It seems to me that the world and economy are a much different place than they were in the 1950's or for that matter in 2000's. It is much smaller and interconnected both economically and socially. A new approach has to be made integrating both on a worldwide basis in order for humanity to advance. This nativism or nationalism cannot forward human thinking or conditions. It is time for all those being singled out by this new President to join in protest to reach new goals for all persons whether in Africa, the mid East or USA. This constant attack will only reverse the trend of the last 60 years which was to better the lives of all those in Africa, Asia, Mid East and USA.
10
I continue in tears of rage for all the chaos of this past week. I was just getting over the grief of the election. Is there any legal way to stop this man?
Lots of talk and rage - but nothing sticks.
Lots of talk and rage - but nothing sticks.
46
One gets the impression this is how Trump runs his business 'empire'; impulsive decisions without regard for consequences which more than likely caused his numerous bankruptcies. But you can bet that his father set him up with a handful of accountants and lawyers to protect him (as much as possible) from his ill-thoughout decisions. No such luck here. Just the blind leading the blind.
63
Chipotle, and in Canada, Maple Leaf Foods, learned that when one seemingly small salmonella outbreak in one restaurant or plant, occurs, it can affect that brand for a very long time.
It is easy to try to spin this as a minor, short term thing, but any Muslim will think twice before entering your country, just as any person eating at Chipotle after the scare, or buying Maple Leaf meat products, will have the event in their minds.
I think your brand, your identity as a country, has been damaged, and it will be hard to reconstruct your inclusive image.
Meantime, to the world's (non white) best and brightest, looking north to Canada may be wise. Sillicon Valley, check out Vancouver's Fraser Valley, or Waterloo University
It is easy to try to spin this as a minor, short term thing, but any Muslim will think twice before entering your country, just as any person eating at Chipotle after the scare, or buying Maple Leaf meat products, will have the event in their minds.
I think your brand, your identity as a country, has been damaged, and it will be hard to reconstruct your inclusive image.
Meantime, to the world's (non white) best and brightest, looking north to Canada may be wise. Sillicon Valley, check out Vancouver's Fraser Valley, or Waterloo University
61
its interesting how quickly the brouhaha about the trump dossier faded from the news. seems to me that a massive effort at miss direction is under way.
47
Dear Dr. Krugman,
One correction is needed to your column. This is not the Trump-Putin regime. This is now the Trump-Bannon regime. Bannon's fingers are on everything we've been seeing, he would like chaos, confusion, instability and more to bring everything crashing down. We have to take him at his word (and he's written a lot of them) and act accordingly. It looks like Bannon was the chief architect of the immigration ban's secrecy and broad scope. I would bet it was Bannon's input that caused Trump to issue a Holocaust Memorial Day message without mentioning Jews. I will bet Trump nominates the most right wing Supreme Court candidate possible to create more uproar in the Senate. Kids, we ain't seen nothin yet!
Paul Grant
One correction is needed to your column. This is not the Trump-Putin regime. This is now the Trump-Bannon regime. Bannon's fingers are on everything we've been seeing, he would like chaos, confusion, instability and more to bring everything crashing down. We have to take him at his word (and he's written a lot of them) and act accordingly. It looks like Bannon was the chief architect of the immigration ban's secrecy and broad scope. I would bet it was Bannon's input that caused Trump to issue a Holocaust Memorial Day message without mentioning Jews. I will bet Trump nominates the most right wing Supreme Court candidate possible to create more uproar in the Senate. Kids, we ain't seen nothin yet!
Paul Grant
109
"Idiots chose an idiot", which is the impression outside of the U.S. "What do you expect from him, the brilliant policy?" this is the general wisdom outside of the U.S. In the meantime, we suffer our deteriorating reputation every time he opens mouth or tweets.
94
As I write, it's 1:35 p.m. eastern time. Six hours since I read Professor Krugman's (as-always excellent and incisive) opinion piece.
Has a whole morning gone by without new ignorance-based disruption by Bannon, Trump et al.? Hard to believe. Maybe I missed a news item, or maybe it's the silence before the storm.
Thanks as always Professor Krugman, for providing a source of rational thinking and sanity.
Has a whole morning gone by without new ignorance-based disruption by Bannon, Trump et al.? Hard to believe. Maybe I missed a news item, or maybe it's the silence before the storm.
Thanks as always Professor Krugman, for providing a source of rational thinking and sanity.
81
Paul, I'm concerned that economics as commonly viewed cannot cover a situation like the present one where the private sector can no longer employ enough people, but is in control of government. The jobs that beg for attention are not private sector jobs, and quite probably cannot be supported by corporations that depend upon a bottom-line profit driven model. To date jobs like infrastructure support, teaching, elder care, environmental protection, and so forth have been government supported, and viewed by corporations as overhead nuisances.
Can economics put aside for a moment the world of corporations that no longer employ enough people, or serve the people, to focus instead upon an economy of people helping people. And upon mechanisms for redirecting corporate profits from automation away from off-shore tax havens and toward building an America for Americans??
Can economics put aside for a moment the world of corporations that no longer employ enough people, or serve the people, to focus instead upon an economy of people helping people. And upon mechanisms for redirecting corporate profits from automation away from off-shore tax havens and toward building an America for Americans??
24
I wish the guy with the "good brain" would start using it! Also wish everyone from the WH on down could read this and "follow" you. Thanks for "truth to power"
6
We have seen this movie before. In 2000, Bush campaigned on saving the American steel industry. So, we he became President he announced a tariff on imported steel. At the time, France exported a lot of steel to the U.S., so France said if you want to put a tariff on our steel go ahead, but if you do that we will put big tariff on Florida oranges. At the time, France was importing almost half their oranges from Florida, and the French drink a lot of orange juice. Guess what?...Still waiting for that GWB steel tariff to go into effect.
17
We do need extreme vetting, but of executive orders, not immigrants and imports. Trumps tantrums reveal that he is not capable of making carefully crafted decisions. His tendency is to shoot from the hip and to discharge his weapon half-cocked.
18
Effectively what everyone's being subjected to at the moment is the same fate of millions of Trump voters who parlayed a life of stupid mistakes into a brutalizing downward slope of disappointments, entanglements and dead-ends. Lucky for them that America has been mostly a forgiving place since the end of the Great Depression. They've lead charmed lives despite levels of ignorance that, in other less affluent parts of the world, usually correlate with low life expectancy statistics.
The coastal elites, for their part, simply went about their own cocooned lives, for decades tolerating and then eventually being overwhelmed by the burden of carrying great swaths of the ignorant and uneducated. Someone like Trump was bound to come along sooner or later; to recognize that the way to the top of the decision making chain was through Dark Ages leveraging of superstition and myth. (If the Bush II regime wasn't a loud enough wake-up call ...)
We here in Canada had our brush with Tea Party North for nine years. Luckily no one in the international community took our then dear leader's plastic saber rattling seriously. But when these sorts of unforced errors boil over on an American scale, the upset reaches to the ends of the earth.
Purge Citizens United and heal thy education system America. The only way out of this mess is to stop compounding bad judgement with worse judgement from those who have no business judging for others.
The coastal elites, for their part, simply went about their own cocooned lives, for decades tolerating and then eventually being overwhelmed by the burden of carrying great swaths of the ignorant and uneducated. Someone like Trump was bound to come along sooner or later; to recognize that the way to the top of the decision making chain was through Dark Ages leveraging of superstition and myth. (If the Bush II regime wasn't a loud enough wake-up call ...)
We here in Canada had our brush with Tea Party North for nine years. Luckily no one in the international community took our then dear leader's plastic saber rattling seriously. But when these sorts of unforced errors boil over on an American scale, the upset reaches to the ends of the earth.
Purge Citizens United and heal thy education system America. The only way out of this mess is to stop compounding bad judgement with worse judgement from those who have no business judging for others.
48
Paul Krugman cruelly describes "the Trump-Putin regime" but no mention yet in the Times of the strange death of ex-KGB officer Oleg Erovinkin and his connection to the "dossier". The list of international newspapers who have run articles over the past several days now include Ha'aretz; UK's Telegraph, Sun, Daily Express, and Daily Mail; Le Parisien, Paris Match, L'Express, Le Soir, Corriere della Serra, the Hindustani Times, amongst many others.
The only US paper to run the story thus far is the Kansas City Star.
So what gives? Why the news blackout (except in Kansas evidently) in the US?
Here's a link to the original Telegraph story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/27/mystery-death-ex-kgb-chief-li...
The only US paper to run the story thus far is the Kansas City Star.
So what gives? Why the news blackout (except in Kansas evidently) in the US?
Here's a link to the original Telegraph story: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/01/27/mystery-death-ex-kgb-chief-li...
23
This administration has shown their inexpierence time and time again. Talking about tariffs when No stoped to realize the American consumer would pay the bill. Coming out with a grand ceremony when siging a Executive Order. Signing a Order about the Wall but never explaining how and who is going to pay for it. Signing an Order of banning people from coming to the U.S. but never thinking it through and fully explaining to the American people or those whose responsibilitiy it is to carry it out. None of the Executive orders where give to the Press for the American people to see the language in them. This so far is a Administration flying by the seat of their pants.
If this was not America I'd think this was the work of some third world dictator.
If this was not America I'd think this was the work of some third world dictator.
14
A question that should be asked is, would a protective tariff actually result in more American jobs?
Would this cause American industry to restart manufacturing here with the prospect of selling goods at a lower price than foreign made goods?
If so, what would American workers be paid compared to what such jobs earned in the past against what Chinese or Mexican workers are paid now?
I would venture a guess that American workers might have to try living on much lower wages than they would expect and pay higher prices as well.
Would this cause American industry to restart manufacturing here with the prospect of selling goods at a lower price than foreign made goods?
If so, what would American workers be paid compared to what such jobs earned in the past against what Chinese or Mexican workers are paid now?
I would venture a guess that American workers might have to try living on much lower wages than they would expect and pay higher prices as well.
6
The Wall of Ignorance that I see is represented by adolescent Americans who are being force to recognize that the good of the entire country is an unfamiliar political theme among Americans, accustomed as they have become to the promotion of special interests over those of every American. Some of the statements coming out of the Disaffected Mobs are so silly you wonder if these people finished a high school American history class. You would think that we have no history except immigration. So what happened after that? Mobs are innately stupid.
11
If only this were the ninth season of the original "Dallas" TV series (look it up...)
4
We have the experience of a half dozen Presidents to seriously stop immigration problems.
If President Nieto opened up his borders to the Syrian Refuges, his humanitarian efforts would out shine President Obama.
If President Trump becomes innovative by developing deep trenching to protect our electrical grid from Electromagnetic Pulses. Not only would we have something to protect us against natural occurring EMPs but from acts of aggression to shut down our country.
Once the failure of the wall is recognized, the earth can be pushed back into the ditch as cover. In the least it would develop a giga-sized earth moving industry. Or he could sit pretty and do nothing.
If President Nieto opened up his borders to the Syrian Refuges, his humanitarian efforts would out shine President Obama.
If President Trump becomes innovative by developing deep trenching to protect our electrical grid from Electromagnetic Pulses. Not only would we have something to protect us against natural occurring EMPs but from acts of aggression to shut down our country.
Once the failure of the wall is recognized, the earth can be pushed back into the ditch as cover. In the least it would develop a giga-sized earth moving industry. Or he could sit pretty and do nothing.
2
From up here on Mars it looks like you folks have got yourselves in quite a pickle. Its obvious you like your guns, but did you have to elect a guy who shoots from the hip all the time?
Seems like the Republican politicians were willing to make a deal with the Devil, to get themselves into a position of power. If the military boys decide to get involved, the politicians may regret the deal they made.
Before things get heated up too much down there, somebody should run down Trump's tax returns before they disappear, and check out those business connections Trump might have with the Russians. He's been getting a free pass on a lot of his claims for long enough, don't you think?
Or do you believe in 'alternative facts'?
Seems like the Republican politicians were willing to make a deal with the Devil, to get themselves into a position of power. If the military boys decide to get involved, the politicians may regret the deal they made.
Before things get heated up too much down there, somebody should run down Trump's tax returns before they disappear, and check out those business connections Trump might have with the Russians. He's been getting a free pass on a lot of his claims for long enough, don't you think?
Or do you believe in 'alternative facts'?
35
Let's redirect Trump and ask why he hasn't allowed for drug price negotiation to save individuals and the medical care system. The one Trump promise that had some reason behind it and wide benefit is awol.
The only good news is he is moving so fast with dysfunctional disasters that it accelerates a wished for self-destruction. Just hope the country survives.
The only good news is he is moving so fast with dysfunctional disasters that it accelerates a wished for self-destruction. Just hope the country survives.
9
Kruschev's threat that "we will destroy you from within" now sounds prophetic.
32
I thought this would go well with Professor Krugman's excellent column:
Recently, in one of his increasingly humorous (and "sad") attempts to put "lipstick on a pig" (I'll leave it to you to guess what/who the "pig" represents), Richard Luettgen presented the "alternative fact" that the idea of a universal basic income (UBI) is a "left wing" idea.
I pointed out that those great "leftists" - Milton Friedman and Frederick Hayek, also supported UBI.
I just came across this, which in addition to being a very well written article, has a rather stark prediction by one of the world's leading supporters of UBI - owe have a choice of either a descent further into far right madness, or something like the UBI:
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/39269-from-holland-to-finland-to-scot...
I would only add that, as much as such institutional changes are necessary to counterbalance neoliberal, globalist capitalism, the only sustainable solution - as Jean Gebser, Teillhard de Chardin, Sri Aurobindo, Pitirim Sorokin, David Korten, Joanna Macy, Carolyn Baker, Lewis Mumford, Robert Thurman, Alan Wallace and countless other seers have told us, is an inner revolution, a "fundamental turning about in the deepest seat of consciousness" (Lankavatara Sutra).
www.remember-to-breathe.org
Recently, in one of his increasingly humorous (and "sad") attempts to put "lipstick on a pig" (I'll leave it to you to guess what/who the "pig" represents), Richard Luettgen presented the "alternative fact" that the idea of a universal basic income (UBI) is a "left wing" idea.
I pointed out that those great "leftists" - Milton Friedman and Frederick Hayek, also supported UBI.
I just came across this, which in addition to being a very well written article, has a rather stark prediction by one of the world's leading supporters of UBI - owe have a choice of either a descent further into far right madness, or something like the UBI:
http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/39269-from-holland-to-finland-to-scot...
I would only add that, as much as such institutional changes are necessary to counterbalance neoliberal, globalist capitalism, the only sustainable solution - as Jean Gebser, Teillhard de Chardin, Sri Aurobindo, Pitirim Sorokin, David Korten, Joanna Macy, Carolyn Baker, Lewis Mumford, Robert Thurman, Alan Wallace and countless other seers have told us, is an inner revolution, a "fundamental turning about in the deepest seat of consciousness" (Lankavatara Sutra).
www.remember-to-breathe.org
4
President Trump seemingly cannot hold a thought in his brain for longer than it takes to send a tweet or two. He flits from one issue to another like a bee gathering honey -- except in Donald's case, it's more like ingesting vinegar. This is not the CEO of a country. It's a very sick comedy act by a clown -- and the joke is on those who put their faith in his ability to do anything other than entertain his audience.
13
Demonstrating, emails, phone calls, to protest the ongoing insanity/stupidity are fine, but maybe we need something more concrete to oppose the administrations actions. How about a tax boycott? ACLU, People For the American Way, etc., how about developing a strategy for doing this? Set up escrow accounts to send your tax dollars to, but don't send them to the treasury. If your employer automatically deducts and sends, minimize your number of deductions and send that to the escrow account. Good tax attorneys/accountants should be able to devise ways to do this that would protect the protestors yet make the government feel the pinch (however small it might be).
We need to get Congress's undivided attention, and hitting them in the pocketbook might do that. There are probably other more creative ways to go as well, and we should certainly be open to entertaining other ideas too.
We need to get Congress's undivided attention, and hitting them in the pocketbook might do that. There are probably other more creative ways to go as well, and we should certainly be open to entertaining other ideas too.
5
Perhaps a side bar issue but nonetheless important: The "carnage" and chaos that's been caused in this first terrifying week would never have been foisted on our country, Mexico, immigrants trying to com here or the free world were it not for electoral college. Mrs Clinton, President Clinton,"with a,popular vote exceeding his by approximately 2.8 and 2.9 million votes would never, NEVER have brought us to the brink as hasmhe.
Will the country amend our constitution to allow the people to directly decide who is our president. Will we recognize the dangerous consequences of gerrymandering? Or even if the answers to,these questions are "yes " will it be to late?
Will the country amend our constitution to allow the people to directly decide who is our president. Will we recognize the dangerous consequences of gerrymandering? Or even if the answers to,these questions are "yes " will it be to late?
7
To wit our reputation in the world: the old adage about building and destroying reputations needs an update:
It takes 8 years to build a reputation and 8 days to destroy it.
It takes 8 years to build a reputation and 8 days to destroy it.
14
We have elected Hugo Chavez.
14
The previous nadir in government included only one Cheney. Trump has found a hundred Cheneys, enough to kick the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the director of national intelligence off the National Security Council.
Brownshirts everywhere you look in Washington today, all of them dedicated to replacing the hoax of global warming with the reality of nuclear winter.
Brownshirts everywhere you look in Washington today, all of them dedicated to replacing the hoax of global warming with the reality of nuclear winter.
38
Above all else, Mr. Trump has the juvenile need to constantly show everyone how tough and powerful he is. Instead of being tougher on trade in a strategic way, Trump chooses belligerence. Instead of reaching out to the majority of Americans that didn't vote for him, he jumps up and down in the end zone like a child shouting, "I beat you, I beat you, I beat you"! While this lack of maturity was amusing as a candidate, it is horrifying as a president. We can now add that this so called "CEO", is apparently also an incompetent manager. If the people living in small town Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan still think that this train wreck of a presidency is somehow making us safer, they need to start reading up on the politics that led up to World Wars I and II. They then need to take a long hard look in the mirror.
44
Add to which, Mexico is USA's 3d largest goods trading partner, the main goods imported being auto parts & machinery. Meet the 'Era of Dumb and Dumber'.
33
Professor Krugman's liberal conscience has had to undergo a bit of sea change lately. That's understandable, given that he was an uber-advocate of She Who Won the Popular Vote. We all remember his scathing denunciations of all things Sanders during the Democratic primaries. Paul probably fancied that the Clintons would reward his loyalty with an important government sinecure.
We all recall his post-election prediction that international financial markets would collapse and never recover. He modified that to say that they might soar under Trump (as they were doing as he made that sagely prediction), but they would eventually collapse and never recover.
We all recall, good Keynesian that he was, that our national debt didn't matter and that we should spend, spend, spend our way to Utopia, unlike those stupid Europeans who practiced austerity. But, just recently, he has warned that the national debt, newly discovered by Paul in the Trump Era, is a threat to our survival as a species.
Dr. Krugman also discovered that we have been running large deficits (he must have realized that the national debt is just the accumulation of annual deficits - Macro 101) and that every Trump economic proposal is going to increase our annual deficits (Obama's most recent deficits was $587 Billion, with a projected $620 Billion in 2017).
His liberal conscience now tells him that the US can't sustain these huge burdens without major structural consequences.
Welcome to the real world, Paul.
We all recall his post-election prediction that international financial markets would collapse and never recover. He modified that to say that they might soar under Trump (as they were doing as he made that sagely prediction), but they would eventually collapse and never recover.
We all recall, good Keynesian that he was, that our national debt didn't matter and that we should spend, spend, spend our way to Utopia, unlike those stupid Europeans who practiced austerity. But, just recently, he has warned that the national debt, newly discovered by Paul in the Trump Era, is a threat to our survival as a species.
Dr. Krugman also discovered that we have been running large deficits (he must have realized that the national debt is just the accumulation of annual deficits - Macro 101) and that every Trump economic proposal is going to increase our annual deficits (Obama's most recent deficits was $587 Billion, with a projected $620 Billion in 2017).
His liberal conscience now tells him that the US can't sustain these huge burdens without major structural consequences.
Welcome to the real world, Paul.
3
"That's a very big loss. And it's probably reversible."
In the grand scheme of things the effect on other countries relations with America by the new President may be very reversible. There is a growing perception world wide that the electoral college winner that took office has such a casual relationship with the truth that the result may be he is recognized as an infecting agent to rationality that ends up covered incessantly by the anti-bodies of heightened scrutiny and scorn. When you are President outrageous as the new normal can have a very short shelf life.
In the grand scheme of things the effect on other countries relations with America by the new President may be very reversible. There is a growing perception world wide that the electoral college winner that took office has such a casual relationship with the truth that the result may be he is recognized as an infecting agent to rationality that ends up covered incessantly by the anti-bodies of heightened scrutiny and scorn. When you are President outrageous as the new normal can have a very short shelf life.
Typo alert, reversible was supposed to read "irreversible".
But we haven't kept our promises to Native Americans.
1
My way of reading this new administration. The more sure they seem on any subject confirms the fact that is the subject they are most clueless about.
7
"...tariffs aren’t paid by the exporter. With some minor qualifications, basically they’re paid for by the buyers — "
Spicer and Team Trump made fools of themselves--revealing a basic logic disability--to perform a one step inference--right up there with "alternate facts".
It's in keeping with the disability to distinguish marketing ("Mexico will pay") from reality. It's the politics of the big lie--the bigger the better.
"Disability" or "Deliberate Fraud"? is the question. Fool? or "Smart businessman" ?--as though good business is tax evasion, and all sorts of bait n switch cheating--instead of providing goods and services for good prices.
The old adage is "Be careful who you pretend to be, because you will become that person." For him, Truth is what pays him--a corruption of American Pragmatism. The better version says Truth pays off by realizing ideals.
Trump corrupts the idea of "businessman" as well as the office of US President.
Spicer and Team Trump made fools of themselves--revealing a basic logic disability--to perform a one step inference--right up there with "alternate facts".
It's in keeping with the disability to distinguish marketing ("Mexico will pay") from reality. It's the politics of the big lie--the bigger the better.
"Disability" or "Deliberate Fraud"? is the question. Fool? or "Smart businessman" ?--as though good business is tax evasion, and all sorts of bait n switch cheating--instead of providing goods and services for good prices.
The old adage is "Be careful who you pretend to be, because you will become that person." For him, Truth is what pays him--a corruption of American Pragmatism. The better version says Truth pays off by realizing ideals.
Trump corrupts the idea of "businessman" as well as the office of US President.
5
Dear Anti-Hillary, progressive purists who refused to vote for Hillary and decided to stay home and/or vote for Jill Stein, this is on you. Sorry there's no other way to put it. You had a choice of only two viable candidates and Hillary Clinton was BY FAR the better, most qualified candidate, even if - GASP! - she gave a few speeches at Goldman Sachs. When you start valuing the perceived "sanctity" of your own vote over the good of the country, its people and the global community, then you've put your own narcissism and ego above the well being of your fellow citizens and indeed the well being of the entire world.
32
The dishonesty of this administration began with DJT's refusal to release his tax returns and his unproven claim that he could not release them due to an audit. Without this information, potential conflict of interest casts a dark shadow over everything he says and does. As a result of this simple fact, there is no basis for trusting that DJT or his administration can be trusted or will act on behalf of America.
We have seen in the short time of this administration the ease with which DJT and his team has making fabrications, falsehoods, partial truths and outright lies on a wide variety of topics. Unlike many DJT supporters, anyone with common sense and a little bit of knowledge will not swallow this whole.
This may their version of making America "great again" but it sure is not my version, the version of our founding fathers and a majority of Americans.
I pray that we all mobilize, become engaged and stand up against the obscene mess we are observing.
We have seen in the short time of this administration the ease with which DJT and his team has making fabrications, falsehoods, partial truths and outright lies on a wide variety of topics. Unlike many DJT supporters, anyone with common sense and a little bit of knowledge will not swallow this whole.
This may their version of making America "great again" but it sure is not my version, the version of our founding fathers and a majority of Americans.
I pray that we all mobilize, become engaged and stand up against the obscene mess we are observing.
12
This is the President's honeymoon period. Three years from now you'll look back and realize that.
Mourning in America.
Mourning in America.
12
Paul, "the ignorance" is that even the most knowledgeable progressive people don't realize that all wars, crimes, vast inequality, looting, lying, violence, et al. is caused by the cancer of EMPIRE.
Very few can, as the old saying goes, "see the forest for the trees" --- or in this case, "See the Forest to EMPIRE for the trees of 'identity issues'.
Millions can march in the streets, but until we focus a singular "clear message", which even the media pundits know is missing, then huge marches, demonstrations, and protests just provide entertainment and distraction.
Until the people understand what Americans did 241 years ago and fire a; loud, public, sustained, and non-violent "Shout heard round the word" to ignite the essential Second American "Political Revolution against EMPIRE" nothing will change in the Empire --- until we're all gone.
Very few can, as the old saying goes, "see the forest for the trees" --- or in this case, "See the Forest to EMPIRE for the trees of 'identity issues'.
Millions can march in the streets, but until we focus a singular "clear message", which even the media pundits know is missing, then huge marches, demonstrations, and protests just provide entertainment and distraction.
Until the people understand what Americans did 241 years ago and fire a; loud, public, sustained, and non-violent "Shout heard round the word" to ignite the essential Second American "Political Revolution against EMPIRE" nothing will change in the Empire --- until we're all gone.
5
Like "stiffed contractors in a Trump Hotel"? No Trump has bigger "ideas" than that.
Trump is going to transfer the US national debt into a soon going to bankrupt enterprise and then that enterprise will go "public". In the blink of an eye, all our national debt will disappear and the US will be multi-trillion dollars richer and the country will be so grateful that we will suspend the Constitution and declare him Presidentbfor Life!
You don't believe me? Ask those who bought the shares in his "publicly owned" casinos. They end up owning the "right" to pay for his debts!
Trump is going to transfer the US national debt into a soon going to bankrupt enterprise and then that enterprise will go "public". In the blink of an eye, all our national debt will disappear and the US will be multi-trillion dollars richer and the country will be so grateful that we will suspend the Constitution and declare him Presidentbfor Life!
You don't believe me? Ask those who bought the shares in his "publicly owned" casinos. They end up owning the "right" to pay for his debts!
2
Yes, I say that Donald Trump's trade ideas are NUTS and he is NUTS.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you turn the word NUTS around, you get STUN. We are stunned!
There is something wrong with Donald Trump's mind and I wish that the NY Times would ask experts in psychology to label his mental condition, now.
From a War on Terror, with Bush, we now need a War on Trump ERROR!
======================================================
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you turn the word NUTS around, you get STUN. We are stunned!
There is something wrong with Donald Trump's mind and I wish that the NY Times would ask experts in psychology to label his mental condition, now.
From a War on Terror, with Bush, we now need a War on Trump ERROR!
======================================================
4
Krugman: "Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike."
An overbroad and ridiculous statement. Just ask your Native Americans.
Perhaps, that sentence was edited. Mr Krugman probably wrote:
"Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike, when it suits us."
An overbroad and ridiculous statement. Just ask your Native Americans.
Perhaps, that sentence was edited. Mr Krugman probably wrote:
"Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike, when it suits us."
1
One outcome all the recent craziness emanating from the oval office has seen the empowerment of right-wing crackpots, racists, fascists, the outright ignorant, trolls, etc. This cornucopia of mean and crazy now feels that no matter what repugnant thing they do or say that the President of the United States has their back. All evidence points to them being right.
Those of us not in the US feel the effects even if we don't travel to the US. We trade, we watch US media and now in my country we are grieving the terror attack on the mosque in Quebec City. I feel relatively certain that as the investigation unfolds we will see the slimy influence of Trump and/or minions.
Those of us not in the US feel the effects even if we don't travel to the US. We trade, we watch US media and now in my country we are grieving the terror attack on the mosque in Quebec City. I feel relatively certain that as the investigation unfolds we will see the slimy influence of Trump and/or minions.
4
The million dollar question is whether or not Trump understands the nuances, and if not, whether he has advisers who are interested in them.
Not knowing how much he doesn't know is truly the scariest thing about Trump.
Not knowing how much he doesn't know is truly the scariest thing about Trump.
2
While I sympathize and agree with aspect of the direct criticism of this administration, I find the continual and ever more strident attacks on Russia by Paul Krugman to be both a convenient ruse in criticizing the administration as well as a drive to undermine Russia and 140 million Russian people. Such attacks on Russia are dangerous in Cold War ways I would never have thought possible to repeat. The Cold War was repeatedly hot, and a new Cold War will always threaten to be hot.
2
The Trump-Putin regime? What is this? Trump is a rampaging ego maniac that the electoral college crazily empowered. Krugman is one of extremist, "Putin stole the election" from Hillary Clinton types. Clearly he beliefs his hatred of Trump and Putin automatically makes them attached at the hip. Certainly Krugman is right to attack Trump but the real regime is Trump-Bannon. I promise you that Trump and Putin will cross swords and it will be a dangerous situation, in which I think Trump and Bannon will blunder against the much cooler Putin. Putin is master of fascist politics in Russia but Trump is a much more powerful and dangerous man to international peace.
3
During the campaign didn't Trump repeatedly say he would impose a 35% tariff on imports from Mexico, particularly if they were from a factory that moved there from here? Where did that one go? How would it work, when many companies have plants here and there already and adjust production in each place all the time? If a company clearly pulled up stakes and moved there, it could still export to the world and companies already there could just expand exports to here.
Everything is a slogan with zero thought - no research, no consultation, no planning of implementation - as we have also seen in the last couple of days.
Everything is a slogan with zero thought - no research, no consultation, no planning of implementation - as we have also seen in the last couple of days.
14
Exactly! No thought has been given to the implications of these simplistic solutions to complex problems . Both Trump and his followers are guilty of this train of thought.
2
Lies, Lies and confusion it is already well documented that people in those Ban countries have done a little if not nothing in terms of terrorist acts. Are Trump Zombies remembering that most of 9-11 hijackers were from Saudi Arabia (A place were Trump conduct business and have some golf courses) & Pakistan, (where Bin Ladin a Saudi look for "sanctuary").
This "executive actions" (Remember when Obama did it and then it was bad) forgetting that almost all studies conducted suggests that actually immigrants are less likely to perform any criminal acts.
Shame on you so called Christians that look to the other side when innocent people have been arras and prosecuted just because the place they were born and the religion they professed.
This "executive actions" (Remember when Obama did it and then it was bad) forgetting that almost all studies conducted suggests that actually immigrants are less likely to perform any criminal acts.
Shame on you so called Christians that look to the other side when innocent people have been arras and prosecuted just because the place they were born and the religion they professed.
14
Mr. Krugman is right. Prior to Mr. Trump, our word was trusted. New Presidents did not unilaterally abrogate agreements and issue orders that would betray our friends. Even though Mr. Trump is an outlier, he has established the principal that any President can, unilaterally, revoke our commitments and promises. That alone is enough to make the rest of the world question any commitments and assurances we may henceforth give.
So, who will stand up to Trump?
Where are the checks and balances?
Unless and until the Republican Party, which controls Congress does something to rein in this out of control, would be tyrant, America will be diminished, possibly beyond redemption.
We don't have years, months, or even weeks to do something about this. Every hour that Republicans fail to denounce his behavior, and take steps to prevent his actions from taking affect, is one more hour where the world accepts that we, as a nation, are not trustworthy.
Trust, once lost, is nearly impossible to recover.
Mr. McConnell? Mr. Ryan? Is this your vision of America?
If so, you are as much responsible for our inevitable decline as Mr. Trump.
We're waiting to hear from you.
So, who will stand up to Trump?
Where are the checks and balances?
Unless and until the Republican Party, which controls Congress does something to rein in this out of control, would be tyrant, America will be diminished, possibly beyond redemption.
We don't have years, months, or even weeks to do something about this. Every hour that Republicans fail to denounce his behavior, and take steps to prevent his actions from taking affect, is one more hour where the world accepts that we, as a nation, are not trustworthy.
Trust, once lost, is nearly impossible to recover.
Mr. McConnell? Mr. Ryan? Is this your vision of America?
If so, you are as much responsible for our inevitable decline as Mr. Trump.
We're waiting to hear from you.
20
Thanks Dr. Krugman. However, a key point is being missed and it is deliberately being obscured by the Grand Master himself, Mr. Bannon. He, his Chief and their crony Republicans are all dedicated to burning down the house. Unfortunately for us, no one has asked these pyromaniacs what they are going to build on top of the ashes. Neither Mr. Bannon nor the Republicans have had to answer that question, nor act on it because they enjoyed dancing around the bonfire and blaming the firemen for dousing their fun. As is clear from the constant whining and responses of "we won" by their mindless supporters, it is not the shiny objects that have them mesmerized, it is the fire. They probably would have preferred 'burn her" instead of "lock her up", just like the early settlers blinded by their preachers (looking at you Graham(s)). So now we need to determine three things always required by encountering a purpose-set fire, how to put it out, how to stop the pyromaniac(s) and how do we rebuild.
7
Trump is the natural culmination of 40+ years of Ayn Rand, Reagan, Thatcher, supply side mumbo jumbo, union suppression, IMF mandated craziness worldwide, Iraqi invasion and genocide, Fox News, Koch Brothers, Tea Party, Ted Cruz, Paul Ryan and the like. He fits right into this point in history. A big orange round peg into a nice round hole.
Just as Bernie Sanders does not fit at all. He would be an ordinary leftie in 1965, maybe even too far to the right. Our centre has been shifted very craftily and very very slowly.
Just as Bernie Sanders does not fit at all. He would be an ordinary leftie in 1965, maybe even too far to the right. Our centre has been shifted very craftily and very very slowly.
22
Trump ran, in part, on shaking up government. He's doing exactly that--he doesn't really understand how it works, so he and his team are casually wrecking it while they figure out how it works.
I do think the US can recover from this, but it would probably take at least a year for every month the man is in office--possibly for every week, given the damage he's doing to the scientific and diplomatic communities.
If he stays in office for a full term and Congress does not rein him in, I am not sure how our government will survive the Trump-quake. We may need a new Constitutional Convention.
I do think the US can recover from this, but it would probably take at least a year for every month the man is in office--possibly for every week, given the damage he's doing to the scientific and diplomatic communities.
If he stays in office for a full term and Congress does not rein him in, I am not sure how our government will survive the Trump-quake. We may need a new Constitutional Convention.
14
This nation has kept its promises...
Didn't we leave the Kurds out to dry twice, once under H Kissinger and once under Bush ?
Didn't we promise to defend the Ukraine, in return for which it gave up its nukes ?
and that is just off the top of my head
Didn't we leave the Kurds out to dry twice, once under H Kissinger and once under Bush ?
Didn't we promise to defend the Ukraine, in return for which it gave up its nukes ?
and that is just off the top of my head
5
We've kept our promises when they could be kept without starting WWIII... denying Russian access to Crimea would have been a rehashing of the Cuban missile Crisis. had they called our bluff (which Putin has seemed wont to do in the past), WWIII. Not worth it. breaking trade agreements with strong and local allies is a fundamentally different kind of promise breaking, to Dr. Krugman's point
2
Kellyanne Conway advised us to judge Trump by his heart not his words. He has shown us it is a heart of darkness.
21
He has no heart.
2
Krugman: "But isn’t the U.S. government supposed to get stuff right before floating what sounds like a declaration of trade war?"
But, Dr. Krugman, the White House has become the domicile of an Alice in Wonderland character, and, as Alice said: "Things are what I say they are."
But, Dr. Krugman, the White House has become the domicile of an Alice in Wonderland character, and, as Alice said: "Things are what I say they are."
9
I'm beginning to feel like I'm on the USS Caine and there's a typhoon coming.
5
One wonders if Trump made "gut" decisions like his recent actions in his businesses. Maybe he just thinks governing is much simpler than running hotels and golf courses, so he can just wing it. Or, maybe, he actually doesn't run his businesses at all, and lets the help figure out what to do?
In any event, we can hope Trump is on a learning curve and not something else.
In any event, we can hope Trump is on a learning curve and not something else.
2
He runs his businesses by bankrupting them, i.e. into the ground.
2
Chaos attended by discarding all vestiges of past virtues that made America look honorable is likely Trump's intended and primary goal. In chaos, coming rapidly and on many fronts, a lot of our national virtue can not only be discarded in the disruptions but an environment created where authoritarian means and manners appear to be the only remedy that can cure the chaos.
Anyone who understands how authoritarian dictators come to power can clearly discern Trump and his methods. He is, I believe, less interested in creating a new world where all his supporters thrive and essentially interested in being the duce for life. All these executive orders abrogating our liberties and creating a dystopian mess are intentional, designed to sow chaos in a massive and wealthy system where only one man--Trump--and a few of his minions decide who gets liberty and opportunity and who doesn't. My only point is, don't be fooled by the trappings of these EOs. It is right to review each order on a case by case basis, but the signs that chaos and dysfunction are the ultimate goals are clear and much more difficult to quash.
Anyone who understands how authoritarian dictators come to power can clearly discern Trump and his methods. He is, I believe, less interested in creating a new world where all his supporters thrive and essentially interested in being the duce for life. All these executive orders abrogating our liberties and creating a dystopian mess are intentional, designed to sow chaos in a massive and wealthy system where only one man--Trump--and a few of his minions decide who gets liberty and opportunity and who doesn't. My only point is, don't be fooled by the trappings of these EOs. It is right to review each order on a case by case basis, but the signs that chaos and dysfunction are the ultimate goals are clear and much more difficult to quash.
8
There is one way the press can get ahead of He Who Must Not Be Combed, it's trying to foresee what he is going to do and have discussions about it already. For example, the main way for his presidency to be monetized is Exxon's Russia contract. How is he going to do that? Putin will "help" him bomb ISIS and therefore be rewarded with the sanctions lifted. Exxon's 0.5 T$ contract will go through and the Trumps will get a lot of money (after his 4 years?). We can't allow this to happen without him paying an enormous political price.
5
"the centerpiece is a cheese ball surrounded by nuts"
Perfect!
Perfect!
7
Prof. Krugman writes, "Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike." Like, um, the treaties we signed with the Native Americans?
6
True, but irrelevant to the situation at hand. comments like that serve to normalize what he is doing. Dr. K is clearly talking about international agreements in the post WWII international order, which at this pace could well unravel. Please understand how catistrophic that could be, and remember that despite horrors committed centuries ago, it is not normal.
3
Excellent column, as ever, Paul, and all the more reason to get this cataclysmic ignoramus out of office ASAP.
5
I'm an economic simpleton, but what I see is this: the guys who are just fine with burying the estate tax for billionaires want me to pay a few pennies more for every melon or bag of peppers that crosses the border (and, even worse, to do it to pay for the ***** wall). And, if the Trump voters are who the papers say they are, scattered through depressed communities across middle America, they'll be in for a rude awakening as these hidden sales taxes jack up some prices, while other products disappear entirely. Just like Mexico will "pay later", they'll be getting their fantasy-manufacturing jobs back some time..."in the future". Good luck.
6
Updated: 12:44:30pm ET-0.85%
DOW 19,914.56 / -169.80 -1.12%
NASDAQ 5,597.22 / -63.56 -0.90%
S&P 2,272.71 / -20.95
Suprised the oligarchs like the immigration policy this much.
DOW 19,914.56 / -169.80 -1.12%
NASDAQ 5,597.22 / -63.56 -0.90%
S&P 2,272.71 / -20.95
Suprised the oligarchs like the immigration policy this much.
It can't happen here!! Oh yes it can and its a snowball going downhill. Mexico has already started to explore other markets, i.e. Argentina and Brazil which a great percentage of our uneducated and uninformed electorate think is a good thing as it would cause those products to be manufactured in the USA which would make DJT the greatest job creator in the history of the world. Really?? Our workers would be paid anywhere from the minimum wage to maybe $15-20 per hour compared to Mexican wages which are significantly less. In other words, DJT would create a "YUGE" tax increase on the middle class as products would be much more expensive, At the same time, this would not effect the top 10%ers who could afford to spend $100 for a product that would otherwise cost $25-50. The devil is always in the details!
