"No president, or for that matter major U.S. political figure of any kind, has ever lied as freely and frequently as Donald Trump." Amen.
But a more subtle pattern is also emerging - 'I am not to blame!' He states things materially untrue or dissembles about clearly his responsibility and then uses excuses: 'That is what I heard', 'That is what people are saying', 'They are the experts and they said we should do the operation', 'They said I should not wait to start the ban' ... and so on.
The motto on the desk in the Oval Office should no longer read "The Buck Stops Here", Harry.
"The Buck Stops There, It's Not MY Fault" is the new presidential paradigm of our Evader-in-Chief. 'Nobody knew (it) was so complicated.'
But a more subtle pattern is also emerging - 'I am not to blame!' He states things materially untrue or dissembles about clearly his responsibility and then uses excuses: 'That is what I heard', 'That is what people are saying', 'They are the experts and they said we should do the operation', 'They said I should not wait to start the ban' ... and so on.
The motto on the desk in the Oval Office should no longer read "The Buck Stops Here", Harry.
"The Buck Stops There, It's Not MY Fault" is the new presidential paradigm of our Evader-in-Chief. 'Nobody knew (it) was so complicated.'
362
Franken prefaced his question to Sessions by saying, "CNN just published a story alleging that the intelligence community provided documents to the president-elect last week that included information that quote, ‘Russian operatives claimed to have compromising personal and financial information about Mr. Trump.’ These documents also allegedly say quote, ‘There was a continuing exchange of information during the campaign between Trump's surrogates and intermediaries for the Russian government.’” (The term “operatives” in context means secret agents or spies.) When Sessions said he had no communications with the Russians, he obviously meant the Russian “operatives” Franken was talking about.
58
Reading a speech off a teleprompter made Trump "presidential"? Strange: that's not what the members of Trump's party used to say about President Obama.
132
Finally somebody articulates that Mr. Trump's speech to the congress was not presidential at all - falsehoods, over promising and an instrumentalization of of a Navy Seal's tragedy for his own benefit. And Paul Ryan, who withdrew his support for Trump during the campaign - I guess in lack of a white flag to waive- smiles and claps his hands. Where are the decent Republicans?
This is how it works in Russia, it may happen to Turkey, but, despite years of FOX "News" and Rush Limbaugh desinformation, I did not expect that it could happen to the US.
This is how it works in Russia, it may happen to Turkey, but, despite years of FOX "News" and Rush Limbaugh desinformation, I did not expect that it could happen to the US.
122
Treason may be the reason for this season of wanton lying.
The climate of truth is being stilled.
Democracy is being killed.
Yet the Trump-sters are thrilled.
I am chilled
The climate of truth is being stilled.
Democracy is being killed.
Yet the Trump-sters are thrilled.
I am chilled
86
As promised, Trump has drained the swamp; unfortunately, he replaced the swamp water with radioactive sewage...
137
Oligarch Trump has his favorite enablers in Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell.
That is well known for nearly a year now. They have no honor. They deserve no honor.
How will this House of Cards fall? How soon?
History will not be kind to these white men, enablers of white supremacists.
How long before we see Trump's tax returns? We are owed an explanation.
This is called the "evil of monotony."
That is well known for nearly a year now. They have no honor. They deserve no honor.
How will this House of Cards fall? How soon?
History will not be kind to these white men, enablers of white supremacists.
How long before we see Trump's tax returns? We are owed an explanation.
This is called the "evil of monotony."
122
I am watching reruns of West Wing on Netflix and in a recently watched episode they used the term "mass psychosis", I think that term is spot on for what is happening now. Even the Republicans in power have succumbed and the MSM too on occasion, until the next egregious thing happens and then they snap out of it. It took a war for the Germans to snap out of their Hitler psychosis....the world had to hold a giant mirror up for them to see themselves clearly. What to do, what to do.
84
The White House plans to have musical background to all future press conferences ; a musician playing the lyre.
31
You're right Paul but so am I when I say it's a cult. Lies schmies. They don't care.
46
The New York Times lecturing Trump on dishonesty. Smh
32
Presidential lying has grown over the years.
I was 13 when Dwight Eisenhower lied about the U-2 spy plane's flying mission over Russia. That was noteworthy, as I had been unaware of that kind of thing up to that point.
