Is this merely a game of "told you so?" No.
Dems need to reorient to appeal to the regular working class folks that they used to appeal to, as Sanders could.
And they need to accept that, barring a miracle, if Clinton somehow squeaks out a win this year, she will be a one-term president.
The Dems can either run someone against her in 2020 or resign themselves to a Republican president in 2021.
After all, if Clinton can't destroy a nitwit like Trump, imagine how badly she will lose if the GOP actually nominates someone who can put a whole sentence together!
Who?
The people who threw all their weight behind Clinton in the primaries, even when polls showed- quite clearly!- that she would be a weak candidate, significantly weaker than her main rival, Sanders.
Is this merely a game of "told you so?" No.
Dems need to reorient to appeal to the regular working class folks that they used to appeal to, as Sanders could.
And they need to accept that, barring a miracle, if Clinton somehow squeaks out a win this year, she will be a one-term president.
The Dems can either run someone against her in 2020 or resign themselves to a Republican president in 2021.
After all, if Clinton can't destroy a nitwit like Trump, imagine how badly she will lose if the GOP actually nominates someone who can put a whole sentence together!
7
Sadly, you may have a point ..... what are we doing these days?? It is our system, our democracy ... what have we done?
1
As a practical matter and all else aside .....
Take note:
"Pursuant to the Twelfth Amendment, the House of Representatives is required to go into session immediately to vote for president if no candidate for president receives a majority of the electoral votes (since 1964, 270 of the 538 electoral votes)."
"Immediately" means the current House with its current majority of Republicans.
What that GOP majority will decide to do is anyone's guess.
Let me point out once again the significance of that vital number of 270.
If Hillary Clinton does NOT reach that vital number then the election is thrown into the Republican House.
Again, what that GOP majority in the House will decide to do is anyone's guess, but the result may well be NOT to our liking.
(Speaker Ryan whips the majority into shape and he becomes a king maker.)
It seems that Trump's voter block appears to be fairly solid.
Thus voting for any Third Party candidate will take electoral votes away from Clinton.
If for some reason a person cannot or will not vote for Clinton it is better to NOT vote at all.
Sit it out and wait for the election in 2020 for a candidate of your choice.
Independents MUST vote for Clinton.
Otherwise ........ Why take the chance of Trump becoming President and Commander-in-Chief with access to the Nuclear Codes and the Nuclear Arsenal.
Given his many personal failings it is a certainty that disaster for us all could well ensue.
I hope you get my drift.
Take note:
"Pursuant to the Twelfth Amendment, the House of Representatives is required to go into session immediately to vote for president if no candidate for president receives a majority of the electoral votes (since 1964, 270 of the 538 electoral votes)."
"Immediately" means the current House with its current majority of Republicans.
What that GOP majority will decide to do is anyone's guess.
Let me point out once again the significance of that vital number of 270.
If Hillary Clinton does NOT reach that vital number then the election is thrown into the Republican House.
Again, what that GOP majority in the House will decide to do is anyone's guess, but the result may well be NOT to our liking.
(Speaker Ryan whips the majority into shape and he becomes a king maker.)
It seems that Trump's voter block appears to be fairly solid.
Thus voting for any Third Party candidate will take electoral votes away from Clinton.
If for some reason a person cannot or will not vote for Clinton it is better to NOT vote at all.
Sit it out and wait for the election in 2020 for a candidate of your choice.
Independents MUST vote for Clinton.
Otherwise ........ Why take the chance of Trump becoming President and Commander-in-Chief with access to the Nuclear Codes and the Nuclear Arsenal.
Given his many personal failings it is a certainty that disaster for us all could well ensue.
I hope you get my drift.
21
Terrifying thought
7
We need to fix our problem with corporate taxes. Having the highest corporate rate on the planet (among industrial nations) has chased jobs and investment away. We have held to an almost 40% federal + state corporate tax for the past 30+ years, while all OECD nations have steadily reduced their rates over the past 15 years.
The result is an outflow of investment from the US, in an increasingly easy global market. Foregn profits, incidentally, ARE taxed...by the countries where they're earned. Under the OECD treaty, US multinationals would be subject to the difference between our marginal rate, and taxes paid in other countries.
Still a major burden, when a company earns much of its money overseas.
We need a program that encourages repatriation of foreign profits, and encourages foreign investment in plant, equipment, and jobs.
Trump's plan, incidentally, represents an INCREASE of taxes on companies.
The average tax paid by large companies was around 12.5% in 2014. Many paid less than 10%. A reduction to 15%? Typical Donald. Ought to scare
the pants off of big pharma.
In passing, you and I provide 89% of the federal revenue; companies only 11%.
If more of us were working, we'd more than offset a reduction in corporate taxes.
The result is an outflow of investment from the US, in an increasingly easy global market. Foregn profits, incidentally, ARE taxed...by the countries where they're earned. Under the OECD treaty, US multinationals would be subject to the difference between our marginal rate, and taxes paid in other countries.
Still a major burden, when a company earns much of its money overseas.
We need a program that encourages repatriation of foreign profits, and encourages foreign investment in plant, equipment, and jobs.
Trump's plan, incidentally, represents an INCREASE of taxes on companies.
The average tax paid by large companies was around 12.5% in 2014. Many paid less than 10%. A reduction to 15%? Typical Donald. Ought to scare
the pants off of big pharma.
In passing, you and I provide 89% of the federal revenue; companies only 11%.
If more of us were working, we'd more than offset a reduction in corporate taxes.
3
No doubt we need to fix our taxing problems. But both Dems and Repubs alike have a spending problem. Until the spending problem is addressed, any talk about tax reform is moot.