2
The way the trump/Putin presidency is going to bring down the country is by CHAOS.
4
Is Mexico only go to pay for building the wall? Why aren't they also paying for annual operating and maintenance expenses, which will quickly dwarf the construction cost. Where is your cost benefit/feasibility study Mr. President?
8
Whoa there ! Think Krugman is playing a little three-card monte with his readers.
Yes, a VAT offers no particular advantage for domestic or foreign producers since it's basically a sales tax which affects all goods.
But a border tax is something else as Krugman admits in his blog - "the subsidy part would lead to expanded domestic production if wages and exchange rates didn’t change." Of course, he cannot allow for such an idea (originated by Republicans) to gain favor. So he argues instead that "wages and/or the exchange rate would, in fact, change."
Let's take that a piece at a time. A typical Mexican worker earns $4 PER DAY. Even a Mexican engineer working for GE only earns $75 PER DAY I think we can safely say that it would take some time (and would be a welcome development) before Mexican wages would reach American levels.
And as Krugman well knows, many things affect exchange rates other than just the trade flows. In particular, Federal Reserve policy and financial flows both significantly affect exchange rates.
Also, it seems curious that liberals like Krugman often lionize Europe. Yet, Europe imposes a 10% tarriff on Mexican imports (similar to the border tax) to protect their domestic industries. Given this, why is Krugman's displeasure directed at the US and not at his friends across the Atlantic ?
Yes, a VAT offers no particular advantage for domestic or foreign producers since it's basically a sales tax which affects all goods.
But a border tax is something else as Krugman admits in his blog - "the subsidy part would lead to expanded domestic production if wages and exchange rates didn’t change." Of course, he cannot allow for such an idea (originated by Republicans) to gain favor. So he argues instead that "wages and/or the exchange rate would, in fact, change."
Let's take that a piece at a time. A typical Mexican worker earns $4 PER DAY. Even a Mexican engineer working for GE only earns $75 PER DAY I think we can safely say that it would take some time (and would be a welcome development) before Mexican wages would reach American levels.
And as Krugman well knows, many things affect exchange rates other than just the trade flows. In particular, Federal Reserve policy and financial flows both significantly affect exchange rates.
Also, it seems curious that liberals like Krugman often lionize Europe. Yet, Europe imposes a 10% tarriff on Mexican imports (similar to the border tax) to protect their domestic industries. Given this, why is Krugman's displeasure directed at the US and not at his friends across the Atlantic ?
2
How is the EU economy doing? if that's your example of a protectionist bloc?
Calling Trump ignorant is trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear. You recently referred to this President as "mentally ill". That is closer. I have a diagnosis: He is suffering from a condition known as Munchausen by Prexy Syndrome. It is a very rare form of Munchausen syndrome with an underlying narcissistic condition. It is manifested by creating "carnage" that "he alone can remedy", much like the parent that makes the child ill, takes the child over and over to the hospital in order to get praised as a conscientious parent and all the while inflicting the pain or injury himselfand all the while deflecting attention from his destructive deed. Just in one day he created havoc all over the world with his ban on Muslim immigrants. Our nation lost our greatness yesterday. Without a moment's reflection on what he did, he announced this morning that he has his SCOTUS appointee ready to announce tomorrow--and all the people reeling from the weekend's damage divert their eyes and pens away from that carnage to worry and speculation about who he will appoint to destroy us from within on the Supreme Court. This isn't just building wall of ignorance. This is destroying us from within. Our answer to POTUS must be a resounding NOT US. And, unlike many doctors who overlook Munchausen Syndrome, not believing it is possible for a parent to want to hurt their child, we need to open our eyes and accept that our Commander in Chief is possibly trying to destroy us.
13
Don't watch his TV spectacle!
I like your analysis.
I think we lost our greatness on November 8, 2016.
I like your analysis.
I think we lost our greatness on November 8, 2016.
6
This is what happens when you have a populist who is trying to show how he will follow through with terrible ideas only meant to pander to a base of know-nothings to get himself elected. Pathetic on every level.
We now have a bunch of sycophants floating policies and a child-president signing executive orders with no consideration or thought (not that either is likely or possible) for anything other than how they will play to the base.
They need to leave and we need professionals in charge. Unfortunately, that will likely take four years. Let's see how bad they will make things in the interim and then we'll have to truly make America great again.
We now have a bunch of sycophants floating policies and a child-president signing executive orders with no consideration or thought (not that either is likely or possible) for anything other than how they will play to the base.
They need to leave and we need professionals in charge. Unfortunately, that will likely take four years. Let's see how bad they will make things in the interim and then we'll have to truly make America great again.
7
Republicans, are you ready for impeachment yet? Just let us know as soon you are. By the time you realize it, the rest of America will be dying to get rid of this administration. I suspect that it won't take more than a year or two.
7
America needs to decide if it wants to have a government of "We the People" working together or a loose group of "rugged individuals" working for their own personal interests.
2
Donald Trump is a master conman. Part of the art of the con is distraction. It is difficult to discern what is his real agenda and what is distraction. Yes, his economic details can be shown to be wrong, but while people as smart as Paul Krugman are focused on de-bunking them, we may not be focused on other issues. We should be looking at the entire picture and figuring out what Trump's real goal is.
7
Yes, this administration is frightening to me. I wish this was not the case, but it is. Not just the president, but nominated and appointed officials about the president.
4
So it turns out the first casualties of the Trump presidency will be farmers and the rural communities dependent on agribusiness. Grain is literally laying all over the ground in Iowa, Kansas and Nebraska -- no room left in the elevators. All these states voted overwhelmingly to "Make America Great Again". Now, killing the TPP and NAFTA threatens the very existence of those communities. How could those folks be so shortsighted?
14
Thank you for explaining how VATs do not affect imports or exports. I was a little fuzzy on that.
1
Totally irreversible is more like it. Most people just hold grudge but sometimes others have more. The republicans who are not standing against this administration are a disgrace and should be treated as such.
1
The Trump Cure is worse than the Hillary Disease.
3
Anti-Intellectualism has been a factor in American thinking well before Richard Hofstadter wrote "Anti-Intellectualism in American Life" in 1963. We have now elected a president who is the poster child. Reasoned, fact based argument? Considered opinion? Gone, thanks to millions of anti-intellectual fools who imagined Trump was some sort of folk hero who would solve problems like some cartoon movie hero. Our nation is now a comedy show and the world is laughing. We will pay a historic price for this mess and those who voted for this impulsive child to lead our country are guilty of super-sizing anti-intellectualism.
13
Trump's immigration plan not only contradicts what America stands for, it's likely to accomplish exactly the opposite of its alleged intent: to prevent terrorist attacks. On the contrary, the ban is likely to escalate ISIS activities and recruitment (https://goo.gl/Nt6Ffw). The order is illegal (https://goo.gl/11uPaF). The U.S. has already tried extreme vetting and it didn't work (https://goo.gl/3iCxan). All of that speaks to the poorly executed and immoral aspects of the order. It's also important to note that the ban excludes Muslim countries where Trump does business (https://goo.gl/xQrgfM). Trump acts impulsively on gut feelings that indicate digestive problems, not intelligent thought or governing savvy. The ban deserves strident objection. End the ban. One influential tactic might be to petition the Airline Pilots Association (703.689.2270) to encourage pilots to go on strike and refuse travel to everyone -- demonstrate the fierce objection to yet another of Trump's poorly conceived plans.
5
"..now has to wonder whether they’ll be treated like stiffed contractors at a Trump hotel."
The above quote from Mr. Krugman says it all. Our country is now being led by a group of con artists and racists who like Trump, in making his fortune, have no regard for morality or ethics; their personal gain is for them all that exists.
The above quote from Mr. Krugman says it all. Our country is now being led by a group of con artists and racists who like Trump, in making his fortune, have no regard for morality or ethics; their personal gain is for them all that exists.
13
Today's news foreshadowed in 1958. See if your jaw doesn't hit the floor as watch this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs6UcgiDwg0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gs6UcgiDwg0
2
Ignorance and arrogance are a very dangerous combination. Compound that with the vanity of this man and his insatiable need for attention and you get the announcement of the next Supreme Court nominee scheduled for 8:00 p.m. EST on January 31st 2017 - a stunt to grab the spotlight. I urge the news organizations to boycott the event. RESIST!
5
What's not to dislike about this Administration? Everything!!
3
What happened to the hacking and rigged election investigation? Forgotten news already? Keeping up with this guy's nonstop blunders and horrid decisions is exhausting and also distracting. You mean to tell me he's done nothing that makes him impeachable? Because once you get this clown on the stand he will lie through his teeth and it's all over for him. Then we would get the cultish looking and acting Mike Pence. Pick your poison.
3
May be one of the most crucial and fatal anomaly in Trumps presidency is Steve Bannon type of character ( Fascist-Nazi- White supremacist) is holding place next to US president first time.
7
As dangerous as Trump/Bannon/et.al executive actions are, the greater threat is a republican congress that will allow it to happen. If the first ten days are a predicate to the next months, the disasters and destabilization will keep coming. I keep asking when is enough enough. Apparently, Mr Ryan is willing to sacrifice this country for what? I am putting my money (literally) on the ACLU as the only bulwark against the White House. Who ever thought our greatest enemy would be our president?
11
Conservatives didn't like putative apology tour. Wait until they see the one after Trump.
Those who blame Mr Trump for being Mr Trump, which has always been his trademark, fail to point out he was elected by us the American electorate and our electoral college system which is in place to prevent would be dictators, among others, from assuming control.
Mr Trump hasn't changed in anyway but affiliation to his new political party and he is clearly bringing change to it. Pointing fingers at him is the easiest place to look but fails to peel back the layers and expose those who are in support of the new puppet master and why they back his erratic behavior.
Who gains and why is a lot less obvious than pointing out flaws in the court jester who sits on the throne.
There are a few more than contractors who are waiting in the wings and are likely to be stiffed.
Mr Trump hasn't changed in anyway but affiliation to his new political party and he is clearly bringing change to it. Pointing fingers at him is the easiest place to look but fails to peel back the layers and expose those who are in support of the new puppet master and why they back his erratic behavior.
Who gains and why is a lot less obvious than pointing out flaws in the court jester who sits on the throne.
There are a few more than contractors who are waiting in the wings and are likely to be stiffed.
1
Fine, fine, good column, but I must say I am more concerned about what Trump may do to promises made by our government to Americans than I am over promises America has made to the world. For example social security...healthcare. If you are not of the comfortable class, you worry about such things more and less about the big picture. This may well be the plan. Then the mass of Americans will not care where you march or where you plunder or how rich the one percent gets, as long as they are comfortably left alone.
1
More preaching to the choir. Most Trump supporters don't care (or even understand) reasoned arguments. All they want is action that conforms to their world view. It doesn't matter what consequences follow, they want ACTION. Don't expect Congress to do anything, Republicans are either afraid to get on Trump's bad side, or agree with him. Once Trump gets the Supreme Court padded there will be no check and balances on what he does. Just what his supports want.
4
It's a volatile mixture- the combination of Trump's ignorance, folly, narcissism, and insecurities on one side, and his campaign rhetoric of populism, division, protectionism, and nativism, on the other. Trump's main impulse is to strike a pose - on Twitter or in a photo op - to pout into the camera, read out titles of presidential decrees, and seem to deliver on campaign promises. He's "like, a President", just as he's "like, a smart man." Meanwhile, the sinister, half-mad, and bloated Bannon gets to over-ride advice and without being elected or vetted by Congress, decide on policy. Poor America, poor world to suffer the consequences over however long it will be. Even a week looks too long!
4
The decreased credibility and reliability of the US are already the first fruits of President Trump's mode of mis-governance by rapid fire, impetuous executive "disorders." "By their fruits you shall know them."
1
There is one definite thing that a paranoid and ignorant person will do when put in charge - Come up with a bucket of nonsense by the minute
There is one definite thing that more intelligent and sane people should do - figure out ways to legally unseat the ignorant commander.
Instead of saying how ugly this fellow is - and there is surely plenty more to come, let us instead talk about how he can be sent into early retirement. HR made a bad decision in hiring a chief executive. But who says the Board cannot oust him?
There is one definite thing that more intelligent and sane people should do - figure out ways to legally unseat the ignorant commander.
Instead of saying how ugly this fellow is - and there is surely plenty more to come, let us instead talk about how he can be sent into early retirement. HR made a bad decision in hiring a chief executive. But who says the Board cannot oust him?
4
The point is missed by the author. A tariff raises the cost of the goods on the people buying. The point of the tariff is then to buy goods elsewhere that are cheaper than the goods imported from Mexico. This is exactly what everyone does when they shop on line, both to get the goods cheaper and not to pay the tariff (state sales taxes), if possible.
That walls then of ignorance have been started by various presidents, including Clinton. But now Trump's wall is and sanctions to stop illegal aliens from crossing the border is dysfunctional, ignoranant, incompetent and a betrayal of trust.
That walls then of ignorance have been started by various presidents, including Clinton. But now Trump's wall is and sanctions to stop illegal aliens from crossing the border is dysfunctional, ignoranant, incompetent and a betrayal of trust.
"In the process he demonstrated that nobody in authority understands basic economics."
This administration had made mistakes that a freshman economics major wouldn't make. This point needs to be expanded to consensus among economists, and hammered relentlessly. It's as though the nation were going into surgery and operated on by a team in which no one has been to medical school, and most profess contempt for medicine.
Another point that needs to be expanded to consensus and hammered on relentlessly is that the US presidential election is not a poker game in one of Mr. Trump's casinos. The winner doesn't take all the chips; the losers aren't stuck and out of luck because this was always 'the deal'.
In the US election, the winner is the legitimate president, but s/he only gets to govern in accordance with what the majority will accept. Awkwardly for Mr. Trump, the majority of Americans strongly oppose him, and many even despise him. He must come to terms with that. The American people are entitled, effectively, to shut down a government which they do not support, and the US Constitution protects this right. If Mr. Trump continues to govern from his small and extreme constituency, massive crowds will continue to paralyze and frustrate his administration.
Angry repetition of "but I always promised this in the campaign" is not a response when a large majority of the nation disapproves, most disapprove strongly and many are repulsed.
This administration had made mistakes that a freshman economics major wouldn't make. This point needs to be expanded to consensus among economists, and hammered relentlessly. It's as though the nation were going into surgery and operated on by a team in which no one has been to medical school, and most profess contempt for medicine.
Another point that needs to be expanded to consensus and hammered on relentlessly is that the US presidential election is not a poker game in one of Mr. Trump's casinos. The winner doesn't take all the chips; the losers aren't stuck and out of luck because this was always 'the deal'.
In the US election, the winner is the legitimate president, but s/he only gets to govern in accordance with what the majority will accept. Awkwardly for Mr. Trump, the majority of Americans strongly oppose him, and many even despise him. He must come to terms with that. The American people are entitled, effectively, to shut down a government which they do not support, and the US Constitution protects this right. If Mr. Trump continues to govern from his small and extreme constituency, massive crowds will continue to paralyze and frustrate his administration.
Angry repetition of "but I always promised this in the campaign" is not a response when a large majority of the nation disapproves, most disapprove strongly and many are repulsed.
5
It appears to me that such taxes as discussed today would actually require Americans to pay for the wall twice. First, in straight up spending as with any infrastructure project, but again with the value-added tax or tariff.
4
"[A] tariff on Mexican goods would be a tax on U.S. consumers"
But what about a corporation like Nabisco that moves its plant across the border to Mexico to avoid paying American workers a higher wage. Wouldn't a 20% tariff discourage this, and wouldn't a tariff in fact save American jobs? Wouldn't this be a tax on U.S. corporations, rather than consumers?
But what about a corporation like Nabisco that moves its plant across the border to Mexico to avoid paying American workers a higher wage. Wouldn't a 20% tariff discourage this, and wouldn't a tariff in fact save American jobs? Wouldn't this be a tax on U.S. corporations, rather than consumers?
jason – please. a tax on corporations would simply be passed on to us, the consumers. You don't seriously think they'd shrink their profit margin to keep from raising the price of goods, do you?
2
Sally - please, if corporations had the ability to pass on any cost increase to their customers, why would they move their plants to lower wage places in the first place? By your reading, they could pay their employees whatever they demanded and just pass the costs on, eh? The truth is, companies charge as much as possible at all times for their products and any increase in costs comes directly from profit.
The wall is a great idea. Putting one around the current president would immensely help the security of our country.
7
If there is any energy left, let's look at the problem Trump is supposed to solve, that is the problem of the disappearance of good-paying jobs. That job loss has been due to outsourcing in part, but in future will be made much worse by AI and automation. Manufacture needs few workers, sales are on-line, delivery will be by driverless vehicles. Corporations just cannot employ enough people, regardless of their skills.
In the meantime, many socially useful jobs like healthcare, elder care, child care, building infrastructure, teaching, providing a working TV and newspaper information system, providing wi- fi to all, caring for the environment, and on, and on, all are underfunded, many neglected altogether. Why?
Because Congress is financed by corporations.
Trump won't fix this: he thinks the problem is outside the country, and not about the 1/4%. Ryan-McConnell-Pence are corporate shills. The Dems have to be recast to be for the people, a la Bernie, and the Pence-Ryan-McConnell puppets removed.
In the meantime, many socially useful jobs like healthcare, elder care, child care, building infrastructure, teaching, providing a working TV and newspaper information system, providing wi- fi to all, caring for the environment, and on, and on, all are underfunded, many neglected altogether. Why?
Because Congress is financed by corporations.
Trump won't fix this: he thinks the problem is outside the country, and not about the 1/4%. Ryan-McConnell-Pence are corporate shills. The Dems have to be recast to be for the people, a la Bernie, and the Pence-Ryan-McConnell puppets removed.
5
Build that wall. I'll build the El Chapo School of Tunneling.
Trump is not a politician, he is a psychopath. Understanding how deeply mentally ill he is is the first step towards sidelining him as President. Impeachment is the obvious answer.
3
Americans better decide to get involved in government.
From the beginning most countries have had strong, aggressive, selfish, megalomaniacal personalities bully their way to the top and then leave the citizens in the dust.
The plan of our founding fathers was a government of, by, and for "We the People".
But look where we are now. The status quo has mostly been government for the rich and powerful.
Average Americans are once again in the dust.
We need Average Americans involved.
The worship of money and power will not lead anywhere good.
And idolizing people like Trump is just a repetition of the mistakes of the past.
Leaving it to the bullies will never work.
From the beginning most countries have had strong, aggressive, selfish, megalomaniacal personalities bully their way to the top and then leave the citizens in the dust.
The plan of our founding fathers was a government of, by, and for "We the People".
But look where we are now. The status quo has mostly been government for the rich and powerful.
Average Americans are once again in the dust.
We need Average Americans involved.
The worship of money and power will not lead anywhere good.
And idolizing people like Trump is just a repetition of the mistakes of the past.
Leaving it to the bullies will never work.
1
Every day I'm reminded why I didn't vote for this loon.
2
It is called a resignation. We want Trump to resign.
Who within Trump's inner circle had contact with Russia, suggested, planned and coordinated the hacking of the Democratic Party?
One of the people present when he signed the Executive Order.
Who within Trump's inner circle had contact with Russia, suggested, planned and coordinated the hacking of the Democratic Party?
One of the people present when he signed the Executive Order.
1
Prof. Krugman you are committing the error of trying to educate The American People during the Idiocracy of a Trump presidency. Good luck!
Trump's True Believers (some of my best friends) could care less to actually investigate with sound reasoning any of Trump's fraudulent and shoddy decisions to make America Great Again. All they care about is that Hillary wasn't elected and now they can keep all their guns to protect themselves against the Democratic Liberals.
Hail Trump Land!
Trump's True Believers (some of my best friends) could care less to actually investigate with sound reasoning any of Trump's fraudulent and shoddy decisions to make America Great Again. All they care about is that Hillary wasn't elected and now they can keep all their guns to protect themselves against the Democratic Liberals.
Hail Trump Land!
2
While other countries may not wish to be insulted and betrayed a spell as a Trump target can do wonders for ratings. President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico had a 12 percent.....12 PERCENT.....approval rating early last week. After the wall incident on Thursday Mexican media were full of pledges of support for the Mexican president; from opposition political parties to the Catholic Church, from industrialists to media notables, everyone urged national solidarity against American bullying. More to the point there was widespread brainstorming on potential responses by Mexico, from cutting corn imports (supplies available from Brazil and Ukraine) to importing Canadian cheese and New Zealand butter.....(Wisconsin dairy farmers please thank feckless Paul Ryan) to shifting bank deposits from Texas to Panama and deporting DEA agents, there was a widespread anger at President Trump's contempt for our neighbor. Some of the proposals were impractical, some counter-productive, but there was widespread enthusiasm for negotiating with cartels for information on Republicans benefiting from the drug trade and identifying Republican notables who are users. And as the early maneuvering has already started to position candidates for the 2018 Mexican presidential election it is clear a major campaign issue will be which candidate will stand up to the United States. When President Trump learns his abuse of Mexico has earned the Chinese Navy basing rights in Ensenada he can brag about security.
6
Paul, the raw materials for your wall of ignorance have always been lying about in the U.S. Others have tried to build such a wall in the past, like Joe McCarthy in the early 1950s. Trump is simply the first extremist to find that time in U.S. history when enough American voters, who are that raw material for the wall, citizens who are more motivated by fear, however badly founded and ill conceived, than they are by knowledge.
Trump and Bannon are prime examples of such irrationality.
Curiously, if Joe McCarthy had become president his actions in his time may have mirrored those of Trump in ours.
Imagine, Bannon is on the National Security Council and members of the Joint Chiefs are off. There's another wall; one that fences out minds that could educate Trump about the realities of our international concerns and fences in Bannon, whose motives are disseminating disinformation to propagate his own delusional understanding of our foreign and domestic concerns.
Trump and Bannon are prime examples of such irrationality.
Curiously, if Joe McCarthy had become president his actions in his time may have mirrored those of Trump in ours.
Imagine, Bannon is on the National Security Council and members of the Joint Chiefs are off. There's another wall; one that fences out minds that could educate Trump about the realities of our international concerns and fences in Bannon, whose motives are disseminating disinformation to propagate his own delusional understanding of our foreign and domestic concerns.
17
Trump makes Warren Harding look good.
3
My dad uses to say that there's nothing worse than a crazy person with initiative. Exhibit A: Trump
8
Trump is merely a symptom, not the disease. Sure, he's a demagogue and a moral degenerate, but ask yourself, what is it that made nearly half the voting public cast ballots for him? Why is it that the rest of the civilized world sees Trump as a dangerous buffoon and Trump's supporters don't? Have people in other countries been exposed to round-the-clock propaganda from Rush Limbaugh (and a panoply of right-wing talk radio hosts around the country), Fox News, Breitbart, Drudge and the rest of the right-wing propaganda apparatus? Isn't that the key difference? Didn't Trump merely hitch his wagon to that pervasive propaganda?
History shows us that people are easily swayed by effective propaganda. The results are often ugly. Very ugly. That's what is happening here.
History shows us that people are easily swayed by effective propaganda. The results are often ugly. Very ugly. That's what is happening here.
12
Gee, maybe Paul Ryan will begin to look thoughtful. Maybe Congress is just standing around the water cooler until the new boss is straight-jacketed? Then Pence can take over and make America safe for Theocracy. Corporations will breathe easier as taxes, regulations, and overhead costs like healthcare all are reduced and real government can focus on the goals of the religious right and leave the 1/4% alone.
6
What America needs is protectionism from Trump himself.
3
Big fear growing in red states like Idaho; Huge portion of the farmers products go to Canada and Mexico under NAFTA. Might lose $2 billion in profit. 'Stupid is as stupid does.'
12
As a state that receives more federal dollars than it pays in, Idaho should be very satisfied that they voted him in, and we will still pay for it.
How long can this charade ho on ?
Folks, the Emperor has no clothes !
Folks, the Emperor has no clothes !
5
Besides the economic non-sense of the alledged effects of the wall construction and of its financing alternatives, we should not forget the absurd idea behind this: no country, not even the US, can impose upon other country the payment of something it decides, unilaterally, to build. Trump's insistence has been ridiculous and offensive. He is still performing for the minority US population that elected him. Would they still be as supportive if they knew the effects that a trade war with Mexico can bring?
4
I think we have reached a point where one side isn't going to believe the other side. An attorney once told me - there is your side, his side, and the truth. How are we ever going to find it?
5
All of trump's actions are knee jerk reactions or clear attempts to placate his voter base. Too bad he doesn't take the time to consider the ramifications of his actions BEFORE acting. Governing a country with such a large political clout as the USA should not be in the hands of an amateur whose past decisions have led to six bankruptcies. The members of the US electorate are like the shareholders of a large organization. Is there nothing in place to remove him NOW from an office for which he is clearly unfit? Something that does not rely upon the GOP who are clearly complicit in his actions?
5
I am far more angry at Congress. Gleeful at gutting the paltry safety net we have now, gutting the best health care system we have had, they stand silent and grinning as Trump destroys our system of government.
The Constitution gives Congress their most important job: to oversee the Exec branch so that we would not have an imperial or manifestly unfit man in office. Congress is our last bulwark short of revolt and yet look at the pictures: silly forced grins on Ryan and puffed-up pomp from McConnell as they watch Trump sign yet another paper in defiance of law, custom and national values. Beware: quislings fare badly in history. You are grinning at the falling apart of belief in our nation.
Congress: do your job.
The Constitution gives Congress their most important job: to oversee the Exec branch so that we would not have an imperial or manifestly unfit man in office. Congress is our last bulwark short of revolt and yet look at the pictures: silly forced grins on Ryan and puffed-up pomp from McConnell as they watch Trump sign yet another paper in defiance of law, custom and national values. Beware: quislings fare badly in history. You are grinning at the falling apart of belief in our nation.
Congress: do your job.
12
No check on the branches anymore!
Mr. Krugman, please do not lose track of the Russian connections. We need to know what's going on there. The part I cannot figure out yet is when it's clear the spineless Congress won't stand up to this idiot, we the people are going to have to have a strategy.
7
What do you expect an ignorant person to do---something intelligent?
3
I can't even imagine what another WEEK will look like with DTJ in charge. The Wall of Ignorance and SHAME. Can you imagine the bragging rights Trump is licking his chops over that his name will be visible from space??? THIS IS WHY HE WANTS IT! Oh and the billions of dollars that will be made by his buddies on building it.
Someone put me out of my misery! Week two. Have heart attacks increased in the past 10 days?? Someone, please check!
Someone put me out of my misery! Week two. Have heart attacks increased in the past 10 days?? Someone, please check!
1
As I said in a previous post, Putin must be smiling.
One of our big selling points is that we are a nation of integrity.
Now, where are we as a nation?
We are supposed to be a leader country.
Look at us now.
WAY TO GO TRUMP & Co!!!!
One of our big selling points is that we are a nation of integrity.
Now, where are we as a nation?
We are supposed to be a leader country.
Look at us now.
WAY TO GO TRUMP & Co!!!!
3
and.....a failed counterterrorism ordered by Trump has resulted in the death of an American solder and civilian women and children. Lets see what carnage is in store for week #2.
2
Good thing he's got all the best people with the highest IQs ever. Wait, didn't folks of a similar ilk hand us Enron, the Iraq war, and the great recession? But, at least the five or six of them are the smartest people in the room ... when they're alone together ...with the door shut to the outside world.
Again, I can't wait for the tell all books, the resignations, the "your fireds", as the wheels come off this disaster in the making. Remember, Mr. Fake President and Republicans, you own it and are accountable for what happens to our nation from here on out ... not Obama, not Clinton, not the Dems, and not the press. You're in total control in D.C. It's your baby.
As Joe Biden said: “Grow up, Donald ... Time to be an adult. You're president, you got to do something ... Show us what you have."
If this is it, it is hugely disappointing. We are hugely losing as a country. And we are losing so much, that I am sick of losing already. Sad indeed!
Resist!
Lies and broken campaign promises remembered: He said he would release his taxes. This is rated five Pinocchios with their pants on fire by ... well ... everyone else in the world.
Again, I can't wait for the tell all books, the resignations, the "your fireds", as the wheels come off this disaster in the making. Remember, Mr. Fake President and Republicans, you own it and are accountable for what happens to our nation from here on out ... not Obama, not Clinton, not the Dems, and not the press. You're in total control in D.C. It's your baby.
As Joe Biden said: “Grow up, Donald ... Time to be an adult. You're president, you got to do something ... Show us what you have."
If this is it, it is hugely disappointing. We are hugely losing as a country. And we are losing so much, that I am sick of losing already. Sad indeed!
Resist!
Lies and broken campaign promises remembered: He said he would release his taxes. This is rated five Pinocchios with their pants on fire by ... well ... everyone else in the world.
5
Where have you been for the past week? They have been blaming the Democrats, loud and long. Because the Democrats didn't present a clear and coherent plan, there's no way they could have been elected, and it's their fault that Mr. Clear and Coherent Trump was elected.
If Sean Spicer only knew that he’d be paying 20% more for those tequila shots he’ll be desperately dowsing at the end of each day in the Trump White House, he might have personally lobbied the boss against the foolish 20% border tax?
3
NO IT'S NOT IRREVERSIBLE.
If the courts do their duty -- and they have so far -- and more and more Republicans in Congress summon up the courage to defend our country's interests and Constitution, his destructive tendencies will be curbed by America's institutions or else, like Nixon, the certainty of impeachment will compel his departure. Either way, like Watergate, initially viewed abroad as the death of American democracy, the outcome will be seen as a reaffirmation of institutional strength.
If not, is unlikely we can Keep the Republic, as Ben Franklin enjoined us.
If the courts do their duty -- and they have so far -- and more and more Republicans in Congress summon up the courage to defend our country's interests and Constitution, his destructive tendencies will be curbed by America's institutions or else, like Nixon, the certainty of impeachment will compel his departure. Either way, like Watergate, initially viewed abroad as the death of American democracy, the outcome will be seen as a reaffirmation of institutional strength.
If not, is unlikely we can Keep the Republic, as Ben Franklin enjoined us.
3
The real ignorance of the wall is, to me, that the Mexicans WILL PAY for the tunnels that they build under it! That's nothing new. Has this guy even spoken with the Border Patrol?
2
Of course he hasn't spoken with the Border Patrol! He's a cartoon character!
The credibility of the United States has always been one of our greatest assets. Among other things, it’s the very reason why our government is able to borrow at floor-level interest rates, in the form of Treasury bonds.
It is disheartening to see this man, who knows nothing about operating in good faith, threaten our nation’s honor so casually.
It is disheartening to see this man, who knows nothing about operating in good faith, threaten our nation’s honor so casually.
6
Make America Incredible Again.
1
Fact-based government has been abandoned; its cherished principles, for decades a global shining light, are being dismantled and destroyed. The new war is raw and sophisticated: attack the principles of democracy, subvert and undermine them, and carnage among the people follows, without having to declare war. Legal authority is the driver's whip. The new lash is like the old one: it tells millions when and where to move and inflicts pain to compel compliance, its lashes invisible leave permanent scars on the hearts and souls.
The executive-imposed travel and immigration ban is not about security. A raw, ugly evil, flag-wrapped in freedom and religion, it does does damages and misrepresents both. Power has exercised what it was to guard against: the vicious removal of freedom and the principles of law that security was to protect. Power has turned on the people without cause--and the powerful support it.
The new ban is actually a security collapse. Replacing historic principles security once defended is a new decree, white privilege--the right to treat others without justice based on national origin and religion, in defiance of constitutional protections.
The executive-imposed travel and immigration ban is not about security. A raw, ugly evil, flag-wrapped in freedom and religion, it does does damages and misrepresents both. Power has exercised what it was to guard against: the vicious removal of freedom and the principles of law that security was to protect. Power has turned on the people without cause--and the powerful support it.
The new ban is actually a security collapse. Replacing historic principles security once defended is a new decree, white privilege--the right to treat others without justice based on national origin and religion, in defiance of constitutional protections.
6
The new ban by Trump turns our democracy into a dictatorship.
3
How can I invest in the Mexican Ladder business? It's looking to grow.
2
"...from this shambolic administration — a pattern of dysfunction, ignorance, incompetence, and betrayal of trust."
I agree, wholeheartedly, but the truly stupefying part to all of this is the fact that The Cult Of The Trump - those who elected this man child - vigorously believe that everything he's doing (undoing) is biggly fantastical! It's why they voted for him. They are apparently unconcerned with violations of law, deconstruction of the constitution, or dismantling of a democracy that has taken us hundreds of years to build. Yes, it's true: about half of America (and at least some of Russia) is complicit in this plan to Make America Fail.
I agree, wholeheartedly, but the truly stupefying part to all of this is the fact that The Cult Of The Trump - those who elected this man child - vigorously believe that everything he's doing (undoing) is biggly fantastical! It's why they voted for him. They are apparently unconcerned with violations of law, deconstruction of the constitution, or dismantling of a democracy that has taken us hundreds of years to build. Yes, it's true: about half of America (and at least some of Russia) is complicit in this plan to Make America Fail.
3
In Sunday's print edition of this newspaper a front page Business Section article is entitled, "Trump Sees a Wall, Contractors See Windfalls," by Danielle Ivory and Julie Creswell. On page 6, a photo accompanies the article showing what appears to be a Mexican worker stacking bags of cement. The cement is manufactured by Cemex, the largest manufacturer of cement in Mexico. Cemex has an American subsidiary that would be eligible to bid on the contract to supply cement for the wall. And there, ladies and gentlemen, is the ironic feature of the week. Picture American consumers paying higher prices to finance a border wall, the building of which would create a hugely profitable contract for a Mexican company and provide good jobs for Mexican workers.
Yupper, America's getting greater by the day.
Yupper, America's getting greater by the day.
4
Why are any of the donald's paranoia manifesting in bizzare behaviors a surprise to anyone?
Trumpists are not budging. They like what their Evil Dictator is doing. They are as ignorant as he and his White Supremacist Goebbels alum, SS Bannon, are doing to destroy the Free Press and the rule of law. And with their sympathetic collaborators in Congress, Ryan and McConnell, Republicans are about to turn this country on its head. The rich will reap the rewards, the poor and working class will get the scraps.
After one week the United States has alienated its closest neighbors and trading partners, Mexico and Canada, and made our allies wary of US being the once great nation we were. They already hate Trump.
A million Britons have already signed a petition to ban Trump from entering the United Kingdom. Their Parliament has decried their PM May from kowtowing, bowing and curtsying to Trump. They now refer to May as Theresa the Appeaser.
Well, Amerika, are you great yet? In one week your Idiot in Chief has insulted and made enemies of friends for decades. Good going.
What will Week Two bring? Heaven knows.
DD
Manhattan
After one week the United States has alienated its closest neighbors and trading partners, Mexico and Canada, and made our allies wary of US being the once great nation we were. They already hate Trump.
A million Britons have already signed a petition to ban Trump from entering the United Kingdom. Their Parliament has decried their PM May from kowtowing, bowing and curtsying to Trump. They now refer to May as Theresa the Appeaser.
Well, Amerika, are you great yet? In one week your Idiot in Chief has insulted and made enemies of friends for decades. Good going.
What will Week Two bring? Heaven knows.
DD
Manhattan
7
Our federal courts acted swiftly in deciding civil actions commenced by litigants aggrieved by DJT's orders. Good for them. But where is our feckless Congress? Congress makes the laws. Congress is charged with the responsibility of knowing what the laws are. It's Congress's laws that DJT is trampling on. Why isn't Congress rising up swiftly and decisively to put the Chief Executive back into his Article II position? I guess Congress is too busy pursuing fecklessness to do anything decisive and effective. That heaven for our Article III judiciary.
4
They say, Karma Chakra (wheel) grinds slowly. But when it comes, it takes its retribution with compounded interest. Perhaps the wails and complaints of all those people Trump has stiffed, and continues to stiff even today, would soon receive their hearing UP ABOVE. Maybe his presidency would end up in ignominy it deserves. For comparison, I do not believe President Nixon's acts rose to the Trumpian levels.
2
First, Trump is a fascist. Nobody should doubt that. This requires all of us to oppose him & his regime.
That said, Mr. Krugman, when you write "Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike...", well, this is an alternative fact. Ask any Native American, if you can find one. That's just a start.
Fighting for the truth does require a higher standard. And not Ms. Clinton's "they go low, we go high" hypocrisy. It requires honesty, for one thing.
That said, Mr. Krugman, when you write "Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike...", well, this is an alternative fact. Ask any Native American, if you can find one. That's just a start.
Fighting for the truth does require a higher standard. And not Ms. Clinton's "they go low, we go high" hypocrisy. It requires honesty, for one thing.
3
Import tax is just about the nuttiest idea, especially when its proceeds are used to build a functionless wall.
1. as the saying goes, the wool comes from the sheep, so it is people who buy cheap goods - out of necessity - who got stuck with the bill.
2. Then the argument that the merchants might eat the cost is equally fallacious. No merchant would want to do business at a loss. So either they raise price or cut cost. Either way, it will hit the same population. Some even get a double whammy, higher price for their necessity while they get layoff
3. This is a lose-lose proposition when President Trump's base is getting the short end of the stick
1. as the saying goes, the wool comes from the sheep, so it is people who buy cheap goods - out of necessity - who got stuck with the bill.
2. Then the argument that the merchants might eat the cost is equally fallacious. No merchant would want to do business at a loss. So either they raise price or cut cost. Either way, it will hit the same population. Some even get a double whammy, higher price for their necessity while they get layoff
3. This is a lose-lose proposition when President Trump's base is getting the short end of the stick
3
"... the tariff tale nonetheless epitomizes the pattern we’re already seeing in this shambolic administration — a pattern of dysfunction, ignorance, incompetence, and betrayal of trust."
Unfortunately, the 2016 election proves that there are all too many people in this country who don't care about objective reality, and this is a mindset that will be very hard to change. The genie is out of the bottle now. Facts didn't matter before. They matter even less than nothing now (although I would welcome any positive and constructive response to the contrary - e.g., how can this mindset be penetrated and persuaded to change?).
Unfortunately, the 2016 election proves that there are all too many people in this country who don't care about objective reality, and this is a mindset that will be very hard to change. The genie is out of the bottle now. Facts didn't matter before. They matter even less than nothing now (although I would welcome any positive and constructive response to the contrary - e.g., how can this mindset be penetrated and persuaded to change?).
8
There are a lot of people who voted for Trump because they just couldn't bring themselves to vote for Hillary. That's an emotional response but it doesn't mean that those people have totally taken leave of their senses. So one thing that can be done is to run candidates against Trump (and the Republicans who support him) who don't automatically turn large blocs of voters off. The Democrats need to start finding those people now.
Another thing that can be done is to make clear the bad consequences of Trump's actions. This needs to be done with a considerable focus on Trump's rust-belt supporters, who could have made a difference in the last election. It needs to speak to issues that these voters care about. Trump is making Americans pay for the wall. Trump is making Americans pay more for goods and services. Trump is taking away health insurance. Trump is whipping up terrorists. Trump is threatening American values. Trump is making America a laughing stock.
Another thing that can be done is to put pressure on those in Congress who support Trump. Call your senators and representative. Show up at their meetings. Call other senators and representatives and tell them that you'll support their opponents if they help Trump to take down America.
And do whatever you can to help assure that we make it to the next election and that the election isn't rigged.
Another thing that can be done is to make clear the bad consequences of Trump's actions. This needs to be done with a considerable focus on Trump's rust-belt supporters, who could have made a difference in the last election. It needs to speak to issues that these voters care about. Trump is making Americans pay for the wall. Trump is making Americans pay more for goods and services. Trump is taking away health insurance. Trump is whipping up terrorists. Trump is threatening American values. Trump is making America a laughing stock.