Now, almost 70 and less naive, the daily tripe from the Administration and its supportive minions (NOT the NYTimes) is making me nauseous. Make it stop. Somehow many Americans have lost their balance, and are falling for fake news. It's a serious issue, and most distressing is that the same algorithms that may have helped Trump's election are now being used to further erode truth.
This column and others at the Times are great, but are in a bubble, as evidenced by these predominantly supportive comments. Must break out of the bubble and reach further. Please...
I was 13 when Dwight Eisenhower lied about the U-2 spy plane's flying mission over Russia. That was noteworthy, as I had been unaware of that kind of thing up to that point.
Now, almost 70 and less naive, the daily tripe from the Administration and its supportive minions (NOT the NYTimes) is making me nauseous. Make it stop. Somehow many Americans have lost their balance, and are falling for fake news. It's a serious issue, and most distressing is that the same algorithms that may have helped Trump's election are now being used to further erode truth.
This column and others at the Times are great, but are in a bubble, as evidenced by these predominantly supportive comments. Must break out of the bubble and reach further. Please...
87
"Liar-in-chief" - So on the spot right! I'm glad I'm not the only one to notice Trump's and his administration's tenuous connection to truth and facts. Maybe I wouldn't mind so much if he/they didn't just make stuff up. But I'm not really sure if he even recognizes truth. Afterall, it appears that the POTUS no less, believes Fox News and the internet over American intelligence agencies. But maybe he's like my ex-wife. She would lie so much about her age that after awhile you really just didn't know what the truth was. And I'm not sure that she did either!
BTW, one important point. I've not read or heard any reports so far, in this paper or any other news outlet, to lead one to believe that Kislyak might be a "key spymaster". While we're talking about being truthful, let's not overstate the facts.
BTW, one important point. I've not read or heard any reports so far, in this paper or any other news outlet, to lead one to believe that Kislyak might be a "key spymaster". While we're talking about being truthful, let's not overstate the facts.
25
People and particularly the press are saying mean things about the president, really mean, terrible, terrible things. They call him a liar, well they're the liars, they lie all the time, check it out. Does that about sum it up?
32
Q. Who are these quotations from?
"I don't care who does the electing, so long as I get to do the nominating.l
The way to have power is to take it."
"I don't care who does the electing, so long as I get to do the nominating.l
The way to have power is to take it."
22
When watching Trump reading what was written for him by Bannon, I actually saw Bonito Mussolini standing there with his chin jutting out and up, his brows heavy over his beady eyes, his tiny hands with their now familiar twist of fingers forming a quasi-fascist symbol. I saw nothing presidential. I saw only a self indulgent mad man who is interested only in his self image and the loudness of the applause from the Republicans in the audience. Nancy Pelosi's slow shake of her head said it all. She, like I, was trying to keep from weeping with the spectacle that this man has made of this country. God save us.
347
"But all indications are that the age of spin is over. It has been replaced by an era of raw, shameless dishonesty.", A la Kellyanne Conway.
164
The media have been doing their job Mr. Krugman. The "media" don't count no matter how much noise they make.
Speaking of lies, if it's any consolation voters had an equally low opinion about the other candidate. Who happened to be related to the president who didn't have sexual relations with that woman...
Speaking of lies, if it's any consolation voters had an equally low opinion about the other candidate. Who happened to be related to the president who didn't have sexual relations with that woman...
48
The UNpresident lies so much not only are his pants on fire, his hair is on fire too.
17
Mr. Krugman, I deeply thank you for stating the hidden truth so eloquently. Yet, since it is common for intellectuals to shun any mention of religion, you missed a valid point. What we have happening here is: “The Father of Lies” has arisen once again from the depths.
It is up to us to put ‘it’ down again before our normal society gets radically undermined and overturned.
It is up to us to put ‘it’ down again before our normal society gets radically undermined and overturned.
15
Thank you for using your many talents to reveal the truth in what motivates politicians in Washington beginning with the President on through the legislators to do what they do. I hope all Americans will continue to remind them that they work for the people and they be fair and just in their duties!