2
Absolutely right. Current media shorthand about 'conservative v. liberal' ignores the Fiscally Responsible. Conservative appears to have become shorthand for anti-abortion.
Do we really need to spend 13 times more on defense than the next nation? Or 4 times more than the next six combined?
If we diverted some of our military spending and some of our foreign aid to domestic infrastructure and schools, we'd find that much of our budget problem would go away.
Do we really need to spend 13 times more on defense than the next nation? Or 4 times more than the next six combined?
If we diverted some of our military spending and some of our foreign aid to domestic infrastructure and schools, we'd find that much of our budget problem would go away.
6
JLJ--How do you explain the FACT that GE pays $0 tax? The answer is that the tax rate is meaningless. The effective tax rate for large US firms (that evade tax) is lower than the tax rate in Turkey. Check that out!
4
My concern is that Secretary Clinton will raise taxes on the middle class to pay for an open borders immigration policy; thus delivering a double whammy to an already battered working class.
2
Really?
19
Proof? Any part of the Dem platform? Any statement from Hillary Clinton? NO!
10
Given that Clinton plans a continuation of Obama's borders policy, which is the toughest in American history and has resulted in more deportations than any Presidency in American history, how on earth did you figure there's an "open borders immigration policy"?
There's also consensus that immigration, is a net revenue positive for the federal treasury, so more immigrants would obviously cut middle class tax burden.
There's also consensus that immigration, is a net revenue positive for the federal treasury, so more immigrants would obviously cut middle class tax burden.
5
>
Once again the good Dr. must be reading the Titan's posts. I said all this about 30-days ago
Trump could very easily win this. Nothing sticks to him everything sticks to HRC. There are no Oct surprises for Trump, only for HRC. How could there be for Trump? Everyday he has a surprise and it doesn't effect him
We have a Wiki Twiki coming out this week, not good for HRC
Yes, the press with its false balance theorem is responsible for much of this insanity. The GOP protests too much. If Trump wins they'll all kiss his ring.
Rational thought says HRC will win, but the Crazy Ape is not rational.
"Scientific inquiry may be an embodiment of reason, but what such inquiry demonstrates is that humans are not rational animals."
John N. Gray
As to Bernie's critical supporters, well anybody with a very young child perfectly understands the central problem here. For example, my nephew refuses to allow anyone to put any kind of condiment on his food, ketchup, mustard, mayo, and God forgive someone puts pepper on it. Of course, we all know the day must come when he renounces his resistance and accepts the world for the terror vessel it is.
So all we can do with the Bernie supporters is hope they suffer their delayed castration complex before Nov.; because if Trumps wins they're going to want, like Oedipus, to tear out their eyes
"All possibilities within the realm of ideas as constituted by philosophy are completely exhausted by Greek mythology"
Schelling
6:45AM
Once again the good Dr. must be reading the Titan's posts. I said all this about 30-days ago
Trump could very easily win this. Nothing sticks to him everything sticks to HRC. There are no Oct surprises for Trump, only for HRC. How could there be for Trump? Everyday he has a surprise and it doesn't effect him
We have a Wiki Twiki coming out this week, not good for HRC
Yes, the press with its false balance theorem is responsible for much of this insanity. The GOP protests too much. If Trump wins they'll all kiss his ring.
Rational thought says HRC will win, but the Crazy Ape is not rational.
"Scientific inquiry may be an embodiment of reason, but what such inquiry demonstrates is that humans are not rational animals."
John N. Gray
As to Bernie's critical supporters, well anybody with a very young child perfectly understands the central problem here. For example, my nephew refuses to allow anyone to put any kind of condiment on his food, ketchup, mustard, mayo, and God forgive someone puts pepper on it. Of course, we all know the day must come when he renounces his resistance and accepts the world for the terror vessel it is.
So all we can do with the Bernie supporters is hope they suffer their delayed castration complex before Nov.; because if Trumps wins they're going to want, like Oedipus, to tear out their eyes
"All possibilities within the realm of ideas as constituted by philosophy are completely exhausted by Greek mythology"
Schelling
6:45AM
10
I think even many liberal commentators do Hilary a disservice when they keep telling us she's boring, wonkish, distant, chilly,unlikeable etc. Can't we decide gorselves whether we're bored or not? whether we like her or not? Thanks to Paul Krugman who keeps reminding us of the important stuff.
45
So let me get this straight...if I'm a liberal and don't vote for Hillary, then I'm the modern day equivalent of a Nazi sympathizer/enabler.
Is that about right? Wow, you really do learn something new everyday.
Is that about right? Wow, you really do learn something new everyday.
7
No, what it proves is that you aren't a liberal. You may be something far more evolved and virtuous, but, no, not a liberal. No liberal could vote for Gary Johnson; and not for Dr Jill Stein and her running mate, either.
19
Actually Sue, yes that is what is shows. Those who stand by and watch hate and ignorance take over are in fact sympathizers. It is exactly how Hitler was brought to power.
11
No, it means that you're capable of making the exact same mistake that the German's who chose to dismiss the warnings as being unrealistic. I'm sure that, in hindsight, many of the people who voted for Hitler and the Nazis in 1932 never expected the worst excesses that ensued when they took power. But, they were warned and chose to ignore the warnings.
9
Krugman's analysis is solid and his column is refreshingly straightforward. There are many players in this spectacle; all are self-interested but fewer seem committed to and willing to advance the legitimate interests of our nation and its citizens. The titular GOP leadership deserves particular scorn, but they've deliberately transformed the GOP into the "party of no" without apparent serious harm. They are unpersuadable and hunkered down. Trump's hangers-on have actively committed themselves to his campaign and they're unchanging. Trump's base (a crude approximation of the GOP base but with some striking differences) is unchanging. So,the voters who will count are the undecided, the apathetic, and the unrealistic who will vote for a third party. These are the volatile elements in this cycle's campaign formulae. Can they be reached in time?