Another thing that can be done is to put pressure on those in Congress who support Trump. Call your senators and representative. Show up at their meetings. Call other senators and representatives and tell them that you'll support their opponents if they help Trump to take down America.
And do whatever you can to help assure that we make it to the next election and that the election isn't rigged.
1
I'm not an economist, but as far as I can recall from my early childhood, my mother taught me that bad thinking, bad intentions and bad actions cannot produce good results; reality would catch up sooner or later. As I grew up, I also began to absorb that the universe is governed by certain unbendable laws and one of those laws is truth will always triumph.
As we have read in the media, Trump's start in life has been on the wrong foot. His money and personal disposition got him his way - most of the time. In business, his successes came either through fluke or luck - being in the right place at the right time - or through bending rules and regulations, and yes, sometimes laws also, with the help of his political pals and money donations.
It all worked well as long as he operated in private, largely away from public gaze or scrutiny. But now he's in a fish bowl under the light, day and night. The only things that can keep him company in the changed circumstances are his old habits of chicanery, lying, and, yes, outright fraud. All else, his actions and words would be on tape, or in writing in full public view. How long can he succeed going aginst time bound universal laws of Nature, and man made rules is not hard to guess.
If it means the eventual downfall of Trump, we can feel sorry for him, but still can walk away thinking an individual got what was coming to him, but it can affect us all, too. And that's the rub that should concern us all.
As we have read in the media, Trump's start in life has been on the wrong foot. His money and personal disposition got him his way - most of the time. In business, his successes came either through fluke or luck - being in the right place at the right time - or through bending rules and regulations, and yes, sometimes laws also, with the help of his political pals and money donations.
It all worked well as long as he operated in private, largely away from public gaze or scrutiny. But now he's in a fish bowl under the light, day and night. The only things that can keep him company in the changed circumstances are his old habits of chicanery, lying, and, yes, outright fraud. All else, his actions and words would be on tape, or in writing in full public view. How long can he succeed going aginst time bound universal laws of Nature, and man made rules is not hard to guess.
If it means the eventual downfall of Trump, we can feel sorry for him, but still can walk away thinking an individual got what was coming to him, but it can affect us all, too. And that's the rub that should concern us all.
4
The thing is, he has been in the public eye for a LONG time, and he STILL got away with things that should've sunk his ship. But along came the Electoral College...
2
He's never had to answer to others -- I thought about that. Don't know what to expect?
Calvin Coolidge was President when I was born. I remember my parent's fear during the Bank Holiday and the Great Depression, but I did not understand what was happening. I remember Father Coughlin's radio broadcasts and parochial school students telling me that the Jews killed "ahlawd", but I didn't know what "ahlawd" was. I remember the America First Committee and refugee ships from Germany being turned away from the United States. I remember Pearl Harbor, ships being torpedoed in sight of the Atlantic coast and oil washing up on the beaches. I remember the Cold War and the USSR exploding nuclear weapons. I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis. But I have never been as afraid as I am now. It IS happening here .
27
I just want to convey how very much I appreciate the candor--no less than the intelligence and education. Thank you.
5
A VAT would help exports if the revenues offset taxes paid exclusively by domestic producers and or their employees.
We know Mexico isn't paying. Trump doesn't pay taxes, so he's not paying. I guess it's down to you and me.
11
Tired of Mr. Krugman whining and spelling doom. That's how braking to stop falling into the European-alike chaos feels like. At the crucial points of the history of this country the ordinary American people proved to be smarter than bearded professors.
3
What does a beard have to do with anything, unless it makes one an elitist I guess.
1
Long beard in ancient times symbolized wisdom.
When would that be Boris?
We are a nation of laws. We have immigration laws that must be followed. President Trump promised his supporters that he would enact border security for America. He is just keeping one of his many promises that helped him get elected into office. We must keep our nation and people safe from criminals and drug dealers who want to hurt us. Many Americans feel he is doing a great job and applaud his success. He is just doing what is right and just. We love immigrants just legal immigrants who follow our laws. It is rally very simple.
10
Rally simple? His rallies were simple affairs that appealed to peoples un-rational emotions of fear and hatred. When the right wind uses the word love, substitute hate, fair is unfair and on and on.
2
The people harmed by Trump's executive order relating to refugees and other visa holders have already been vetted under our laws, enacted by Congress. They are not criminals. Many of them have been in the so-called "waiting line" for years. They were coming in legally. If Trump had wanted to review the current processes and suggest or even implement more effective processes, he could have done so in an orderly fashion. This order is from Trump the Showman and Bannon the Idealogue, attempting to appeal to followers such as yourself who are ignorant of our laws, but who have been led to believe that our government hasn't been working, hasn't been protecting us. What he is doing is a manifest injustice. Just read the stories of what's happened to people who were coming here legally. You can find out what the refugee vetting process is if you would just read the State Department site, the USCIS site, but I'll bet you'd rather read a screed that leads you to believe falsehoods. Prove me wrong.
7
We have borders. Can they be strengthened yes by using 21st century tools not a wall. Mexican illegal immigration has been flat for years. South Americans coming through Mexico present directly to ICE to apply for asylum. The current situation is ridiculous in that vetting is already an arduous task taking anywhere from one to three years. Trump is simply displaying xenophobia and calling it safety and his supporters are buying it. I have Trump supporters in my family and they blame the "other" for every downfall They scream about Muslims and Sharia law and illegals. None of them have ever even met an illegal or a Muslim. They are bigots, pure and simple
3
The problem starts MUCH earlier. It begins in the classroom hwere we have failed miserably to teach and graduate from high educated citizens. Only 1 in 4 has MORE than a HS dioploma. Democracy takes at least as much work as graduating form Hs. If you can't understand the homework in a civics class (do they still teach that?) how are you going to understand what it means to elect a president who says "I will work for ALL Americans" and then turn around and make laws negating that very statement?
If you want a better president, get a better electorate for starters.
We can only hope that Her TWITLER will do a Palin and realize his business empire is actually worth more than his dollar-a-year job.
If you want a better president, get a better electorate for starters.
We can only hope that Her TWITLER will do a Palin and realize his business empire is actually worth more than his dollar-a-year job.
2
i have only one remark, that is this pdf image; telling of . . . an apercu, and leni reifenstahl, and cultural matters.
it is the same picture as leads this article, with its shameful first line equation of "Trump-Putin' that probably betokens our statesmanship and coming diplomatic expertise!!
added to the caption, of the border fence, should be a few amusing and anointing lines:
ARTWERK [2016]
materials: dirt, steel, reinforced concrete.
you git the picture, right?
ars longa, and all,
vita brevis?
it is the same picture as leads this article, with its shameful first line equation of "Trump-Putin' that probably betokens our statesmanship and coming diplomatic expertise!!
added to the caption, of the border fence, should be a few amusing and anointing lines:
ARTWERK [2016]
materials: dirt, steel, reinforced concrete.
you git the picture, right?
ars longa, and all,
vita brevis?
1
Stupid is as stupid does, and if you don't already know this; we are in for a whole lot more stupid over the next four years.
4
We have a long history with Mexico that includes starting a war to fulfill manifest destiny as well as other incursions to Mexican sovereignty. Now, a country that has 18 times more GDP, wants Mexico to pay for a wall that Mexico does not want and will do little to prevent illegal entry.
3
Notice no former Soviet Union countries in the ban either - The Boston Marathon bombers were from Kyrgyzstan. The fact is the problem is not with immigrants at all, but with discrimination of minorities such that we home grow radicals who have been marginalized either after years here or in 2nd generation. Being excluded from the main stream, being different, they become susceptible to radical thought and ideologies.Most of the European terror attacks have some hallmarks. Spend a fraction of what the vetting costs on looking at our immigrant communities and where youth is getting lost in cracks might be far more beneficial and do more to stop violence.
4
We need to disrupt the notion that he's a thinking unit - He's Reagan but with no experience governing, and with "The Apprentice" as a replacement for "Bedtime for Bonzo."
Peter Boyd: Look, I might as well tell you now. He's a monkey."
Jane Linden: They all are
Peter Boyd: No, A real Monkey
Jane Linden: You should have seem my uncle Gus.
I think we need to look at Trump as a reality TV host, not as a president. To
get him to do things we need, we need to manipulate him, like a dancing bear. Figure out which inputs generate the proper outputs and take a utilitarian approach.
First thing, torpedo those idiots around him. There are enough laws to jail those fools, so use them. Second, get experienced government people there to limit damage. Third, limp this three-legged mare through to the next election cycle. In 2 years congress will flip back.
Peter Boyd: Look, I might as well tell you now. He's a monkey."
Jane Linden: They all are
Peter Boyd: No, A real Monkey
Jane Linden: You should have seem my uncle Gus.
I think we need to look at Trump as a reality TV host, not as a president. To
get him to do things we need, we need to manipulate him, like a dancing bear. Figure out which inputs generate the proper outputs and take a utilitarian approach.
First thing, torpedo those idiots around him. There are enough laws to jail those fools, so use them. Second, get experienced government people there to limit damage. Third, limp this three-legged mare through to the next election cycle. In 2 years congress will flip back.
5
Tim, Ronald Reagan also, while not the sharpest knife in the drawer and a man of archaic values, was a man of good will who genuinely WANTED to make America great, not make himself great, even if he had wrong-headed and obsolete ideas on how to do it. Reagan is a bad analogy. Mussolini is a much better one, because there is a personal animus and megalomania to Trump that is the most dangerous aspect he brings to the position.
3
Don't you wish the GOP had super-delegates?
4
"Ignorance is Strength" --motto of "the Party" in 1984.
12
Why a visible physical wall/fence separating Mexico and USA? Where do we find walls and fences? What do we think about those on the opposite side of a wall/fence from us? Do we relate favorably to those on the other side? Or do we view them as different? Does the wall/fence reinforce or negate our perceptions of them? Would a wall/fence on the southwest border bring a smile to a white supremacist? Please visit the Texas border to admire the extensive militarized efforts from blimps overhead to wrist bands, and inland water barrels with holes then you ask the questions.
2
You would need to ask the elites of both sides what they think of walls. After all they are the ones who live, protected, behind walls currently. Not normal citizens who have to put up with the hazards of illegal aliens. They're not many illegals that live in gated communities.
1
I don't live in a gated community and have not experienced any bad effect of undocumented immigrants. However, I've had to deal with the effects of living around ignorant "god-fearing" people like you.
Anyone here paying attention to what FOX news is saying? What is it, forty percent of the population gets its news there? I just checked their breaking news site on line. I thought I was looking at the news from a nearby planet.
I guess if I were Rupert Murdoch and I had a 40 share of the news gig in the US, no conscience, and was unfettered by oversight from say the FCC, I'd too do nothing but promote Trump's side of things and let the profits roll in. But this conscience of mine just won't let me do that.
Back in the real world on this planet, I wonder how people like Reince Priebus, Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway live with themselves? I don't know how they do it -- I would have to resign rather than defend what's going on in the WH.
What I am really curious about though, is how long will it take the establishment in Congress to articulate a sane vision so that the majority in this country doesn't end up taking to the streets and unleash things even worse.
Stay tuned.
I guess if I were Rupert Murdoch and I had a 40 share of the news gig in the US, no conscience, and was unfettered by oversight from say the FCC, I'd too do nothing but promote Trump's side of things and let the profits roll in. But this conscience of mine just won't let me do that.
Back in the real world on this planet, I wonder how people like Reince Priebus, Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway live with themselves? I don't know how they do it -- I would have to resign rather than defend what's going on in the WH.
What I am really curious about though, is how long will it take the establishment in Congress to articulate a sane vision so that the majority in this country doesn't end up taking to the streets and unleash things even worse.
Stay tuned.
8
I agree with the content of the article but guidance or suggestions on how to bring about legislation that will favor Americans on economic trade issues while maintaining harmony abroad are missing. It seems that Trump does not have economists advising him given the nonsense trade and tariffs he has proposed and many other wrong things he has already done in the first ten days of his presidency. It is clear he is not reading the flow of executive orders he gets from S. Bannon, who is the mastermind behind the executive orders the president is signing. No doubt Bannon’s puppet is Trump; he knows he is ignorant and is taking advantage of his new top Security role, reserved only for the military, to give Trump ill-mannered advice to advance his alt-right agenda. Before things get worse, Americans need to stop DT before is too late, not only because we have the most incompetent, ill-mannered, insecure, and corrupt leader, but because his ignorance in all matters of government both domestic and abroad are damaging the US reputation around the World, all citizens of the US, and specially the fools that voted for him, who also have no clue about the complexity of domestic and international economic issues and the rules that govern them. Is there someone competent in the WH or the republican congress that could advise him on how to proceed on matters of domestic and international economics?
3
Do citizens realize they're saying all this--about incompetence & ignorance & unbelievably vicious decisions--after he's been in office only ONE WEEK?! Do you realize the country is begging someone to get him out, after only ONE WEEK?! This is a tremendously serious situation. This is unbelievably sad.
President Trump is not the only one to blame for his latest blunders. For the most part, he is fulfilling his campaign promises. The blame rests largely with those people who voted for him or didn't vote at all, knowing what he was planning to do but excusing him by stating that he didn't mean most of it - it was just rhetoric. So they acknowledged that they believed candidate Trump was a liar but they didn't seem to care! And now millions of people have to suffer because they've elected to the highest office in the country a man who, judging by what he's said and done, has signed what is evidently a racist travel and immigration ban, hates the media and seeks to limit is ability to do its job, is a denier of global warming, is vehemently against abortion which he previously supported.
Hopefully. Trump will soon realize that he's losing tons of money by not taking care of his businesses and will resign, taking his vice president, Steve Bannon and others with him.
Hopefully. Trump will soon realize that he's losing tons of money by not taking care of his businesses and will resign, taking his vice president, Steve Bannon and others with him.
2
Sheila Dropkin: The problem is you're reasonable. And you are making logical & reasonable suggestions. But he is not a reasonable being & his so-called advisors use reason only for devious purpose. He will not "realize" anything: he's mentally unwell. And he will NEVER resign: his ego won't allow it. You sound hopeful. But I'm afraid blood may have to flow in the streets before he's forced to leave.
I have a vision of how this all ends. Marshall law. Rioting in the streets. Citizens being shot. Politicians being executed. Think Ceaușescu.
3
That would happen in Canada, not in the US.
1
Lets keep our eye on the ball. What's the status of the investigations to illuminate the ties between the liar-in chief and the Kremlin?
What were all those calls and contacts about? What is Flynn talking to them about?
What did Manafort do in the Ukraine and Russia??
What connections can be identified between the White House gang and the hackers before the election hack all started?
Why would the scofflaw- in-chief and defiler of the constitution want to reduce sanctions on the Russians who violently hijacked Crimea, used ethnic pretexts like Adolf Hitler in the Sudatenland to invade and destabilize the Ukraine. rigged our election to secure his illegitimate presidency, let alone used Russian missiles in the hands of their provocateurs, surely under Kremlin order, to shoot down that airliner and murder hundreds of Dutch citizens including women, children , and infants? Remember them?
What does he owe them and what will he gain by such an outrageous act of immorality? I want to know who in my government is going to turn over all the rocks because surely there will Trump slime under all of them? Who is going to subpoena his tax returns? When? When?
These people work for us, they are not above any law, when will they be fully investigated by the people and when will we know the real truth?
What were all those calls and contacts about? What is Flynn talking to them about?
What did Manafort do in the Ukraine and Russia??
What connections can be identified between the White House gang and the hackers before the election hack all started?
Why would the scofflaw- in-chief and defiler of the constitution want to reduce sanctions on the Russians who violently hijacked Crimea, used ethnic pretexts like Adolf Hitler in the Sudatenland to invade and destabilize the Ukraine. rigged our election to secure his illegitimate presidency, let alone used Russian missiles in the hands of their provocateurs, surely under Kremlin order, to shoot down that airliner and murder hundreds of Dutch citizens including women, children , and infants? Remember them?
What does he owe them and what will he gain by such an outrageous act of immorality? I want to know who in my government is going to turn over all the rocks because surely there will Trump slime under all of them? Who is going to subpoena his tax returns? When? When?
These people work for us, they are not above any law, when will they be fully investigated by the people and when will we know the real truth?
9
Sooner or later Trump will be seen picking his nose in the oval office. He'll lie to Congress about it. Then they'll impeach him. Until then, he'll be free to sully the nation with his wacky and damaging behavior.
1
Another Krugman rant about Trump. Eighteen months and counting. The likelihood of Krugman being right is about the same as his promise that the stock market would crash if Trump were elected. Maybe The Times should keep track of Krugman's predictions and publish a running scorecard of how often Krugman is proven right, and how often he is proven wrong.
4
you are wrong. it takes more than a week for the markets to react to the economic and political instability that the clown-in chief will sow. Today is the first day that the market is reacting to the fear and uncertainty he is creating. Our economy will suffer for every day he is in office, and it is just starting to now as the reality sinks in that this mentally deranged and unstable creature has become the leader of the free world.
3
Tony: Mr Krugman is correct. He's been pointing out the signs. It's all happening, but it takes time for events to converge & it especially takes time for most people to connect all the dots & realize what's actually been happening. Some people won't believe the signs until everything blows sky-high in front of them. And it will! As predicted.
Not a pretty picture, but it sure does seem more and more people are beginning to realize this. Keep hope alive. Our country is likely up to overcoming Trump.
http://planetolios.com/2017/01/30/after-one-week-of-the-bankruptcy-exper...
http://planetolios.com/2017/01/30/after-one-week-of-the-bankruptcy-exper...
One week is all that it has taken for Trump to create an international crisis. One lousy and I do mean lousy week. Executive Orders are now in. Sort of like orange is the new black. Every nation must be rethinking its relationship with us, except Russia. Once a great nation is now to be feared, not for its might, but for its unstable leader - sort of like North Korea . The gloves came off immediately after the inauguration and the quick slide into fascism has begun. It has taken my breath away. It's Christmas for the White Nationalists and the KKK.
All we have for protection right now is an organized citizenry willing to take a stand for human rights, the ACLU and a free press willing to suffer whatever the consequences for reporting the truth.
All we have for protection right now is an organized citizenry willing to take a stand for human rights, the ACLU and a free press willing to suffer whatever the consequences for reporting the truth.
7
It is time Iraq aligns and becomes a closer partner of Iran in fighting ISIS and not depend on a big-brother ( not any more) 6000 miles away!! A neighbor is better than a far-off relative....
A few questions please- Is there some cutoff level for gross incompetence where congress steps in with impeachment proceedings? Do we have to depend on the likes of Paul Ryan to act with integrity? Can "we the people" trigger impeachment or, as we did in California with Gray Davis, a recall election? Is it even possible to have a national recall election? Is there any way to make Kellyanne Conway answer the question, like ever?
3
A letter of impeachment must be issued by one of the two congressional bodies or by the executive branch itself. The latter is a non-starter but if enough Americans hound congress and lay out Trump's ever-lengthening list of impeachable offenses clearly and confidently, they will listen.
"If we treat the rules with contempt, so will everyone else."
Ironically, that is the same argument used in support of enforcing border controls and expelling people who are here illegally.
The rule of law is undermined when some laws are enforced and others aren't.
If the laws on immigration aren't enforced, can I just choose not to pay my taxes, too?
Krugman is upset when trade rules are violated, but not upset when American law is.
Ironically, that is the same argument used in support of enforcing border controls and expelling people who are here illegally.
The rule of law is undermined when some laws are enforced and others aren't.
If the laws on immigration aren't enforced, can I just choose not to pay my taxes, too?
Krugman is upset when trade rules are violated, but not upset when American law is.
2
It's clear that Trump believes that running the country's economy is no more complicated than running a hotel business, with which he had limited success until he focused on naming rights. Mount Trumpmore, here we come.
4
Since the coronation I've been afraid not that the Trump wouldn't do what he campaigned on but that he would. My fears are being realized every day, with every new executive order. We need a great deal of resistance from our elected pols.
4
At nearly 11 A.M. eastern time, the comments section is miraculously still open today, but after reading all the comments, I doubt many people will be reading mine. (If you want to post popular opinions in the so-call "New York" Times, you can either get up at 3:30 A.M. or live in Europe.) That said, I find most of the reactions to Krugman's excellent column also excellent. Trump is indeed an inconceivable disaster for America and mankind.
My only criticism is that everyone seems focused on the effects, not the cause. Both of our major political parties have been destroyed by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, and we are now living in a dictatorship created by a few billionaires.
To Paul Krugman, Charles Blow, Gail Collins, and Maurine Dowd: Demand the repeal of Citizens United, and demand it now.
My only criticism is that everyone seems focused on the effects, not the cause. Both of our major political parties have been destroyed by the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, and we are now living in a dictatorship created by a few billionaires.
To Paul Krugman, Charles Blow, Gail Collins, and Maurine Dowd: Demand the repeal of Citizens United, and demand it now.
12
All those people who voted for Trump because they hate (envy?) the educated are about to find out that ignorance has consequences. That's going to become more apparent as Trump boots up Voodoo Economics 3.0 with his malware embedded.
5
This cowboy approach to US credibility was already evident when the Republicans kept threatening to default on debts in order to twist Obama's arms.
Enough sheep still followed and voted for recklessness. But to be fair to Trump, he wasn't even in office during the debt-ceiling crises, although he must have known anything was possible.
Enough sheep still followed and voted for recklessness. But to be fair to Trump, he wasn't even in office during the debt-ceiling crises, although he must have known anything was possible.
3
“I have made my decision on who I will nominate for The United States Supreme Court. It will be announced live on Tuesday at 8:00 P.M” -- Tweeter-In-Chief
I don’t intend to do much worrying about Tweeter’s choice for the Court.
I do intend to spend some time thinking hard about why anyone would want to be nominated to the Court by him.
I don’t intend to do much worrying about Tweeter’s choice for the Court.
I do intend to spend some time thinking hard about why anyone would want to be nominated to the Court by him.
3
What continues to amaze me is that there are people...some serious people...who seem to believe that Trump has a plan, a philosophy of government, a serious outlook on developing the economy. This despite the obvious behavior where he acts on impulse and speaks in slogans.
2
Mr. Krugman: I agree with over 90% of your writing, overall. I suspect that most readers of the NYT are in a similar position. Yet, are we waving at the windmill? How do you propose, and how does the NYT propose, to reach a wider audience? Clearly, this is necessary. To date, I have not found any evidence that there is even a plan.
1
President Trump’s management style is identical to that of a Medieval King or a Russian Czar who rules and manages all the affairs of the country by decree.
President Trump signed a record record number of executive orders, presidential memoranda and proclamations during his first week in office.
President Trump is managing the US as if he is the CEO of a private company because there is no Board of Directors to answer to.
But there is something strange in this. The US is not a private company, err country, but a public company, err country, whose laws are established and managed by a Board of Directors called the Congress and Senate.
Since becoming President, Trump has ignored the Congress and Senate, the Board of Directors of US Inc.
The media has been identified as the unofficial opposition because the Congress and Senate have been ignored.
I am not sure how this will progress or what will happen … but I would expect that the Congress and Senate, the Board of Directors of US Inc., will soon take action to regain their power of decision making and the management of US Inc. … if not, then expect the media to step up the heat and criticism as the unofficial opposition in the management of US Inc.
Significant events are yet to come as President Trump will step up his dealings with Mexico, NAFTA, Putin (on many issues, not just ISIS) and the biggie, China.
There are sausages being made here … it is time to pay attention to the making of sausages.
President Trump signed a record record number of executive orders, presidential memoranda and proclamations during his first week in office.
President Trump is managing the US as if he is the CEO of a private company because there is no Board of Directors to answer to.
But there is something strange in this. The US is not a private company, err country, but a public company, err country, whose laws are established and managed by a Board of Directors called the Congress and Senate.
Since becoming President, Trump has ignored the Congress and Senate, the Board of Directors of US Inc.
The media has been identified as the unofficial opposition because the Congress and Senate have been ignored.
I am not sure how this will progress or what will happen … but I would expect that the Congress and Senate, the Board of Directors of US Inc., will soon take action to regain their power of decision making and the management of US Inc. … if not, then expect the media to step up the heat and criticism as the unofficial opposition in the management of US Inc.
Significant events are yet to come as President Trump will step up his dealings with Mexico, NAFTA, Putin (on many issues, not just ISIS) and the biggie, China.
There are sausages being made here … it is time to pay attention to the making of sausages.
2
Perhaps if the Democrats in Congress would quit stalling the confirmations of Trumps cabinet, then they could have room for legislation. But Schumer and crew would rather pretend to be crying at airports so they can see themselves on TV. They need to accept they do not control anything anymore. The media and the left in general were ecstatic with joy when Obama signed his restroom order for the entire country so now they just need to deal with it.
Sure. Perhaps if this lazy administration wouldn't have taken a record amount of time submitting the necessary paperwork for ethics review he would be further along. But instead, the gross incompetence of this administration gets in the way. Just look at the confusion regarding the implementation of his Muslim ban (no review by anybody outside of WH counsel) and the picture is clear.
When you are a builder you construct your projects with materials that are readily available. Just so happens the Trump team's most abundant resource is ignorance.
3
The Trump presidency is simply Steve Bannon on steroids. Bannon is, simply put, a Nazi, targeting minority groups, fostering hatred and intolerance, ignoring the rule of law and taking over the government by edict and, soon to come, force. He should be charged with treason and jailed. And Trump with him. As soon as possible.
2
Can the New York Times pledge space to 1. a running list of the lies from Trump and his Presidency 2. a running update on the unfolding processing of lawsuits vs Trump's Executive orders. That would be helpful in 1. keeping the public informed 2. letting Trump and his group know that someone is keeping score. Please be the go to place for this important information! We had fact checkers during the campaign...we need the same now!
1
Oh goody, more words of wisdom from Krugman, who on election night in tears said the stock market would crash.................hello Paul? It's hit 20,000
You were wrong then and you are wrong now...........stick to the classroom.......or, perhaps travel the southern border and see what the invasion of illegals has done to us
You were wrong then and you are wrong now...........stick to the classroom.......or, perhaps travel the southern border and see what the invasion of illegals has done to us
4
Jeez, Barb, you live in Seattle, near me. I don't see what the invasion of illegals has done to us in WA at all, unless it's doing jobs most citizens don't want. I can count on one hand the number of illegals I've seen since I moved here 5 years ago.
@barb tennant
Let's talk about the "southern border." Mexico is Texas's biggest trading partner. Texas is not happy with Trump's protectionist pronunciamentos.. Mexico is the U.S..'s third largest trading partner. For example, they ship us fruits and vegetables in the winter, and U.S. farmers ship them corn, soybeans and meat. U.S. farmers are not happy, and they are a rather powerful political interest group.
Let's talk about the "southern border." Mexico is Texas's biggest trading partner. Texas is not happy with Trump's protectionist pronunciamentos.. Mexico is the U.S..'s third largest trading partner. For example, they ship us fruits and vegetables in the winter, and U.S. farmers ship them corn, soybeans and meat. U.S. farmers are not happy, and they are a rather powerful political interest group.
Somebody, perhaps the NYTimes, should keep count and maintain a list of President Trump´s pronounced falsehoods, starting with the inauguration speech. Lie number five, repetition 2, lie number 9, repetition 6, etc. Then, anyone referring to a particular falsehood could just refer to its number. And we could keep a tally: so many falsehoods in the past month, and maybe draw charts of the development of lie density over time.
3
"[N]obody in authority understands basic economics". There is a flip side to that statement. Economists are guilty of thinking that they can persuade those in authority with the power of logic and evidence. Alas, the Enlightenment has yet to happen. The "tragedy of unpersuasive power" unfolds mercilessly.
1
The damage to America, as a "brand" is terrible. Everything seems to come out without proper vetting, or vetting of any kind. Since Trump, we are not a serious Country any longer...we have business everywhere, how is this mess reflecting on our image worldwide? This is a nightmare.
2
But the fundamentalist christians don't care. I think with everything, including religion, undergoing change is natural. That change will be either for the better, or for the worse. Clearly, we are now in a phase in which Christianity and Islam are both in a change of decline. In which every lie is expected and welcomed to gain advantage, and every real truth, is hidden and derided.
Where's the way-back machine?
What I wouldn't give for Gerald Ford taking the helm, saying: "Our long national nightmare is over."
What I wouldn't give for Gerald Ford taking the helm, saying: "Our long national nightmare is over."
1
Steve Bannon is creating this confusion because he loves it. He knows the trumpetes love what Trump is doing. They see it as strong action. Don't worry, Bannon's next trick is to have trump announce the supreme court pick and that will bring all the conservatives back and immigration won't be mentioned because of the new controversy. Bannon never underestimates the American public. It's hard to do. These disasters will continue as planned events and after awhile they will be like Trump's lies, they won't have meaning.
1
Republican leaders are gleeful. All the attention is on our fearless, unvetted leader. While the Republican leaders are, as quickly as they can, ruining the America we have paid for and worked so hard to achieve. Surely after these first four years we will have to figure out how to make American great again.
1
This is all purposeful for Bannon. Chaos, fear, collapse. That makes it perfect for implementing the shock doctrine theory. If things go his way we will end up as a theocracy/viscous capitalist country. Bannon’s favorite philosopher is Alexander Dugin who wants to start a religious war to usher in the end times.
1
Welcome to the new economic world order where "two plus two equals five" taking us back to the dystrumpian world, not of the actual year of 1984, but of the Orwell's "Nineteen Eighty-Four."
Apple was so right that 1984 will not be like "Nineteen Eighty-Four". We had to wait until 2017.
Under the new dystrumpian world, it is closer to "-2 -2 = -5."
Apple was so right that 1984 will not be like "Nineteen Eighty-Four". We had to wait until 2017.
Under the new dystrumpian world, it is closer to "-2 -2 = -5."
1
WRONG WAY TRUMP
Speaking of the ban supposedly a response to 911 and San Bernardino-- 911 terrorists were almost entirely from Saudi Arabia and San Bernardino the couple was Pakistani and Pakistani descent. Neither country was mentioned. Obama also wins no points for clearing visa for those who worked with the U.S. He didn't.
Speaking of the ban supposedly a response to 911 and San Bernardino-- 911 terrorists were almost entirely from Saudi Arabia and San Bernardino the couple was Pakistani and Pakistani descent. Neither country was mentioned. Obama also wins no points for clearing visa for those who worked with the U.S. He didn't.
1
The Trump administration has shown itself to be corrupt, inept, and unpopular. This administration has achieved the trifecta of awfulness in less than 10 days. That is both historic and sad.
The rollout of the Travel ban demonstrated a level of chaos and ineptitude that makes the rollout of the ACA look smooth. And it undermined our global credibility. And Trump left out the most dangerous countries, where he has business interests.
The rollout of the Travel ban demonstrated a level of chaos and ineptitude that makes the rollout of the ACA look smooth. And it undermined our global credibility. And Trump left out the most dangerous countries, where he has business interests.
2
The Trump Irony of the Day:
Ever hear of Omid Kordestani? The COO of Twitter? Came to the US from Iran at age 14....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omid_Kordestani
Ever hear of Omid Kordestani? The COO of Twitter? Came to the US from Iran at age 14....
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omid_Kordestani
1
The other question is; just who is going to build this wall? it isn't going to be the Trump supporters. Have you seen those people, they have a hard time getting of of the couch? It will most likely be Mexicans if they can find any who want to do it.
4
If Trump really wanted to stop illegal immigration, he'd push for a national, mandatory E-Verify. That system which is already mandatory in a handful of states, and which is also used by large numbers of companies outside of those states, could take effect almost immediately, unlike a wall, which would take years to build. Trump may be ignorant of E-Verify. But undoubtedly, no-one in the GOP is informing him, because they like the cheap, exploitable labor that will keep on coming while the wall's a-building.
Meanwhile, watching the Trump Administration is like watching the middle schoolers take over the White House.
Meanwhile, watching the Trump Administration is like watching the middle schoolers take over the White House.
3
As a small business owner in the high-end of retail, I already feel the economic downturn. January has been a Trumpian disaster. When people are nervous they stop spending and the anxiety is likely to remain or increase. Trump's ill-temper, ignorance, self-involvement and insatiable quest for attention will create plenty of damage to come.
The foundation that is holding up that Wall of Ignorance is none other than the sleep deprived, paranoid, narcissistic man-child with a grandiosity complex at the helm of our government.
Trade war - check
Keeping Muslims from 7 majority countries out - check
Letting Christians from majority Muslim countries in - check
Letting Muslims from 4 majority Muslim countries where he has businesses, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE in - check
Make America hated again by our allies - check
Being a recruiting tool for ISIL - check
As the German-Jewish impressionist Max Liebermann so pointedly said in Berlin during the early 1930s; "I can't gorge enough as I want to throw up".
Trade war - check
Keeping Muslims from 7 majority countries out - check
Letting Christians from majority Muslim countries in - check
Letting Muslims from 4 majority Muslim countries where he has businesses, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE in - check
Make America hated again by our allies - check
Being a recruiting tool for ISIL - check
As the German-Jewish impressionist Max Liebermann so pointedly said in Berlin during the early 1930s; "I can't gorge enough as I want to throw up".
5
It's hard to believe that I'm actually feeling some nostalgia for the good old days of G.W. Bush. Trump is going to leave a mess that Barack Obama wouldn't be able to work through.
2
We will find one Democrat to clean this Elephant dung too. that is the case last 40 years.
1
If this billionaire can do this much damage in a week to American Democracy, then what can the Koch brothers and their cronies do? I read only on web story, so, I do not know if it is accurate or 'fake news'. The article stated that the Koch brothers want to extend the SCOTUS decision on Citizens United that corporations are people and give corporations through a Constitutional Amendment the right to vote. Has our current POTUS opened the doors to such imaginings? America is no longer "We the People", but "Billionaire's are US".
1
You are wrong. The Koch Bros. also oppose closed borders and tariffs. I think they also would oppose the defunding of you local NPR station.
In the peculiar case of Trump, Spicer, Bannon, et al, one wonders which came first --
* The bloated egos, availing absolute stupidity
or...
* The absolute stupidity, availing bloated egos
* The bloated egos, availing absolute stupidity
or...
* The absolute stupidity, availing bloated egos
2
Build that pyramid! For the glory! Make THEM pay for it! Save enough dinero to build that sphinx! The one with the tiny paws! I am Ozymandius! Look on my works, ye mighty ...
1
Mr. Krugman,
You're far too rational and I don't think that will serve you well -it sure has't helped me-as you try to analyze what's going on in the ogre Trump's brain (and in those of his darkly dangerous flunkies Bannon, Priebus, Spicer and Conway). He is like one of those deranged Roman rulers I read about in ancient history 101 -Caligula, Nero, Elagabalus, et al- whose bizarre behavior transcended any explanation whatsoever. They were simply, plainly, inexplicably crazy...ego driven,narcissistic, to the exclusion of every other normal human psychic feature. Trump's vaunted "strategy" of unpredictability is not a plan, it's an illness.
I'm guessing that Trump and his posse simply don't give a damn about your egg-headed ruminating and will keep slinging stuff out there just to see what sticks. If they can't pull off some outrage in its entirety, they'll mutter some weasel words, backtrack a bit, and move on to the next ill-considered EO and subsequent media storm. Meanwhile, Trump consolidates his hold on things like the NSC, keeps the propaganda pot at a rolling boil, and his unsavory crew continues to peck away at the constitution and decency. Yes, Trump may be impeached, but then you get Pence, and if not Pence for some reason, you get he-of-the-furrowed-brow, Paul Ryan. So sad. Time to start working the 2018 campaign of renewal. I'm in.
You're far too rational and I don't think that will serve you well -it sure has't helped me-as you try to analyze what's going on in the ogre Trump's brain (and in those of his darkly dangerous flunkies Bannon, Priebus, Spicer and Conway). He is like one of those deranged Roman rulers I read about in ancient history 101 -Caligula, Nero, Elagabalus, et al- whose bizarre behavior transcended any explanation whatsoever. They were simply, plainly, inexplicably crazy...ego driven,narcissistic, to the exclusion of every other normal human psychic feature. Trump's vaunted "strategy" of unpredictability is not a plan, it's an illness.
I'm guessing that Trump and his posse simply don't give a damn about your egg-headed ruminating and will keep slinging stuff out there just to see what sticks. If they can't pull off some outrage in its entirety, they'll mutter some weasel words, backtrack a bit, and move on to the next ill-considered EO and subsequent media storm. Meanwhile, Trump consolidates his hold on things like the NSC, keeps the propaganda pot at a rolling boil, and his unsavory crew continues to peck away at the constitution and decency. Yes, Trump may be impeached, but then you get Pence, and if not Pence for some reason, you get he-of-the-furrowed-brow, Paul Ryan. So sad. Time to start working the 2018 campaign of renewal. I'm in.
1
The Republicans don't have a lot ability at this point to claim others, particularly those who disagree with them, don't understand economics.
1
It should also be stated that by keeping silent on these issues, the GOP is demonstrating how hypocritical they have been since they days of Gingrich. Any right minded individual in a position to correct and minimize the actions of Bannon and his administration should be speaking loud and clear to that effect. Is holding the reigns to power worth destroying your country GOP?
2
So,in addition to a president who does not know legislation or history or even cares to know these things but rather will either learn on the job or use his instinct or listen to al his cabinet or bassinet, we have a congress that is equally oblivious. My pen hand is getting cramped signing petitions, my call hand is getting sore from dialing to my senators and reps. What a tsimmes!
1
Attacking the madman in the White House is non-productive.
Go after the Republicans in Congress bigtime!
Arouse their constituents with constant publicity about their immoral Trump support and constant lying!
With a Democratic majority congress in 2018 and 2020, Trump can be impeached and hopefully prosecuted!
We need a stronger more forceful leader than Schumer!
Go after the Republicans in Congress bigtime!
Arouse their constituents with constant publicity about their immoral Trump support and constant lying!
With a Democratic majority congress in 2018 and 2020, Trump can be impeached and hopefully prosecuted!
We need a stronger more forceful leader than Schumer!
1
Equally as ignorant, or even more so, is putting Bannon in a seat on the NSC and eliminating the Chairman of the JCS and the Intel Chairman. Neither Trump or Bannon even know what the NSC does. This is really getting scary. Please resign Trump.
2
And how much cash has the Trump family and their admin. cronies banked via their myriad of conflicts of interest while we have been dealing with all this chaos? Smoke and mirrors, folks, smoke and mirrors - ever the carnival showman!
Unfortunately, like their leader, the Trump supporters don't read the news so all this erudite analysis and criticism is preaching to the choir. This stuff needs to get into the talk shows and comics to get through to his supporters....or maybe on Fox News.
I despise the new President, but to be fair, Obama's administration was dragging its heels on helping Iraqi interpreters too. Disgraceful that these folks have been left to twist in the wind.
1
You get what you pay for, and pay (and pay, and pay) for what you get. We bought a big orange air (head) filled balloon, and now we are paying dearly.
POTUS Trump is turning away the modern version of the Exodus ship ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Exodus ) where the modern holocaust is "Sunnis and Shia: Islam's ancient schism" ( http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-16047709 ). The modern Muslim refugee is seeking >>refuge<< from the modern savage fanatic criminal elements in the middle east masquerading as sincere Muslims. Shame.
Next on this air head's agenda is the 1929 re-run of the trade wars that created the Great Depression. Perhaps after that we will pay the ultimate price for this, WW III with China. Russia is thrilled with the prospects.
POTUS Trump is the "gift" that keeps giving, and giving, and ...
POTUS Trump is turning away the modern version of the Exodus ship ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SS_Exodus ) where the modern holocaust is "Sunnis and Shia: Islam's ancient schism" ( http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-16047709 ). The modern Muslim refugee is seeking >>refuge<< from the modern savage fanatic criminal elements in the middle east masquerading as sincere Muslims. Shame.
Next on this air head's agenda is the 1929 re-run of the trade wars that created the Great Depression. Perhaps after that we will pay the ultimate price for this, WW III with China. Russia is thrilled with the prospects.