9
Your second class of enablers, the primary election voters, are the most important of the three. Voters, not the media, select/elect the President (as well as holders of other offices). Your despair over the media response is appropriate, but shouldn't be the highest priority. I agree that primary voters live in a Fox News bubble. My question to you, as an op-ed columnist who should propose solutions, is how can we best pop that bubble. How do you propose to educate these voters with real facts and real reality?
26
The media in some way cannot seem to absorb trump for what he is. So they are desperate for any hint of 'normal' which will allow them to go back to business as usual 'balanced' coverage.
23
Uh? I think it's even scarier than we imagine. I think Trump really believes himself and is in another world.
30
The eventual outcome of the current political drama will determine whether the doctrine of the "Big Lie" will succeed as it did in Germany 80 some years ago. The same people who impeached Bill Clinton & called out "Lock her up!" about Hillary's e-mails now are shucking & jiving their way past the train wreck that is the Drumpf Administration. "Alternative facts" & bald-faced lies don't seem to faze them. As Angus King put it, they're like Obi Wan Kenobi, "these are not the droids you're looking for'. Despite minions lying under oath & possibly colluding with an adversarial foreign power, the Drumpf Administration mouthpieces, spin meisters & flak catchers believe they can get away with their subterfuge. If the 30% of Americans that are neither GOP right-wingers nor Democratic liberals (what is nostalgically known as "moderates") don't step up, our Republic may be in serious peril.
45
if anyone doubted we have been re-introduced into the Cold War the ad for The Americans (the Times turns into Cyrillic, really?) would be proof enough.
The ambassador is the FSB head in the US? No...that's too much Flemming when we need sober Le Carre. The "resident" is kept firewalled off the legitimate function, our ambassadors work the same, our Black Ops reps in foreign capitals tend to be the "military attache" type.
But the idea here is clear, our deep gov types want the Russian gone because he is too effective in his open job. And want to burn all bridges with Russia, since ANY contact is "treason"...
The dive of out Black Budget boys and girls in positioning the Trump administration to answer press Qs like "can you say no one has had contact" when any contact, regular business absolutely included, has already been (meta data) collected is disingenuous. And self serving...if there is no great threat why are we cutting all these heavy paychecks?
That the Dems see blowing smoke and constantly yelling fire speaks to what the game really is. A fight over who controls the ladle at the pork trough. They are just in it for the money (great Mothers album cover) too.
If Sessions is gone will Giulliani be better for Dems. or the Times. He is a pit bull who will bring down your leakers... bet on it.
The wisdom of burning bridges one may need to push a little "gremlins from the Kremlin" theory to cover for the party hacks playing a losing game in 16 may lead to a bad future
The ambassador is the FSB head in the US? No...that's too much Flemming when we need sober Le Carre. The "resident" is kept firewalled off the legitimate function, our ambassadors work the same, our Black Ops reps in foreign capitals tend to be the "military attache" type.
But the idea here is clear, our deep gov types want the Russian gone because he is too effective in his open job. And want to burn all bridges with Russia, since ANY contact is "treason"...
The dive of out Black Budget boys and girls in positioning the Trump administration to answer press Qs like "can you say no one has had contact" when any contact, regular business absolutely included, has already been (meta data) collected is disingenuous. And self serving...if there is no great threat why are we cutting all these heavy paychecks?
That the Dems see blowing smoke and constantly yelling fire speaks to what the game really is. A fight over who controls the ladle at the pork trough. They are just in it for the money (great Mothers album cover) too.
If Sessions is gone will Giulliani be better for Dems. or the Times. He is a pit bull who will bring down your leakers... bet on it.
The wisdom of burning bridges one may need to push a little "gremlins from the Kremlin" theory to cover for the party hacks playing a losing game in 16 may lead to a bad future
5
Paul: We have these things called elections in America. If voters decide the other guys are more likely to tell the truth (and if that consideration outweighs other concerns they may have), then they certainly can and should give both houses of Congress and the White House back to the Democrats.
15
Well, let's just hope that, for the sake and safety of all Americans, especially the young people, that steven bannon doesn't have the influence over trump that cheney had on bush.
Oh wait, Oops!
Oh wait, Oops!
42
"Meanwhile, Republican primary election voters, who are the real arbiters when polarized and/or gerrymandered districts make the general election irrelevant for many politicians, live in a Fox News bubble into which awkward truths never penetrate."