19
Sorry, Paul:
Supporting Hillary or not supporting Trump is insufficient to give Wolfie a pass. That man has been wrong too often on foreign policy resulting in the deaths of many folks across the world. Your standards are showing and they don't flatter you.
Supporting Hillary or not supporting Trump is insufficient to give Wolfie a pass. That man has been wrong too often on foreign policy resulting in the deaths of many folks across the world. Your standards are showing and they don't flatter you.
7
Dear Mr. Krugman,
Since the GOP allowed itself to be swallowed by the "Tea Party", my reaction to anything a Republican says publicly is to recite the old lawyer joke;
"How do you know their lying? Their lips are moving".
Do not assume for one nano second that those Republicans now supporting Ms. Clinton wouldn't jump ship immediately if Mr. Trump were for, some reason known only to him, drop out of the race leaving the Republicans having to choose a new candidate.
Let's face it, no time in the future will anyone be writing a new "Profiles in Courage, Vol.2" which will include any of these politicians you have mentioned from the obfuscating Mr. Ryan to the "No Supreme Court Nominee on My Watch" McConnell both qualified as "Poster Children" for the "Term Limits Campaign" which may, hopefully, occur someday.
The scariest part of Mr. Trump and his GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE brethren are the 40%, or so, of the voters who believe in them. They will still be among us whoever ends up winning the election.
And that, my friends, is scary indeed.
Since the GOP allowed itself to be swallowed by the "Tea Party", my reaction to anything a Republican says publicly is to recite the old lawyer joke;
"How do you know their lying? Their lips are moving".
Do not assume for one nano second that those Republicans now supporting Ms. Clinton wouldn't jump ship immediately if Mr. Trump were for, some reason known only to him, drop out of the race leaving the Republicans having to choose a new candidate.
Let's face it, no time in the future will anyone be writing a new "Profiles in Courage, Vol.2" which will include any of these politicians you have mentioned from the obfuscating Mr. Ryan to the "No Supreme Court Nominee on My Watch" McConnell both qualified as "Poster Children" for the "Term Limits Campaign" which may, hopefully, occur someday.
The scariest part of Mr. Trump and his GOP/TP/KOCH AFFILIATE brethren are the 40%, or so, of the voters who believe in them. They will still be among us whoever ends up winning the election.
And that, my friends, is scary indeed.
24
I can understand the Republicans who hold their noses and vote for Trump, believing he can somehow be managed and that it will allow them to move the GOP agenda further. But Krugman is absolutely right: if you believe a Trump presidency would be dangerous and a disaster, you have an obligation to do your best to prevent it--by voting for Clinton. This is especially true of people who, by the nature of their positions, have not only their vote but their influence on others (e.g., George Will, Jeb Bush, John Kasich, etc.).
17
I love how the people behind Trump are now spinning that he is a genius for not paying taxes. He is "only taking advantage of a corrupt system." First of all, if there is genius, it is his highly paid tax accountants. Most people can hardly afford H & R Block.
And all of these hypocritical surrogates fail to mention that the reason he can take advantage of the "corrupt" system is because he and they and the other corrupt billionaires have bought and paid for a Republican congress, who has as its entire purpose to block anything that does not further their agenda of extending huge benefits to the super wealthy at the expense of everyone else. To hear any Republicans at this time bemoan the corrupt system and be believed by ANY segment of the public is a sad take on what our country has begun. They of course mask their greed by hiding behind the usual. There is of course race, the primary, but also guns, abortion, and the typical social issues.
We are supposed to believe Trump will change a system he has paid lobbyists to get him for years.
And all of these hypocritical surrogates fail to mention that the reason he can take advantage of the "corrupt" system is because he and they and the other corrupt billionaires have bought and paid for a Republican congress, who has as its entire purpose to block anything that does not further their agenda of extending huge benefits to the super wealthy at the expense of everyone else. To hear any Republicans at this time bemoan the corrupt system and be believed by ANY segment of the public is a sad take on what our country has begun. They of course mask their greed by hiding behind the usual. There is of course race, the primary, but also guns, abortion, and the typical social issues.
We are supposed to believe Trump will change a system he has paid lobbyists to get him for years.
20
Robert Frost wrote of the “Road Not Taken,” but he spoke of courage not mob complicity. We now know Republicans are insane, not stouthearted and utterly without standards who would put the country to failure to seek power.
A leader of the free world cannot command respect when his campaign has run on threats, innuendos of cheating without proof, country officials being forced to resign, and even black Republicans removed from his rallies. How can America set a standard of hope and progress if rather than enforcing standards it becomes the bully that breaks the rules?
The lie is countries are laughing at America; no, countries are cheering America—seeing a new spirit of cooperation—but race blinds us to that spirit at home. 15+ million jobs, increasing wages, decreasing poverty, expanded healthcare, presiding with dignity has not been enough for a black President to whom many can never attribute success.
The world remains imperfect; freedom implies risks and demands courage. But anger and fear are not pillars of inner strength that honor our dead and losses. Only the resolute pursuit of our standards and values of liberty and justice show the world the way forward. To fell back is to enter the trap that has been set by our enemies. The first step toward that trap is the lies that refuse to accept our progress and success. They seek not to build us up but tear us down.
Lies/innuendoes/shaming/disrespect/narcissism/threats/ignorance only make matters worse--not first!