POTUS Trump is the "gift" that keeps giving, and giving, and ...
2
One thinks of Charles Philipon's pear.
We have our Cheese Ball.
We have our Cheese Ball.
1
Full faith and credit cut both ways: I'd like to think, if his lemmings believed literally he would be as self-immolating as he said, they wouldn't have leapt upon his pyre. As you say, however, a wall of ignorance doesn't have to be very high anymore.
1
This is typical of many republicans and their mindsets.
Look at a problem ( that most of the time does not exist ) and come up with a solution that hurts themselves in the long run. ( without thinking )
Let's get rid of Obamacare, but I like that ACA stuff!
Let's build a wall, but all those people that overstay visas can stay!
Let's tariff a country, but we pay more for everything because of it !
Let's vote republican but ...( fill in the blank )
Look at a problem ( that most of the time does not exist ) and come up with a solution that hurts themselves in the long run. ( without thinking )
Let's get rid of Obamacare, but I like that ACA stuff!
Let's build a wall, but all those people that overstay visas can stay!
Let's tariff a country, but we pay more for everything because of it !
Let's vote republican but ...( fill in the blank )
4
"...a pattern of dysfunction, ignorance, incompetence, and betrayal of trust."
Lets don't forget unbridled arrogance and cynicism.
Lets don't forget unbridled arrogance and cynicism.
1
Within an hour or two of Sean Spicer's press conference asserting that Mexico would pay for the wall through a tariff on imports, I put a post on Facebook saying that a tariff really meant Americans, not Mexico, would pay for the wall.
Many, probably most, of my Facebook friends are Trump supporters. Their responses were depressing. Some responses had nothing to do with my short post (the ACA is a disaster! Foreign aid is a disaster! Obama was a disaster!). Others were to the effect that I needed to get over the election and give Trump a chance. And many were to the effect that my statement was just not true--the tariff on imports from Mexico really would make Mexico pay for the wall. Even after Sean Spicer backtracked, people insisted that since Trump proposed the tariff, it was a good and effective way of making Mexico--not American consumers--pay.
For the most part, these are reasonably well-educated, successful, reasonable, and friendly people. I cannot comprehend the willful and intentional inability to acknowledge the reality of anything that is less than favorable to Trump. And, I do not know how we can ever move forward as a nation when tribal commitments are so intense that even the most obvious facts are denied or ignored.
Many, probably most, of my Facebook friends are Trump supporters. Their responses were depressing. Some responses had nothing to do with my short post (the ACA is a disaster! Foreign aid is a disaster! Obama was a disaster!). Others were to the effect that I needed to get over the election and give Trump a chance. And many were to the effect that my statement was just not true--the tariff on imports from Mexico really would make Mexico pay for the wall. Even after Sean Spicer backtracked, people insisted that since Trump proposed the tariff, it was a good and effective way of making Mexico--not American consumers--pay.
For the most part, these are reasonably well-educated, successful, reasonable, and friendly people. I cannot comprehend the willful and intentional inability to acknowledge the reality of anything that is less than favorable to Trump. And, I do not know how we can ever move forward as a nation when tribal commitments are so intense that even the most obvious facts are denied or ignored.
2
Trump MUST be dumped and soon for the sake of USA. Accelerate the impeachment process to the max.
1
shambolic, twice in a week's time in the Times. When did we decide to become British?
Trump is the Benedict Arnold of his ties - Putin's poodle.
Poor Donald, I don't think that I have ever seen him genuinely Happy--even a picture. Does he delegate that duty to one of his Team:, but even they're always jousting. But so far, after ten days, Donald has merely snarls to show for it.
Also, have the rules in the White House changed. It seems that everyone--Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, ben "The Donald" himself--always seem to speak loud, fast and incoherently. And then, they try to slip some mistruth--just a small liw, eh?--into the discussion, and then they seem to believe it to be rec order truth.
Lastly, I truly wonder how much actual "Listening" Donald did, when he met with one group of corporate CEOs after another. Reports seem to be that Donald laid it on the line: Here's what I expect you to do, he rolled-out the bribes--tax cuts and de-regulation, and then Donald went back to acting Happily Ever After.
If any of the CEOs make bond-headset business decisions, following his advice, the will be sued by their shareholders. Ands, if Trump tries to micromanages, similarly to the old Soviet Five-Year Plan, our whole economy will be in a shambles.
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Also, have the rules in the White House changed. It seems that everyone--Kellyanne Conway, Sean Spicer, ben "The Donald" himself--always seem to speak loud, fast and incoherently. And then, they try to slip some mistruth--just a small liw, eh?--into the discussion, and then they seem to believe it to be rec order truth.
Lastly, I truly wonder how much actual "Listening" Donald did, when he met with one group of corporate CEOs after another. Reports seem to be that Donald laid it on the line: Here's what I expect you to do, he rolled-out the bribes--tax cuts and de-regulation, and then Donald went back to acting Happily Ever After.
If any of the CEOs make bond-headset business decisions, following his advice, the will be sued by their shareholders. Ands, if Trump tries to micromanages, similarly to the old Soviet Five-Year Plan, our whole economy will be in a shambles.
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
What you and your fellow Democrats do is write about and malign Trump and what he does but you offer no solutions. Hillary's campaign was based on maligning Trump, not about 'doing' anything. I guess you like the heretofore status quo: 9-11, San Bernardino, Paris, London, Madrid, Berlin, Brussels, Iran, Iraq and the other US-banned seven countries' attacks on a daily basis. You talk about inconvenience for poor Muslim refugees coming into this country? What about the West's inconvenience from the above-cited attacks? The only reason you liberals can talk this way is because you are given a safe haven in the West that is rapidly being attacked from all sides and from within...by idiots like you readers! You are cutting off your noses to spite your ugly liberal faces! Wake up! Trump is a businessman who has had to pay millions to get where he is. He could be lounging in a chaise lounge somewhere drinking caipirinhas...like most of the politicians in Washington. Trump wants to DO something and it's high time WE do.
1
You're much more likely to be shot and killed by your fellow white countryman that to be a victim of an Islamic terrorist. It would be much more productive for you to spend your efforts dealing with your insane gun laws, than banning refugees from Syria (a country from which zero incidents of terrorism in the US have occurred).
“As Mankind becomes more liberal, they will be more apt to allow that all those who conduct themselves as worthy members of the community are equally entitled to the protections of civil government. I hope ever to see America among the foremost nations of justice and liberality.”
-- George Washington
At least you can spell "liberal."
-- George Washington
At least you can spell "liberal."
Fascism must be fought, not discussed!
2
Trump is a MORON and the sooner we impeach this guy, the better the nation will be. I am not fond of Pence either, but anyone is better than the MORON!
2
Well, so America First ??
What will Apple,Boeing, Ford, Pepsi, General Motors, IBM, Microsoft, Coca Cola, NFL, NBA, Oracle, Harley Davidson, Disney, and thousands and thousands of American companies that sell products around the world think if the rest of the world did the same thing ?
Barriers have no sense, there are borders, OK, there are illegals, OK, chase them, but trying to mislead the public opinion by these facts are things that happened in the past, Germany's Nazi party did it very well saying that Germany for the Germans, and saying that they were unfairly treated in the Versailles Convention. Their enemy were the Jews in those days....
Very sad, the congress must act and stop this monster before it's too late.
What will Apple,Boeing, Ford, Pepsi, General Motors, IBM, Microsoft, Coca Cola, NFL, NBA, Oracle, Harley Davidson, Disney, and thousands and thousands of American companies that sell products around the world think if the rest of the world did the same thing ?
Barriers have no sense, there are borders, OK, there are illegals, OK, chase them, but trying to mislead the public opinion by these facts are things that happened in the past, Germany's Nazi party did it very well saying that Germany for the Germans, and saying that they were unfairly treated in the Versailles Convention. Their enemy were the Jews in those days....
Very sad, the congress must act and stop this monster before it's too late.
2
If this president not only imposes useless tariffs, but also repudiates the agreed on sanctions against Russia, why shouldn't other nations institute sanctions against the United States? Right now corporations and the stock market have been thriving since election day, but that won't continue once the economy collapses as result of this administration's economic incompetence and ignorance. Whatever its empty claims about bringing jobs back, unemployment will soar, as will prices at big-box retailers like WalMart. Consumer confidence will plummet and the already low presidential approval ratings will bottom out. Of course Fox News, Bannon and Spicer will blame Obama and the Democratic Party, but there are limits even to utter gullibility.
118
"Of course Fox News, Bannon and Spicer will blame Obama and the Democratic Party, but there are limits even to utter gullibility."
You'd think so, but I wouldn't bet on that. This is being driven by nothing more than hate of the other.
You'd think so, but I wouldn't bet on that. This is being driven by nothing more than hate of the other.
1
R.E., I could not agree with you more, except for the your last clause: "but there are limits even to utter gullibility". Hope you are right and I am wrong, but we do not seem to be even close to those limits yet.
The penny has dropped. Misogyny , racism , and general ignorance, long thought to be in retreat, had its day. And here we are. Don't waste the lesson.
1
The wall is law. Barack Obama voted for it, Joe Biden voted for it, Hillary Clinton voted for it.
Furthermore, the PEOPLE want the wall. And the people will not be arrogantly ignored again.
Furthermore, the PEOPLE want the wall. And the people will not be arrogantly ignored again.
1
what you are going todo? when you get understand it is obsolete do you think you are going to sell that like Berlin wall.
That is what you are banking on?
Thanks I keep my tax money for other necessities.
That is what you are banking on?
Thanks I keep my tax money for other necessities.
1
Here is my proposal to the NYT editorial board.
Set up on your web portal the discussion field for you and me. Like in any chess game - your move, my move, your comment, my comment, your analysis, my analysis...
By the end of game I bet I will create the proposal regarding the border wall that both president Trump and the NYT editorial board are going to embrace or they will risk losing the credibility in the public eye.
When you are offered a proposal you cannot refuse doing otherwise would undermine their own credibility.
All the humans in this world try to defend their credibility and their principles at all cost.
It means that by using THEIRS PRINCIPLES you have to create the alternative solution they will not dare to publically reject...
Life is as simple as a box of chocolate.... You just have to know how to move you chess pieces in the best possible way...
Set up on your web portal the discussion field for you and me. Like in any chess game - your move, my move, your comment, my comment, your analysis, my analysis...
By the end of game I bet I will create the proposal regarding the border wall that both president Trump and the NYT editorial board are going to embrace or they will risk losing the credibility in the public eye.
When you are offered a proposal you cannot refuse doing otherwise would undermine their own credibility.
All the humans in this world try to defend their credibility and their principles at all cost.
It means that by using THEIRS PRINCIPLES you have to create the alternative solution they will not dare to publically reject...
Life is as simple as a box of chocolate.... You just have to know how to move you chess pieces in the best possible way...
I do not know how to ask this question without appearing condescending, but here we go.
Why do Republican voters seem to favor incompetent and somewhat ignorant candidates?
I shook my head during the Bush era, and wrote it off to war fever. But say what you will about McCain in 2008 and Romney in 2012, neither of those candidates were dim bulbs. I did not vote for them, but that was because I disagreed with them, not because I feared they were Bush 2.0. And yet, they lost, and could not rally their troops.
Now a man who makes Dubya seem like Cicero comes along, and bam, the Republican voters rally like it is the second coming.
This is a serious question. I do not think I am merely being partisan. Was former Gov. Jindal right? Is the Republican Party the "party of stupid"?
If so, it is not the Party. It's the voters who seem to be desirous of this. How did this happen?
It certainly does not help there is an alternate media out there -- starting with Rush and leading to Fox Nation and Alex Jones and Brietbart and the 700 Club -- that have single-mindedly greased those skids for 30 years now.
Why do Republican voters seem to favor incompetent and somewhat ignorant candidates?
I shook my head during the Bush era, and wrote it off to war fever. But say what you will about McCain in 2008 and Romney in 2012, neither of those candidates were dim bulbs. I did not vote for them, but that was because I disagreed with them, not because I feared they were Bush 2.0. And yet, they lost, and could not rally their troops.
Now a man who makes Dubya seem like Cicero comes along, and bam, the Republican voters rally like it is the second coming.
This is a serious question. I do not think I am merely being partisan. Was former Gov. Jindal right? Is the Republican Party the "party of stupid"?
If so, it is not the Party. It's the voters who seem to be desirous of this. How did this happen?
It certainly does not help there is an alternate media out there -- starting with Rush and leading to Fox Nation and Alex Jones and Brietbart and the 700 Club -- that have single-mindedly greased those skids for 30 years now.
3
@pjc - wake up! You forgot Herbert Hoover, depression master without peer; Nixon, master criminal and murderer of over 20,000 US soldiers; Ford, bought and sold like a hooker on 42nd street of old; Reagan.... do I have to say it? Iran? Iran Contras? Alzheimer's in office? And GW Bush, who requires no introduction at all.
Safer to say that Eisenhower and G Bush(I) aside, all Republican presidents were awful.
And y'all vote them in because you are as a nation as dumb as you are brave; and you are very brave!
Safer to say that Eisenhower and G Bush(I) aside, all Republican presidents were awful.
And y'all vote them in because you are as a nation as dumb as you are brave; and you are very brave!
1
Don't worry, Democrats are furiously mounting a defense to save the nation.
1) In the Senate: wave through the worst cabinet picks in the history of the country. For the "American people," work with the Republicans to move the Overton window ever rightward, ...
2) Keep voting to give Big Pharma, ..., Big <...> what it tells them to vote for,
3) DNC: send out lots of e-mails noting how awful the GOP is and ask for money
4) Repeat ad nauseam
1) In the Senate: wave through the worst cabinet picks in the history of the country. For the "American people," work with the Republicans to move the Overton window ever rightward, ...
2) Keep voting to give Big Pharma, ..., Big <...> what it tells them to vote for,
3) DNC: send out lots of e-mails noting how awful the GOP is and ask for money
4) Repeat ad nauseam
2
Enlightening column, Dr. K.
Now, how to we fire this clown?
Now, how to we fire this clown?
2
Within six months, GOP to Donald: You're FIRED!
3
We cannot afford six months. The Powers in Authority of The Governance of our Constitution to request the resignation of Mr. Trump now.
The canvas painted over here is to big for any short comment...so let me focus merely on the Mexican Import Tariff Threat. Like in the art of any deal, the chess game, MITT is a move. A threat, no action actually taken, no real damage done.
The push back narrative that has been invented by "anti" propagandists is "you will pay more". Putatively for avacados, and cars and TVs. Really?
Big free market. Lots of others to buy from that will not cost 20% more.
Taiwan, Viet Nam. a couple dozen. So biz dries up for...guess who.
The real bosses in Mexico. The small claque of Oligarchs.
MITT helps clear their minds wonderfully. Once they serve up the current Prez as a burnt offering for all the econ woes down south, their new proxy can get down to brass tacks. Or knuckles. And bring enough uniforms to the border to shut it cheap from their side.
Maybe Trump will re nego the under- remarked US financing program of the Obama administration to fund Mexico closing its SOUTHERN border to help pay for the "wall" of Mexican troops that will effect Mr. T's promised goal.
That a border with the US is just that. Again.
The push back narrative that has been invented by "anti" propagandists is "you will pay more". Putatively for avacados, and cars and TVs. Really?
Big free market. Lots of others to buy from that will not cost 20% more.
Taiwan, Viet Nam. a couple dozen. So biz dries up for...guess who.
The real bosses in Mexico. The small claque of Oligarchs.
MITT helps clear their minds wonderfully. Once they serve up the current Prez as a burnt offering for all the econ woes down south, their new proxy can get down to brass tacks. Or knuckles. And bring enough uniforms to the border to shut it cheap from their side.
Maybe Trump will re nego the under- remarked US financing program of the Obama administration to fund Mexico closing its SOUTHERN border to help pay for the "wall" of Mexican troops that will effect Mr. T's promised goal.
That a border with the US is just that. Again.
We.....did NOT pick this candidate....and anyone who says so....is not telling
you the truth....
Trump won by default....and by Vladimir Putin's intervention....
HIllary Clinton LOST because she was the wrong candidate for the Democratic
Party....
This tragedy....resulted in Donald J. Trump who is completely incapable of
governing as President and Commander in Chief....and the analysis should
be covered by the best reporters you can possibly dig up ...Editors...please
put this in the next Sunday's Magazine...The Title...Why Trump Won..
and Why Hillary Lost...and why The electoral college is STUPID...
OK.
Now what to do....well a team of psychiatrists needs to be asked ...
What is their assessment of Trump...: because it seems obvious to me
that he is MENTALLY ILL.....and that he is being used by Steve Bannon and
Vladimir PUTIN...so just get on with it,.....because I think that General Mattis
needs to DEFEND OUT NATION from being blown into bits by this crazy
President and his fascist advisor who is brutally a reincarnation of a NAZI..
Please ask those in Congress to do their job...and let Trump go ..for
being mentally ill...this is what a really good reporter would ask...you Editors
to do...NO MORE TALK ...just write it out....ask Dan Rather for instance..
or someone like him...who is JUST STRAIGHT....action...forget the opinionators
you the truth....
Trump won by default....and by Vladimir Putin's intervention....
HIllary Clinton LOST because she was the wrong candidate for the Democratic
Party....
This tragedy....resulted in Donald J. Trump who is completely incapable of
governing as President and Commander in Chief....and the analysis should
be covered by the best reporters you can possibly dig up ...Editors...please
put this in the next Sunday's Magazine...The Title...Why Trump Won..
and Why Hillary Lost...and why The electoral college is STUPID...
OK.
Now what to do....well a team of psychiatrists needs to be asked ...
What is their assessment of Trump...: because it seems obvious to me
that he is MENTALLY ILL.....and that he is being used by Steve Bannon and
Vladimir PUTIN...so just get on with it,.....because I think that General Mattis
needs to DEFEND OUT NATION from being blown into bits by this crazy
President and his fascist advisor who is brutally a reincarnation of a NAZI..
Please ask those in Congress to do their job...and let Trump go ..for
being mentally ill...this is what a really good reporter would ask...you Editors
to do...NO MORE TALK ...just write it out....ask Dan Rather for instance..
or someone like him...who is JUST STRAIGHT....action...forget the opinionators
2
Thank you, Mr. Krugman. From now on, it's Trump's Wall of Ignorance.
4
Shouldn't that be the Trump-Putin-Comey regime?
5
It's what you get when you put the Three Stooges in charge of the country. Enjoy the hilarity!
3
Trump won because people did not trust Hillary who promised more of Obama, initially. Her hubris in part or more than in part create the situation. Hubris!! contemplate that.
Ah the VAT -- but no luxury tax... am I the only one who remembers?
Taxes are only for the little people.
From another editorial it seems that the Trump executive order is illegal?? (Why so many executive orders allowed BTW? We are supposed to be a country of laws made by Congress not by one person!!) (And why do we still have the electoral college STILL?? It was a means to an end initially -- to create one nation! Then we had to have a war on the same topic! Yikes, men are crazy! That said, no population growth or no babies at all worldwide for five years .. a moratorium.. would not be a bad idea. What will happen when there are 2 billion more people on the planet???)
Ah the VAT -- but no luxury tax... am I the only one who remembers?
Taxes are only for the little people.
From another editorial it seems that the Trump executive order is illegal?? (Why so many executive orders allowed BTW? We are supposed to be a country of laws made by Congress not by one person!!) (And why do we still have the electoral college STILL?? It was a means to an end initially -- to create one nation! Then we had to have a war on the same topic! Yikes, men are crazy! That said, no population growth or no babies at all worldwide for five years .. a moratorium.. would not be a bad idea. What will happen when there are 2 billion more people on the planet???)
1
The wall of ignorance has forever been there. This is just a new incarnation.
“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” ~ ISAAC ASIMOV
“There is a cult of ignorance in the United States, and there has always been. The strain of anti-intellectualism has been a constant thread winding its way through our political and cultural life, nurtured by the false notion that democracy means that 'my ignorance is just as good as your knowledge.” ~ ISAAC ASIMOV
10
And we thought we'd dodged a hail of bullets when Sarah Palin went down to defeat ... this guy's Mooselini in a suit, but even meaner and nastier.
2
Shorter version: HE is an idiot. Full stop. Surrounded by sycophants, profiteers, political whores and an assortment of vile operatives. And,
his apparent new best buddy is a Nazi wanna-be. Forget Obama, I
Even miss Bush, God help me.
his apparent new best buddy is a Nazi wanna-be. Forget Obama, I
Even miss Bush, God help me.
7
Um, paging Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell. Hello? Are you there? Need a little help here....
3
To all who thought Hillary Clinton is not good enough to be the President ?
Now you get Steve Bannon as President and Kellyanne Conway as the sidekick Vice President.
Now for all those fools we all suffer !
Now you get Steve Bannon as President and Kellyanne Conway as the sidekick Vice President.
Now for all those fools we all suffer !
4
All patriotic Americans should POTEST and RESIST!
Only 10 days into this administration and already America has lost a decade.
America simply cannot endure another 1450 days of a Trump-Pence-Bannon presidency without being mortally wounded.
Only 10 days into this administration and already America has lost a decade.
America simply cannot endure another 1450 days of a Trump-Pence-Bannon presidency without being mortally wounded.
3
What more do you expect from a "Kardashian" presidency?
3
edit
PRESIDENT TRUMPTY MUST BUILD US A WALL
Frumpty and King Runty had a great fall.
President Trumpty must build us a wall.
All the king's horses and all the Krugmen—
Even dumped tea—won't unite us again.
PRESIDENT TRUMPTY MUST BUILD US A WALL
Frumpty and King Runty had a great fall.
President Trumpty must build us a wall.
All the king's horses and all the Krugmen—
Even dumped tea—won't unite us again.
1
Reagan said
" Mr. Gorbhacew tear down this wall"
which part you didn't get it.
Opposite purposes. Keeping out bad people vs. imprisoning good people, protecting a sovereign nation verse dividing one.
Who are the bad people, Marian
11 million illegal immigrants as a whole
Entire Latin American people.
Who exactly constitutes these bad people in terms of 3000 miles long wall.
Narcotraders have submarines, underground tunnels, planes, trucks, drones everything to pass through border.
Even, Iran Contra scandal of 1987 revealed that Clandestine operations sell weapons to Iran and transfer money to Contras intermediated by Colombian drug cartels in exchange of giving them a free pass to deliver drug to America.
How that wall is working in deed.
I strongly advice to watch Scario, understand the ramifications.
Bad description is extremely relative anymore.
11 million illegal immigrants as a whole
Entire Latin American people.
Who exactly constitutes these bad people in terms of 3000 miles long wall.
Narcotraders have submarines, underground tunnels, planes, trucks, drones everything to pass through border.
Even, Iran Contra scandal of 1987 revealed that Clandestine operations sell weapons to Iran and transfer money to Contras intermediated by Colombian drug cartels in exchange of giving them a free pass to deliver drug to America.
How that wall is working in deed.
I strongly advice to watch Scario, understand the ramifications.
Bad description is extremely relative anymore.
Am I missing something here, walls are so 19th Century, did anyone here about El Chapo, he was in a mega security prison, with "many walls" --do you remember how he managed to escape??? This incredibly expensive "Wall" will be a joke to the brilliant idea of TUNNELS!!!
2
On small objection. I am on a crusade(?) jihad(?) against the phrase "walked it back". This is a euphemism. You walk a dog to the park and then "walk it back". More appropriate phrases might be "renegged on / renounced / abandoned their previous statement" or even the perfectly clear "took it back".
This is a very good time in history to try to keep language sharp and clear.
This is a very good time in history to try to keep language sharp and clear.
3
What is happening should not surprise anyone . Any sensible person should have known it was going to be a disaster from his trash talking during the campaign . Would you let a 4 years old drive your car . This man is dangerous . His childish behavior is damaging the Country and is only going to get worse in the next 4 years . The only solution is impeachment .
2
Trump might be coerced to resign. If it became clear he was becoming spectacularly unpopular, and that his brand and family fortune would suffer significantly, I bet he'd happily go away. The two things Donald cares about most are his fragile ego and his money.
I am sorry to say that it is very improbable he will resign . He will have to be carried out of the Oval Office in a straightjacket and he will continue claiming he won the popular vote .
If he ends up hobbling whatever administration, or generations of administrations, come after his, Donald Trump considers that perfectly acceptable. National credibility is like bodily injury: it's awfully easy to do, and just as awfully difficult to repair.
3
Time to apply the full court press to our elected representatives in Washington. Ahab and his crew of pirates seem hell-bent on sinking our ship. Mass protest and media reporting seem to have no effect!
2
Robert--Millions are organizing, protesting, writing letters, visiting elected officials, donating to progressive causes, and calling Congress EVERY DAY. Unfortunately, some Congress people are not answering their phones, or even taking messages, so they can avoid the onslaught. Paul Ryan refused to accept piles of mail. But, that only make us even angrier. And, we have long memories.
1
ChesBay--Thanks. I should have said no effect on the White House. Have already made phone calls to my reps in congress this morning.
1
There is nothing in this world as dangerous as wilful ignorance.
7
GWPDA--Add to that people who recognize the danger, but choose to ignore it.
1
All of these executive orders are a distraction from the main act which will come whe we are all tired and exhausted from Trumps antics. The main act will consist of a huge tax reduction for the 0.1% and Trump, and everyone else paying for it. This is just 'a bait and switch' maneuver which Trump has already been charged with in his university scam.
2
Trump's mob adored him because he was a successful businessman. Remember? As evidenced by his being mega rich as evidenced by ... nothing.
Whether or not he was a successful businessman, Trump surely does shambles and chaos well. And because he's so efficient at detecting slights against him and piques erupt every few seconds, in just one week, he managed to tick off a very large body of human beings he hadn't ticked off before. Trade wars with Mexico and China, very big league bad ideas, but hey, that's really getting things done. Sort of.
This man has done nothing positive, probably in his whole long life. certainly not in the few days he's been in office. Nor has he said anything that gives anybody hope, even his most ardent adorers, that he's competent at anything but sowing confusion and contempt.
I'd be less fearful if he were sane. I can't believe that a man of Trump's advanced years could have lived so long and remained so stupid. Could it be dementia? So, we're a nation of 300 million baby sitters, watching while our infantile charge trashes the country and it's good name, apparently powerless to stop him.
That's the mystery: how this obviously sub-sub-mediocre, deranged man with only the clapped out blunderbuss of deregulation and extortion as economic policy got anywhere, least of all the leader of the USA.
Whether or not he was a successful businessman, Trump surely does shambles and chaos well. And because he's so efficient at detecting slights against him and piques erupt every few seconds, in just one week, he managed to tick off a very large body of human beings he hadn't ticked off before. Trade wars with Mexico and China, very big league bad ideas, but hey, that's really getting things done. Sort of.
This man has done nothing positive, probably in his whole long life. certainly not in the few days he's been in office. Nor has he said anything that gives anybody hope, even his most ardent adorers, that he's competent at anything but sowing confusion and contempt.
I'd be less fearful if he were sane. I can't believe that a man of Trump's advanced years could have lived so long and remained so stupid. Could it be dementia? So, we're a nation of 300 million baby sitters, watching while our infantile charge trashes the country and it's good name, apparently powerless to stop him.
That's the mystery: how this obviously sub-sub-mediocre, deranged man with only the clapped out blunderbuss of deregulation and extortion as economic policy got anywhere, least of all the leader of the USA.
6
And if you think it's bad now, wait until there is actually some emergency either generated or not of Trump's making. Remember that the point is always to
Game the news cycle. Look out Grenada!
Game the news cycle. Look out Grenada!
It appears, that besides lacking a heart, your new Emperor is also missing a frontal lobe.
1
Has the question been asked "Does Donald Trump suffer from dementia?"
1
We've always been proud of saying, "In America anyone can become president." No more. Not now. Never again. Ordinary vetting doesn't work. Unless you can see into someone's heart and hear the words in their head, it won't work. The only words I hear coming from Trump are, "With malice for most and charity toward whites...," misconstruing Lincoln's words. Majorly.
Not to worry the wunderkind Kushner will sort out all the affairs of the world. Most certainly, JK has a signed copy of his majesty's book on deal making to guide him. Mexico's president, too, has read that book. Happily, a golf course or two south of "the new wall" won't buy off the Mexican people. Rex T. will have little to do -except golf- in this administration.
To think that in 10 days we've gone from "don't do stupid stuff" to "throw it against the wall and see what sticks". American exceptionalism indeed.
1
The thing is, we don't know what he will do if and when the whole world dismisses or ridicules or laughs at him. He use to have the t.v. show where he hired and fired ordinary people. Then it was celebrities. He now can hire and fire people in the government.
We also know that he likes a lot of attention, high ratings etc. But, the
attention has to be the kind he likes...(crowd size at the inauguration?)
He also has the atom bomb in his back pocket. We know a couple of our
recent Presidents (Johnson, Nixon) weren't above using war as an campaign
device.
What might Trump do if the whole world ridicules him?
We also know that he likes a lot of attention, high ratings etc. But, the
attention has to be the kind he likes...(crowd size at the inauguration?)
He also has the atom bomb in his back pocket. We know a couple of our
recent Presidents (Johnson, Nixon) weren't above using war as an campaign
device.
What might Trump do if the whole world ridicules him?
That photo is priceless.
Will Congress save us and impeach him already, please.
1
Would you really be happier with President Pence? Choosing him as VP was Trump's insurance policy against impeachment.
1
Yes, I would be happier at this point. Anyone not so chaotic, war loving and dictatorial would be better.
I will stick with Richard Serra's Schunnemunk Fork sculpture at Storm King to the depiction in the lead photograph. Amazing resemblance.
Why didn't all those half-basket of deplorable trumpians do some extreme vetting before casting their idiotic votes for this mindless nincompoop? By the fluke of an outdated Electoral College the United States has an absolute illiterate in the Oval Office being led by his toupee by a White Supremacist the not too bright Breitbart Neo-Nazi Herr S.S. Bannon.
And Trumpians wonder why we "effete, elite, liberal New York snob" are making fun of their intelligence. We have seen how Trump operates for decades, the scams he's pulled, the people he's fleeced, the students from his fake "university" who paid 36, 000 dollars for a laughable degree from T U.
You were warned, Trumpians. You did not heed the our clarion call. You labeled us Hillary lovers, and we are that, but you failed to recognize that we knew both Hillary and Trump extremely well and by a 90% plurality voted for Hillary. Ever wonder why the margin was so great? Even Wall Street and real billionaires like Mike Bloomberg supported Hillary over the laughingstock Trump. They knew what we knew, Trump is an idiot at business with no experience in running any government agency let alone the entire country.
Trumpian Goobers though they were gonna stick it to we Elitists. Yet it is they who will wind up on the short end of the stick.
DD
Manhattan
And Trumpians wonder why we "effete, elite, liberal New York snob" are making fun of their intelligence. We have seen how Trump operates for decades, the scams he's pulled, the people he's fleeced, the students from his fake "university" who paid 36, 000 dollars for a laughable degree from T U.
You were warned, Trumpians. You did not heed the our clarion call. You labeled us Hillary lovers, and we are that, but you failed to recognize that we knew both Hillary and Trump extremely well and by a 90% plurality voted for Hillary. Ever wonder why the margin was so great? Even Wall Street and real billionaires like Mike Bloomberg supported Hillary over the laughingstock Trump. They knew what we knew, Trump is an idiot at business with no experience in running any government agency let alone the entire country.
Trumpian Goobers though they were gonna stick it to we Elitists. Yet it is they who will wind up on the short end of the stick.
DD
Manhattan
2
I can't imagine which contractor would be crazy enough to actually build this wall, knowing that they will be stiffed for the payment.
3
"There is still no sign of activity within the walls of the Branch Donaldian compound as the outside world mobilizes around them."
Meanwhile, inside . . .
"I feel so safe under the protection of our Tremendous Leader. Everything will be so great in here, like He said it would. Hey, why are the walls so warm."
Meanwhile, inside . . .
"I feel so safe under the protection of our Tremendous Leader. Everything will be so great in here, like He said it would. Hey, why are the walls so warm."
We must address the continuing problems of illegal immigration and illegal aliens already in the United States if we want to preserve our economy and culture.
It is very easy for Northeast liberals like Mr. Krugman to advocate for open borders because the impact is insignificant in New York, New York. Illegal aliens add to the welfare costs of the United States, without paying the supporting taxes. Consequently, the United States incurs more debt. Not surprisingly, Mr. Krugman is proponent of government debt; "as long as we can print money, what's the problem?" He would much rather, like many liberals, have a large dependent underclass that relies on government transfer payments and services to survive.
For the next four years, Mexico can address the welfare of its own underclass rather than having them come to the United States.
It is very easy for Northeast liberals like Mr. Krugman to advocate for open borders because the impact is insignificant in New York, New York. Illegal aliens add to the welfare costs of the United States, without paying the supporting taxes. Consequently, the United States incurs more debt. Not surprisingly, Mr. Krugman is proponent of government debt; "as long as we can print money, what's the problem?" He would much rather, like many liberals, have a large dependent underclass that relies on government transfer payments and services to survive.
For the next four years, Mexico can address the welfare of its own underclass rather than having them come to the United States.
3
John Quinn--Funny, how MOST people in the world live in CITIES. We don't like being dismissed.
1
This wall in your picture is pathetic. It isn't high enough. It looks flimsy. I expect something better from you, Mr. Trump. Taller and barbed wire. Cameras everywhere. Border agents by the hundreds driving up and down. Vicious dogs. Of course I would rather you build a wall around the middle east but I take what I can get.
Lie about an affair, get impeached.
Commit high crimes and misdemeanors and violate your oath within first 10 days in office, not get impeached.
Seems fair; any questions?
Commit high crimes and misdemeanors and violate your oath within first 10 days in office, not get impeached.
Seems fair; any questions?
3
The United States has ignored international law on a regular basis whenever it suits them with no consequences, so why would anyone be surprised that they would break trade rules? The invasion of Iraq. The crippling sanctions that denied the Iraqi children their rights to clean water, food, electricity, education among so many other things..... under international law. (Two hundred and fifty thousand Iraqi children died as a direct result of those sanctions according to a study by UNICEF)
Trump has proved over and over again.... even before the election... that he is mentally unstable and so .....again.....why is everyone surprised now?
This proves to me that there is more to what is wrong with America than Donald Trump.
Most Americans supported the gulf wars that led to a major break down in the middle east as millions of Iraqi refugees fled the utter despair and flooded into Jordan and Syria. No one cared. As a result, society in Syria disintegrated under the intense pressure of carrying the huge burden of refugees flooding into their country. This led to the mess we see today and was well predicted by scholars at the time. Just as they are now also predicting the disintegration of Europe as refugees flood over their borders.
Trump has proved over and over again.... even before the election... that he is mentally unstable and so .....again.....why is everyone surprised now?
This proves to me that there is more to what is wrong with America than Donald Trump.
Most Americans supported the gulf wars that led to a major break down in the middle east as millions of Iraqi refugees fled the utter despair and flooded into Jordan and Syria. No one cared. As a result, society in Syria disintegrated under the intense pressure of carrying the huge burden of refugees flooding into their country. This led to the mess we see today and was well predicted by scholars at the time. Just as they are now also predicting the disintegration of Europe as refugees flood over their borders.
2
With all sincere respect Dr. Krugman, "the Trump-Putin regime" ought to be more accurately referred to as the Bannon-Putin regime.
1
Trump is a pathological liar, and he ticks all nine boxes in the APA's list of behaviors that indicate narcissistic personality disorder. For all that, he is not even the most dangerous person in the White House. Bannon is pulling all the strings. Trump just signs whatever Bannon puts in front of him and then goes back to watching Fox news to see if they are talking about how great he is. The self-proclaimed "really smart guy" is being played and he doesn't even know it. Trump is dangerous, but Bannon is evil personified.
2
Immigrants are welcome. The wall is not. Even some border states, even most border guards, even citizens who live near it, do not want this wall. I do not wish to pay for it. It's a waste of my money.
1
Well when one party tells its members repeatedly that the greatest qualification that one can have for elective office is to be a Washington outsider, then the fact that we now have clueless amateurs in the White House was a predictable outcome.
3
The fact that Trump was considered a viable candidate for the presidency was a shock to many. The fact that Trump was elected caused many to stop and realize that America may not be America anymore. The way Trump is conducting the affairs of his office is now, apparently, deeply satisfying to the people who elected him. Trump's America is one where incompetence has now achieved primacy. It is now the national standard of achievement. Ignorance, atavism, racism and mysoginy are the new guideposts of political action. Trump is the poster boy for his constituency. The rest of the country needs to adjust to the fact that his views won the day and the right to enter history. This is vastly more than one man's story, it's about the collective diminishment of a people.
3
The Republican Party has descended into insanity.
4
"Remember the president’s temper tantrum over his embarrassingly small inauguration crowd? It already seems like ancient history."
Which is exactly the point. He felt disrespected by the stories about his (crowd) size, so he created a new controversy by doing something that would really outrage liberals, to show who's in charge.
We are very much at the beginning of the consequences of Trump's disastrous wrecking ball approach to foreign policy. Consider that Iraq, which is allied to Iran as well as us, now cannot send their pilots to the United States for training (as was scheduled, as was pointed out by Sen. McCain this weekend). They may well choose Iran over us and disrupt military cooperation. Iran-Iraq grows stronger, and Israel, feeling threatened and without any constraint from us, decides to take military action to diminish Iran and ensure it can't rebuild its nuclear program. And so on and on.
Which is exactly the point. He felt disrespected by the stories about his (crowd) size, so he created a new controversy by doing something that would really outrage liberals, to show who's in charge.
We are very much at the beginning of the consequences of Trump's disastrous wrecking ball approach to foreign policy. Consider that Iraq, which is allied to Iran as well as us, now cannot send their pilots to the United States for training (as was scheduled, as was pointed out by Sen. McCain this weekend). They may well choose Iran over us and disrupt military cooperation. Iran-Iraq grows stronger, and Israel, feeling threatened and without any constraint from us, decides to take military action to diminish Iran and ensure it can't rebuild its nuclear program. And so on and on.
2
Hope the wall is worth that $30 cantaloupe, folks.
1
In today's Financial Times it was reported that Boris Johnson, Foreign Secretary had to speak with Trump's son in law Jared about the implications of the extremely ill advised EO. What madness, not diplomat to diplomat, not one with any experience in foreign affairs, just a favorite relation.
Woe is US!
Woe is US!
The emperor wears no clothes.
1
There has to be a solution that allows historic immigration at rates we can absorb. The recent last few years of anarchy in immigration is tearing us apart.
2
The real problem with Trump's eye for an eye approach is that eventually, everyone is half, if not totally, blind. Can America do better by the world? Absolutely. It must. Is this the way to do it? Absolutely not.
Humpty Trumpty built a great wall
Humpty Trumpty had a great fall
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Trumpty together again.
*********
"Four legs good, two legs better! Four legs good, two legs better! Four legs good, two legs better!"
It went on for five minutes without stopping. And by the time the sheep had quieted down, the chance to utter any protest had passed, for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse.
Humpty Trumpty had a great fall
All the king's horses and all the king's men
Couldn't put Trumpty together again.
*********
"Four legs good, two legs better! Four legs good, two legs better! Four legs good, two legs better!"
It went on for five minutes without stopping. And by the time the sheep had quieted down, the chance to utter any protest had passed, for the pigs had marched back into the farmhouse.
3
Infidelity - to agreements and even oaths - is a pattern with Trump. Look at his marital infidelity. Business frauds.
Can he even keep the Oath of Office? I'm sure he's already broken it.
Impeach!
Can he even keep the Oath of Office? I'm sure he's already broken it.
Impeach!
1
I agree with Prof. Krugman on just about every point, except this one:
"Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike."
I suggest you check with Native Americans about how well this country has kept its promises.
"Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike."
I suggest you check with Native Americans about how well this country has kept its promises.