Worth my entire NYT subscription. Thank you, Mr. Krugman!
Worth my entire NYT subscription. Thank you, Mr. Krugman!
77
I saw Paul Krugman recently write that the Affordable Care Act is paid for with taxes on the wealthy. Talk about raw dishonesty.
27
Thank you Mr. Krugman for getting so clearly to the heart of the matter. The lies are piling up and, aside from the dishonesty by many individuals in the cabinet, it seems at the moment the bigger issue of the underlying Russia/Trump relationship is at the mercy of the Republicans in Congress -- a bone-chilling thought. A group whose disregard for the constitution and country seems boundless. Thank god for the press!!
91
Truly wonderful writing. Thank you, Mr. Krugman, for keeping the home fires lit. Right now the Washington Post, the New York Times, and NPR are the only things that are keeping me going in these very dark times.
(And I never dreamed I would ever think George W. Bush was a good guy....)
(And I never dreamed I would ever think George W. Bush was a good guy....)
48
Newspapers can stop Trump. Publish a front page of lies, and call them, in bold black and white, lies.
E.g.:
Attorney General Jeff Sessions in confirmation hearing denies meeting with Russian officials during 2016 campaign: LIE
Etc.
Wave the bald-faced liars' faces in front of the American public, and question why Trump continues to support people who LIE, and perhaps it will get his attention.
Perhaps he'll do something like try to shut down some media sources.
And then, perhaps, the American public will do what must be done.
Perhaps.
E.g.:
Attorney General Jeff Sessions in confirmation hearing denies meeting with Russian officials during 2016 campaign: LIE
Etc.
Wave the bald-faced liars' faces in front of the American public, and question why Trump continues to support people who LIE, and perhaps it will get his attention.
Perhaps he'll do something like try to shut down some media sources.
And then, perhaps, the American public will do what must be done.
Perhaps.
25
Thank you, Professor Krugman.
29
The legislators have passed a law that requires "proof of intent" to lie before congressional inquiries ,to commit a criminal offense.
Sessions clearly remembered that rule when he said he "had not intended to lie "even as he defended one lie with another, clearly using the "slippery legalese" hairsplitting language designed to allow politicians to wriggle out of lies when being investigated and under oath. Sessions attempt to obfuscate his, voracious and Machiavellian . grasp for a cabinet position with Trump should not be allowed because of its seditious and unpatriotic nature.
However, the institutionalized opportunistic corruption of politics has clearly become transnational and international.........thats the real danger to the world Mr Krugman!
Sessions clearly remembered that rule when he said he "had not intended to lie "even as he defended one lie with another, clearly using the "slippery legalese" hairsplitting language designed to allow politicians to wriggle out of lies when being investigated and under oath. Sessions attempt to obfuscate his, voracious and Machiavellian . grasp for a cabinet position with Trump should not be allowed because of its seditious and unpatriotic nature.
However, the institutionalized opportunistic corruption of politics has clearly become transnational and international.........thats the real danger to the world Mr Krugman!
24
The media is now caught in a game of "doomed if you do and doomed if you don't." If they criticize Trump, they are spreading fake news and making much ado about nothing. If they go softer on him (like some media did after his speech to Congress) they are letting him off the hook. It will be impossible for the media to please everyone, and I think they should not even try. I am thankful for all the media that have been exposing the lies, excesses, cronyism, and all sorts of misdeeds of the present administration. Sometimes with very solid evidence, and others not so much. Everything I read helps me reach my own conclusions about what is going on in the US these days. I hope reputable media will keep doing their job. And today I am disappointed at the NYT for its editorial on Jeff Sessions. They are giving him a huge pass by stating he did the right thing recusing himself from the investigation. The right thing for him to do would be to resign or be fired, because HE LIED UNDER OATH. If the US AG lies under oath and gets away with it, why should others not feel entitled to do the same after all? It is a core issue. The issue is not whether he spoke to the Russians or not, or what he spoke about. The issue is that the US cannot have an AG who is a liar. NYT?
66
What is wrong with Americans???? There were voters who said that they didn't vote for Hillary because she "lied" or because "she was a liar". Why are these people not raising cane? They were the ones who were duped and are being bamboozled, why are they not outraged by all of these liars, starting with the biggest liar - the Trumpster
100
Happy birthday Dr. Krugman.