A leader of the free world cannot command respect when his campaign has run on threats, innuendos of cheating without proof, country officials being forced to resign, and even black Republicans removed from his rallies. How can America set a standard of hope and progress if rather than enforcing standards it becomes the bully that breaks the rules?
The lie is countries are laughing at America; no, countries are cheering America—seeing a new spirit of cooperation—but race blinds us to that spirit at home. 15+ million jobs, increasing wages, decreasing poverty, expanded healthcare, presiding with dignity has not been enough for a black President to whom many can never attribute success.
The world remains imperfect; freedom implies risks and demands courage. But anger and fear are not pillars of inner strength that honor our dead and losses. Only the resolute pursuit of our standards and values of liberty and justice show the world the way forward. To fell back is to enter the trap that has been set by our enemies. The first step toward that trap is the lies that refuse to accept our progress and success. They seek not to build us up but tear us down.
Lies/innuendoes/shaming/disrespect/narcissism/threats/ignorance only make matters worse--not first!
10
Agreed on all points. The answer is simple, encourage everyone to vote for the most qualified candidate's party, this cycle a Democrat. This action will result in change at all levels and within both parties. If the change is not acceptable thereafter, repeat the same process in the next cycle, voting for the most qualified candidate leading a specific parties ticket. Eventually the politicians will get the message and begin addressing the peoples' agenda.
16
There's another reason to vote Democratic: the fact that, historically, our economy always does significantly better when led by a president who's a Democrat.
Such is also currently so: we've made enormous progress under Obama to recover from the total disaster of the Bush years when we nearly plunged into a full-scale Depression.
Such is also currently so: we've made enormous progress under Obama to recover from the total disaster of the Bush years when we nearly plunged into a full-scale Depression.
19
This article by Mr Krugman is a brilliant clear analysis of our national inability to think rationally.
Germany, in the 1930's, is a shining example.
It is a perverse national nightmare that there are so many dumb citizens among us who would allow a proven psychopath to become President!
Germany, in the 1930's, is a shining example.
It is a perverse national nightmare that there are so many dumb citizens among us who would allow a proven psychopath to become President!
38
not much i ever agree on with Wsj editorial board but i have to give them credit. they have waded into the swamp (3500+ comments):
Opinion: Hillary-Hatred Derangement Syndrome
http://www.wsj.com/articles/hillary-hatred-derangement-syndrome-14751921...
Opinion: Hillary-Hatred Derangement Syndrome
http://www.wsj.com/articles/hillary-hatred-derangement-syndrome-14751921...
5
When Mrs. Clinton declared many of Trump's supporters as deplorable, we immediately thought of the KKK, the misogynists, et. al. However as Mr. Krugman points out, "Mr. Trump couldn’t have gotten as far as he has without the support, active or de facto, of many people who understand perfectly well what he is and what his election would mean, but have chosen not to take a stand." These people, and they are numerous, are also deplorables.
18
Paul, a MIRROR would help with you lament about why the polls are that close. The BIG MEDIA helped to create DT.
3
It is convenient to blame BIG MEDIA but there is no reason to suppose the media is more intelligent, less disingenuous or less partisan than any of the other suspects -- the party, the politicians, the voters and the comedians. We should always be suspicious of BIG MEDIA.
3
Trump's supporters don't give a rap about what the Media says, every piece of bad news about Trump is a lie.
1
Krugman continues to imagine that if he tells truth on a major issue, like Trump, he can convince everyone of a gaggle of lesser deceptions and some outright lies if he repeats them often enough. His perseveration about alleged mainstream media atrocities against HRC is a good example. So is his blanket condemnation of all conservative opinions on economics prior to the emergence of Trump and the puerile sort-of support given to him by many on the right who certainly know better. Krugman mythology lives on.
It seems to me that Krugman's criticisms of "conservative" economic policies are valid. Think back to 2007 and 2008 when our economy almost totally collapsed as a result of "conservative" policies followed by the GWB administration.
7
Your recollections are highly edited. Try to recall that in the 90s Democratic majorities in Congress created the obligations of Fannie and Freddie to insure high risk mortgages. that set the stage for all that followed. Liberals and "progressives" need to stop dissembling and accept their fair share of the blame for the last major financial calamity.
Trump is worse than Bernie Madoff because Trump made his money over the backs of the little man, while Madoff took it mostly from the very rich. Madoff is in prison, but I'd rather him running for president than Trump. I don't think Madoff would have had the gall to insult women, Gold Star parents, minorities, the disabled and the current and the future president of the United States the way Trump did. Madoff at least was a criminal with class, Trump one without. Go Hillary!
9
"Madoff at least was a criminal with class"
Charities whose funds he looted might differ.
Charities whose funds he looted might differ.
3
Don't forget, Madoff took and destroyed the life savings of his secretary's mother. And he did the "amazing" favor of agreeing to invest the life savings of a lot of 'little" people as special favors. But you are right, Trump did so much worse. And how much unemployment did his bankruptcies cost? How many small contractors did he stiff, bragging that he had the legal staff behind him to outlast them and make them let go.
But your point is taken.
But your point is taken.
7
Lawrence, with the "class" I meant Trump's invective against individuals and groups, but you're right that it is also "unclassy" to defraud charities, whose beneficiaries are generally the poor and the sick. Fortunately they were at least partially reimbursed after Madoff was convicted - the latter will not happen to Trump because his outrageous tax deductions do not appear to have been illegal under current tax rules.