2
Enrique Peña Nieto needs to stop having any direct dealings with Lyin' Donnie, because so far he's been rolled at every encounter.
First, after giving candidate Trump a presidential reception in Mexico City, Peña Nieto was rewarded by Trump's triumphant declaration later the same day that yes, Mexico would pay for The Wall.
And what was the outcome of Peña Nieto's telephone conversation with Lyin' Donnie last week? Why, the Mexican president let Trump put a muzzle on him: there would be no further public mention of how The Wall would be financed. If there's one thing Trump has learned from his tarnished business career, it's the value of having a nondisclosure agreement.
What this means is that Trump and his minions can now frame the discussion about The Wall on their own terms and Peña Nieto, a Mexican Dan Quayle, will feel honor-bound to shut up about it. Or so it seems.
With this administration's erratic shoot-from-the-hip approach to foreign affairs, it's hard to know when Lyin' Donnie will be provoked to remember he's promised his base that Mexico Will Pay for The Wall. Then we'll be off and running again.
Peña Nieto needs to stop playing nice with Lyin' Donnie and draw upon the abundant expertise in Mexico on how to play hard ball. Unfortunately, he just extradited one of his best potential advisors to the US to face drug charges . . .
First, after giving candidate Trump a presidential reception in Mexico City, Peña Nieto was rewarded by Trump's triumphant declaration later the same day that yes, Mexico would pay for The Wall.
And what was the outcome of Peña Nieto's telephone conversation with Lyin' Donnie last week? Why, the Mexican president let Trump put a muzzle on him: there would be no further public mention of how The Wall would be financed. If there's one thing Trump has learned from his tarnished business career, it's the value of having a nondisclosure agreement.
What this means is that Trump and his minions can now frame the discussion about The Wall on their own terms and Peña Nieto, a Mexican Dan Quayle, will feel honor-bound to shut up about it. Or so it seems.
With this administration's erratic shoot-from-the-hip approach to foreign affairs, it's hard to know when Lyin' Donnie will be provoked to remember he's promised his base that Mexico Will Pay for The Wall. Then we'll be off and running again.
Peña Nieto needs to stop playing nice with Lyin' Donnie and draw upon the abundant expertise in Mexico on how to play hard ball. Unfortunately, he just extradited one of his best potential advisors to the US to face drug charges . . .
1
Let's face it. His priority is a steady diet of cheap empty calorie red meat for those that voted for him. Nothing else.
2
Funny how certain immigrants/ migrants are allowed thru the border, barely a question asked. And when the wall is built there will be a separate entrance for them. Not a word about this fraud that has been going on for years from President Trump. And he made certain not to mention a word about it while campaigning in Florida. All immigrants are equal but some are more equal than others.
http://www.npr.org/2016/03/03/469005699/cubans-free-ride-after-crossing-...
http://www.npr.org/2016/03/03/469005699/cubans-free-ride-after-crossing-...
Your statement in today's column that a VAT has no impact on trade is technically correct but misses the point. Just adding a VAT, which is charged on all imports and refunded on all exports, is trade neutral: paid on all goods sold in the US, whether imported or produced domestically, and rebated on exports. However, VATs have been imposed or increased by countries to raise revenue lost by contemporaneous reductions in taxes, like the corporate income and payroll taxes, that are not rebated at the border. The combination reduces the tax burden on exports while adding a tax burden on imports. The economic effect is equivalent to a currency devaluation, boosting exports and shrinking imports. This tactic has been used by EU countries like France who cannot devalue directly as well as non-EU countries. See the "Fiscal Devaluations" by E.Farhi, G. Gopinath et in Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Working Papers no. 12-10
Are socialist economic controls better than nationalist economic controls? Krugman's statist chickens have come home to roost. The laws of economics don't vanish inside nations. see Atlas Shrugged for more.
In case you are unaware, Atlas Shrugged, is fiction. Trump is a bad dream.
Oh yes, let's all worship at the alter of Ayn Rand.
Lessee...I can take a Nobel Prize-winning economist's outline of the economic issues involved in taxes and a trade war together woth his invitation to read a more-detailed discussion seriously.
Or, I can wade through a turgid, ignorant novel written by somebody with a propensity for grabbing every government benefit she could lift, and for methamphetamine sulfate, in the hopes that somewhere in John Galt's unreadable screed there would be something sensible.
Decisions, decisions.
Or, I can wade through a turgid, ignorant novel written by somebody with a propensity for grabbing every government benefit she could lift, and for methamphetamine sulfate, in the hopes that somewhere in John Galt's unreadable screed there would be something sensible.
Decisions, decisions.
Trump's blind support from Middle America is not surprising. Nothing he does will be seen as wrong or bad because all those negative reports come from biased MSM sources.
Trump acts like US Treaties are as binding as Trump's private contracts he historically has ignored and left unpaid.
Teapot Dome last century, Trump Tower in this one.
Trump acts like US Treaties are as binding as Trump's private contracts he historically has ignored and left unpaid.
Teapot Dome last century, Trump Tower in this one.
Does Mexico have a wall on its Southern Border to keep people out? I have been told so. If so why has there been no reporting of the wall by the national press?
1
You've been misinformed: there's no such wall on Mexico's southern border. There's the Suchiate river and the Lacandona jungle (what's left of it).
Trump's travel ban is becoming as confusing and unwieldy as Obamacare.
1
Paul, those of us living the dream tried to warn you about the election. Given Congress's approval rating, don't make the mistake of thinking next go-around they won't send an even worse bunch. Don't be seen as one not trying to help.
Trump's orders are political red meat for his base. He had probably already indicated to the Republican establishment and Wall Street that he would walk back his ridiculous decrees after accomplishing their intended purpose: to show the Fox News audience that he's doing what he said he'd do. He desperately needs to keep the support of the know-nothings.
In truth, the man has a severe narcissist complex and is a massively insecure, pathological liar. A carnival barker and 6 bankruptcy failed businessman. Not the kind of qualities you want in your commander in chief.
In truth, the man has a severe narcissist complex and is a massively insecure, pathological liar. A carnival barker and 6 bankruptcy failed businessman. Not the kind of qualities you want in your commander in chief.
What happened to the Republican story about uncertainty hurting the economy under Obama? Shouldn't the most dangerously unpredictable president in American history bother the "Very Serious People"?
Before this gets too far into the Reich, we must impeach. We are one terrorist attack away from a full fascist take-over with Bannon leading the charge and Putin pulling the strings. A military coup would be welcome!
Sign seen at a protest march: "Build a wall around Trump. I'll pay for it."
289
Anecdotally a woman offended at a comment Winston Churchill made, told him that if he were her husband she would put cyanide in his tea. Churchill replied if she were his wife he would drink it.
That about sums up how many of us feel. Hillary was that woman, and the cyanide is Trump.
That about sums up how many of us feel. Hillary was that woman, and the cyanide is Trump.
2
Nancy Lady Astor; first woman elected to the British Parliament.
1
Very easy to condemn, but what would the response be if under Trump the problems of terrorism, poor economy, failed healthcare, and country security became worse. Oh I bet all those complaining now would just jump at the chance to put the blame on President Trump. The man is not given a chance, he has taken on many problems that this country has been facing for many years. The problems he has "inherited" are not his fault, and yet if he tries to address he is condemned, and if he did nothing he would be condemned as well. Ask yourself, given the state of things today, what would you do to address these same issues? Would you be willing to do nothing and let the US fail?
1
It is time for Paul Krugman to give that bit about "the Trump-Putin regime" a rest. When it appears in the first sentence of the piece it pretty much ensures that the only people who will read past that first sentence are those who already dislike Trump and are seeking to feed their confirmation bias.... And that is not the audience that Krugman needs to reach.
2
The clarity, as always, is stupendous and necessary as never before.
While rarely acknowledged, America's role as a global financial and security rock has provided stability both for the US and globally. Hugely important. And yes, US taxpayer money has been spent securing other markets and democracies but it has been a win-win.
Moral and economic leadership has been critical in developing a global movement for human rights as well as free markets. But it was on the basis of certainty of the institutions, backed with the might of the US.
Just as our own institutions will be tested as never before in curtailing the power of the Presidency, so will global institutions. We shall see just how fragile, or robust they turn out to be.
While rarely acknowledged, America's role as a global financial and security rock has provided stability both for the US and globally. Hugely important. And yes, US taxpayer money has been spent securing other markets and democracies but it has been a win-win.
Moral and economic leadership has been critical in developing a global movement for human rights as well as free markets. But it was on the basis of certainty of the institutions, backed with the might of the US.
Just as our own institutions will be tested as never before in curtailing the power of the Presidency, so will global institutions. We shall see just how fragile, or robust they turn out to be.
This comment says it all: " In the process he demonstrated that nobody in authority understands basic economics"....Nor does Trump et al., have a basic grasp of foreign policy, the need for diplomacy, tradition, history, precedent, or the need for careful deliberation and analysis of ideas.
All they have is a bunch of guys, all with axes to grind, sitting around a table, spitballing with the guy at the head of the table ready to sign anything that seems "disruptive" and brash.
Once we alienate our friends and partners they will abandon this administration and simply wait it out. In the meantime we are stuck with him. But not our Senators and Congressional reps. They are fair game and vulnerable in 2 years. If they follow this trainwreck, they deserve to go over the cliff as well.
All they have is a bunch of guys, all with axes to grind, sitting around a table, spitballing with the guy at the head of the table ready to sign anything that seems "disruptive" and brash.
Once we alienate our friends and partners they will abandon this administration and simply wait it out. In the meantime we are stuck with him. But not our Senators and Congressional reps. They are fair game and vulnerable in 2 years. If they follow this trainwreck, they deserve to go over the cliff as well.
I am still considering Nuclear Holocaust is a probability in Trump's term.
So far I do not see a sprinkle of statesman behavior.
So far I do not see a sprinkle of statesman behavior.
The ignorance is overwhelming.
And it isn't benign ignorance -- it's aggressive, cruel, vindictive and above all isolationist. The man who lives in a gilded penthouse and calls himself a New Yorker thinks that his country can take its dollars and live above the rest of the world. And that he can impose this by decree.
This is an atrocity. And the prospects for where it will lead are beyond bleak.
I see a "friendship" with Russia leading directly to Russia moving back into Eastern Europe and taking over countries that have joined the EU and/or NATO. What will the response? Especially when Trump and his courtiers realize they've been played.
Thank you Paul Krugman for standing up, and thank you to everyone who stands up to this horror!
And it isn't benign ignorance -- it's aggressive, cruel, vindictive and above all isolationist. The man who lives in a gilded penthouse and calls himself a New Yorker thinks that his country can take its dollars and live above the rest of the world. And that he can impose this by decree.
This is an atrocity. And the prospects for where it will lead are beyond bleak.
I see a "friendship" with Russia leading directly to Russia moving back into Eastern Europe and taking over countries that have joined the EU and/or NATO. What will the response? Especially when Trump and his courtiers realize they've been played.
Thank you Paul Krugman for standing up, and thank you to everyone who stands up to this horror!
He was in violation of the Constitution the moment he took the oath, Republicans are ignoring it because they want their policies passed immediately,
even if we get into a war, Republicans will not budge until the Conservative Utopia becomes reality, then Trump will be a liability and will have to go.
But how much damage do we have to put up with?
Obama would be crucified if he did even a fraction of this......
Please help
even if we get into a war, Republicans will not budge until the Conservative Utopia becomes reality, then Trump will be a liability and will have to go.
But how much damage do we have to put up with?
Obama would be crucified if he did even a fraction of this......
Please help
1
As Bette Davis said, "Fasten your seat belts. We're in for a bumpy ride." I'd lke to know where the House and Senate Republicans are while this is going on. Probably doing massive polling to figure out if they back him or fight him. I for one am on the phone with my representatives asking them for their position. I suggest anyone who is concerned, do the same.
3
Maybe if Mexico agreed to build 2 trump towers this whole mess will go away.
Where are the Tax Returns?
Where are the Tax Returns?
1
So basically what was done under Reagan to collective bargaining, that NAFTA, under Clinton, did to manufacturing, what the 2008 recession under W did to middle-class wages, is the big set-up to clean out whatever is left of any stability in a wave of inflation.
"The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits."
--Albert Einstein
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
--Albert Einstein
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
--Edgar Allan Poe"
'There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life."
--Frank Zappa
--Albert Einstein
"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former."
--Albert Einstein
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
--Martin Luther King, Jr.
"Stupidity is a talent for misconception."
--Edgar Allan Poe"
'There is more stupidity than hydrogen in the universe, and it has a longer shelf life."
--Frank Zappa
1
Why haven't the two political parties come forward and declared they won't allow anyone on the ballot without 10 years of tax returns and a review of medical and mental history by qualified, independent panels of doctors? Didn't we learn anything from this election?
1
Advice to Mexico. You undoubtedly noticed that Muslim countries doing business with Trump were exempted from his immigration executive order last weekend. And you must be aware that he blames Mexico for the "very unfair" collapse of his Baja hotel project some years ago. So get with diplomacy Trump style and solve your wall problem. Build Trump a hotel or two.
Mexico is a democratic nation of 120 million people with the 10th most people and 11th nominal GDP that sits along America's southern border. Mexico is America's #2 export market and #3 trading partner and source of crude oil imports. A majority of Mexicans are colored mestizo, mulatto, Garifuna, Native and African.
About 11% of Americans have Mexican heritage and more Americans live in Mexico than any other country. Mexican immigration into America is at a 40 year low. Americans insatiable hunger for illegal drugs and an evil gun fetish has fueled organized drug gangs violence and political corruption inside of Mexico. Ancient Mexico was one of the six cradles of civilization. Mexico did not interfere in the American election nor invade and occupy any of it's neighbors.
Trump won an Electoral College majority by the votes of 46% of Americans, James Comey, Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu and Julian Assange. Appealing to the worst ignorant, intolerant, intemperate and incompetent demons of our human nature was and still is a winning socioeconomic political strategy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in the American election and invaded and occupied it's neighbors. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu interfered in the American occupation and is engaged in a occupation, blockade/siege, exile and 2nd class citizenship by state sponsored ethnic sectarian terrorism that includes walls and arms paid for by American tax payers. Lady Liberty is afraid.
About 11% of Americans have Mexican heritage and more Americans live in Mexico than any other country. Mexican immigration into America is at a 40 year low. Americans insatiable hunger for illegal drugs and an evil gun fetish has fueled organized drug gangs violence and political corruption inside of Mexico. Ancient Mexico was one of the six cradles of civilization. Mexico did not interfere in the American election nor invade and occupy any of it's neighbors.
Trump won an Electoral College majority by the votes of 46% of Americans, James Comey, Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu and Julian Assange. Appealing to the worst ignorant, intolerant, intemperate and incompetent demons of our human nature was and still is a winning socioeconomic political strategy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin interfered in the American election and invaded and occupied it's neighbors. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu interfered in the American occupation and is engaged in a occupation, blockade/siege, exile and 2nd class citizenship by state sponsored ethnic sectarian terrorism that includes walls and arms paid for by American tax payers. Lady Liberty is afraid.
3
Bibi interfered in the American election......while continuing the occupation.
1
I think Robert Frost said it best:
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down."
Before I built a wall I'd ask to know
What I was walling in or walling out,
And to whom I was like to give offence.
Something there is that doesn't love a wall,
That wants it down."
1
I thought I could not be any more terrified after election day, but, almost daily now, we are inundated with trump aggression and ignorance which seems to be ignored by the likes of Ryan and McConnell. How far will they let trump go? Do they really believe he is not stupid enough to start a war? Even Gorbachev seems to think so.
My epiphanies as a result of the recent election are many. Perhaps my reading of an old article from The New Republic magazine, from March 27, 1995, gave me the critical insight I needed to be enlightened. The article can be found in section II, paragraph 1, page 20 of that issue. In it are enumerated all of the populist campaign promises made by Bill Clinton which were subsequently broken. I shall not list them here, but the list is remarkably similar to, guess what? The thing that has you all flummoxed is that he is actually keeping his promises. All of the populist campaign promises which are being fulfilled by Donald Trump.
After reading the NYT, the New Republic, Harper's, and The Atlantic for years, i am seeing a very disturbing change in the perception of reality. I might as well be reading Pravda. Over the years there has been lots of talk about sustainability, environment, human rights etc. Pay close attention: immigration is not sustainable, we are running out of fresh water and need to take care of our own house first. Pay close attention, you can praise globalization, but you cannot simultaneousl ignore the price that we pay in terms of the amount of plastic and other waste that is finding itself in the world's oceans, perhaps to our imminent peril. You cannot rail about human rights, and at the same time make deals with China for the cheap production of the next iPhone. Zero population growth is the only sustainable option.
After reading the NYT, the New Republic, Harper's, and The Atlantic for years, i am seeing a very disturbing change in the perception of reality. I might as well be reading Pravda. Over the years there has been lots of talk about sustainability, environment, human rights etc. Pay close attention: immigration is not sustainable, we are running out of fresh water and need to take care of our own house first. Pay close attention, you can praise globalization, but you cannot simultaneousl ignore the price that we pay in terms of the amount of plastic and other waste that is finding itself in the world's oceans, perhaps to our imminent peril. You cannot rail about human rights, and at the same time make deals with China for the cheap production of the next iPhone. Zero population growth is the only sustainable option.
1
The first 10 days are in the history books, we only have 1,450 days left to look to the future.
Will they prove to be "More of the Same"?
W
Will they prove to be "More of the Same"?
W
3
As Trump and Bannon are remaking the US in the image of Russia, the lights in the shining city on the hill went dark and the majority of Americans are in morning. A very dark day dawns in the US and very sad times are ahead for us especially as we keep loosing our allied friends and Putin is winning the game of causing turmoil in Western Europe and fractures the friendship the US had with the Western Civilized World.
2
Trump lost in the popular vote and his election was not a carte blanche to eradicate human rights and destroy the economy. Unfortunately his supporters do not understand basic law and international order. You were duped by a man who believes in fairy tales and obsesses with the size of everything except the brain. I do not trust him or the lackeys and toadies who follow the Bannon edicts. His disregard of law and the Constitution will not be tolerated by loyal and honorable Americans. We have a duty to our neighbors and the world.
3
In this article, Paul Krugman states, "Many people who should know better believe that value-added taxes, which many countries impose, discourage imports and subsidize exports."
I wonder how many of those people have been clamoring for a simpler US tax system...a value added tax?
I wonder how many of those people have been clamoring for a simpler US tax system...a value added tax?
Trump will take action to keep all his promises.
Many of his actions will wind up in court and ultimately be overturned.
Trump will then tell his supporters he tried but those liberal Obama appointed Judges blocked him.
His loyal voters will be OK with this explanation.
Only in America.
Many of his actions will wind up in court and ultimately be overturned.
Trump will then tell his supporters he tried but those liberal Obama appointed Judges blocked him.
His loyal voters will be OK with this explanation.
Only in America.
2
Only to a typical Republican voter, fed on high-emotion, low-intellect pabulum from Fox News, Rush Limbaugh, and Breitbart, could a repeatedly failed (Sox bankruptcies.) businessman with a reputation for screwing his subcontractors be seen as a viable candidate for the highest office in the land.
Only to such a voter would President Obama's use of executive orders be seen violating the Constitution, while Trump's manic use of the same is called "keeping his campaign promises" and "getting things done".
Having done all they could to prevent President Obama from accomplishing anything, now these voters whine that we should "give Trump a chance".
We gave him a chance. He blew it. Welcome to the rest of his first, and only, term. I hope you like protests; you'll see a lot of them.
Only to such a voter would President Obama's use of executive orders be seen violating the Constitution, while Trump's manic use of the same is called "keeping his campaign promises" and "getting things done".
Having done all they could to prevent President Obama from accomplishing anything, now these voters whine that we should "give Trump a chance".
We gave him a chance. He blew it. Welcome to the rest of his first, and only, term. I hope you like protests; you'll see a lot of them.
4
Call your senators and representatives today and demand that they invoke the 25th Amendment section 4. The president is incompetent and incapable of carrying out the responsibilities of the presidency, and is surrounded by nefarious, treasonous manipulators who are putting the country in grave danger. Do it NOW. Call your local news stations NOW. America can't handle another week of Bannon's attempts to destroy the country. Yes, Pence is horrible, too, but he's (apparently) not a psychopath.
2
Krugman seems to think that there is some thought going on in the new administration, that they are actually planning and scheming. The fact is that there is no there there. There is no captain aboard the ship.
2
And what is more sinister is that all of this "policy" is being filtered through not just Trump's fevered brain, obsessed by the fact that he is growing older, fatter, and less able to grope women than ever before -- at least the Secret Service will now know! -- but also by Steve Bannon.
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, for possibly the first time since Goebbels, a major country is now in the hands of a PR flak on a day to day basis.
Yes, Ladies and Gentlemen, for possibly the first time since Goebbels, a major country is now in the hands of a PR flak on a day to day basis.
2
Unfortunately, Dr. Krugman's concern, that: "Everyone, from small nations..., to Mexican entrepreneurs..., to Iraqi interpreters..., now has to wonder whether they’ll be treated like stiffed contractors at a Trump hotel" reflects a realistic appraisal of the threat. Trump combines a pathological level of narcissistic entitlement with deeply insecure and hostile revenge-seeking, which allows him to rationalize any form of misconduct, especially betrayal. He has cheated on his wives, defrauded students, and swindled investors. Violating trade deals will be nothing to the Sociopath-In-Chief.
7
All of this is the DNC's fault for not realizing that HRC would not win. Certainly they could have groomed a much better candidate (Joe Biden?). Even Bernie would have likely won. It is not surprising Trump is hapless; this may be our only saving grace. Ultimately, his desire to be liked will paralyze him to inaction.
No, it's the voters fault for buying into decades of Republican smears, Comey's manipulative comments and Russian hacking of DNC and Fake News reports.
If not for a profound gullibility, we could have possibly elected the most prepared, intelligent and hard working, dedicated public servant to the Presidency in a lifetime.
We, the people, blew it. The Trump Presidency does not reflect who we are.
If not for a profound gullibility, we could have possibly elected the most prepared, intelligent and hard working, dedicated public servant to the Presidency in a lifetime.
We, the people, blew it. The Trump Presidency does not reflect who we are.
2
It is the gullible voters' fault on the right and left who drank the decades-long Republican Kool-Aid & believed the smears about Hillary Clinton. Should she have given in to their bullying and given up her aspirations? What would that have said about her? Anyway, she's history now - you better worry about the future. Because if Trump realizes he is the most hated individual in the USA, he may well take the whole kit & caboodle with him in a final act of defiance.
Never in my worst nightmares could I have imagined that the Republicans would provide the country with a president who, by comparison with the bungling George W. Bush, makes the latter look like a combination of George Washington, Abe Lincoln, Mark Twain, Albert Einstein and john Glenn. But they did.
5
Any rational person knows that Trump is a joke, a bad joke to be sure, but a joke nonetheless. The absurdities won't end until Trump's troupe runs out of stupid ideas. For news broadcasters and stand-up comedians, Trump will be like shooting fish in a barrel. Fortunately, they are all bunglers and incapable of executing their dumb ideas.
The words "sheer viciousness" leap out at me.
Bannon's "white nationalism" is nothing other than sheer viciousness. This hate directed toward Mexico and predominately Muslim countries (without Trump business interests in them) is disgusting. It's also, yes, horrifically bad policy that our children will pay for. But the immorality of it is revolting.
The Trump team have all the morality and humility of soap opera pimps. And they're running the country.
Heaven save us.
Bannon's "white nationalism" is nothing other than sheer viciousness. This hate directed toward Mexico and predominately Muslim countries (without Trump business interests in them) is disgusting. It's also, yes, horrifically bad policy that our children will pay for. But the immorality of it is revolting.
The Trump team have all the morality and humility of soap opera pimps. And they're running the country.
Heaven save us.
5
This article assumes the US only imports products from Mexico and US Stores only stock Mexican products. The Retail world is flooded with competitors to Mexican products and price is king when it comes to consumer spending. Tack 20% onto existing retail prices and Mexican products languish and die on store shelves. Add 20% to car & truck sticker prices and they will crowd dealer lots unsold.
Competition will force Mexican manufacturers to include the 20% increase as cost of production and keep current retail prices or drastically sacrifice market share.
Result = Mexican manufacturers pay for the WALL!
Competition will force Mexican manufacturers to include the 20% increase as cost of production and keep current retail prices or drastically sacrifice market share.
Result = Mexican manufacturers pay for the WALL!
2
Economics doesn't work that way.
1
Nope. Where did you learn economics? If competitors do not have to compete with Mexican products anymore, they can and will raise their prices. Result = CONSUMERS pay for the WALL!!!
"Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike."
You might want to fact-check that with the American Indian Nations.
You might want to fact-check that with the American Indian Nations.
8
Good and important point. It's the exception that proves the rule.
1
It appears that Mr. Trump is determined to give us a very lively demonstration of what's it's like to govern based on hunches, rumors and locker room talk.
It's ad hominem government from a man who judges everyone in the world by how much they make him look good and who drops everything to get even with anyone who threatens his vast self-esteem.
And it's only been a week! Imagine what the remaining 207 weeks will bring.
It's ad hominem government from a man who judges everyone in the world by how much they make him look good and who drops everything to get even with anyone who threatens his vast self-esteem.
And it's only been a week! Imagine what the remaining 207 weeks will bring.
2
Irreversible loss of credibility is what every newspaper in this country predicted when they all (with I believe one exception) stated in simple terms that Trump was unfit for office and that they therefore endorsed HRC. Papers that had never endorsed anyone, e.g., USA Today, endorsed HRC.
Trump's supporters didn't care. After a jaw-dropping disaster of a chaotic first week where the nation and the world were gob-smacked with our new Orwellian "alternative facts" reality, this paper said on Friday that Trump's supporters are satisfied with his performance. They still don't care.
Are these people as crazy as he is? What is going on?
Trump's supporters didn't care. After a jaw-dropping disaster of a chaotic first week where the nation and the world were gob-smacked with our new Orwellian "alternative facts" reality, this paper said on Friday that Trump's supporters are satisfied with his performance. They still don't care.
Are these people as crazy as he is? What is going on?
12
Dear Leader should reenact the Bracero Program and hire Mexican migrant, manual laborers to build his wall.
He can then claim with some, refreshing honesty that Mexicans built the wall.
He can then claim with some, refreshing honesty that Mexicans built the wall.
2
Yes to all of that, to say nothing of the regressive nature of the value added tax. (not that regression is in disfavor on the Right). Why can't there be someone smart that Trump trusts enough to say, "Wait a minute, sir (or Dad) let's think about this some more".
1
Overall, as much as I love international travel and have tried to be a respectful tourist in many countries, I am now ashamed to go to any other nation and be known as an American.
6
For months glass half full people have been saying maybe Trump will prove his detractors wrong. Well guess what, glass half full people, the waiting is over. As for those who are perfectly happy to see white people in charge no matter what the consequences, enjoy this moment because the whirlwind you ordered will be carrying you away presently.
This is just another way to shift the tax burden from the wealthiest who spend less of their money on consumption to the middle class who spend more. Which means congressional republicans will be all too happy to support this plan if they can find a way to sucker enough voters into believing it's good for America.
Our nation is a nation of laws. One man, no matter his position as POTUS can change that. Unless we citizens and our elected representatives allow it to happen. The Federal courts will certainly help constrain the illegal actions, as shown last week by their staying portions of the executive order on immigartion. BUT it is up to each of us to recognize our responsibilities as citizens and ensure we do not allow our 240-year history as a democratic republic to be subverted by the actions of a few. Get involved and make your voice heard!!
Can't we get Warren Buffet and George Soros to give Trump/Pence a billion dollars to just leave. Trump can brag how he made a giant profit out of being president, the money is chump change for Buffet and it would be a big win for ordinary citizens.
2
The rules have changed and probably will continue to change for at least the next 4 years. They're really NOT rules; they're just mental machinations originating from The Ringmaster of a 3rd rate circus. I really don't think that Donald Trump knows for sure just what surprises he'll think up next week. He's like a spoiled rich kid that has always been pampered and has been able to do almost anything knowing that his money will bail him out. But surely the people who voted for him will realize at some point that they made a terrible mistake and will want to shut him down. Wrong! It's not going to happen. The only real solution is coming in 2018 & 2020. Until then, it's important that all of us keep the pressure on him and Congress and limit as best we can the damage that he's causing to our country.
Leading a country as vast and as complex as America demands a leader with an equally vast and complex set of intellectual tools in their leadership toolbox. Trump has only one tool in his toolbox---the hammer.
You are absolutely right Dr. Krugman but you are not talking to the problem of meaningful work in America for everyone. Even experts like college educated artists are forced to work at two and three jobs if they continue to do their expertise. That was a problem for my parents as teachers and has accelerated during the time I've been running an artistic educational program in the private sector. The problem of lowering costs but cutting the salaries of highly educated skilled labor is a death knell for intelligence and competence in a society. Your profession has not solved that problem but goes blithely on complaining when people are stupid and incompetent. Your world had something to do with that. Not long ago I taught a young Ivy League baritone graduate economist. He didn't even know the meaning of the productivity lag that would make it impossible for him to make a living in his dream. Invisible hand? bah, just dumb, incompetent theories that help a few and condemn the many to powerlessness. That's the root of Trump and you're profession is complicit. It could change if you would teach the meaning of value as something other than cash. Ten years ago we did an Interactive Management Workshop with John N. Warfield's team from George Mason U. on this problem. What it came down to was simple, a lack of vision. There was plenty of money but no collective vision. Ray Evans Harrell, Artistic Director, Magic Circle Opera Repertory Ensemble, Inc. NYCity.
3
Yes, Dr. Paul, :a "shambolic administration" - and for how long should we the people put up with an unqualified, ignorant, incompetent President who has tantrums and Tweets nasty words and is smashing American values to smithereens? How long will it take to impeach this bigoted narcissistic President? America's credibility around the world is collapsing because Americans voted for a laughingstock TV showman millionaire and not a qualified candidate for the Presidency. But is that vote irreversible - can't it be reversed by impeachment? And how does the impeachment of President Trump begin? - with the first step, like a Chinese journey.
Either President Trump and his advisers (Bannon?) are completely ignorant, or they are just shooting from the hip to generate stupid sound bites about their ill-conceived policies. There was no way that Mexico was going to pay for this utterly useless wall-boondoggle. So they just made stuff up. Trump's supporters have even less understanding, but they run on sound bites rather than any considered thought.
Obviously Trump is still campaigning. He thinks that what he says doesn't matter because it is all rhetoric and blather. At some point the public must wake up and understand that he is not governing or administering at all. He is just trying desperately to protect his "brand."
Disgusting and sad.
Obviously Trump is still campaigning. He thinks that what he says doesn't matter because it is all rhetoric and blather. At some point the public must wake up and understand that he is not governing or administering at all. He is just trying desperately to protect his "brand."
Disgusting and sad.
3
It's going to get worse before it gets better.
The worse? Trump continuing to shoot from the hip in a mindless, uneducated, and clueless machine gun fashion.
The better? More Americans actively taking to the streets.
Trump doesn't know it, but he has awakened the American democracy. It is a gift that will keep on giving long after he's gone. If we survive him, we should thank him.
Unfortunately, with Trump in the Oval, that is obviously and increasingly a big "if."
The worse? Trump continuing to shoot from the hip in a mindless, uneducated, and clueless machine gun fashion.
The better? More Americans actively taking to the streets.
Trump doesn't know it, but he has awakened the American democracy. It is a gift that will keep on giving long after he's gone. If we survive him, we should thank him.
Unfortunately, with Trump in the Oval, that is obviously and increasingly a big "if."
197
Why is everyone screaming about this notion of a "Wall"? It's only rhetoric coming out of the mouth of President Trump. The "Wall" is never going to be built.
But the immigration process definitely needs to be overhauled and strengthened. We can't continue to allow undocumented persons from anywhere in the world to enter this country. No other country in the world allows it. Why should we allow it?
But the immigration process definitely needs to be overhauled and strengthened. We can't continue to allow undocumented persons from anywhere in the world to enter this country. No other country in the world allows it. Why should we allow it?
1
Trump's mean-spirited incompetence is so profound it is especially unfortunate that Krugman still feels the need to try and defend his now 24 year support for NAFTA with Mexico.
But after Krugman spent all last year ridiculing his own previous views of the corrupting influence of Super Pacs and big money in politics, maybe it should not surprise that he also reverses himself now to claim that (importing) corporations don't pay taxes, people do.
Krugman long has claimed that trade deficits don't matter -- even the -$10 Trillion the US has accumulated with the world since NAFTA. Spending far more than we produce for a generation is just dandy for Krugman; massive foreign debt and asset sales is good.
Those paying attention know this is what Krugman thinks. But Trump is far too dangerous on far too many other vital policies to allow the rest of us to be diverted by Krugman's political and personal nonsense.
But after Krugman spent all last year ridiculing his own previous views of the corrupting influence of Super Pacs and big money in politics, maybe it should not surprise that he also reverses himself now to claim that (importing) corporations don't pay taxes, people do.
Krugman long has claimed that trade deficits don't matter -- even the -$10 Trillion the US has accumulated with the world since NAFTA. Spending far more than we produce for a generation is just dandy for Krugman; massive foreign debt and asset sales is good.
Those paying attention know this is what Krugman thinks. But Trump is far too dangerous on far too many other vital policies to allow the rest of us to be diverted by Krugman's political and personal nonsense.
1
The thing is.. I don't think he is crazy. Is he a mad dog or a wily fox? Maybe both but I think the later for now. The noise he is making is a huge distraction. Make noise about Voter Fraud, quietly strip voter's rights; make noise about what a disater the country is in, quietly set up an infrastructure spending bill that puts money in the pockets of big corporations and leaves us with nothing, make noise about public schools and unions being a disaster, quietly move tax payer money out of the public system into privately run, for profit schools.. .you get the picture. Latest bait and switch...get us all in a lather about protecting immigrants and refugees (as we should) during a day of rememberance of the Holocaust, while placing Steve Bannon on the National Security Counsel. Oh-and cut the access of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the Director of National Intelligence to the same counsel.
We have to think ahead and prepare for what seems to be a complete power grab.
We have to think ahead and prepare for what seems to be a complete power grab.
1
"Now all of that is in question. Everyone, from small nations who thought they were protected against Russian aggression, to Mexican entrepreneurs who thought they had guaranteed access to our markets, to Iraqi interpreters who thought their service with the U.S. meant an assurance of sanctuary, now has to wonder whether they’ll be treated like stiffed contractors at a Trump hotel."
How well said. Great article, Paul.
How well said. Great article, Paul.
Its too bad that with a business degree Trump understands little about economics. If foreign workers are willing to make a product for half the wages of our workers, we can buy twice as much goods with the same money. We just need to figure out other work (or leisure) our workers can do. Tariffs will only hurt the American consumer.
1
I was in Mexico last August and we enjoyed a celebration of culture and friendship while discovering that Mexicans had a mild curiosity about Trump yet today his toxic actions have sowed discord there. What he touches does not turn to gold but wilts and dies.
Mr. Krugman: Thank you for your article of 1/30/17. It's hard for me to fathom why the new administration hasn't, at a minimum, considered reducing the US deficit by increasing exports, especially hydrocarbon based products now that Congress has removed export restrictions on US producers. The ban on immigrants is mind boggling. Saudi Arabia, whose citizens participated in 9/11 gets a free pass. Countries where Trump has business interests get a free pass. Goes to show you what happens when you place a bunch of incompetents and a man who wishes to be an oligarch in charge of the machinery of government. Yet, I don't think Trump voters will care until they find that the $20 sneakers they were purchasing at Walmart are now $30 and that many of the imported items they previously purchased have similar increases in cost.
I think what these last weeks have proven is that character matters. It may even matter more than policy. The character that Trump showed us during the last 1 1/2 years is why no matter what party he belonged to I would never have voted for him. Character matters folks and if you ask me, the 'so called' religious right and the American public needs a refresher course on what good character is.
It may be hard for a climate change denier to consider that there may be a future where the United States cannot grow all of our own food. Trump does not realize we are living in that reality, now. Whenever I encounter a Trump supporter, I ask them how much money they're willing to spend on a cooler. People have no idea what they've done by voting for Trump.
Trump's malevolence is combined with incompetence, so his anti Muslim ban ends up hurting mostly people who admire and work with the US overseas, so his anti Mexican demands that they pay for an ineffective wall costs US consumers. It's bad that Trump sees his job as putting his bigotries into government action. It is worse that his roundhouse swings land right on the nose of the US, giving comfort to our enemies, punishing our allies, wasting money and opportunities, and making us less safe.
An aside, on Trump proclamation documents.
The canvas tells much.
The body the con.
The signature. In bold dark writing taking up more than 20% of the page.
The canvas tells much.
The body the con.
The signature. In bold dark writing taking up more than 20% of the page.
Thanks again Paul for clarifying these important issues and showing us how crazy this administration is acting. President Trump is such a lover of reality TV- maybe we could stage an intervention? Jared whispers, Bannon bellows, Trump agitates while being confronted with the evidence of their mistakes. All kidding aside, I , like you, am terrified of the damage Trump and his gang can do.
They are like foxes in the hen house. Their desire for rapid action at the expense of deliberation is not the way government is supposed to work. although I can think of a few examples that did.
They are like foxes in the hen house. Their desire for rapid action at the expense of deliberation is not the way government is supposed to work. although I can think of a few examples that did.
1
One week to destroy our standing in the world, and how many years to repair it? It's obviously not just the wrecking crew in the White House; it's the demolition derby called the GOP believing that the support of the willfully ignorant will be enough to keep them in power. Until it isn't, and they have to start using violent force on the American people.
Members of Congress certainly understand basic economics. They also understand what it means to maintain a standing in the world. Yet they stand by silent. Is this the GOP plan? Or have they, too, lost direction in the quest for power?
Members of Congress certainly understand basic economics. They also understand what it means to maintain a standing in the world. Yet they stand by silent. Is this the GOP plan? Or have they, too, lost direction in the quest for power?
2
Historically, when walls have been built the following has happened:
People quickly found ways to go under, over or around them.
14-18 billion dollars later, you will have a wall which doesn't accomplish its purpose, a message sent to the world that you don't understand the problem it was built to solve, and a big long wall which will then qualify as an environmental impediment (meaning, it must be removed).
I wonder how much that will cost?
People quickly found ways to go under, over or around them.
14-18 billion dollars later, you will have a wall which doesn't accomplish its purpose, a message sent to the world that you don't understand the problem it was built to solve, and a big long wall which will then qualify as an environmental impediment (meaning, it must be removed).
I wonder how much that will cost?
1
"Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike."
I deplore what the Trump Administration is doing here, but, please, Dr. Krugman, stop with the sweeping generalizations about the U.S. keeping its promises -- ask indigenous populations of North America how faithful the U.S. was in keeping its promises. Ask those interred during World War II about the U.S. keeping its promises. And many, many more I could list.
Rather than painting a past rosier than it actually was, keep focused on what these Trumpian atrocities mean for this country and the world. That's compelling enough without rewriting history.
I deplore what the Trump Administration is doing here, but, please, Dr. Krugman, stop with the sweeping generalizations about the U.S. keeping its promises -- ask indigenous populations of North America how faithful the U.S. was in keeping its promises. Ask those interred during World War II about the U.S. keeping its promises. And many, many more I could list.
Rather than painting a past rosier than it actually was, keep focused on what these Trumpian atrocities mean for this country and the world. That's compelling enough without rewriting history.
1
Prof. Krugman nails it when he notes America's declining credibility. The President, among other roles, is the USA's Chief Marketing Office. The message the rest of the world is getting is "stay away". Don't invest, don't visit, don't come to school, don't come for conferences, don't trade -- that is the message. There is no way this will be advantageous for the US economy and it's people. As a Canadian, I am disappointed and saddened, but not shocked, as Donald the Tweeter has demonstrated his commitment to his bizarre obsessions regardless of reality.