Thanks for all you do.
Thanks for all you do.
32
Of course our new President lies, that is what he does. And then he lies about lying and accuses those who point it out as being the dishonest media.
His cabinet merely is a reflection of him.
His cabinet merely is a reflection of him.
45
Let's see. Mr. Krugman doesn't like Trump. He will never like Trump. Even if Trump abdicated the throne and made Mr. Krugman king, Mr. Krugman would somehow find fault with it. Tiresome. Really tiresome. I get it already.
Hey, NY Times, got anything else than dog-bites-man political punditry to parlay?
Hey, NY Times, got anything else than dog-bites-man political punditry to parlay?
13
Paul Krugman accurately reports that one of our political parties is broken: "Republican primary election voters ... live in a Fox News bubble ..."
We liberal primary voters were also living in a Democratic National Committee opacity lifted partially through foreign intrigue and WikiLeaks.
We have a defective two-party system that has allowed a psychotic to assume the presidency. We all need new direction and leadership to reestablish our democracy.
We liberal primary voters were also living in a Democratic National Committee opacity lifted partially through foreign intrigue and WikiLeaks.
We have a defective two-party system that has allowed a psychotic to assume the presidency. We all need new direction and leadership to reestablish our democracy.
24
While I know and appreciate the common sentiments of " let's give the president a chance" or " it will take time" --- however, at what point in time, will the majority American public finally realize that -- ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. This Administration has given a new definition to the old maxim " time is of the essence."
37
Trump insistently continues to refer to Krugman's platform as "the Failing NY Times". Another example of its falsehood as Times subscriptions have risen 42% and the stock has outperformed the Dow since Trumps election
60
I think both NPR and PBS news presenters are reluctant to use the word "lie" when reporting Trump's lies. They claim that until there is clear proof of intent to lie, it cannot be a lie. They seem to ignore the fact that these lies are repeated again and again.
60
PLOTUS (Presidential Liar Of The United States) Mr. Trump, has shown the strength of his executive abilities by leading most of his cabinet nominees to lie.
Now, we citizens have a choice. We can get rid of Trump or we can watch him turn our America into a kleptocracy.
Now, we citizens have a choice. We can get rid of Trump or we can watch him turn our America into a kleptocracy.
49
So thankful for Krugman telling the truth!!! Keeps me somewhat sane in these days filled with horror.
60
Trump is like the worst behaving kid in the school who gets a gold star for not burning the building to the ground.
"Good for you Donnie, you didn't beat up a single kid, key a teacher's car or trash a classroom all day. You're showing real progress here, you must be proud."
And that's basically where we are....
"Good for you Donnie, you didn't beat up a single kid, key a teacher's car or trash a classroom all day. You're showing real progress here, you must be proud."
And that's basically where we are....
109
Noteworthy:
"The fish rots from the head down."
"All of the early examples of the phrase in print in English prefer the variant 'a fish stinks from the head down' to 'a fish rots from the head down', which is more popular nowadays."
Of interest:
The saying is credited to the Turks.
"Sir James Porter's Observations on the religion, law, government, and manners of the Turks, 1768, includes this:
The Turks have a homely proverb applied on such occasions: they say "the fish stinks first at the head", meaning, that if the servant is disorderly, it is because the master is so."
"...... it is because the MASTER is so".
Certainly we can all buy into this notable and worthy conclusion.
"The fish rots from the head down."
"All of the early examples of the phrase in print in English prefer the variant 'a fish stinks from the head down' to 'a fish rots from the head down', which is more popular nowadays."
Of interest:
The saying is credited to the Turks.
"Sir James Porter's Observations on the religion, law, government, and manners of the Turks, 1768, includes this:
The Turks have a homely proverb applied on such occasions: they say "the fish stinks first at the head", meaning, that if the servant is disorderly, it is because the master is so."
"...... it is because the MASTER is so".
Certainly we can all buy into this notable and worthy conclusion.
27
I agree, the media is just inconsistent for instance Van Jones came out early criticising DT and then said he was presidential...after the address. Look wether DT yaps in a stream or reads it his message hasn't changed! His whole cabinet needs to go, we are witnessing the biggest money grab in history...where does that leave us??