Mr. Krugman, once again, aims quite relentlessly at the several forms of self-deportation from political reality that characterize this election cycle. The McConnell-Ryan abdication of anything resembling principle, the Council of Economic Advisors abdication of courage, the empty endorsing of manifestly unqualified third party candidates by disaffected lefties...and righties. Our own Chicago Tribune--typically and sensibly center-right in its editorial lean--has this weekend endorsed Gary Johnson, and in so doing utterly defected from serious engagement in what will be a crucial test of the nation's vocation as a democratic republic. One can only hope that Mr. Trump's sheer degradation of political discourse, achieving new lows this past week, combined with the revelations regarding his monstrous tax dodges, will awaken some segment of those who thus far have sought to stay above the fray.
412
"...self-deportation from political reality..."
I prefer 'building a wall against reality and making Americans pay for it', but yours works as well.
I prefer 'building a wall against reality and making Americans pay for it', but yours works as well.
Let's hope the Tribune's endorsement will provoke some deeper exploration of Gary Johnson's and his party's utter vacuousness and lunacy. His vision may be apply for a 50 mile radius plot in the middle of New Mexico but has zero relevance anywhere else i(except perhaps a patch of land in the Gobi desert).
3
Gary Johnson is an incompetent, opportunistic nihilist and stoner. There has been some talk of Bill Weld jumping ship.
3
Any Republican leader or elected official who not only opposes Trump but announces that they will vote for Clinton might as well pack their bags, go home, and announce their retirement. Any Republican who does not stand with the party and at least offer tepid support for its nominee will eventually be purged by the party irrespective of who wins.
Party is more important to Republicans than country. Most assume that Trump will lose the Presidency but are more concerned about retaining control of the Senate and the House. If McConnell or Ryan had the temerity to come out formally against Trump, the likely down ballot effect is Democratic control at least of the Senate.
The biggest issue in this Presidential election to Republicans is who will replace Scalia on the Supreme Court. Their biggest fear is that Clinton and a Democratic controlled Senate will put a young liberal/progressive on the court and undo many of the regressive decisions. e.g., Citizens United, that the Scalia-led majority has foisted on us.
To them, that is far worse than not only Trump's temperament, lack of knowledge of domestic or foreign affairs, or discriminatory orientation, but also worse than even his access to the nuclear codes.
Party is more important to Republicans than country. Most assume that Trump will lose the Presidency but are more concerned about retaining control of the Senate and the House. If McConnell or Ryan had the temerity to come out formally against Trump, the likely down ballot effect is Democratic control at least of the Senate.
The biggest issue in this Presidential election to Republicans is who will replace Scalia on the Supreme Court. Their biggest fear is that Clinton and a Democratic controlled Senate will put a young liberal/progressive on the court and undo many of the regressive decisions. e.g., Citizens United, that the Scalia-led majority has foisted on us.
To them, that is far worse than not only Trump's temperament, lack of knowledge of domestic or foreign affairs, or discriminatory orientation, but also worse than even his access to the nuclear codes.
38
We have to remember that everyone has dismissed Trump as a real possibility since he first started campaigning. The press loved the how comic relief sold news. The GOP figured it has its heir apparent, except their heir apparent apparently wasn't all that into the idea of being President and primary voters agreed. The GOP allowed the slate of candidates to get out of hand, and Trump won the plurality.
Dismissing him now would be just as fatal. Vote for Clinton or you have effectively voted for Trump. People can dislike it, but reality doesn't have to be comfortable, just true.
So far, the GOP is failing us, trading the hope that Trump can be controlled against our national future. I can only hope that people who want to cast a protest vote can recognize that bad candidates can win by a plurality.
Dismissing him now would be just as fatal. Vote for Clinton or you have effectively voted for Trump. People can dislike it, but reality doesn't have to be comfortable, just true.
So far, the GOP is failing us, trading the hope that Trump can be controlled against our national future. I can only hope that people who want to cast a protest vote can recognize that bad candidates can win by a plurality.
577
If Republicans like Ryan and McConnell think they can control Trump once he's in office, then they are stupid, or at the very least, they haven't been paying attention. Trump is out of control. His own campaign staff and family apparently can't control him. Trump is what he is. He's just as liable to turn on McConnell and Ryan as he did on Cruz and Rubio during the primaries.
1
A friend of mine who lives across the street has a son who is nineteen and is registered to vote. This young fellow is grumbling about his choices for his first presidential election, mumbling that he might vote for Stein.
This drives me crazy. We live in the I-4 Corridor of Florida - the swing region of the biggest swing state, with 29 electoral votes, or eleven percent of what a candidate needs to win. Compared to voters in New York, we have yuuge power. Yeah, I've talked to him, and tried to impress the seriousness of this vote. But I get the same response as I got back in March.
He was a Bernie supporter in the primary, as I was. But since he registered as "No Party Affiliation" (Florida's term for what is called independent in most places), he couldn't vote for Bernie. Florida is a closed primary state. I reminded him several times in January and February, before book closing on registration, to reregister as a Democrat or else he wouldn't be able to vote. It's not hard to do, and I offered him transportation to do it. He refused, and was unwilling to mount an argument why to old fossil Greg.
Is it laziness? Arrogance? Inexperience? A little of all three? His dad is a dyed-in-the-wool Hillary fanatic, so it might just be this fellow's way of annoying his dad. But what a waste. If he grows in character someday he'll feel regret for frivolous actions he can't undo.
This drives me crazy. We live in the I-4 Corridor of Florida - the swing region of the biggest swing state, with 29 electoral votes, or eleven percent of what a candidate needs to win. Compared to voters in New York, we have yuuge power. Yeah, I've talked to him, and tried to impress the seriousness of this vote. But I get the same response as I got back in March.