I am also worried for my country because the border is very porous and everything in the USA, good and bad, impacts Canada through the many economic, social, cultural and personal ties that bind the continent together. Goods, services and entertainment benefit Canada, but with it comes the hate, guns, drugs and violence. The recent shooting in Quebec is another example of how the social waves roiling America impact Canada as well, and while we can try to mitigate the negative influences we can't move away: geography and history mean that we are in this together.
The Canadian press is full of stories of Canadian citizens and residents held up or barred because of Trump's ban. If my fellow Canadians are barred from the USA, as it seems today, then I too will stay away. Ah well, there is always Mexico or Cuba for my winter break, and I'm overdue to visit Europe, but I will miss Vegas!
I am also worried for my country because the border is very porous and everything in the USA, good and bad, impacts Canada through the many economic, social, cultural and personal ties that bind the continent together. Goods, services and entertainment benefit Canada, but with it comes the hate, guns, drugs and violence. The recent shooting in Quebec is another example of how the social waves roiling America impact Canada as well, and while we can try to mitigate the negative influences we can't move away: geography and history mean that we are in this together.
The Canadian press is full of stories of Canadian citizens and residents held up or barred because of Trump's ban. If my fellow Canadians are barred from the USA, as it seems today, then I too will stay away. Ah well, there is always Mexico or Cuba for my winter break, and I'm overdue to visit Europe, but I will miss Vegas!
1
Before news became a commodity that is sold for profit, it was thought of as information that people needed to conduct their lives. What is needed now is information as to how to get rid of this clown and the circus he's created. We need a menu of actions that citizens can take (other than protesting, i.e, letting off steam, although that's also necessary in the age of television) to unseat this guy from power. How can we prevent this wall from being built? What constitutional actions can we take to stop this nonsense? C'mon New York Times! We need a menu!
I would like to think that reasoned, well thought out pieces that Mr. Krugman routinely produces can more than counterbalance the seemingly whimsical actions of Mr. Trump, but I am doubtful. For one, as many commenters have pointed out, too many Americans are gleefully ignorant about basic economics or trade and don't want to be lectured about it by some 'liberal'. Second, I don't think Mr. Trump cares about the rational or ethical basis of his actions because (a) it gets his name in the press, (b) he thinks it makes him look 'strong', like he is actually doing something, and (c) his core base seems to like it. And third, it gives Mr. Trump and his administration the opportunity to put their own spin on the actions in response to criticism and, as a result, try to discredit (especially with his core base) those who have the temerity to question him. All three reasons are closely related.
The critics, though, should keep at it and not be dissuaded by bullying tactics. Bullies hate calm, rational responses. Keep pushing, and maybe Mr. Trump will crack. Let's hope he doesn't cause the whole country to crack, too.
The critics, though, should keep at it and not be dissuaded by bullying tactics. Bullies hate calm, rational responses. Keep pushing, and maybe Mr. Trump will crack. Let's hope he doesn't cause the whole country to crack, too.
3
And remember, before there was Hillary there were the Republican primaries. Republican voters and ultimately the party determined that Donald Trump was the most qualified candidate in a very large field to run the country. Any time that Trump voters defend their decision by muttering "Yeah, but the alternative was Hillary," please remind them of this fact.
1
Trump and his crew remind me of those Little Rascals who hung the sign
NO GIRLZ ALLOWED
on their tree fort. Spanky and Alfalfa amused us with slapstick because none of it was real. Just movies.
In a conflation of politics and entertainment, hairdressers in Ohio who found the eight years of Barry's Hope to be glacial and dangerous to watch for any child who had been brought up to regard, say, gay people as the equivalent of the aliens in "Arrival," who should be kept behind glass and approached only when wearing survival equipment, must be thrilled by the action-packed first episodes of what I'm sure Trump refers to as Sweeps Week.
For generations, Americans have provided data on what makes them cheer and what makes them boo. First the American Western ennobled those of European descent who wouldn't take "no" for an answer as they appropriated Native Americans' lands, and we cheered when the red men got what they deserved for fighting back. We beamed at Our Version of the truth, and genocide comforted us.
Now some of us are wiser, I hope, although anyone who as a child was taken in by raw propaganda can never be sure. Our countrymen who never gave up the notion that we were bringing freedom and [smarmy noun here] to the Vietnamese later bought the idea that Muslims in the Middle East hated us for our freedom rather than our tendency to invade and murder anybody with whom we disagreed.
The credulous now cheer for a wall to separate ourselves from fictitious villains. Sad.
NO GIRLZ ALLOWED
on their tree fort. Spanky and Alfalfa amused us with slapstick because none of it was real. Just movies.
In a conflation of politics and entertainment, hairdressers in Ohio who found the eight years of Barry's Hope to be glacial and dangerous to watch for any child who had been brought up to regard, say, gay people as the equivalent of the aliens in "Arrival," who should be kept behind glass and approached only when wearing survival equipment, must be thrilled by the action-packed first episodes of what I'm sure Trump refers to as Sweeps Week.
For generations, Americans have provided data on what makes them cheer and what makes them boo. First the American Western ennobled those of European descent who wouldn't take "no" for an answer as they appropriated Native Americans' lands, and we cheered when the red men got what they deserved for fighting back. We beamed at Our Version of the truth, and genocide comforted us.
Now some of us are wiser, I hope, although anyone who as a child was taken in by raw propaganda can never be sure. Our countrymen who never gave up the notion that we were bringing freedom and [smarmy noun here] to the Vietnamese later bought the idea that Muslims in the Middle East hated us for our freedom rather than our tendency to invade and murder anybody with whom we disagreed.
The credulous now cheer for a wall to separate ourselves from fictitious villains. Sad.
1
To the apologists/normalizers who said, "Just wait until he becomes President. He'll be fine. It's all just campaign rhetoric." Is this enough to recant or are there new rationalizations ready to be unfurled?
To those who voted their willful ignorance, irrational fears and myriad resentments. How much longer will it take to recognize that those votes will not make America or our lives better?
To those who decided a vote between Clinton and Trump was unacceptable and voted third party or decided not to dirty your hands at all. After all, the purity of the stand is what matters. How's that working out?
To those who voted their willful ignorance, irrational fears and myriad resentments. How much longer will it take to recognize that those votes will not make America or our lives better?
To those who decided a vote between Clinton and Trump was unacceptable and voted third party or decided not to dirty your hands at all. After all, the purity of the stand is what matters. How's that working out?
1
Well Paul, as the trump supporters love to point out: that is what the voters voted for.
Except they didn't really think the whole trump team would display such a level of mendacity and incompetence.
There were supposed to be "grown ups" in the inner circle.
Where are the "grown ups" in the Republican legislative majority?
We The People are watching and waiting.
We also take names.
Except they didn't really think the whole trump team would display such a level of mendacity and incompetence.
There were supposed to be "grown ups" in the inner circle.
Where are the "grown ups" in the Republican legislative majority?
We The People are watching and waiting.
We also take names.
The members of the Electoral College failed our country miserably. They completely shirked their singular responsibility by electing someone "uniquely unqualified" (as Obama so eloquently said), who is borderline (?) insane. They should be publicly ridiculed, if not jailed.
2
Trumps insistence that Mexico pay for the wall, or else, is nothing but a shakedown, mob style. I wish that had been pointed out during the campaigns.
I've never seen anything to indicate that shakedowns are a routine part of Trumps business practices. On the other hand, everything I've seen about Trump himself would make me believe that he would be comfortable with the practice.
I've never seen anything to indicate that shakedowns are a routine part of Trumps business practices. On the other hand, everything I've seen about Trump himself would make me believe that he would be comfortable with the practice.
1
When Trump made deals then broke them to create a better deal it only affected his company. Now he wants to break deals that affect us all. They don't give us better solutions. They do create chaos and make us unreliable partners. We are on a slippery slop to becoming a third world country. Perhaps the true legacy to a Trump presidency.
It sounds to me that if the wall is built, the American taxpayer will pay for it twice; once in additional taxes too build it, a second time in the tariffs on foreign goods. Are we really going to stand for that?
2
It is not only economics that the White House doesn't understand, but Newtonian physics: every action has an equal and opposite reaction. There are consequences to every action. Leadership requires a chess master-like ability to think two moves ahead.
The fallback position for the Administration in explaining the rationale for Trump's Executive Orders is that he's a great negotiator and successful businessman. Who really knows without seeing his tax returns what he is? What he's shown is that the lunatics are running the asylum.
4
The fungibility of money, the changeability of the human mind, the countervailing forces, the confounding variables, the complexities, the unknowns, the pseudo-scientific quanitifications, etc. make economic-political predictive modeling a crap-shoot.
1
Mexico is the second largest recipient of American exports. Trump's wall will lead to further alienation of Mexico. It will have economic consequences for the US.
4
It will be chaos if Trump completely destabilizes the economy. My husband lived in Brazil in the early eighties, at a time where there was a lot of economic instability, and he said that you would never know, when you woke up in the morning, what the price of milk would be that day. For rich people, the difference between $4 and $10 a gallon of milk is annoying but not prohibitive. For people who live on a tight budget, this could be disastrous. Sadly, the people who will be most affected by this would be Trump supporters and even sadder, I don't think the vast majority of them will ever wake up to realize they've been had by Trump. Trump/Bannon/Priebus will spin some story about lingering Obama policies at fault for whatever economic pain they are feeling and with a healthy dose of Breitbart and Alex Jones and Ann Coulter amplifying the lies, these people will lap it up and become more bitter toward the wrong target. All this, being smokescreen for some deeper havoc Trump et al are playing up in the Oval Office to further destabilize the American government and keep them in power.
2
Irreversible? Probably not. But I'd imagine it will take a long time to reverse this developing reservoir of ill will. Doesn't all of this point to the weakness in the over-concentration of power in the position of the presidency?
Did the republicans think that they could control this guy, once he assumed office? They couldn't stop his steamroller leading up to the presidency, what made them think they could control it once he tool office?
Did the republicans think that they could control this guy, once he assumed office? They couldn't stop his steamroller leading up to the presidency, what made them think they could control it once he tool office?
1
Schadenfreude: taking pleasure in the misfortune of others. That's how two out of three of my neighbors here in rural southern Minnesota probably feel as they watch Trump lay waste to the coastal establishment. Trump carried this area by nearly that margin. No matter that they will suffer too. At least this time everyone is going to suffer.
7
I've come to believe that the only issue motivating Republican politicians is reducing taxes on wealth. They're willing to sacrifice everything else in pursuit of that one goal.
3
I was struck by Mr. Krugman's assessment that "the consequences (of trade reprisals) would be severe" as being too kind. Potentially "catastrophic" might be more accurate. Beginning at the end of the WWII the international trading system led I might add by the US has, through successive trade rounds, reduced tariff rates promoting world trade. These tariff cuts have been negotiated in an open and transparent manner and the system that has evolved has been founded on the concept of member states making firm and unequivocal tariff commitments. The suggestions by the new administration that they might arbitrarily withdraw from standing negotiated commitments (for example the NAFTA Agreement, US commitments to the World Trade Organisation etc.) would irreparably destroy the very foundation of the global trading order - one that has taken more than seventy years of ongoing commitments to build. It is difficult to fully fathom the harm this might do to many countries - beginning with the US itself. If … if this administration proceeds in this fashion no country nor people would have any reason to accept or trust the word of the US in any possible international scenario. More broadly it risks unleashing a threat to the international order on the scale of the 1930s economic recession. This threat all over a misplaced and misunderstood understanding of economic history.
3
In the midst of all the vicious chaos and gettin' back at "enemies" that Trump has whipped, there's one thing that concerns me more than others:
It's not the Wall.
It's not the 20% Tariff.
It's not cutting the JCS and NDI out of the NSC and putting Bannon on it.
It's not failing to mention WHO the most victims were of the Holocaust.
It's not even the unConstitutional immigration ban.
It's two things:
First is the attempt to muzzle, stifle and shut down our free press.
Second and even more insidious was the White House telling the CBP and Police at the airports that they did not have to obey the various Federal Court orders that they cease and desist. We saw police and CBP at Dulles refuse to even TALK to US Congressmen and a US Senator about complying with the court orders.
Despite what "King" Donald thinks, he cannot simply defy court orders and ignore. He can object to them, petition for them to be reversed, request a temporary restraining order, and exercise every legal tool available.
But he simply cannot ignore the courts and their orders unless he is committing a coup d'etat and declaring himself dictator.
When will the decent men and women in Congress realize this is no longer a Republican vs Democrat issue, but Donald Trump against our democratic Republic and act to protect that republic, while they still can?
It's not the Wall.
It's not the 20% Tariff.
It's not cutting the JCS and NDI out of the NSC and putting Bannon on it.
It's not failing to mention WHO the most victims were of the Holocaust.
It's not even the unConstitutional immigration ban.
It's two things:
First is the attempt to muzzle, stifle and shut down our free press.
Second and even more insidious was the White House telling the CBP and Police at the airports that they did not have to obey the various Federal Court orders that they cease and desist. We saw police and CBP at Dulles refuse to even TALK to US Congressmen and a US Senator about complying with the court orders.
Despite what "King" Donald thinks, he cannot simply defy court orders and ignore. He can object to them, petition for them to be reversed, request a temporary restraining order, and exercise every legal tool available.
But he simply cannot ignore the courts and their orders unless he is committing a coup d'etat and declaring himself dictator.
When will the decent men and women in Congress realize this is no longer a Republican vs Democrat issue, but Donald Trump against our democratic Republic and act to protect that republic, while they still can?
531
Thank you! Well said. Keep talking and writing!
1
Police and CBP, like most state security services, are inherently highly nationalistic "right wing" conservatives (even in Communist countries), parts of the "deep state". They would have a natural affinity for Trump and vice versa.
1
What is happening in Trump administration is a display of possible paths of "American decay". The strength of America - technology, innovation and liberal democracy are on the back seat, the hidden weakness of America, poison of bigotry, fear and racism coming to the front to drive the American policies. No country can beat America as long as we keep our diverse country together - and within 10 days, Trump administration has created a crack on that wall. We are not sure if we can trust our neighbours if he/she is from different religion or race. Now this poison is spreading like wild fire across the country and our own government is adding fuels to this fire. Can we again get back our strength or very quickly all the intelligence will disappear from America and the country will be like Russia - we do not know.
116
Trump is impervious to reason. He hears only the little minds he has surrounded himself with in his effort to impose his ridiculous campaign promises on America and the world.
Time to fight back in the only way that works. Boycott everything Trump. No money coming in would get his attention. And don't just boycott his properties and products and those of his daughter, make them socially unacceptable. If rich guys become embarrassed to tell their buddies they are playing golf at a Trump course, the word will get out fast.
A little encouragement from a NYT economist would help with the motivation on a boycott. A lot of people will probably continue to patronize his properties, but if socially conscious people stop, it will become obvious to his majesty that the peasants are revolting.
Time to fight back in the only way that works. Boycott everything Trump. No money coming in would get his attention. And don't just boycott his properties and products and those of his daughter, make them socially unacceptable. If rich guys become embarrassed to tell their buddies they are playing golf at a Trump course, the word will get out fast.
A little encouragement from a NYT economist would help with the motivation on a boycott. A lot of people will probably continue to patronize his properties, but if socially conscious people stop, it will become obvious to his majesty that the peasants are revolting.
1
While many in our country are mortified by last week's proclamations, it is likely that a majority of the country publicly or privately believe these acts are positive events. However, we are a republic and not a democracy by design. It is the republican elect who now effectively guard the constitution and ensure the President obeys the laws of this land who sit silent and watch. Meantime, Rome is starting to burn....
1
We seem to be doing our own version of Brexit. USA-exit. We're going to withdraw from cooperative agreements with the rest of the world. And, like Britain but on a far larger scale, we're setting ourselves up to spend untold dollars and effort to repair the damage. What a waste. Like burning down a house and rebuilding it. There's no real gain.
Trump's supporters think they'll prosper from this, but I don't see it reviving the Rust Belt ( and I live in the poor upstate NY edge of that). To the extent that manufacturing does grow, it's more likely to happen in the South, where most new manufacturing is now based.
Where I live, Walmart is the big store in town. What's going to happen when all of the imports sold there become more expensive? That question will be answered when Trump deals with China, because most consumer products are now made in China, not Mexico.
Trump's supporters think they'll prosper from this, but I don't see it reviving the Rust Belt ( and I live in the poor upstate NY edge of that). To the extent that manufacturing does grow, it's more likely to happen in the South, where most new manufacturing is now based.
Where I live, Walmart is the big store in town. What's going to happen when all of the imports sold there become more expensive? That question will be answered when Trump deals with China, because most consumer products are now made in China, not Mexico.
If Trump and his supporters were not so abjectly ignorant they would know that these magic tariffs are paid for by consumers, not by either Mexico or the US.
I often buy American but only because I have the means to do so, since there is almost always an additional cost associated with doing that. I wonder how many of Trump's core supporters can afford to do that, especially considering that they will not have the choice?
I often buy American but only because I have the means to do so, since there is almost always an additional cost associated with doing that. I wonder how many of Trump's core supporters can afford to do that, especially considering that they will not have the choice?
1
"Mexican Entrepreneurs ? Krugman is clueless about business in Mexico. How many patents have been filed from Mexico in the last 20 years? Ans: ZERO. The illegal immigration Krugman supports ( trying to buy Democrat votes) makes the absolute corruption and poverty in Mexico possible. I have never worked in such a corrupt place in all the world and there is a reason that a middle class in Mexico doesn't exist. The money send home by illegals makes it possible for families to exist and not overthrow the corrupt Mexican government and upper class. I tried to work with Telmex for years and the corruption associated with the telephone business is extreme and Telmex was a mafia preventing competition after deregulation. Democrats do not understand that they are indirectly supporting this massive Mexican corruption. As for Krugman, he has no knowledge of Mexican business dealings and needs to stop the Fake News.
1
America's campaign season -- at least two years -- is certainly the longest on the planet. The media is wall-to-wall on every utterance. Every word is dissected, regurgitated ad nauseam, analyzed, ...
And this is the stinking garbage we get, and the world is forced to suffer.
This is what the Democrats couldn't defeat because it has abandoned its natural economic constituency to fluff finance, Big Pharma, ..., ; to embrace "the end of big government," neo-liberalism, markets-solve-all-problems, and be proud of it. This is the garbage the abandoned would take a chance on because the Democrats had become not credible to them. This is what the Fourth Estate couldn't, wouldn't, and dare not expose for the steaming pile of ignorance, stupidity and, by far the worst, giddily eager and insouciant cruelty toward its own citizens.
Over two years of non-stop breathless, hang-on-every-word "coverage" and the media still, through technical incompetence and market cowardice, couldn't and wouldn't inform the public.
Reagan put us and the world on this path. Democrats have cowered ever since, betrayed their political past and co-opted to right-wing economics -- austerity bed-wetting, etc. -- for fun and self-profit.
We are now almost at the end of the logical consequence of what the outsized moron Ronald Reagan began. Can the country be saved? Can the planet?
Heckuva job, Boomers. Heckuva job, Boomer parents. Did you enjoy the tax cuts.
And this is the stinking garbage we get, and the world is forced to suffer.
This is what the Democrats couldn't defeat because it has abandoned its natural economic constituency to fluff finance, Big Pharma, ..., ; to embrace "the end of big government," neo-liberalism, markets-solve-all-problems, and be proud of it. This is the garbage the abandoned would take a chance on because the Democrats had become not credible to them. This is what the Fourth Estate couldn't, wouldn't, and dare not expose for the steaming pile of ignorance, stupidity and, by far the worst, giddily eager and insouciant cruelty toward its own citizens.
Over two years of non-stop breathless, hang-on-every-word "coverage" and the media still, through technical incompetence and market cowardice, couldn't and wouldn't inform the public.
Reagan put us and the world on this path. Democrats have cowered ever since, betrayed their political past and co-opted to right-wing economics -- austerity bed-wetting, etc. -- for fun and self-profit.
We are now almost at the end of the logical consequence of what the outsized moron Ronald Reagan began. Can the country be saved? Can the planet?
Heckuva job, Boomers. Heckuva job, Boomer parents. Did you enjoy the tax cuts.
2
Yes, Trump is a nihilistic, narcissistic, clueless buffoon. But, enough people in this country liked what he said, how he acted and his history to hand him and his clown posse the Presidency. To be fair, no one, either for a against Trump, can say what is happening wasn't clearly predictable. We now have the government we deserve.
As much as I find Trump loathsome as a person and frightening as a President, I am most disgusted and embarrassed by the fact that enough people in this country were either ignorant enough or depraved enough to elect him. It is a stain (no a tattoo) the United States will always carry, like slavery, like the Native American genocide, like the Japanese/American internment, like turning away Jewish refugees from Germany.
I keep thinking of what H.L. Mencken wrote many years ago; "Democracy is the pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." Mencken's rather caustic view of most Americans is proven correct again.
As much as I find Trump loathsome as a person and frightening as a President, I am most disgusted and embarrassed by the fact that enough people in this country were either ignorant enough or depraved enough to elect him. It is a stain (no a tattoo) the United States will always carry, like slavery, like the Native American genocide, like the Japanese/American internment, like turning away Jewish refugees from Germany.
I keep thinking of what H.L. Mencken wrote many years ago; "Democracy is the pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance." Mencken's rather caustic view of most Americans is proven correct again.
2
The Republicans, through their acquiescence-stated or implied-are demonstrating just how much they are willing to upset the international order and damage our nation's credibility to achieve destruction of the safety net and tax cuts for the wealthiest among us. As Grover Norquist said, "All we need is a president with working digits to sign the Ryan budget." Well, they have one, but so far the digit he is working the most is the middle one.
3
Yes, our government has kept its promises to the global community--until now, apparently. This new government seems more focused on keeping Trump's wild promises to his base constituency, the rest of the world be damned.
So much for the first week! But now that the Republican leadership has seen what Trump and company intend to do, 'we, the people' must demand that they assert the adult supervision this Administration requires.
So much for the first week! But now that the Republican leadership has seen what Trump and company intend to do, 'we, the people' must demand that they assert the adult supervision this Administration requires.
1
While it's true that tariffs are paid by importers, Krugman omits to mention that they can easily divert the source of tariffed goods to other countries or domestic production, or can cause reductions of the wholesale prices to compensate somewhat.
That said, a cross-border tax is less likely than a NAFTA renegotiation with more nuanced results.
That said, a cross-border tax is less likely than a NAFTA renegotiation with more nuanced results.
1
If Mr. Krugman understood economics, he would realize that the last thing Mexico could survive would be a trade war with the United States. Concessions will come fast enough. However, I personally believe that it is our wall, that it needs to be built but, since we are the only beneficiary, we should pay for it.
1
OK, we've now fully documented the myriad ways that Trump and his administration are beyond ridiculous. Consider that stipulated. Could we have at one bit of analysis as to how the legendary (in their own estimation) brain trust at the Democratic National Committee managed to lose to such a buffon who so explicitly telegraphed his buffoonery prior to the election? Or are we going to let this disaster repeat itself ad infinitum?
4
Trump cares not about accepted protocols, politics and conventional wisdom (including economics). He lives in the moment and enjoys the chaos he's created or sanctioned. He knows and accepts no external limitations, from any source, and no matter how legitimate they may be. Most of his underlings are afraid of him. Some are gently able to manipulate him. Like another Dear Leader, he awaits the delegation, hats-in-hand, who will plead with him to correct the problems that he does not recognize as such. With proper deference and respect, affording him due acknowledgment of his brilliance, he'll magnanimously grant the requested boon. And, yes, he sees America Inc. as just another enterprise in his corporate portfolio.
4
Aside from the moral outrage many of us feel, consider the staggering incompetence of this administration already. A president with a pea brain who has no concept of consequences and no understanding of history or law, colludes with a severely compromised strategist who tells the press to shut up and supports white supremacy (is Bannon the reason Trump couldn't mention Jews on Holocaust Remembrance Day?). The result? Absolutely no comprehension that legal immigrants, illegal immigrants, and refugees are three separate categories; complete inattention to the anxiety and fear aroused in all those stuck at airports; a blasé attitude about the effects on our allies and on the propaganda machine that spurs extremism. Plus, we have the absurdity of stopping people, many of them students, who have green cards, an olympic runner who expected to train here, and so on. Sickening and stupid. Can't we please call for a new election now?
2
In spanish we say "la ignorancia es atrevida" (gnorance is the mother of imprudence). Not only that, it removes humility from the equation, and adds what makes it so hateful, the sheer arrogance and vulgarity in executing ill-advised proposals with no head nor tail. Such is the predicament of our 'bully-in-chief' (a coward in disguise), intent in destroying the 'law and order' he so conspicuously said to represent...prior to its debasement and scorn. We are witnessing an 'imperial' presidency, a nascent dictatorship based on the boss's narcissistic needs for applause and recognition. Most fortunate is the rise of the people opposing his nonsense, given that our representatives in congress, especially the hypocrisy and cowardice of Ryan and McConnell, are silent in their complicity, a most shameful circumstance when compared to their doggone obstructionism to Obama's best deeds (some of its ideas being republican to begin with). Did I mention hypocrisy, in the raw now?
5
I keep thinking if we build a wall and don't put it on wheels how can we steal more of Mexico in the future? If we put on wheels that we have to buy from Mexico or China and add a border adjustment tax on the wheels, is Mexico and China paying for the border adjustment or is the appropriation from Congress going to go up to pay for it. If the appropriation goes up either taxes go up or the consumer pays for it with inflation or even worse Republicans actually add to the deficit.
I appreciate Dr. Krugman explanation but frankly it makes my head hurt. I'm waiting for a simple tweet from the POTUS to make me feel great again.
I appreciate Dr. Krugman explanation but frankly it makes my head hurt. I'm waiting for a simple tweet from the POTUS to make me feel great again.
After Trump was elected we heard so many pundits saying that the system of US government is built for stability and it was unlikley that Trump could do much harm on his own. Well, it has been 10 days since the inauguration and I don't hear any of these pundits trumpeting the same nonsense. The danger is real, damage has been done and will get much worse quickly. This president opted already for ground troops to take action in Yemen. This has received very little media attention despite the death of a special ops soldier and the critical wounding of three others. Withdrawal of visas for our Iraqi allies has them questioning our policy and for calls for removal of all American citizens form their country. It might be a good time for congress to finally review our middle east military strategy and either revise provide or revoke the charter granted under opertation Iraqi freedom. Sec Def Mattis was previously critical of congress for not doing their job in this regard and maybe know he has the leverage to make it happen.
It's sad that our "President" and his cronies are so quick to throw out solutions to perceived problems that they don't take the time to think through the implications. Of course an import tax will be paid for by American consumers, any first year economics student could have told them that fact.
As this administration works to destroy our standing in the world, I wonder what the Republican Party is thinking. Will they back up this "President", or will they stand up for our country and its reputation. How they respond will tell us much about how the next four years will play out.
Let's pray that they do the right thing.
As this administration works to destroy our standing in the world, I wonder what the Republican Party is thinking. Will they back up this "President", or will they stand up for our country and its reputation. How they respond will tell us much about how the next four years will play out.
Let's pray that they do the right thing.
112
They're going to do what all of the Republican candidates did during the build-up to this fiasco. They're going to fold like a cheap suit. Oh, there may be rumblings of complaints, but on the whole, they'll fold.
1
If Trump drags America down he will drag down Democrats and Republicans alike. Those Republicans (and others) who stand by Trump need to be made to see that they will be paying for that along with everyone else. What Trump does to America he will be doing to them.
Counting on Republicans, & praying, is how we go into this mess in the first place.
1
We have all heard the expression, "grasping at straws." Trump is grasping at headlines. He's trying to show he's going to act immediately, even if impulsively, on all his campaign promises. He needs to show us that he's in charge. (As if we want to be reminded.) But as the Headline President, he doesn't fret over the details. He just likes to issue royal proclamations and leave the details to others. Unfortunately, the amateurs on the royal staff don't know what they are doing, otherwise they wouldn't be drafting executive orders that are unconstitutional. And with Steve Bannon at his side, the policies embedded in those proclamations are downright dangerous to the country, and the world.
227
Trump does indeed seem to be grasping at headlines. Headlines may be the most effective way for the world to reach him. Hammer him with headlines and maybe we can mitigate some of the disasters he seems determined to cause. Hit him in his ego. Hit him in his brand.
In fairness (!) to The Donald I suspect that his threat to impose tariffs on Mexican imports is predicated on the assumption that Americans will stop making such purchases and that, in such manner, Mexico will end up "paying" for his fakakte wall. Even so, Prof. Krugman is correct about all of the other ramifications of Trump's tariff idea and even his GOP allies are opposed to it.
2
I am so proud of all the Americans who protested the day after the inauguration and this past weekend.
Why isn't Trump bragging about the size of these crowds, because I've never seen anything like it and they're definitely bigger than the inaugural crowds?
Ironically, Trump is actually uniting us.
Reject! Resist!!
Why isn't Trump bragging about the size of these crowds, because I've never seen anything like it and they're definitely bigger than the inaugural crowds?
Ironically, Trump is actually uniting us.
Reject! Resist!!
5
An enormous responsibility has just landed on the Democratic party. It is imperative that the process of regaining Congress in 2018 start now to repair all the damage that two years of Trumpism enabled by a compliant GOP will cause.
Watching Paul Ryan, who very loudly stated not so long ago that banning Muslims goes against what America stand for, grovel at Trump's feet is nauseating and tells us House Republicans will not stand in the way of any insane edict emitted by Trump's White House. Mitch McConnell is equivocating trying to keep some distance, but in the end not an obstacle to Trump's nuttiness. How the US will fare until 2018 is worrisome but if Republicans see that there are truly in danger of losing control of Congress their attachment to Trump will not survive.
Watching Paul Ryan, who very loudly stated not so long ago that banning Muslims goes against what America stand for, grovel at Trump's feet is nauseating and tells us House Republicans will not stand in the way of any insane edict emitted by Trump's White House. Mitch McConnell is equivocating trying to keep some distance, but in the end not an obstacle to Trump's nuttiness. How the US will fare until 2018 is worrisome but if Republicans see that there are truly in danger of losing control of Congress their attachment to Trump will not survive.
2
Sure, the Trump show is so grotesquely fascinating, but we need to also vigilantly watch Congress, which is supposed to serve as a natural check on the excesses Executive branch. We need to call Congressional Republicans out constantly for their glaring hypocrisy, both the Tea Partiers who claim to hate government and the so-called fiscal conservative free-market trumpeters.
Why are McCain and Graham the only Republicans saying anything in opposition to this? Where are the rest of the Republicans who saw the danger of Trump during the campaign? Who found it offensive that he violated all of their cherished "family values" with his multiple marriages and "locker room talk"? Where are the "fiscal conservatives," the so-called heart and soul of the Republican Party? Where is the tea party faction, supposedly opposed to big party (have they ever seen a government bigger than a president acting like a king issuing rash diktats from the oval office? Isn't this what they didn't like about Obama?). It's obvious that they want their cherished agenda so much--ban on abortions, total privatization of the res publica, "drill baby drill"--that they are willing to overlook their own principles of fiscal conservatism, free markets, and small government.
Why are McCain and Graham the only Republicans saying anything in opposition to this? Where are the rest of the Republicans who saw the danger of Trump during the campaign? Who found it offensive that he violated all of their cherished "family values" with his multiple marriages and "locker room talk"? Where are the "fiscal conservatives," the so-called heart and soul of the Republican Party? Where is the tea party faction, supposedly opposed to big party (have they ever seen a government bigger than a president acting like a king issuing rash diktats from the oval office? Isn't this what they didn't like about Obama?). It's obvious that they want their cherished agenda so much--ban on abortions, total privatization of the res publica, "drill baby drill"--that they are willing to overlook their own principles of fiscal conservatism, free markets, and small government.
2
For more than half of American voters across the country, Donald Trump, the candidate, had no credibility on practically any issue, and President Trump has done nothing to build his credibility.
White working-class voters who form the core group believing Trump populist claims have not changed their minds, and are unlikely to do so very soon – at least not until they feel the sting of broken Trump promises by losing their health care, paying more in store check-out lines, continuing to stand in state unemployment lines, and watching Republican donors and corporations enriching themselves.
Some Trump voters may continue to believe him when their former jobs do not return, not accepting that the jobs no longer exist. They will insist that the jobs went overseas and will soon return because of President Trump’s tough talk.
Those angry voters will be slow to believe that they were replaced by the increased efficiency (robots) of American manufacturers. They will find American factories seeking to hire people, but the people sought will need to have skills which the Trump faithful do not yet possess.
Realizing that the Trump wall, trade policy and tax policy are misguided, at best, and fraudulent, at worst, will slowly bring some former Trump voters around to the truth. These people can help put pressure on congressional Republicans. Until then, life is not going to get noticeably better for the average American worker.
They deserve more, even if they voted for Donald Trump.
White working-class voters who form the core group believing Trump populist claims have not changed their minds, and are unlikely to do so very soon – at least not until they feel the sting of broken Trump promises by losing their health care, paying more in store check-out lines, continuing to stand in state unemployment lines, and watching Republican donors and corporations enriching themselves.
Some Trump voters may continue to believe him when their former jobs do not return, not accepting that the jobs no longer exist. They will insist that the jobs went overseas and will soon return because of President Trump’s tough talk.
Those angry voters will be slow to believe that they were replaced by the increased efficiency (robots) of American manufacturers. They will find American factories seeking to hire people, but the people sought will need to have skills which the Trump faithful do not yet possess.
Realizing that the Trump wall, trade policy and tax policy are misguided, at best, and fraudulent, at worst, will slowly bring some former Trump voters around to the truth. These people can help put pressure on congressional Republicans. Until then, life is not going to get noticeably better for the average American worker.
They deserve more, even if they voted for Donald Trump.
2
"If America were to casually break that rule, the consequences would be severe. The risk wouldn’t so much be one of retaliation — although that, too — as of emulation: If we treat the rules with contempt, so will everyone else. The whole trading system would start to unravel, with hugely disruptive effects everywhere, very much including U.S. manufacturing."
I seem to remember reading a very simple theory posited in one of Tom Clancy's books (I think it was "Debt of Honor"). It was the theory of reciprocity: whatever a trading partner did to you, you would respond in kind. Maybe it sounds too insanely simple, but it might do away with multi-thousand page trade agreements and promote actual free trade instead of the convoluted "fair trade" we end up with.
I seem to remember reading a very simple theory posited in one of Tom Clancy's books (I think it was "Debt of Honor"). It was the theory of reciprocity: whatever a trading partner did to you, you would respond in kind. Maybe it sounds too insanely simple, but it might do away with multi-thousand page trade agreements and promote actual free trade instead of the convoluted "fair trade" we end up with.
I think a constitutional amendment requiring six years as a governor, a senator, or as a member of the House would be a good constitutional requirement (as an amendment). The vice president would also need to meet these requirements (which . Yes I'm aware that it would have ruled out Obama but smart as he was, he took the office a bit too green to my taste.
Nonetheless, the North Carolina legislature's vindictive attitude towards the incoming governor points to a more systemic issue. Experienced legislators are behaving very Trump like. So my idea might not damp down the frenzied prosecution of anyone not a hard right Republican. Still, it would have filtered out Sarah Palin in addition to Donald Trump, so it's worth a thought.
Nonetheless, the North Carolina legislature's vindictive attitude towards the incoming governor points to a more systemic issue. Experienced legislators are behaving very Trump like. So my idea might not damp down the frenzied prosecution of anyone not a hard right Republican. Still, it would have filtered out Sarah Palin in addition to Donald Trump, so it's worth a thought.
The true danger we have seen in the last 48 hours is the possibility that an executive agency (DHS, as well as the White House, have knowingly failed to enforce judicial orders from several courts. If the executive fails to respect the judicial, and the legislative branch (on both sides of the aisle, although Schumer, Duckworth, and Pelosi are showing vague signs of spinal growth) remains flaccid, then all is lost. Except for the protest and resistance by the people. So we all must join.
2
Oh how so many of us wish Trump would go away!
Maybe he would realize he is in way over his head and resign--before the entire world finds out Trump's "brand" is a sham and the only deal he can make is renting his name to go on tall buildings or shoddy products. Or maybe the Republicans would see what a disaster he is for the party--they could care less about the country--impeach him and remove him from office. I'll leave it at that.
But should Trump disappear from office, consider the presidential line of succession:
1. Vice President: Mike Pence (Mr. "I am a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican in that order")
2. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan
3. President Pro-Tempre of the US Senate: Orin Hatch
4. Secretary of State: Rex Tillerson
5. Secretary of Defense: James Mattis
6. Attorney General: Jeff Sessions
7. Secretary of the Interior: Ryan Zinke (who said: "we need to invest in infrastructure projects like the Keystone pipeline, so we don’t need to flare excess gas.”)
8. Secretary of Agriculture (to be determined): could be Sonny Perdue (former governor of GA, who during a time of drought, asked the citizenry to pray for rain)
9. Secretary of Commerce: Wilbur Ross (founder of a mining company and worth $2.9 billion)
10. Secretary of Labor: Andrew Pudzer (against raising the minimum wage and government regulation of business)
and so it goes to
14. Secretary of Energy: Rick Perry
15. Secretary of Education: Betsy DeVos
"Ignorance is strength" (Orwell)
Maybe he would realize he is in way over his head and resign--before the entire world finds out Trump's "brand" is a sham and the only deal he can make is renting his name to go on tall buildings or shoddy products. Or maybe the Republicans would see what a disaster he is for the party--they could care less about the country--impeach him and remove him from office. I'll leave it at that.
But should Trump disappear from office, consider the presidential line of succession:
1. Vice President: Mike Pence (Mr. "I am a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican in that order")
2. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan
3. President Pro-Tempre of the US Senate: Orin Hatch
4. Secretary of State: Rex Tillerson
5. Secretary of Defense: James Mattis
6. Attorney General: Jeff Sessions
7. Secretary of the Interior: Ryan Zinke (who said: "we need to invest in infrastructure projects like the Keystone pipeline, so we don’t need to flare excess gas.”)
8. Secretary of Agriculture (to be determined): could be Sonny Perdue (former governor of GA, who during a time of drought, asked the citizenry to pray for rain)
9. Secretary of Commerce: Wilbur Ross (founder of a mining company and worth $2.9 billion)
10. Secretary of Labor: Andrew Pudzer (against raising the minimum wage and government regulation of business)
and so it goes to
14. Secretary of Energy: Rick Perry
15. Secretary of Education: Betsy DeVos
"Ignorance is strength" (Orwell)
1
When Trump's supporters spoke of him as a "successful billionaire businessman," they overlooked the problems with each of those words. One, he frequently failed; two, with his lack of transparency we have no idea of his wealth; three, he didn't run an ordinary business. He headed a family enterprise where he could run it by edict. What's now being proven, at great cost to our reputation, is that our country cannot be run by edict, particularly those that are 140 characters or less. Especially when they're sent by an emotionally needy ADHD-afflicted bully who's ignorant to his own ignorance.
None of this is the least bit surprising to those who bothered to think about it, and it's an unfolding tragedy for the world that the ignorance and prejudices of his supporters allowed him to take power.
None of this is the least bit surprising to those who bothered to think about it, and it's an unfolding tragedy for the world that the ignorance and prejudices of his supporters allowed him to take power.
1
However bumbling the new regime is, their technique of "confuse and overload" is helping to keep even the the most attentive followers of the news uninformed.
For example, we are rightly preoccupied with the Trump-inflicted immigration chaos. But meanwhile, the unelected and unvetted Steve Bannon has been given a full seat on the “principals committee” of the National Security Council. A disaster in the making; reported, yes, but its significance obscured by the current crisis.
And here in Ohio, the Columbus Dispatch reports that Steven Mnuchin lied during his Senate confirmation hearing:
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170129/trump-treasury-pick-mnuchin-misled...
The would-be Secretary of the Treasury lying to lawmakers when his lies are easily contradicted by past legal cases would normally be treated as the shocking and important story it is. But we are quickly establishing a new normal of "lost in the hubbub."
And the wall of ignorance gets a little stronger.
For example, we are rightly preoccupied with the Trump-inflicted immigration chaos. But meanwhile, the unelected and unvetted Steve Bannon has been given a full seat on the “principals committee” of the National Security Council. A disaster in the making; reported, yes, but its significance obscured by the current crisis.
And here in Ohio, the Columbus Dispatch reports that Steven Mnuchin lied during his Senate confirmation hearing:
http://www.dispatch.com/news/20170129/trump-treasury-pick-mnuchin-misled...
The would-be Secretary of the Treasury lying to lawmakers when his lies are easily contradicted by past legal cases would normally be treated as the shocking and important story it is. But we are quickly establishing a new normal of "lost in the hubbub."
And the wall of ignorance gets a little stronger.
4
Trump's notion of tariffs is childish. Before WWII, England used tariffs to punish the Irish for being uppity, but then they needed our food, and life improved. However, I well recall the chaos in Europe when tariffs multiplied and even varied day by day. Walls of tariffs do not make good neighbors.
In parts of Ireland there remain earthen ramparts, just humps now, that once were part of the original Pale. Fences and walls are as old as settlements or even as old as night-camps in wild country. The Irish Pale, designed by Dublin's Anglo-Normans to keep out Gaels and Hiberno-Normans (who had gone native!) was never completed, but it gave rise to the expression "beyond the Pale." Trump's wall will never be completed. It will stand in sections, adorned with graffiti, turned, in places into climbing frames, and a must-see for videographers from all around the world.
But another wall exists in Ireland--the land-border with the UK. Crossing-points were manned by customs officers and police, and for spells, by armed soldiers. The EU and the Peace Process eroded most of that. But the Brexit may bring back the border as a curse on neighbors. Trump should really take a time-out and have Ivanka read some bed-time history stories to him. There are ways to soften the ill-effects of globalization while retaining the many advantages.
In parts of Ireland there remain earthen ramparts, just humps now, that once were part of the original Pale. Fences and walls are as old as settlements or even as old as night-camps in wild country. The Irish Pale, designed by Dublin's Anglo-Normans to keep out Gaels and Hiberno-Normans (who had gone native!) was never completed, but it gave rise to the expression "beyond the Pale." Trump's wall will never be completed. It will stand in sections, adorned with graffiti, turned, in places into climbing frames, and a must-see for videographers from all around the world.
But another wall exists in Ireland--the land-border with the UK. Crossing-points were manned by customs officers and police, and for spells, by armed soldiers. The EU and the Peace Process eroded most of that. But the Brexit may bring back the border as a curse on neighbors. Trump should really take a time-out and have Ivanka read some bed-time history stories to him. There are ways to soften the ill-effects of globalization while retaining the many advantages.
2
Countries such as Mexico are not responsible for our alleged trade deficit. To a large extent, the responsible entities are multi-national corporations, that have elected to move production off-shore: companies such as the tie and clothing factories owned by POTUS. Our major corporations have no sense of loyalty to place or to person, but only to profits and earnings per share. Yet, they are rewarded by myriad tax-avoidance mechanisms which allow many of the richest corporations to avoid paying any income taxes to the United States. Building walls will do little to improve the alleged trade deficit because the enemy is within: a greed for profit, coupled with disdain for the concepts of a living wage and for the idea of workers' rights.
5
Paul, sadly it's not "If we treat the rules with contempt," President Trump and the Republicans have already been doing it..and with evidently no penalty. Consider the Constitution: First, Mitch McConnell and the Senate Republicans decided to thumb their nose at their sworn oath to provide "advice and consent" on appointments to the Supreme Court, and no one objected. Second, President Trump is clearly in violation of the "emoluments" clause of the Constitution with as yet a peep out of anyone. So, the most fundamental "rule of law," our Constitution has been repeatedly violated with absolutely no consequences by the perpetrators. So, we are on the verge of anarchy whether it be with trade, Obamacare, immigration, and just about anything President Trump and his Congressional Republican enablers want.
1
Illegal immigration has been a problem since at least the 1970's. No president has had the intestinal fortitude to take it on until now. Why? There really is no way to accomplish meaningful reform that would secure our borders without the loud screams of those who believe they are being treated unfairly. The law is on Trump's side. Mexicans are here illegally, and they have to leave and no more can come in. With the immigration ban, the only regret is that it is not broader. But it is a national security issue, which give the president wide latitude. Given the wave of terrorist acts since 9/11, it makes no sense to continue to allow most anyone to enter this country until we have a reliable vetting system in place.
1
When(if ever) we have a vetting system in place,terrorists will flood the country from Canada. They only need to walk through the thousands of miles of forests that are unguarded. Maybe we can build a wall there also? personally I would like to know why we don't ban Muslims from the countries that the 9/11 attackers were from. Is it possible Mr Trump has business there? GE does as do many other American companies.
Ah, the age-old American tradition of hating immigration. "Immigration was fine, but we shoulda closed the doors right after my ancestors got here."
The "wave of terrorist attacks" are usually carried out by a white man or men with legally obtained guns.
This isn't a national security issue. You can claim it, but it is a poor euphemism the blatant xenophobic and white supremacist rhetoric being spewed by Trump and his minions. The sad part is that people like you have bought into it. Perhaps you want reasoned, thought out immigration reform that addresses the issues. I can buy that, but that certainly is not what this is.
The "wave of terrorist attacks" are usually carried out by a white man or men with legally obtained guns.
This isn't a national security issue. You can claim it, but it is a poor euphemism the blatant xenophobic and white supremacist rhetoric being spewed by Trump and his minions. The sad part is that people like you have bought into it. Perhaps you want reasoned, thought out immigration reform that addresses the issues. I can buy that, but that certainly is not what this is.
Would someone ask if John Barron is going to be part of the Trump administration? On a more serious side, there are 4 areas of opposition that us (we) well-educated, liberal (open-minded) defenders of the constitution, ethics, and morality have in our arsenal. The courts (as in the stay on the ban), the Democrats in the senate, (if they have the courage as yet unforeseen), the media, (Trump should give rise to a 1000 Woodwards and Bernsteins), and peaceful protests. The saving grace of Trump's colossal blunders may inspire Democrats who outnumber Republicans to turn out to vote in 2018 and rid the House and Senate of the scourge of Republican leadership.
What we are seeing is the result of a campaign without a discussion of policy. Instead of playing fool to Trump's ego and its attendant fits, the press ought to have persisted on forcing a policy discussion. The Dems are equally guilty. There is a huge gap between being a business "leader" and understanding how the world's econ0omy works. Trump is the king of the non-sequitur and glittering generality. And in a democracy, the law is not on the side of a tyrant. The title of your essay is ironic because Trump came with a wall of ignorance and preached it to his base who are every bit as ignorant as he. When Trump gets on stage center and rants about 700 jobs here and there, his followers don't realize it amounts to roughly saving .000002% of the country's jobs. It may play nicely on TV, but it is beyond meaningless. Business is not superior to government and running one is not connected to running another. Governments exist to protect and help folks. Businesses exist to exploit folks. Remember the pet rock?
4
Many comments by readers of this column, as well as some Trump surrogates sent to appear on his behalf on television, express concern about the various executive orders and cabinet picks. But, they quickly offer President Trump the excuse that he is being consistent to his campaign promises.
If the substance of a presidential action is stupid or morally repugnant, the fact that it adheres to a stupid or morally repugnant campaign promise is not an excuse. It is as phony as the original promise.
We need to have no patience for anything which interferes with clarity, and we need to recognize our better understanding since November. For example, blaming President Obama for every real or imagined problem facing America was always a lie. Now, it is not even a believable lie.
If the substance of a presidential action is stupid or morally repugnant, the fact that it adheres to a stupid or morally repugnant campaign promise is not an excuse. It is as phony as the original promise.
We need to have no patience for anything which interferes with clarity, and we need to recognize our better understanding since November. For example, blaming President Obama for every real or imagined problem facing America was always a lie. Now, it is not even a believable lie.
1
Paul Krugman speaks this morning about the Trump-Putin regime but I beg to differ with him, it is in actuality the Bannon regime. Trumps ears are evidently so receptive to Bannon that the voices of the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff and the director of national intelligence can be dispensed with. His economic advisers, his health care advisers, his immigration policy advisers, his press advisors make for nice window dressing, but they are not being consulted only displayed.
The congress and senate are also out of the loop. The question now before the american people is so simple…it is when will the checks and balances come back to life ? Do republicans believe that the presidency is an imperial office ? That what it does is legal because the president does it ? …Nixon thought so…or is it about a three letter word ….Law ?
The congress and senate are also out of the loop. The question now before the american people is so simple…it is when will the checks and balances come back to life ? Do republicans believe that the presidency is an imperial office ? That what it does is legal because the president does it ? …Nixon thought so…or is it about a three letter word ….Law ?
3
Yes, but are you certain who is the puppeteer and who are the puppets? To carry on a little further; the puppet show is designed to catch our eyes and ears, while a cadre of pickpockets diligently go through the audience. The show is so mesmerizing that the pickpockets don't need to be very deft at their trade. Mr. Barnum said it well: “Nobody ever lost a dollar by underestimating the taste of the American public.” In this instance change from a dollar to a vote.
To the Trump voters reading this column, who is "untrustworthy" now.
The people's choice, Hillary Clinton and her team, would not be "doing dumb stuff" daily.
People and governments around the world notice. If the American government is "untrustworthy" they will look for leadership elsewhere.
The economic world of trade and international rules and agreements may look far different when the populous and prosperous Asian countries decide to trade in non-dollar denominated currencies and no longer think that the United States is a safe place to invest or a reliable partner.
The peace and stability of Europe is no longer assured if Team Trump does not honor America's NATO obligations in the face of Russian threats in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe.
Every Trump action will be looked at as "untrustworthy" for as long as he fails to release his income tax returns and fails to comply with the letter and spirit of the emoluments clause of the Constitution.
The people's choice, Hillary Clinton and her team, would not be "doing dumb stuff" daily.
People and governments around the world notice. If the American government is "untrustworthy" they will look for leadership elsewhere.
The economic world of trade and international rules and agreements may look far different when the populous and prosperous Asian countries decide to trade in non-dollar denominated currencies and no longer think that the United States is a safe place to invest or a reliable partner.
The peace and stability of Europe is no longer assured if Team Trump does not honor America's NATO obligations in the face of Russian threats in the Baltic States and Eastern Europe.
Every Trump action will be looked at as "untrustworthy" for as long as he fails to release his income tax returns and fails to comply with the letter and spirit of the emoluments clause of the Constitution.
4
I'm not sure what Donald Trump did from K-12, then the multiple universities he attended and, finally Wharton, hallowed Wharton, but accumulate the knowledge that is assumed to derive from education was not among the results. To compound the problem, he surrounds himself with sycophants and advisors with the scruples of a weasel in the chicken house. (Is it coincidence that so many of the people he brings into his inner circle, his adult children included, have facial features reminiscent of that creature?)
No, Trump started out ignorant --as we all are about economics, not to mention life, at age five-- and has obviously regressed from there. It is not unusual for certain types of the willfully ignorant to proudly display it: think stereotypical rednecks with AR-15's hanging in the rear window of their pickups and Confederate flags flapping from a pole lashed to the beds. These poor buffoons are amateurs alongside our "president."
No, Trump started out ignorant --as we all are about economics, not to mention life, at age five-- and has obviously regressed from there. It is not unusual for certain types of the willfully ignorant to proudly display it: think stereotypical rednecks with AR-15's hanging in the rear window of their pickups and Confederate flags flapping from a pole lashed to the beds. These poor buffoons are amateurs alongside our "president."
2
Dr. Krugman has often railed against the sophistry of "very serious people" who advance cockamamie economic theories that time and again fail the test of broad daylight. Point taken but today, barely more than a week into this infernal Administration, one yearns for at least a smidgen of seriousness.
In those isolated recesses where serious thinking exists, it is overruled by the batspit brigade of know-nothings like Jared Kushner and the Rasputinesque Steohen Bannon, both of whom have been elevated to positions closer to the President's ear than the few adults left in the chamber of policy-making horror.
Dr. Krugman is entirely correct that the VAT is nothing more than a sales tax, levied equally on all products regardless of country of origin before they reach the point of retail sale. Likes a sales tax, the VAT is not only highly regressive, it taxes domestic consumers, not foreign exporters.
As former Mexican President Vincente Fox declared, it is American taxpayers who will foot the bill for any ridiculous wall our Administration of ignoramuses might build, whether from a VAT, deficit borrowing ("Hello China, we were just kidding about that two-China policy thing") or a national goods and services tax such as exists in Canada.
Mexicans need not worry, however. They'll not pay a penny for that "beautiful" wall.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
In those isolated recesses where serious thinking exists, it is overruled by the batspit brigade of know-nothings like Jared Kushner and the Rasputinesque Steohen Bannon, both of whom have been elevated to positions closer to the President's ear than the few adults left in the chamber of policy-making horror.
Dr. Krugman is entirely correct that the VAT is nothing more than a sales tax, levied equally on all products regardless of country of origin before they reach the point of retail sale. Likes a sales tax, the VAT is not only highly regressive, it taxes domestic consumers, not foreign exporters.
As former Mexican President Vincente Fox declared, it is American taxpayers who will foot the bill for any ridiculous wall our Administration of ignoramuses might build, whether from a VAT, deficit borrowing ("Hello China, we were just kidding about that two-China policy thing") or a national goods and services tax such as exists in Canada.
Mexicans need not worry, however. They'll not pay a penny for that "beautiful" wall.
www.endthemadnessnow.org
2
After NAFTA, 1.5 million Mexican farmers were put out of business as their market was flooded with cheap American corn. Suicides, emigration, and selling drugs to the American market was the outcome. Poppies are now grown in Mexico to satisfy the North American demand for heroin, with said demand largely fueled by the despair of unemployment Americans suffer as a result of the offshoring of jobs.
Elites need to remedy the predictable negative consequences in advance as part of any treaty and swiftly ameliorate the unforeseen downsides after implementation.
Just leaving people to twist in the wind is a meteorological negligence that fuel destructive tornadoes like Trump.
Elites need to remedy the predictable negative consequences in advance as part of any treaty and swiftly ameliorate the unforeseen downsides after implementation.
Just leaving people to twist in the wind is a meteorological negligence that fuel destructive tornadoes like Trump.
Please don't throw out the impeachment idea too quickly. Sad to say, but we need to be sure that President Trump takes enough rope to be certain of the outcome. Of course, the damage done to individuals directly affected by the President's actions pleads for immediate action. Likewise for the reactions from other parts of the world. But, give it a little more time for some action that will provoke a near universal accord that the President is endangering the people in our United States. I still hold some hope that the President will become tired and bored and decide to quit in a fit of pique. Then we have the second chore of Mr. Pence. And, then, Ryan. Be calm. Breathe deeply. A good deal of patience is required to get through the next two years.
Because Trump has no political philosophy, he didn't start thinking about what to do until he was in office. He had spoken in very broad terms and never outlined any plans. Hillary had many plans, but little articulated vision. Trump had a grandiose vision which enough voters bought to put him in the White House. I would prefer a president who had a larger vision than Hillary, but had planned a great deal more than Trump. Reagan had a vision which I didn't like, but he adjusted to reality and compromised with opposition. Trump is proud of his ignorance and believes everything he will do will be just grand. All I see ahead is disaster. The wall is counter-productive. Fulfilling his promise will harm the country and the rest of our trading partners. It could turn out otherwise, but only by chance. It really does matter who is president.
3
Mr. Krugman knows very well that a 20% tariff on Mexican imports would decrease the demand for these products because shoppers would choose to buy the same product imported from other countries not subject to the tariff. The purpose is to decrease demand to the point where it would be cheaper for Mexico to help pay for the wall than lose the economic benefits derived from exporting products to the US.
1
Mexico is our 3rd largest trading partner. We will be the ones to loose out.
1
Great economic analysis, but national policies are nor always driven by money. By making his "bully" proposal in the press, Trump has brought the Mexican people together into a national anti-American movement. Mexican National pride and Trump's ego will prevent any compromise, and neither side will win.
Trump needs to learn that successful International negotiations do not happen in the Press. Unfortunately, for him, it's all about the show.
Trump needs to learn that successful International negotiations do not happen in the Press. Unfortunately, for him, it's all about the show.
Paul, now would be an excellent time to talk about the scenario where one national currency -- the one the world mostly uses as its basis -- loses all value and trust.
What does that do not only to trade relations, but the viability of the global economic system?
As the dollar collapses as a stable reservoir of currency for the world's money supply, capital and financial functioning, what can be done to replace it at a global level fast enough to prevent worldwide economic collapse?
We need your thinking on this, urgently, to prepare for the future. Thanks.
What does that do not only to trade relations, but the viability of the global economic system?
As the dollar collapses as a stable reservoir of currency for the world's money supply, capital and financial functioning, what can be done to replace it at a global level fast enough to prevent worldwide economic collapse?
We need your thinking on this, urgently, to prepare for the future. Thanks.
6
Not to worry China would not mind stepping in.
"before it was, er, trumped by the uproar over the refugee ban. As you may recall — or maybe you don’t, with the crazy coming so thick and fast"
Tempo was part of Trump's method in his campaign. He kept the news jumping each day, so nothing lasted long enough on the front page for real examination.
Actual laws with effects will last longer, but Trump is so far still playing the media for attention deficit disorder.
Tempo was part of Trump's method in his campaign. He kept the news jumping each day, so nothing lasted long enough on the front page for real examination.
Actual laws with effects will last longer, but Trump is so far still playing the media for attention deficit disorder.
I agree, Media hasn't calibrated how to react DJT white house.
Entire theatre is all about Trump, no body gives any importance so far his executive orders essence. All of them infuriating one way or another.
Entire theatre is all about Trump, no body gives any importance so far his executive orders essence. All of them infuriating one way or another.
1
If liberals of Westchester and Marin county keep saying that the attempt to improve wages has no political consequences and that the suffering working class is driven only by racism and nativism, they are going to see much worse. And then combine it with the worse McCarthyism since 1950, they are going to get actions that are likely to do grave harm to the market and the stability of democracy in Europe.
2
Liberals have said no such thing. An effort to improve wages should not, however, destroy America's credibility; nor should it deplete the income of consumers. And anyone who believes that The Donald will be bringing back jobs to America's heartland is ignoring his history as an unethical businessman who spent his career enriching himself and his family while doing absolutely nothing for the working class.
2
There is no helping people who will vote for Trump when he is on record saying US wages are too high now. They dig their own graves.
2
Has anyone looked at what's being said on Facebook and other social media outlets? There are an awful lot of people who think that all Muslims and, by extension, all immigrants are terrorists, illegal, out to destroy America, and these people do not care if Trump is Trump. In their opinion he's putting America first. That his methods of putting America first could endanger their jobs, our relations with other countries, our economy, and our position as a first world country bothers them not at all. They heard him say America first, all immigrants are illegal, all trade pacts are bad, he will repeal the ACA, his government will be the best the United States has ever seen. Hyperbolic statements with very little to back them up but appealing.
The GOP and Trump do not represent America, not the America I was taught about. I was taught about and grew up in an America that understood that immigrants added something to the country. The America I lived in was one that took care of the infrastructure, didn't always view its citizens as wallets to be picked, tried to help as many people as possible. Yes, there was prejudice, anger, rioting, job insecurity, poverty but there wasn't this up front attitude of "I've got mine. I don't care about you." routine.
Enough Americans voted in these people: a know-nothing president and party running things. Therefore what's happening now should come as no surprise to them. Yes, he meant what he said.
The GOP and Trump do not represent America, not the America I was taught about. I was taught about and grew up in an America that understood that immigrants added something to the country. The America I lived in was one that took care of the infrastructure, didn't always view its citizens as wallets to be picked, tried to help as many people as possible. Yes, there was prejudice, anger, rioting, job insecurity, poverty but there wasn't this up front attitude of "I've got mine. I don't care about you." routine.
Enough Americans voted in these people: a know-nothing president and party running things. Therefore what's happening now should come as no surprise to them. Yes, he meant what he said.
30
I know this isn't within your realm of expertise, but raising tariffs contrary to a treaty would also be illegal. Any country affected could go to a US federal court and have the order/law declared unconstitutional. I agree with the tone and public relations point though. Anything that introduces lack of faith in the USA's trustworthiness will undermine the world economy.
14
There are 100 empty federal judicial seats that will soon be filled with Bible-thumped brats from Snakebit Holler to make the courts even less decisive than they are already.
That is exactly what Bannon is trying to do.
1
"Anything that introduces lack of faith in the USA's trustworthiness will undermine the world economy."
As Hamilton stated when the Federal Government took on the states' debts after the revolution.
As Hamilton stated when the Federal Government took on the states' debts after the revolution.
For anyone misguided enough to actually want the wall, here is a method to pay for it. Every voter over the age of 65, who voted for Mr. Trump, should donate a portion of their SS "benefits " to fund it. Since they wouldn't mind if he shot someone on 5th avenue, this can be their way of forgiving him for letting Mexico off the hook.
29
Interesting to learn that the Charles Chaput, cardinal of Philadelphia, recently mused that he wants Trump to be awarded with a honourary doctorate from Notre Dame University for his pro-life stance. How does this sync with Trump's homicidal fantasies on Fifth Avenue, which include total impunity for such a nihilistic crime??? I didn't know certain Christians could have such flexible consciences like Chaput!
I've yet to hear President Trump's plan for Big Bend National Park, which borders Mexico. Will he place a wall between the shallow stream of the Rio Grande and the sheer cliffs of the park? Will he build around the park?
Of course, if Ronald Reagan was still alive to see Mr. Trump's madness actually manifested, he would say "Tear down that wall, Mr. [Trump]!"
Of course, if Ronald Reagan was still alive to see Mr. Trump's madness actually manifested, he would say "Tear down that wall, Mr. [Trump]!"
168
Maybe we can just give the Park to Mexico, just as we would have to divide ranch property belonging to Americans who own land on both sides of the border! And then there is the matter of migratory herds of animals that regularly cross the border and need access to the river for water. Which side do we keep them on? One last matter is the shared water rights as there are American areas that get water from Mexican sources now. Do we make them go without water or do we steal that area from Mexico?
1
I think he would say something else, not printable.
Nor have we heard yet his plan for the 75 miles of the Texas-Mexico border that falls within an Indian reservation, which is sovereign. Or maybe he'll enclose the reservation's MILLIONS of acres [the size of Connecticut] with a wall instead? Asinine.
3
It could be that sheer incompetence will bring this administration down with so many agencies in government, starting at the top and permeating every major cabinet position proving again that experience counts for something.
Trump will be taken down by incompetence.
Trump will be taken down by incompetence.
17
I think stupid wars, body bags, a messed up economic stimulus, further immigration debacles, and a failures in healthcare,particularly in women's health will lead to impeachment before the next off year election. Assuming he doesn't attempt to cancel the elections.
Competent people are the ones leaving in disgust now.
The emperor has no clothes. The only remaining question is when will Republicans in congress realize it. Will it be before or after a colossal disaster.
25
Of all the countries in the world the US is one whose economy is most dependent upon stability. That's why the Fed and Bush, and Obama administrations put so much effort in stabilizing the world economic system after the 2007/9 crash. It's why the world economic system plays by rules largely written by the US. Attempting to upend this defies the sanity test and the blundering incompetence we've seen over the last week or so is just the start. Unfortunately, it's going to take some major FUBAR with a lot of collateral damage to bring the curtain down on Trump.
25
Paul, it's not irreversible whatsoever. In fact Trump himself will want to move forward on these issues, if for no other reason, than just to be able to slam it all in reverse again to ensure that the people and policies he ran over the first time are actually dead.
9
Someone needs to tell "M. Vain", he's aged ten years in the last one. Older and fatter by the month. Maybe he'll resign. If the title "Not Ready For Prime Time Players" didn't exist, it would have to be invented for this administration.
9
"A pattern of dysfunction, ignorance, incompetence, and betrayal," you say. Its about time the news industry (media) used straight talk to the American people. #Dump Trump. Way to go Paul.
15
The President knows little about economics, foreign policy, nuclear policy, health care, you name it. He is an interesting reality TV star with a dubious record as a developer. He has made money, but because we have yet to see his taxes we don't know how. The system of checks and balances is not working anymore, we cannot depend on the House and Senate to right the ship. Local elections may have been tainted by Russian influence, affecting who represents us locally in the Congressional House. We know that voting rights were suppressed by local Republican officials, who escape without judgement. We cannot depend on Trump's cabinet to provide educated help because they are equally inept oligarchs. His choice for Energy Secretary? Education? Housing (confirmed, I might add). His chief adviser has a very recent resume as a known editor of a news outlet which promotes racism and anarchy. As citizens we must let our Senators know that we demand better. We must march to the House of Representatives. The Republican party must replace both Ryan and McConnell, both feckless enablers of the Trump administration. Yesterday it was immigration, tomorrow it will be?
24
I thought you were going to say he has a "dubious record as a dictator..."
I hope to live long enough to hear the next democrat to be elected president declare, unflinchingly, "I'm tearing down this wall!" to the citizens of the world.
20
The only way that wall will be built is if Trump goes into his own pocket for the needed money.
Not going to happen.
The Trump created wall debate has served its function, nobody is asking about Putin's thumb on the scale of the election anymore, the GOP is burying any "investigation" and any intelligence agent looking into that is being purged.
Not going to happen.
The Trump created wall debate has served its function, nobody is asking about Putin's thumb on the scale of the election anymore, the GOP is burying any "investigation" and any intelligence agent looking into that is being purged.
Tump is wrongly promoting the idea that the balance of trade between Mexico and the US is a rip-off. They are taking our money, they are taking advantage of us.
To begin with, trade is an exchange of products: I give you pears and you give me apples. Another type of xchange is I give you pears and you give me the equivalent in money. In other words, we both get something out of trade, it is not a zero sum game. A trade deficit simply means that one country is buying more goods from another than selling. It is as if you bought a lot of products, it is not the fault of the seller but your own for overspending. There is a further point. In buying from Mexico, we are making possible for them to buy goods from us which helps to keep our economy going. Lest this may seem like a liberal interpretation, see this item from the Cato Institute: https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/are-trade-deficits-really-b...
One could also consider the coming of immigrant workers as a trade:
we give them a chance to earn money and they give us their value in work.
Trump's campaign is wrong from many points of view, economic, diplomatic, human
and yes...even national
To begin with, trade is an exchange of products: I give you pears and you give me apples. Another type of xchange is I give you pears and you give me the equivalent in money. In other words, we both get something out of trade, it is not a zero sum game. A trade deficit simply means that one country is buying more goods from another than selling. It is as if you bought a lot of products, it is not the fault of the seller but your own for overspending. There is a further point. In buying from Mexico, we are making possible for them to buy goods from us which helps to keep our economy going. Lest this may seem like a liberal interpretation, see this item from the Cato Institute: https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/are-trade-deficits-really-b...
One could also consider the coming of immigrant workers as a trade:
we give them a chance to earn money and they give us their value in work.
Trump's campaign is wrong from many points of view, economic, diplomatic, human
and yes...even national
23
Mexico make a lot of parts that go into products manufactured here and then exported.
It is not as simple as people think.
It is not as simple as people think.
Just 10 days into a new government and things look pretty bleak already. It is so bad, I have to let out a little laugh of disbelief. This Republican leadership looks so bad, supported by a Congress looking the other way at things they would have otherwise rebelled against, that it makes even bad Democrats look good.
Just like when the oil industry won the White House in 2000, they are back and badder than ever. Already, the price of gasoline and oil are up. Exxon Mobil will determine foreign policy, which will probably be full of grease.
Trump seems intent on rebuilding American manufacturing by cutting off supplies of imports. Hmmm?
A fence will be going up along with the prices of food harvested by hard working Hispanics. Indeed; His panics.
The non-religious religious war has begun, but to be fair, the radical Muslims started it.
The Warmonger, military school graduate Trump wants war and has done the preliminary work of banning refugees as possible infiltrators. Trouble is, he is banning good people who escaped war because they love peace.
Bannon said his kind would be in power the next fifty years. Uh, maybe not.
BTW, I loved your opening sentence; The Trump/Putin Regime. Why is everyone backing off the very corrupt F.B.I. that made this all happen?
The Beast must be fed. It looks like the preliminary steps of another war are being taken. It's a really sad economic reality that the war machine won again. We never learn.
Just like when the oil industry won the White House in 2000, they are back and badder than ever. Already, the price of gasoline and oil are up. Exxon Mobil will determine foreign policy, which will probably be full of grease.
Trump seems intent on rebuilding American manufacturing by cutting off supplies of imports. Hmmm?
A fence will be going up along with the prices of food harvested by hard working Hispanics. Indeed; His panics.
The non-religious religious war has begun, but to be fair, the radical Muslims started it.
The Warmonger, military school graduate Trump wants war and has done the preliminary work of banning refugees as possible infiltrators. Trouble is, he is banning good people who escaped war because they love peace.
Bannon said his kind would be in power the next fifty years. Uh, maybe not.
BTW, I loved your opening sentence; The Trump/Putin Regime. Why is everyone backing off the very corrupt F.B.I. that made this all happen?
The Beast must be fed. It looks like the preliminary steps of another war are being taken. It's a really sad economic reality that the war machine won again. We never learn.
43
Additionally, we might anticipate Oil price fixing internationally with Exxon Mobil running the State Department. How perfect that turned out for big oil huh?
1
Query: Is it possible the refugee debacle was created as an intentional distraction from, say, Trump/Republican plans to alter Medicare and Social Security?
A separate plea: My experience has been that the vast majority of Trump voters get ALL their information from the Fox News channel and from righty-tighty talk radio they listen to in their cars. Even with the refugee-related outrage, they think the protests and confusion are all just "Democrat sour grapes."
Some major independent news organization needs to start regularly comparing and contrasting in two columns of print how Trump/Republican actions and their consequences are covered by those sources vs. more accurate and honest media sources.
The distortions and quarter-truths and purposeful inflammations of the right wing media must be illustrated visually every day for at least a couple of years before they will begin to lose their toxic influence. Mere talk on, for example, MSNBC will never accomplish the goal.
The NY Times could serve the nation and make history far more important than even that of the Pentagon Papers by taking the lead on this!
A separate plea: My experience has been that the vast majority of Trump voters get ALL their information from the Fox News channel and from righty-tighty talk radio they listen to in their cars. Even with the refugee-related outrage, they think the protests and confusion are all just "Democrat sour grapes."
Some major independent news organization needs to start regularly comparing and contrasting in two columns of print how Trump/Republican actions and their consequences are covered by those sources vs. more accurate and honest media sources.
The distortions and quarter-truths and purposeful inflammations of the right wing media must be illustrated visually every day for at least a couple of years before they will begin to lose their toxic influence. Mere talk on, for example, MSNBC will never accomplish the goal.
The NY Times could serve the nation and make history far more important than even that of the Pentagon Papers by taking the lead on this!
63
Trump's method now as in his campaign was to follow one distraction with another and then next day another. What is behind the distraction is just another distraction.
What will he really do? So far, nobody knows, probably not even Trump.
Ryan and McConnell hope he'll do what they've always dreamed of, but they have no reason for confidence in that, no more than anyone else can know what he'll do.
What will he really do? So far, nobody knows, probably not even Trump.
Ryan and McConnell hope he'll do what they've always dreamed of, but they have no reason for confidence in that, no more than anyone else can know what he'll do.
2
Let's put aside for a moment any political or moral revulsion to Donald Trump's policies and behavior, and let's look at him just from the standpoint of what was supposed to be his most important strengths: his business acumen and professionalism, and his ability to negotiate the best deals. From that perspective, his performance in his first week of office has been completely amateurish. Any mid-level manager at any American business or company would be fired on the spot for making public policy statements that were not internally vetted and that subsequently had to be taken back. He's done it at least twice on two of his most important issues.
Trump brings not professionalism but incompetence to managing the affairs of state. Based on what we have seen so far, it seems clear that he has had little to do with the day-to-day running of his businesses for a very long time. He is a figurehead. Impeach him for gross incompetence, and replace him with anybody at this point who won't make a mockery of the office.
Trump brings not professionalism but incompetence to managing the affairs of state. Based on what we have seen so far, it seems clear that he has had little to do with the day-to-day running of his businesses for a very long time. He is a figurehead. Impeach him for gross incompetence, and replace him with anybody at this point who won't make a mockery of the office.
616
And I think that his companies have never gone public so he has been beholden to no one, and removed from the influences that strong corporations usually rely on for balance and economic wisdom, or at least some fresh air. Since we don't have his tax returns, we don't know if his business acumen in bogus or not.
What a mess.
G
What a mess.
G
1
Alas, you cannot impeach him for gross incompetence. "The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors." All of which no doubt do, or will, apply to he-who-shall - not - be -named, but "gross incompetence"? Afraid not.
I think by now we have the basis for impeachment.
Didn't he swear an "Oath" to "preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution of the United States?
Doesn't this imply that he knows something about what it says? Can't we give him a test? Would failing be cause to say he broke his oath?
I know, I know. He could say that we should have known he never honors his word - in business contracts, to creditors, vows to wives, oaths to the Republican party, campaign red meat "rhetorical" promises like "lock her up".
How about that conflict of interest? He just took an action to keep Muslims out of the US who come from countries where he doesn't do business, and even though he mentioned 9/11, did not include countries with Muslim "extremist"suspects where big buildings still have his Yuge gold name on them (a clear violation of classy/tacky, anyway huh). And don't forget that lease violation on the old Post Office he rents from the government. And - don't forget that he just raised (doubled) the membership fee to what he calls the "Southern White House" from $100,000 to $200,000 so you can now have unlimited access to one White House at least. Can foreign governments get memberships? Blatant, huh?
I don't think Kennebunkport or the Texas Ranch with all that brush sold memberships.
I know, he'll just say President's can't have conflicts of interest...
Are we still stuck with him?
Didn't he swear an "Oath" to "preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution of the United States?
Doesn't this imply that he knows something about what it says? Can't we give him a test? Would failing be cause to say he broke his oath?
I know, I know. He could say that we should have known he never honors his word - in business contracts, to creditors, vows to wives, oaths to the Republican party, campaign red meat "rhetorical" promises like "lock her up".
How about that conflict of interest? He just took an action to keep Muslims out of the US who come from countries where he doesn't do business, and even though he mentioned 9/11, did not include countries with Muslim "extremist"suspects where big buildings still have his Yuge gold name on them (a clear violation of classy/tacky, anyway huh). And don't forget that lease violation on the old Post Office he rents from the government. And - don't forget that he just raised (doubled) the membership fee to what he calls the "Southern White House" from $100,000 to $200,000 so you can now have unlimited access to one White House at least. Can foreign governments get memberships? Blatant, huh?
I don't think Kennebunkport or the Texas Ranch with all that brush sold memberships.
I know, he'll just say President's can't have conflicts of interest...
Are we still stuck with him?
29
No one except the hate filled , delusional throngs that packed Trump's rallies believed Mexico would pay for the wall. Pure hate filled xenophobic fantasy. That this narcissistic, ego maniac would actually try to do it should finally drive home to those still praying or fantasizing that he would pivot into a normal decent rational human being that there is not turning back. THat the GOP and their minions have said nothing or cheered this 15 Billion dollar boondoggle and have begun setting aside money for it because it is a matter of " national security " should finally clue in all of you who drank the Kool Aid and believed they were the party of fiscal austerity or budget balancing onto their game. There was no money for Hurricane Sandy victims, 9/11 first responders, the Zadroga bill, Clean water in Flint, MIchigan, the Zika virus or anything else that imperilled the lives of Americans not residing in the red states. How much clearer can they be and how deaf and blind do we all need to be not to see the hypocrisy and absolute loathing and insensitivity these elected officials have for the suffering of average Americans .
17
My fear that under the Trump regime that the country will become a 'kleptocracy' modeled on the economic and political systems of Russia and Iran. But it go deeper than with scapegoating and the vigorous attempt do destroy businesses which are not in the administration direct circle-forcing prices down and having 'consortium's' buy them at cheap prices. And the pipe line approval may test the initial the models confiscation of property for other private assets. Will this circle force partnerships on some of the most successful enterprises in the US as The Duetsche Bank-Nazi model of the 1930's until full confiscation. The issuance his Moslem ban on Holocaust Memorial Day, has just made me realize that resistance must be massive and as uncompromising as the statements from his spokespeople. So far I have seen only the fierceness of politicos who have studied the polemical techniques of other 'authoritarian' regimes. This is not just SALES talk. This cadre may try and steal the kit and caboodle. And I am frightened for everyone's chiddren.
11
"My fear that under the Trump regime that the country will become a 'kleptocracy' "
We already are. Outrage over that is what defeated the status quo opposition to Trump.
We already are. Outrage over that is what defeated the status quo opposition to Trump.
3
" The White House press secretary created a diplomatic crisis while trying to protect the president from ridicule over his foolish boasting.'"
Paul,
Isn't creating a counter-productive diplomatic crisis to protect him from ridicule a bit like using an alarm clock as a smoke detector to keep you safe from a fire?
Well, come to think of it, that isn't as bad. At least, in all times, except during a fire, an alarm clock will serves a useful purpose.
Paul,
Isn't creating a counter-productive diplomatic crisis to protect him from ridicule a bit like using an alarm clock as a smoke detector to keep you safe from a fire?
Well, come to think of it, that isn't as bad. At least, in all times, except during a fire, an alarm clock will serves a useful purpose.
4
"Our government hasn’t always done the right thing. But it has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike."
And now Trump is keeping all his promises too. They aren't America's commitments, but hey, if it is good for El presidente, then it must be good for America.
It will take generations to undo his regime's works.
And now Trump is keeping all his promises too. They aren't America's commitments, but hey, if it is good for El presidente, then it must be good for America.
It will take generations to undo his regime's works.
6
"But isn’t the U.S. government supposed to get stuff right before floating what sounds like a declaration of trade war?"
Obviously a rhetorical question, but keep in mind that this whole fiasco is over one of President Trump's **central** campaign promises. He never had a plan for how Mexico was going to pay for the wall then, and he doesn't have one now. Planning is essentially anathema to President Trump.
It is ever increasingly likely that President Trump was not being literal the first time he mentioned his ridiculous border wall. He was more than likely engaging in his free speak shoot from the lip truthful hyperbole, but when his crowd reacted so strongly to the mention of the wall, he essentially doubled down.
President Trump plays to what is in front of him in the moment, and responds in kind to the indicators provided by the audience. Look for major infighting at the WH as his key advisers and upper level G.O.P. members fight to be an audience of one for Mr. Trump so that he will help push their agenda through.
Obviously a rhetorical question, but keep in mind that this whole fiasco is over one of President Trump's **central** campaign promises. He never had a plan for how Mexico was going to pay for the wall then, and he doesn't have one now. Planning is essentially anathema to President Trump.
It is ever increasingly likely that President Trump was not being literal the first time he mentioned his ridiculous border wall. He was more than likely engaging in his free speak shoot from the lip truthful hyperbole, but when his crowd reacted so strongly to the mention of the wall, he essentially doubled down.
President Trump plays to what is in front of him in the moment, and responds in kind to the indicators provided by the audience. Look for major infighting at the WH as his key advisers and upper level G.O.P. members fight to be an audience of one for Mr. Trump so that he will help push their agenda through.
20
He is saying and doing things that make his base imagine he is fulfilling campaign promises. It appears Ryan and Republicans who clearly know better are playing along and will finance his wall in exchange for destroying Medicare and Social Security. They will make changes to the tax system and tell the base that changes are charging Mexico for the wall. Simple explanations for simple minds who will take it all in as gospel. We can only hope enough people understand we have been conned and actually get out and vote against all Republicans.