He was a Bernie supporter in the primary, as I was. But since he registered as "No Party Affiliation" (Florida's term for what is called independent in most places), he couldn't vote for Bernie. Florida is a closed primary state. I reminded him several times in January and February, before book closing on registration, to reregister as a Democrat or else he wouldn't be able to vote. It's not hard to do, and I offered him transportation to do it. He refused, and was unwilling to mount an argument why to old fossil Greg.
Is it laziness? Arrogance? Inexperience? A little of all three? His dad is a dyed-in-the-wool Hillary fanatic, so it might just be this fellow's way of annoying his dad. But what a waste. If he grows in character someday he'll feel regret for frivolous actions he can't undo.
20
Does your friend's so take climate change seriously as all Floridians should? You could say that if climate change, which Republicans call a hoax (among other denials) is not addressed much of Florida's coast may not be around much longer.
5
I don't think issues matter to a segment of these supporters. They are entirely emotional and in fact spiteful. Bernie did not help by continually calling the system, which he had not looked at or commented on for all of these years, rigged.
Trump comes right out of the book of Revelations. An orange headed monster who will unleash the four horsemen of the apocalypse! An exaggeration? I hope so!
15
If Trump's behavior, especially his unhinged tirade on Saturday night, fails to sway a majority of American voters to realize that the man is totally unqualified to hold any political office, much less the Presidency, then wave goodbye to American exceptionalism and World leadership. We will become an international joke, and no less than a mortal danger to the survival of civilization. I know this smacks of alarmist hyperbole, buy I believe every word to be true.
29
So sick of reading about Trump. Worse though is watching his supporters defend him and I'm talking not just professional politicians but ordinary (deplorable?) Americans. Nothing makes sense anymore.
46
Paul, please summarise your thoughts. What are you trying to say?
1
"So remember: Your vote only counts if you cast it in a meaningful way."
From your mouth to God's ear.
The Trump bumper stickers and yard sights have begun to appear around here, a nice compliment to the Confederate Battle flags and enormous number of "NRA Approved" yard signs for the clueless state legislator who the Koch organs want to protect against a very credible Democratic opponent. Literally, that is her only credential.
Trump coattails would protect the Republican Agenda; The only way to implement Hillary's alternative vision for America would be to elect a Democratic majority in congress. It's coming, but we need fight every incremental attack by the Republicans.
An enormous number of people are still trapped in the "Untrustworthy Hillary" and fake scandals memes being hyped by the Propaganda Channel. Even when you show them how it (The Republican Agenda) has personally damaged them, they dismiss it all as liberal lies.
Just tell the young people Gary Johnson and the Libertarians will defund Public education, including Universities. Maybe that will get their attention.
From your mouth to God's ear.
The Trump bumper stickers and yard sights have begun to appear around here, a nice compliment to the Confederate Battle flags and enormous number of "NRA Approved" yard signs for the clueless state legislator who the Koch organs want to protect against a very credible Democratic opponent. Literally, that is her only credential.
Trump coattails would protect the Republican Agenda; The only way to implement Hillary's alternative vision for America would be to elect a Democratic majority in congress. It's coming, but we need fight every incremental attack by the Republicans.
An enormous number of people are still trapped in the "Untrustworthy Hillary" and fake scandals memes being hyped by the Propaganda Channel. Even when you show them how it (The Republican Agenda) has personally damaged them, they dismiss it all as liberal lies.
Just tell the young people Gary Johnson and the Libertarians will defund Public education, including Universities. Maybe that will get their attention.
46
I notice that very little new polling data on the outcome of the election has come out over the weekend, but a whole bunch of articles on the polling results establishing Hillary's victory in the debate keep dominating the news. Debate performance does not equate to votes, but the media gives that false impression. Then we have the endless stream of propaganda like this article with its headline about Trump's "fellow travelers" and complaining how poorly Hillary has been treated in the media for "minor" things--like lying about her emails. At the same time the headlines are screaming about the horror of Trump's tax returns as if he has not been saying all along that he tries to minimize his tax liability and in the debate actually said he thought he was "smart" to do so. Now the loss he declared in 1995 is supposed to be a big revelation? He's only doing what he said he does. He seems to tell the truth and to level with the American people about his past business practices while Hillary seems to have been caught in her own lies. Is this not smart of him and stupid on her part? Is it any wonder that she's sinking in the polls and that she's beyond help from the media propaganda machine? Time is running out, and the true story will be told by the voters.
This is an editorial and expresses the writer's opinion so I'd hardly call it propaganda.
7
Part of the media fascination with Trump during the primary season was the novelty of his being an outsider in his own party, picking off establishment GOP politicians and making the obstructionist republicans look foolish.
Cable networks became mesmerized by both Trump and Sanders rallies and television executives saw viewership go up whenever Trump came on a debate stage or attended a rally.
But this has all changed for the better as the media( with the exception of Fox and right wing radio) realize what is at stake in November and beyond. The media, including so many newspapers realize how dangerous Trump would be for our country.
Still, because of divisions in the country, this will be a close election and the Clinton campaign must go after Johnson and Stein to extract whatever votes it can get from their expected 9-12 % of the vote.
Since you mentioned Germany in the 1930's, it is worth noting to the credit of the German people that Hitler never received a majority of the vote but also worth remembering that he didn't need it because a strong plurality was enough.
Cable networks became mesmerized by both Trump and Sanders rallies and television executives saw viewership go up whenever Trump came on a debate stage or attended a rally.
But this has all changed for the better as the media( with the exception of Fox and right wing radio) realize what is at stake in November and beyond. The media, including so many newspapers realize how dangerous Trump would be for our country.
Still, because of divisions in the country, this will be a close election and the Clinton campaign must go after Johnson and Stein to extract whatever votes it can get from their expected 9-12 % of the vote.
Since you mentioned Germany in the 1930's, it is worth noting to the credit of the German people that Hitler never received a majority of the vote but also worth remembering that he didn't need it because a strong plurality was enough.
15
"Since you mentioned Germany in the 1930's, it is worth noting to the credit of the German people that Hitler never received a majority of the vote but also worth remembering that he didn't need it because a strong plurality was enough."
Actually, it was the Nazi party that gained the plurality of seats in the Reichstag but Hitler himself never got even a plurality of the vote when he ran for president.
Through a combination of deft maneuvering and vicious bully tactics Hitler convinced the man he lost to, Paul von HIndenburg, to appoint him chancellor. Then, Hindenburg died leaving Hitler in complete control.
Can it happen here? It already has. Not in that we ended up with a cruel man like Hitler, but in 2000 the will of the people was thwarted by a Supreme Court who acted much like Hindenburg and put the loser in the White House.
Trump is no George W. Bush - he's far worse.
It's too late for this election, but in the future, let's get rid of the Electoral College so we don't run the risk of getting stuck with Trump.
Actually, it was the Nazi party that gained the plurality of seats in the Reichstag but Hitler himself never got even a plurality of the vote when he ran for president.
Through a combination of deft maneuvering and vicious bully tactics Hitler convinced the man he lost to, Paul von HIndenburg, to appoint him chancellor. Then, Hindenburg died leaving Hitler in complete control.
Can it happen here? It already has. Not in that we ended up with a cruel man like Hitler, but in 2000 the will of the people was thwarted by a Supreme Court who acted much like Hindenburg and put the loser in the White House.
Trump is no George W. Bush - he's far worse.
It's too late for this election, but in the future, let's get rid of the Electoral College so we don't run the risk of getting stuck with Trump.
3
As an old voter who is a progressive, I feel like Charley Brown. I keep believing that the Democrat nominee will hold the football on the ground and enact the kind of legislation that will enable disadvantaged Americans to improve their well being, will improve the environment, and will redistribute wealth in a fair and equitable fashion. But in Hillary Clinton I see yet another Lucy who will pull the ball away and chide me for being a sucker. My only hope is that another old progressive will hold her accountable and make sure she and her friends will enact the planks on the platform he managed to get in place.
9
Our Tea Party friends have already figured out that the right wing Republican establishment has been making promises to them that it will not and cannot keep. Some on the left have figured out that the Democratic establishment has been doing the same thing.
Sec. Clinton's progressive agenda won't be enacted into law because she and her party have failed to fight to get back the Senate and House and have been ignoring state and local elections for years. But that's alright because that is what Sec. Clinton's Wall Street supporters and elite policy wonks want anyway..
Sec. Clinton's progressive agenda won't be enacted into law because she and her party have failed to fight to get back the Senate and House and have been ignoring state and local elections for years. But that's alright because that is what Sec. Clinton's Wall Street supporters and elite policy wonks want anyway..
3
If you are an old progressive, then you know that the entire Republican congress has been selected and promoted, and billions of dollars poured into lobbying for one thing: to give the kind of tax breaks and loopholes to the super rich they have bought and paid for. The progressives who see both parties as the same are not paying attention. They are the ones who eat their own in favor of some sort of purity.
I always loved Bernie, but his mortal sin was to stay in the race continuing to go after Clinton, mostly on innuendo, after he knew he couldn't win. If Trump wins this election it will be in part because Bernie chose to go after Clinton and did not go after Trump until relatively recently, thereby neglecting to give many of his newly involved supporters a sense of the difference between the two. So that they are tempted to throw their votes away on one of two clearly unqualified candidates.
I always loved Bernie, but his mortal sin was to stay in the race continuing to go after Clinton, mostly on innuendo, after he knew he couldn't win. If Trump wins this election it will be in part because Bernie chose to go after Clinton and did not go after Trump until relatively recently, thereby neglecting to give many of his newly involved supporters a sense of the difference between the two. So that they are tempted to throw their votes away on one of two clearly unqualified candidates.
14
Trump represents what the Republican party has been devolving into for 40 years. He just is crude.
16
Sadly, Mr. Blum, you are exactly right.
1
It is not only about 'the person' but the people hanging around. When listening to a friend this winter last, stating that our votes would be cast for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, she was not able to explain who would vote for this man.
A man that I have always admired albeit from a distance is Muhammed Ali. He apparently enjoyed a banter with Trump but would he support him for the Presidency? Not in good faith perhaps after this Republican's dangerous tirade against Americans with different cultures and religious beliefs.
Whether one is an idealist or realist, a humanitarian or moralist, what Trump proposes to do to our Country remains shallow, some might add 'slimy'. He has the support of his family, followed by scavengers preying on his Tower, waiting for fat pickings. It is not a crowd that one particularly wants to join.
Complacent? Not all of us are resting in serenity. The persons I hear are waiting for these elections to be over. 'Don't forget to vote' from a first-timer, to whom I replied 'Don't push the wrong button', causing a note of anguish.
Enough already with whether Hillary Clinton is 'Likeable'. She is far more Real to this American and in possession of an abundance of political knowledge and experience for decades, leaving behind in the dust and cobwebs the other contenders. If choosing between being in the circle of friends of Trump, or Clinton, not only would I opt for the latter but I might offer my typing skills for free.
A man that I have always admired albeit from a distance is Muhammed Ali. He apparently enjoyed a banter with Trump but would he support him for the Presidency? Not in good faith perhaps after this Republican's dangerous tirade against Americans with different cultures and religious beliefs.