30
Ryan and McConnell are gunning for Social Security Disability. An appreciable fraction of Trump voters depend on that source of income, out where the rest of the economy has evaporated.
1
"We’re just over a week into the Trump-Putin regime..."
And this is why you'll always be my favorite opinion, columnist,Dr. Krugman!
And this is why you'll always be my favorite opinion, columnist,Dr. Krugman!
24
If Vladimir Putin were to get 3 wishes, the first would be that an American president would take actions to destabilize the American economy, to divide Americans on social/economic/ideological grounds, to shatter the Constitution, and to undermine America's position on the larger global scale.
Putin's second wish would be that the American Congress would be in the hand of blind ideologues, so happy that they believe they are getting everything they ever wanted that they would go along without questioning the moral or legal violations that this malignant narcissist enacts.
Putin's third wish would be that the American People would not stand up to this assault on their country, it's principles, or to one another's rights and dignity or the rights and dignity of people all over the world.
Whether Trump is Putin's Puppet or just Putin's Useful Idiot doesn't matter. The effects are the same. In one week, Trump has already fulfilled Putin's first wish.
Congress is another question. Chances are, their own self-interests will give them pause to endorsing Trump's entire agenda, but it is unlikely that they will muster the courage or spine to stand up to every travesty undertaken by Trump.
The only thing standing in the way of Putin's wish list is the will, and the full engagement of the American People. The time is NOW. It's up to us. All of us. Even the people who voted for Trump, must take another look and ask, "Is this what I voted for? Do the ends justify THESE means?
Putin's second wish would be that the American Congress would be in the hand of blind ideologues, so happy that they believe they are getting everything they ever wanted that they would go along without questioning the moral or legal violations that this malignant narcissist enacts.
Putin's third wish would be that the American People would not stand up to this assault on their country, it's principles, or to one another's rights and dignity or the rights and dignity of people all over the world.
Whether Trump is Putin's Puppet or just Putin's Useful Idiot doesn't matter. The effects are the same. In one week, Trump has already fulfilled Putin's first wish.
Congress is another question. Chances are, their own self-interests will give them pause to endorsing Trump's entire agenda, but it is unlikely that they will muster the courage or spine to stand up to every travesty undertaken by Trump.
The only thing standing in the way of Putin's wish list is the will, and the full engagement of the American People. The time is NOW. It's up to us. All of us. Even the people who voted for Trump, must take another look and ask, "Is this what I voted for? Do the ends justify THESE means?
90
Trump the Unvetted even has a devotee of Vlad Lenin sitting in on National Security Council meetings, in place of career professionals.
1
Seven government soldiers have been killed in the eastern Ukraine in the past two days by a pro-Russian shelling offensive. So much for Donald Trump's phone call warming up our ties with his BFF thug Vladimir Putin.
19
Our government has kept its promises, to nations and individuals alike": except for Indians, nations and individuals alike.
15
One week into the Trump Tyranny and I'm exhausted, feeling 'rage fatigue, and it's just been a march and a couple of hours at SFO yesterday.
During the Vietnam protests I don't recall ever feeling exhausted, futile, or doubting we were making a difference. The moral obscenity of Vietnam made dissent imperative, and six young Americans killed by the Ohio National Guard made it an existential face-off between Conscience, Citizen, Commander-in-Chief, Country.
Now it's Executive Orders tossed like flash grenades in an action film, sharp camera angle cuts every 3 seconds, chaos that hides more than we see. And soon enough it gets normal or we hide behind I told you so or got what you deserve. Like Human Fail Steve Bannon, CEO of Fake News, leading the National Security Council. Feel safer yet?
My neighbor asked why I was off to SFO and I said Trump's Muslim ban. He shrugged and said he stopped reading the news. He'll Rip Van Winkle the next 4 years. Trump's victory completely flattened him. Another friend found Trump funny, a likeable buffoon. Now he thinks it's more like the scary clowns last year who creeped out everyone. His flippancy will metastasize into cynicism.
Trump isn't just building a wall of ignorance. He's also building walls of cynicism, apathy and contempt.
The audacity is now a paucity of hope.
During the Vietnam protests I don't recall ever feeling exhausted, futile, or doubting we were making a difference. The moral obscenity of Vietnam made dissent imperative, and six young Americans killed by the Ohio National Guard made it an existential face-off between Conscience, Citizen, Commander-in-Chief, Country.
Now it's Executive Orders tossed like flash grenades in an action film, sharp camera angle cuts every 3 seconds, chaos that hides more than we see. And soon enough it gets normal or we hide behind I told you so or got what you deserve. Like Human Fail Steve Bannon, CEO of Fake News, leading the National Security Council. Feel safer yet?
My neighbor asked why I was off to SFO and I said Trump's Muslim ban. He shrugged and said he stopped reading the news. He'll Rip Van Winkle the next 4 years. Trump's victory completely flattened him. Another friend found Trump funny, a likeable buffoon. Now he thinks it's more like the scary clowns last year who creeped out everyone. His flippancy will metastasize into cynicism.
Trump isn't just building a wall of ignorance. He's also building walls of cynicism, apathy and contempt.
The audacity is now a paucity of hope.
38
The Electoral College really is a bat to the heads of the American electorate.
Well stated, and likely, rather than merely feasible.
Who is the bigger fool - the fool who proposes taxing a foreign nation to build a wall to stop immigration into the US, the spokesman who doubles down by claiming tariffs are a panacea for lost jobs and a trade deficit, or the voters that fell for the whole faulty rationale?
40
Yesterday I sat across from a 34 year old while she explained why she didn't vote on Nov. 9.
"I would have voted for Bernie and I couldn't vote for trump and I didn't want to vote for Hillary, so I didn't vote."
My friend said, "I wanted Bernie, too, but I made myself vote for Hillary."
And I said, "I'm seventy and I voted for Hillary because I didn't want to live through another war."
For all those young people who didn't vote or wrote in Bernie's name, you may find yourself involved in a far more deadlier war than Vietnam or Afghanistan.
"I would have voted for Bernie and I couldn't vote for trump and I didn't want to vote for Hillary, so I didn't vote."
My friend said, "I wanted Bernie, too, but I made myself vote for Hillary."
And I said, "I'm seventy and I voted for Hillary because I didn't want to live through another war."
For all those young people who didn't vote or wrote in Bernie's name, you may find yourself involved in a far more deadlier war than Vietnam or Afghanistan.
77
And the Iraqi interpreter held for hours at JFK apparently disagrees with Mr. Krugman.
5
No, hawk. Wrong again. The interpreter agrees with Krugman's optimistic view of America. Krugman and many others reject Trump's picture of America as a zombie.
2
No he doesn't. He was trying to be a gracious guest. And he succeeded. We don't know how frightened he was, how disappointed, or how angry. Any of us would have been all of those things. Mu guess is that he as too.
1
Trump is attempting to preside over the USA as if it was his company. For him, making any willy nilly proclamation to satisfy a whim should be met by a flurry of activity by assorted underlings, scurrying to curry his favor. Indeed he has his underlings scurrying, but Trump has forgotten he's not running his company. Or maybe he hasn't. Maybe he believes he'll get away with his antics.
Despite whatever is going on in Trump's mind, for now, we still live in an environment in which established laws take precedent over an elected official's fantastical delusions of grandeur.
If this is Trump's idea of "uniting" our country, namely, by alienating the country of Mexico, billions of "non radical" muslims, at least half of Europe and currently at least half of The USA what will he do for an encore? Scary indeed.
Since the republican party is unlikely to resist him, so as to pursue their own agenda of stripping away the social support network, or what's left of it, we the people, "in order to form a more perfect union" will need to continue to resist, what is an obvious effort to slowly, if not, surely, take away our freedoms.
The only way to beat a bully is to stand up to him.
Despite whatever is going on in Trump's mind, for now, we still live in an environment in which established laws take precedent over an elected official's fantastical delusions of grandeur.
If this is Trump's idea of "uniting" our country, namely, by alienating the country of Mexico, billions of "non radical" muslims, at least half of Europe and currently at least half of The USA what will he do for an encore? Scary indeed.
Since the republican party is unlikely to resist him, so as to pursue their own agenda of stripping away the social support network, or what's left of it, we the people, "in order to form a more perfect union" will need to continue to resist, what is an obvious effort to slowly, if not, surely, take away our freedoms.
The only way to beat a bully is to stand up to him.
577
KB-
Your last line: so true. Liberals often want to reason with, an sympathize with the opposition, to try to find common ground. Neither Trump, nor the ultra-conservatives who backed him heavily in the election, have any intention of compromising. They are narrow minded bullies, there is no compromise. If we do not defeat them, we will be subservient to them. That's the sad reality. They are like the terrorists they claim to fear. We have to fight, for freedom, for humanity, for the Constitution, for the very existence of a diverse, vibrant ecology on earth.
Your last line: so true. Liberals often want to reason with, an sympathize with the opposition, to try to find common ground. Neither Trump, nor the ultra-conservatives who backed him heavily in the election, have any intention of compromising. They are narrow minded bullies, there is no compromise. If we do not defeat them, we will be subservient to them. That's the sad reality. They are like the terrorists they claim to fear. We have to fight, for freedom, for humanity, for the Constitution, for the very existence of a diverse, vibrant ecology on earth.
2
The way to stop Trump is regain the support of the democrats who voted for Trump and to organize to defeat all republicans in 2018.
2
I still don't get the "bully" business. This guy is a whiny, self-entitled mess, completely tied to praise and criticism. He can dish it out but he can't take it. That's the definition of a coward.
We have to watch out for the effects of the "fog" -- the endless outrages erasing those that went before, but remain in effect.
A short list:
DT's tax returns
Full disclosure of his Russian and other international holdings and obligations
The Russian role in tilting the election
Shine a light on these three items and he's gone.
We have to watch out for the effects of the "fog" -- the endless outrages erasing those that went before, but remain in effect.
A short list:
DT's tax returns
Full disclosure of his Russian and other international holdings and obligations
The Russian role in tilting the election
Shine a light on these three items and he's gone.
1
The Wall was on the ballot...remember? We had an election. The people voted. Give us our wall.
1
A significant majority (by about three million!) of the people voted against the wall, by voting against Trump. The Electoral College put Trump into the White House anyway, but that doesn't give Trump carte blanche to trample on the law, due process and the Constitution. He can't do it simply because he made an election promise. It has to be legal, sensible and do no damage to the United States and it's economy, and have no bad consequences. "Build the Wall" doesn't meet any of those standards. Trump is not an autocrat or dictator, whatever his view of the Presidency may be.
1
"Mexico is going to pay for it " too was on the ballot. How's that going A tax on Americans buying Mexican imports? That's America "paying for it." That is actually what the White House spokesman proposed as a means to have Mexico pay for it.
Such stupidity. But his supporters seem to like and back the stupidity.
Such stupidity. But his supporters seem to like and back the stupidity.
1
A large majority of us voted against it.
1
This and most of the other actions and pronouncements Trump has taken in his brief tenure make sense. Steve Bannon, Trump's most powerful inside man, is a self-professed Leninist out to destroy institutions, not only America's but the world's. Even without Brannon's admission, which he now says he cannot recall (a non-denial, if I ever heard one), since one intends the natural and probable consequences of one's actions, under our law, one would have to conclude that "Trump's" actions and pronouncements so far are all part of Brannon's plan, which Trump has adopted and undertaken to execute. And, the plan is working.
12
I have a question I want to direct to all the persons who voted for Mr. Trump for President, and voted for all the Republican members of the House, Senate, and other elected offices.
After listening to the nihilistic agenda proposed by candidate Trump, and reading the Republican Party platform that suggested that should Mr. Trump actually try to enact those agenda, that they would receive the full support of the Republican office holders, you brushed all that off as campaign happy-talk, and soothed yourselves by saying that Congress will limit and modulate Mr. Trump. Failing that, you said to yourselves that the civil institutions will serve as a bulwark against Mr. Trump's and the Republicans' most egregious moves.
My question for you is, now that you have seen Mr. Trump did indeed intend to enact his nihilistic agenda, undermine the civil institutions, and will receive the unquestioning support of Republican office holders, do you still maintain your position that Mr. Trump and the Republicans will do no harm? Examine your answer carefully, it will reflect on your character, and that of Americans in general.
After listening to the nihilistic agenda proposed by candidate Trump, and reading the Republican Party platform that suggested that should Mr. Trump actually try to enact those agenda, that they would receive the full support of the Republican office holders, you brushed all that off as campaign happy-talk, and soothed yourselves by saying that Congress will limit and modulate Mr. Trump. Failing that, you said to yourselves that the civil institutions will serve as a bulwark against Mr. Trump's and the Republicans' most egregious moves.
My question for you is, now that you have seen Mr. Trump did indeed intend to enact his nihilistic agenda, undermine the civil institutions, and will receive the unquestioning support of Republican office holders, do you still maintain your position that Mr. Trump and the Republicans will do no harm? Examine your answer carefully, it will reflect on your character, and that of Americans in general.
25
In the past it was said that if the US sneezed the rest of the world got a cold. Now, if the US gets a cold, the rest of the world gets pneumonia. Trump is building a wall of ignorance in the US and the rest of the world is still dazed without coming together.
These couple of years may become a period in which people and governments come together to start seriously considering alternatives to the present world disorder.
One possible approach that foremost addresses or takes its departing point for the looming climate catastrophe is the one proposed in Verhagen 2012 "The Tierra Solution: Resolving the climate crisis through monetary transformation". It presents the conceptual, institutional, ethical and strategic dimensions of a carbon-based international monetary system with its monetary standard of a specific tonnage of CO2e per person. They are updated at www.timun.net . Bill McKibben wrote on May 17, 2011: “The further into the global warming area we go, the more physics and politics narrows our possible paths of action. Here’s a very cogent and well-argued account of one of the remaining possibilities.”
These couple of years may become a period in which people and governments come together to start seriously considering alternatives to the present world disorder.
One possible approach that foremost addresses or takes its departing point for the looming climate catastrophe is the one proposed in Verhagen 2012 "The Tierra Solution: Resolving the climate crisis through monetary transformation". It presents the conceptual, institutional, ethical and strategic dimensions of a carbon-based international monetary system with its monetary standard of a specific tonnage of CO2e per person. They are updated at www.timun.net . Bill McKibben wrote on May 17, 2011: “The further into the global warming area we go, the more physics and politics narrows our possible paths of action. Here’s a very cogent and well-argued account of one of the remaining possibilities.”
4
The Donald-Putin-Bannon regime (small correction there) specialized in mudslinging and subterfuge during their campaign, and it worked in spectacular fashion. A completely useless, easily manipulated, mentally ill man-child became 'president' so his handlers could take over our country.
So why discard a winning strategy? You can create havoc over issues that hit normal people emotionally, like stranding legal refugees at airports, diverting attention from more subtle, evil machinations going on behind the scenes. Meanwhile, the Donald voters are happy because their white extremist-Christian America goal is in sight.
It appears that sanity in congress won't be what saves us. We need information - meaning 'real' facts - and as citizens we must fight back and demand that this farce be over.
So why discard a winning strategy? You can create havoc over issues that hit normal people emotionally, like stranding legal refugees at airports, diverting attention from more subtle, evil machinations going on behind the scenes. Meanwhile, the Donald voters are happy because their white extremist-Christian America goal is in sight.
It appears that sanity in congress won't be what saves us. We need information - meaning 'real' facts - and as citizens we must fight back and demand that this farce be over.
18
It is very hard to repair broken trust.
9
"Everyone, from small nations who thought they were protected against Russian aggression, to Mexican entrepreneurs who thought they had guaranteed access to our markets, to Iraqi interpreters who thought their service with the U.S. meant an assurance of sanctuary, ..."
Professor K is engaging in sleight of hand when he says Mexican entrepreneurs are threatened by the proposed tariff. It is not Mexican businessmen that are the target of Trump and the tariff - it is the US national companies who have moved to Mexico but keep the American flag in their back pockets. But for the Oreos and the Carriers of the world there would be not problem with Mexican trade. Had Mexican businesses grown organically in response to NAFTA into giants of international trade no one would have had a complaint. Short sighted Amercan politicians and greedy American companies abandoning the American work force but not their consumer dollars are the cause of the disorder in our two economies. Don't blame mythical Mexican entrepreneurs.
Professor K is engaging in sleight of hand when he says Mexican entrepreneurs are threatened by the proposed tariff. It is not Mexican businessmen that are the target of Trump and the tariff - it is the US national companies who have moved to Mexico but keep the American flag in their back pockets. But for the Oreos and the Carriers of the world there would be not problem with Mexican trade. Had Mexican businesses grown organically in response to NAFTA into giants of international trade no one would have had a complaint. Short sighted Amercan politicians and greedy American companies abandoning the American work force but not their consumer dollars are the cause of the disorder in our two economies. Don't blame mythical Mexican entrepreneurs.
6
“In America, anyone can become president. That's the problem.”
― George Carlin
Or, as Henry Louis Mencken, opined in the Baltimore Evening Sun on July 26 1920 on the difficulties of good men reaching national office when the scale of their campaigns precluded them from directly reaching out to large segments of the voting public:
"The larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, a first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre — the man who can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum."
"The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
America has elevated a spoiled, incurious brat who doesn't read, who has zero governmental or public policy experience, and whose intelligence has always channeled itself through personal greed to the Presidency.
The Electoral College and the American public elected a moron.
― George Carlin
Or, as Henry Louis Mencken, opined in the Baltimore Evening Sun on July 26 1920 on the difficulties of good men reaching national office when the scale of their campaigns precluded them from directly reaching out to large segments of the voting public:
"The larger the mob, the harder the test. In small areas, before small electorates, a first-rate man occasionally fights his way through, carrying even the mob with him by force of his personality. But when the field is nationwide, and the fight must be waged chiefly at second and third hand, and the force of personality cannot so readily make itself felt, then all the odds are on the man who is, intrinsically, the most devious and mediocre — the man who can most easily adeptly disperse the notion that his mind is a virtual vacuum."
"The Presidency tends, year by year, to go to such men. As democracy is perfected, the office represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. We move toward a lofty ideal. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last, and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
America has elevated a spoiled, incurious brat who doesn't read, who has zero governmental or public policy experience, and whose intelligence has always channeled itself through personal greed to the Presidency.
The Electoral College and the American public elected a moron.
344
I hate to say this, but if the Trump Presidency continues on the same awkward death spiral, the only thing left for it to regain some authority will be to declare some new "serious" emergency, one that threatens the US, its allies or its foreign interests.
Such a threat would, of course, be an excuse to engage in a disastrous new military war of aggression, and as every good conservative politician should know, going to war is a surefire way to take the spotlight your hopeless administration.
I hope I am wrong, but I'd give it no more that 6 months before this illegitimate POTUS unleashes the dogs of war.
Such a threat would, of course, be an excuse to engage in a disastrous new military war of aggression, and as every good conservative politician should know, going to war is a surefire way to take the spotlight your hopeless administration.
I hope I am wrong, but I'd give it no more that 6 months before this illegitimate POTUS unleashes the dogs of war.
22
Perhaps the South China Sea?
6
Watch for a "Reichtag fire" event during the coming weeks and a subsequent issuing of martial law and a shut down of the free press. Trump is crazy like a fox.
I say less than three months' time.
1
Paul, buddy, I know exactly how you feel. That's how I felt for the past eight years. Obama and his slavish media created Trump. You built that, so now you live with it.
3
The difference between the last president and the current president is that President Obama had some intelligence and compassion. You didn't like his policies, but they did advance the interests of this country, as opposed to what the current buffoon in the White House is doing, which will lead to a general ruination for all of us, supporters and resistors alike.
Again, thank you all so much for this gift of catastrophe.
Again, thank you all so much for this gift of catastrophe.
1
That is just ridiculous. If you want to cast blame for the rise of Trump, why not take a look at Fox News, Rush, and all the far-Right media and the slander and lies they've heaped against Obama. There was no un-truth that they wouldn't pass along. You do remember Trump leading the "birther" crusade, don't you? Didn't matter that it wasn't true. As long as he got his crowd to believe it, it was fine.
2
Come on.
If you thinking that your theory can only explain one thing, Trump administration is a white America backlash for a Black presidency.
Nothing else.
RACISM
If you thinking that your theory can only explain one thing, Trump administration is a white America backlash for a Black presidency.
Nothing else.
RACISM
1
If America were capable of electing a woman, we wouldn't be in this mess.
it is inconceivable that any man with Hillary Clinton's credentials could have lost to a know-nothing incompetent fraud like Trump.
it is inconceivable that any man with Hillary Clinton's credentials could have lost to a know-nothing incompetent fraud like Trump.
87
If you're looking for a scapegoat to blame for Hillary Clinton's loss on election day, look no further than Maureen Dowd. No one at the Times bashed Hillary Clinton harder than Maureen Dowd. Not a single Sunday went by when Maureen Dowd didn't pounce on Hillary Clinton on the Times OP Ed Section for some real or imagined slight.. Isn't it ironic that the ultra liberal NY Times is also responsible for the unlikely triumph of Donald Trump in a roundabout sort of way? We have Maureen Dowd to thank for that.
Nancy, we were told that when Hillary was growing up her mom would send her back out to take on the bullies who knocked her down. She's been knocked down, why isn't she back outside knocking the bully down? What does it mean to be a leader?
There is nom reason not not consider the Mr. Krugman's comment about Trump's management style as excersized by Mr. Trump in his real estate deals.
Fore that is all he is, is a landlord and in many cases a failed one at that. But that has never mattered as he alwys has seemed to walk away from his wreckage with a bunch a money in his pocket. and begore his sad crowd of followers jmps up and raises their batton cheering his business acumen .. just remember where the money ended up… In His pocket.. not anyone else's. maybe they still haven't gotten that part of Trump. I say it once more .. His Pocket.
Fore that is all he is, is a landlord and in many cases a failed one at that. But that has never mattered as he alwys has seemed to walk away from his wreckage with a bunch a money in his pocket. and begore his sad crowd of followers jmps up and raises their batton cheering his business acumen .. just remember where the money ended up… In His pocket.. not anyone else's. maybe they still haven't gotten that part of Trump. I say it once more .. His Pocket.
19
I think you are being a bit naive here. You are assuming Trump cares about rules, laws, and treaties. He doesnt. His intention is to get rid of multilateral trade deals and the WTO. Hes going to get rid of them by just not complying with them. He wants to overturn the current world order. Hes not concerned that his rulings are creating chaos and confusion. I have a feeling he likes it as we saw from the Muslim ban. Trump believes in zero sum games and if his rulings destroy other country's economies or create panic in other countries, he doesn't care as long as he thinks it will bring the U.S. out on top. Now in the end, it will end in a depression or a major recession and if you look at history, a world war. And in the short run if the tariffs lead to higher prices, he will blame and demonize someone else and his supporters will believe him.
15
Thanks to Comey's letter, the whole world now is at risk -- Bannon now has a seat in NSC instead of the Joint Chief of STaff and CIA.
51
January 20, 2017 another day which shall"live in infamy"Another prez who never read a history book. The Great Wall of China, the invaders paid the defenders to get thru, The Berlin Wall, the determined went over ,under and around it. The Mediterrean Sea, a deterrant? Hardly. The 90miles beteween Cuba and America, no barrier to the determined.Even cocaine traffikeers have little difficulty getting in the USA
I, like many other Americans,am, waiting todays hero to step out of NYC and DC and help we who need help to man the baricades against the coward in chief,
and his storm troopers.When the next attack aginst America arrives and it surely will, will Donnie T and his kids be on the front lines or hiding behind the safe walls of the White House. Perhaps it shoud be painted yellow to reflect the thoughtless thinking of our dictator in chief.
Health care for those who need it.Gone zippy fast .Yeh attack those who can't
fight back. Hey Mr Krugman, Mr Bruni,Ms Dowd,No more words,
I, like many other Americans,am, waiting todays hero to step out of NYC and DC and help we who need help to man the baricades against the coward in chief,
and his storm troopers.When the next attack aginst America arrives and it surely will, will Donnie T and his kids be on the front lines or hiding behind the safe walls of the White House. Perhaps it shoud be painted yellow to reflect the thoughtless thinking of our dictator in chief.
Health care for those who need it.Gone zippy fast .Yeh attack those who can't
fight back. Hey Mr Krugman, Mr Bruni,Ms Dowd,No more words,
7
The D in Congress should take a no comment stance and let this spiral downhill as it is, and just let it happen. In the meanwhile, the DNC party needs to during this rush to the bottom build up their farm club system, fostering local candidates at all levels. And, on the anniversary of his becoming the candidate of the R party, I think it will be in July, from now until then the party with the help of the large donors, should plan for the largest non violent demonstrations in every part of the nation. To wit: 5 million in DC, 5 mil in NYC, etc. Make this the top priority. Spend some of the DNC money any buy Prime time updates, all networks, with a NON-Schumer/Pelosi type of Democrat. They MUST get out of the way. We want to win, not lose again and those two are poster children of the D party we do not want, nor anyone else.
6
..'.small nations protected against Russia aggression...'
Yawhn!...do journalist have to write this nonsense everytime they write something?
Yawhn!...do journalist have to write this nonsense everytime they write something?
1
What are you talking about? Do you imagine that Russia has no interest in Estonia, latvia and Lithuania? That Russia has no geopolitical designs in the Ukraine? Explain why "small nations protected against Russian aggression" is nonsense, please!
1
Trump wants to protect us from "terrorists."
Who will protect Americans from Trump?
Who will protect Americans from Trump?
21
In short, someone who takes pride in declaring bankruptcy and think it makes his "smart" because other people end up getting stiffed, has not integrity or dignity to stand on in the first place. A bunch of angry, poor, semiliterate, white people, and a few wealthy folks interested only in the size of their tax cut, just voted in a mentally ill 70 year old spoiled brat as President. It is a global disaster hard to overstate.
15
The ban will likely be mostly overturned but it's served the purpose. Creating a diversion from the elevation of Trump's alt-right regent to a position from which he may wield even greater influence on the idiot in his charge.
9
No need to wonder whether trading partners will be treated like stiffed contractors at a Trump hotel. They will be. Trump's slogan is morphing into "unMake America Great for the First Time"
7
I would never have believed that one man could destroy American leadership in the world in just over a week.
What awaits America and the world in week 2?
What awaits America and the world in week 2?
26
Do not forget that Trump is aided and abetted by a Republican senate and congress. I wish Paul Ryan would ripe that silly grin off his face and do something, but he is a tool of the Koch brothers. Mc Connell is just placating the southern wing of the party.
We, and the rest of the world, would have been better off with Obama serving for a 3rd term as opposed to Trump serving for a 1st term.
12
So, in addition to misogyny, bigotry, xenophobia, vindictiveness, and narcissism, we can add out-right incompetence to the terms used to accurately describe the Con Artist in Chief's (and Czar Vlad's) fledgling administration. And, instead of surrounding himself with experts and people knowledgeable about the effective workings of the economy, the tax system and government, he has a team of sycophants, conspiracy theorists and card-carrying members of the corporate mafia.
Now, when does he start a major war to deflect attention from his many, many short-comings? Friends in the military tell me they are already anticipating it based upon orders they already have received.
God help the USA - and potentially the millions of people whose lives will be up-ended, or tragically ended, by his hubris and incompetence.
Now, when does he start a major war to deflect attention from his many, many short-comings? Friends in the military tell me they are already anticipating it based upon orders they already have received.
God help the USA - and potentially the millions of people whose lives will be up-ended, or tragically ended, by his hubris and incompetence.
19
It's called Syria. So much for people who voted for Trump because he would keeps us out of wars that Hillary would start. And now women ate subject to the draft most don't realize we still have. Oh well....
3
Walls need security guards, don’t they?
Watching the demonstrations unfold over the weekend, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that -- in his own mind -- President Trump is already moving ahead to establish a massive new national employment program for security guards, thus making good on his promise to make America great again.
There they were yesterday all over the place in airports, train stations, city halls, downtown business plazas and suburban shopping malls guarding the protestors, watching the protesters and watching them some more, all as a result of Donald’s actions.
Think of the tens of thousands of new job opportunities with good pay and good benefits that are going to be available for security guards in the next four years Think of the overtime, the the uniforms, the badges, the walkie-talkies, the little cans of Mace, the training programs and the SUV’s that are going to be needed.
Then think of the genius in the White House who is making all of this possible.
Watching the demonstrations unfold over the weekend, I couldn’t help but reflect on the fact that -- in his own mind -- President Trump is already moving ahead to establish a massive new national employment program for security guards, thus making good on his promise to make America great again.
There they were yesterday all over the place in airports, train stations, city halls, downtown business plazas and suburban shopping malls guarding the protestors, watching the protesters and watching them some more, all as a result of Donald’s actions.
Think of the tens of thousands of new job opportunities with good pay and good benefits that are going to be available for security guards in the next four years Think of the overtime, the the uniforms, the badges, the walkie-talkies, the little cans of Mace, the training programs and the SUV’s that are going to be needed.
Then think of the genius in the White House who is making all of this possible.
8
You could say the prez has started work on manufacturing jobs.
Just manufacture fear - and see a tsunami of jobs come right along. Not just tax-talkers and wall-builders -think of all the watchers & guarders, arresters, patrollers, policers, jailers, supervisors, detention-managers, visa-vetters, passport-pullers, group-think co-ordinators, birth-checkers, entry-deniers, family-splitters, mind-game managers, refuse-nik censors, green-card disowners, alternate-factoids, extremes-echoers, Stasi-trainers, media-controllers, people-puppeteers, and so it goes.
As promised/warned - No.45 is manufacturing a Yuge number of new jobs. Already.
. ..to create man
Just manufacture fear - and see a tsunami of jobs come right along. Not just tax-talkers and wall-builders -think of all the watchers & guarders, arresters, patrollers, policers, jailers, supervisors, detention-managers, visa-vetters, passport-pullers, group-think co-ordinators, birth-checkers, entry-deniers, family-splitters, mind-game managers, refuse-nik censors, green-card disowners, alternate-factoids, extremes-echoers, Stasi-trainers, media-controllers, people-puppeteers, and so it goes.
As promised/warned - No.45 is manufacturing a Yuge number of new jobs. Already.
. ..to create man
Wrong comparison.
Yes, a VAT rebated for exports is equivalent to a domestic sales (consumption) tax, in terms of being no more protectionist.
But we have an *income* tax, and *property* taxes, which are *not* rebated on export goods.
So, you could say that a VAT nation has an "unfair" advantage - or (alternatively) - that nations using other taxes which *don't* get rebated for exports, are disadvantaging themselves.
Having said that, I don't favor a VAT, as it is regressive, compared with a progressive income tax.
Yes, a VAT with rebates is equivalent to a sales tax on domestic consumption, in terms of trade fairness. But having trading partners use rebated VAT, while we get significant revenue from property and incone taxes - which are *not* rebated for export - disadvantages domestic suppliers compared to foreign suppliers.
Yes, a VAT rebated for exports is equivalent to a domestic sales (consumption) tax, in terms of being no more protectionist.
But we have an *income* tax, and *property* taxes, which are *not* rebated on export goods.
So, you could say that a VAT nation has an "unfair" advantage - or (alternatively) - that nations using other taxes which *don't* get rebated for exports, are disadvantaging themselves.
Having said that, I don't favor a VAT, as it is regressive, compared with a progressive income tax.
Yes, a VAT with rebates is equivalent to a sales tax on domestic consumption, in terms of trade fairness. But having trading partners use rebated VAT, while we get significant revenue from property and incone taxes - which are *not* rebated for export - disadvantages domestic suppliers compared to foreign suppliers.
1
This has nothing to do with VAT!!! It's about pretending to squeeze money out of Mexico while actually squeezing it out of Joe Sixpack and avocado lovers. There might be a negative for Mexico in this because Joe Sixpack might switch form Dos Equis and Corona to Bud and Becks. But that would also decrease the revenue take from the tariff.
1
VAT countries have corporate income taxes too. Why did you assume otherwise?
"All of this should be placed in the larger context of America’s quickly collapsing credibility."
The question I have is whether the typical "red" voter understands that this is a problem. While it's reassuring to know that more Americans voted for Clinton than the incompetent Trump and to see the large anti-Trump demonstrations that have occurred since the inauguration, we still have an electoral system that currently enables "red" voters to control the electoral college, the majority of congressional seats, and the majority of state governments. I greatly fear that where we blue voters see "collapsing credibility" the average red voter sees a projection of American strength unencumbered by "politically correct" concerns for how others perceive us. If this is the case, our collapsing credibility will actually be cheered by the red voters who elected Trump and, given the electoral power of the red voter, only serve to cement Trump's dominance over our politics.
The question I have is whether the typical "red" voter understands that this is a problem. While it's reassuring to know that more Americans voted for Clinton than the incompetent Trump and to see the large anti-Trump demonstrations that have occurred since the inauguration, we still have an electoral system that currently enables "red" voters to control the electoral college, the majority of congressional seats, and the majority of state governments. I greatly fear that where we blue voters see "collapsing credibility" the average red voter sees a projection of American strength unencumbered by "politically correct" concerns for how others perceive us. If this is the case, our collapsing credibility will actually be cheered by the red voters who elected Trump and, given the electoral power of the red voter, only serve to cement Trump's dominance over our politics.
12
Whether a nation or an individual, one thing people and nations need from leaders is consistency, dependability, and predictability. With Trump & his team, what they will get is chaos, impulsivity, and "alternative facts."
The dear leader is incapable of ever admitting his is wrong, so do not look for any significant change of an order he has signed with much flourish. At best, there may be some contortion of the truth to claim that the order was misinterpreted by the "dishonest" media and "inept" immigration officials all conspiring to make Mr. Trump look bad. The deal leader is never wrong.
The dear leader is incapable of ever admitting his is wrong, so do not look for any significant change of an order he has signed with much flourish. At best, there may be some contortion of the truth to claim that the order was misinterpreted by the "dishonest" media and "inept" immigration officials all conspiring to make Mr. Trump look bad. The deal leader is never wrong.
11
The truly frightening thing is that, once the "forgotten working class" starts to see the price increases at Walmart, and starts to realize that the promised jobs aren't coming back, they're very likely to become, shall we say, more than a little unfair and unbalanced. Given the hatred and tendency toward violence we saw displayed during Trump's campaign rallies, what might this mob then be capable of? I shudder to think.
Oh, and after "we've" alienated most of our former allies, to say nothing of our trading partners, which might be expected to join the next "coalition of the willing" when Trump's band of idiots starts the next war? Because we know that's coming, and soon.
Oh, and after "we've" alienated most of our former allies, to say nothing of our trading partners, which might be expected to join the next "coalition of the willing" when Trump's band of idiots starts the next war? Because we know that's coming, and soon.
26
During the 2016 campaign, most of America saw Trump for what he is, a know-nothing, emotionally flawed, mentally ill clown who stepped out of the comic book world of reality TV, to insult his competitors. To political death. The national spotlight targeted him for scorn and ridicule, and on November 8, America voted for Hillary. (A yuuuge blow to Trump's fragile ego.) Nevertheless, the Russians, the FBI and the clueless conspired to award him the White House.
Craven Trump's craving for attention has not only brought him national attention, it has brought him the world's attention. He has fulfilled his life's purpose: the greatest attention any living person has ever received. But this seeming suit of honor has seamy seams. Trump is now in the crosshair of worldwide scorn and ridicule. The attention he has won is not respect, approval, admiration; the attention he has earned is contempt, opprobrium, and mockery.
Trump has made it onto the world stage. To achieve the notoriety of being the single most laughed at buffoon in the history of mankind. Yes, the sane see that he is also very dangerous, but for now, the world simply snickers with derision and marvels in disbelief that America allowed such a demented fool to assume the most powerful position on earth.
Daily we are chastised with new evidence of America's Greatest Mistake.
Craven Trump's craving for attention has not only brought him national attention, it has brought him the world's attention. He has fulfilled his life's purpose: the greatest attention any living person has ever received. But this seeming suit of honor has seamy seams. Trump is now in the crosshair of worldwide scorn and ridicule. The attention he has won is not respect, approval, admiration; the attention he has earned is contempt, opprobrium, and mockery.
Trump has made it onto the world stage. To achieve the notoriety of being the single most laughed at buffoon in the history of mankind. Yes, the sane see that he is also very dangerous, but for now, the world simply snickers with derision and marvels in disbelief that America allowed such a demented fool to assume the most powerful position on earth.
Daily we are chastised with new evidence of America's Greatest Mistake.
109
This vile choice of our version of the "dear leader" is also the result of too many voters sitting this election out. After a year and a half of campaign coverage, billions of dollars spent, endless discussions, debates and interviews, people couldn't take the time to vote, or considered both candidates equally flawed. So here we are folks. About 80,000 votes in three states made the difference. Too turned off to vote, well look what we are all living with now.KA
2
Oh we're just getting started. That's just week one. The ascendency of Trump is the rejection of professionalism in government. It is the rejection of competence, experience, academics and old fashioned common sense. It is populism at the highest levels run amuck.
Trump truly doesn't have any idea of the implications of his actions. His staff is even worse off. They actually want the bad outcomes because they think they will help.
We have never seen ignorance of this magnitude in an administration. Never. The attacks on the press when these failings are pointed out knocks out a big pillar of democracy. They mess everything up and then want to make sure that the people are not informed of the mess.
The adults have left the room and left the eight year olds in charge. In the case of Trump, the eight year old is mentally unstable to boot.
Conditions are so bad, that even Mitch McConnell is starting to backtrack and that guy lost his soul years ago.
The real test is will the Constitution loving Republicans uphold that precious document they claim to cherish, or let an incompetent ignoramus lunatic tear it to pieces.
Trump truly doesn't have any idea of the implications of his actions. His staff is even worse off. They actually want the bad outcomes because they think they will help.
We have never seen ignorance of this magnitude in an administration. Never. The attacks on the press when these failings are pointed out knocks out a big pillar of democracy. They mess everything up and then want to make sure that the people are not informed of the mess.
The adults have left the room and left the eight year olds in charge. In the case of Trump, the eight year old is mentally unstable to boot.
Conditions are so bad, that even Mitch McConnell is starting to backtrack and that guy lost his soul years ago.
The real test is will the Constitution loving Republicans uphold that precious document they claim to cherish, or let an incompetent ignoramus lunatic tear it to pieces.
208
Is the rust belt really worth all of this? I mean did we really have to put a madman in office because some folks in flyover country can't get jobs? I say tear down those rusted factories and get with the program. Those states clearly don't have people smart enough to realize that if you aren't working on your tech skills you won't have jobs. Curses on the lot that elected a true blue fool to the white house.
61
And they weren't allowed to mull over Clinton's promise of programs to help those hurt by the new economy of robots and foreign competition.
1
I wonder what Trump's economic team think of advisor Bannon's policies? Well considering that Mnuchin is in Senate limbo due to his failure to disclose 100 million and his off-shore companies he seems to have faded from view. Perhaps he will support the import tax so his cronies can make money on oil trading. The secretary of labor might have something to say about the wall as most Trump supporters view immigration as a threat to their livelihood and that's why they wanted the wall in the first place. He hasn't even had a hearing yet because he has not submitted his statements for review. How about the commerce secretary? How does he think we should pay for the wall and the import tax? Where is Ross anyway and the rest of the cabinet with the highest IQ ever? Rethinking their commitments to the Bannon-Trump administration if they are that intelligent.
19
Mr. Trump is a perverse human being. It is and was known by all for the year of his campaign. He stole the Republican Party from its incompetent leaders. He is now doing just what was predictated before the election: embarrassing and damaging America.
Trump clearly cannot govern or lead. However, the core of the problem is the very soul of the Republican Party, symbolized by leaders such as Pence, Ryan, McConnell and the Freedom Caucus.
Trump clearly cannot govern or lead. However, the core of the problem is the very soul of the Republican Party, symbolized by leaders such as Pence, Ryan, McConnell and the Freedom Caucus.
61