Whether one is an idealist or realist, a humanitarian or moralist, what Trump proposes to do to our Country remains shallow, some might add 'slimy'. He has the support of his family, followed by scavengers preying on his Tower, waiting for fat pickings. It is not a crowd that one particularly wants to join.
Complacent? Not all of us are resting in serenity. The persons I hear are waiting for these elections to be over. 'Don't forget to vote' from a first-timer, to whom I replied 'Don't push the wrong button', causing a note of anguish.
Enough already with whether Hillary Clinton is 'Likeable'. She is far more Real to this American and in possession of an abundance of political knowledge and experience for decades, leaving behind in the dust and cobwebs the other contenders. If choosing between being in the circle of friends of Trump, or Clinton, not only would I opt for the latter but I might offer my typing skills for free.
14
Dr. K, everybody knows how odious the GOP guy is. I have pledged, and invite you also, to spend the next 4 weeks saying good things about the Democratic candidate. Hillary is your pick if you believe climate change is an existential threat. Hillary is your pick if you believe in women's reproductive rights. Hillary is your pick if you hope to see progressive evolution in healthcare. Hillary is your pick if you are a little suspicious of Putin. Hillary is my choice for president.
63
A lot of Republican VIPs think Trump is an aberration of this election cycle. Next time they'll proffer a more rational "populist", if they can find one. Meanwhile, they'll put party over principle to protect their right flank from Trump Tea Party types. What they don't see is that Trump is a manifestation of a party riven by contradictory forces that seek to maintain the power of the aristocracy by fanning the grievances of the commoners to gain electoral control. It's rather like curing a headache by pounding your toe with a sledgehammer.
530
Trump an aristocrat? Not on your tintype! (Unless, of course, the definition of an aristocrat is simply money--or the wonderful, incredibly lewd joke every comedian knows which has a family which performs every kink from incest to coprophagia.)
As this campaign has shown, Trump wants to be Hitler II, to whom Ryan seems that cute kid singing "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" in "Cabaret"--cute until the camera zooms out and you see the swastika armband.
The rest of Trump's team are harpies, serial adulterers, grifters, and no-show politicians--all fit for unflattering caricatures!
Far better a competent, experienced grandma!
As this campaign has shown, Trump wants to be Hitler II, to whom Ryan seems that cute kid singing "Tomorrow Belongs to Me" in "Cabaret"--cute until the camera zooms out and you see the swastika armband.
The rest of Trump's team are harpies, serial adulterers, grifters, and no-show politicians--all fit for unflattering caricatures!
Far better a competent, experienced grandma!
Great link Paul- very interesting. Thanks. Sorry, I cannot give Paul Wolfowitz credit for anything- never, never, never.
The Atlantic
Which Republicans Oppose Donald Trump? A Cheat Sheet
DAVID A. GRAHAM SEP 28, 2016
The Atlantic
Which Republicans Oppose Donald Trump? A Cheat Sheet
DAVID A. GRAHAM SEP 28, 2016
7
I'm with you on Paul Wolfowitz. He was a disaster.
2
The GOP standard bearer is a failed businessman, con man and fraud who uses bigotry, racism and misogyny to motivate his base.
Top Republicans don't care he urges his supporters to use violence against peaceful supporters while promising to pay their legal fees.
The man has bankrupted 6 companies affecting $5 billion in debt.
He loaded them with junk bonds that could not be repaid, yet he still took out his salaries and bonuses until they cratered.
The only public company he launched failed and investors and creditors lost hundreds of millions.
He is being pursued by a federal fraud case for running an unlicensed for profit school that scammed students.
There is no documented evidence he has ever paid federal taxes.
He his the nation's biggest welfare queen, grifting from taxpayers, creditors, investors, contractors and students.
His foreign and economic policies are incoherent, changing hourly in some cases. They are directed to the easily confused.
His tax-exempt Trump Foundation uses donations to pay his litigation suits and political donations to officials who are deciding his legal cases before him.
Yet Secretary Clinton was a lawyer for the Children's Defense Fund, First Lady of Arkansas and the US, Senator of New York and Secretary of State.
She co-founded the Clinton Foundation that saves tens of millions of lives around the world.
She has been named the most admired woman in the world a record 20 times.
Never has a vote been easier to make.
Top Republicans don't care he urges his supporters to use violence against peaceful supporters while promising to pay their legal fees.
The man has bankrupted 6 companies affecting $5 billion in debt.
He loaded them with junk bonds that could not be repaid, yet he still took out his salaries and bonuses until they cratered.
The only public company he launched failed and investors and creditors lost hundreds of millions.
He is being pursued by a federal fraud case for running an unlicensed for profit school that scammed students.
There is no documented evidence he has ever paid federal taxes.
He his the nation's biggest welfare queen, grifting from taxpayers, creditors, investors, contractors and students.
His foreign and economic policies are incoherent, changing hourly in some cases. They are directed to the easily confused.
His tax-exempt Trump Foundation uses donations to pay his litigation suits and political donations to officials who are deciding his legal cases before him.
Yet Secretary Clinton was a lawyer for the Children's Defense Fund, First Lady of Arkansas and the US, Senator of New York and Secretary of State.
She co-founded the Clinton Foundation that saves tens of millions of lives around the world.
She has been named the most admired woman in the world a record 20 times.
Never has a vote been easier to make.
305
Trump is America's Silvio Berlusconi, he wrecked Italy for years and was a laughing stock, but he stayed 9 years. Everybody who can vote should vote, and though I've never quoted Ted Cruz before, I think we all should "vote your conscience".
13
Based on his tax returns, it now appears that not only is Trump a loser, the more I hear Guiliani speak, Trump seems to be collecting losers around him as surrogates.
25