68
Thank you, Mr. Krugman. You are one of the few people I can turn to in the media who accurately exposes and explains this nightmare we're dealing with. Please keep at it!
145
I am frequently reminded of that scene in The Grapes of Wrath when Casey the preacher tries to convince Tom Joad that there needs top be a general strike amog the peach pickers in order to force the the owners not to cut the price they paid for a bushel of peaches. Tom Joad is skeptical
"tonight we had meat" he says "not much but we had meat".... The voters who put Trump in office are swayed by what in his "rhetoric"? First and only self interest at any cost. That's where we are as a nation right now. "Give me what is rightfully mine" and Trump is the man who at least says he'll do it. That's the meat they want and they'll be picking peaches at 3 cents a bushel and no bruised fruit before he's done.
"tonight we had meat" he says "not much but we had meat".... The voters who put Trump in office are swayed by what in his "rhetoric"? First and only self interest at any cost. That's where we are as a nation right now. "Give me what is rightfully mine" and Trump is the man who at least says he'll do it. That's the meat they want and they'll be picking peaches at 3 cents a bushel and no bruised fruit before he's done.
295
Let's be clear: Trump managing to read a speech from a teleprompter like he had been given half a white Valium, delivered at a moment his handlers see as existential to their cabal's continuing (approval ratings in the tank big time, voters lashing out at town halls) ... this means nothing, except that the guy showed up for the job unqualified.
That reckless, bumbling first month in office, are we supposed to see that as some kind of Oval Office rumspringa? And the speech itself, let's not forget how amply dosed it was with the rotten-egg stink of Bannon-Miller brimstone.
Corruption is laid bare with this crowd and the GOP majorities in Congress, with that flame kept burning bright this week by the attorney general. Sessions is a man who lies and prevaricates to Congress after a congressional career in which he invoked warnings to others about lying to Congress.
That is really bad, to quote the pretender in chief, who should listen to his own words.
That reckless, bumbling first month in office, are we supposed to see that as some kind of Oval Office rumspringa? And the speech itself, let's not forget how amply dosed it was with the rotten-egg stink of Bannon-Miller brimstone.
Corruption is laid bare with this crowd and the GOP majorities in Congress, with that flame kept burning bright this week by the attorney general. Sessions is a man who lies and prevaricates to Congress after a congressional career in which he invoked warnings to others about lying to Congress.
That is really bad, to quote the pretender in chief, who should listen to his own words.
42
I am watching West Wing on Netflix as an acceptable way to comfort myself in these troubling times. In a recently watched episode they used the term "mass psychosis" and I think that term is spot on for what is going on now. Even the Republicans in power have succumbed and the MSM does occasionally until the next egregious thing happens and then they snap out of it. Frightening. How can we overcome mass psychosis? It took a war for the Germans to snap out of their Hitler psychosis.
264
We are in a great era of feelings, romantic idealism perhaps, where "the truth" is almost exclusively what we feel inside ourselves not what we measure outside ourselves. We have been headed in this direction for years, what with the "guy I'd want to have a beer with" standard for presidents. I know many on the left who "just didn't trust" Hillary Clinton and opted out or voted for a 3rd party candidate—as if the point of voting is to express one's feelings, like a Facebook post. Now we march in the street (I do too) as if expressing our feelings is enough to change things. But where will we be on election day?
On the right, we have elected a man who was seen as "authentic" not in spite of his lies, but BECAUSE of his lies--it felt to many as if his lies somehow revealed a deeper truth. This, frankly, is absurd. No wonder they lie. It goes beyond "getting away with it." Empirical measurements hardly matter at all, so they are disregarded. This is not surprising.
Yes, there are critically important impediments to the will of the majority reaching our government—3 million more voted for Hillary Clinton, after all. Gerrymandering, Russia, Comey, etc. But if we're willing to look outside ourselves, we have more than enough information to overcome them.
Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy or Karl Popper's The Open Society and It's Enemies are very very relevant to our current experience. Both were written in the mid-40s, and the timing is not a coincidence.
On the right, we have elected a man who was seen as "authentic" not in spite of his lies, but BECAUSE of his lies--it felt to many as if his lies somehow revealed a deeper truth. This, frankly, is absurd. No wonder they lie. It goes beyond "getting away with it." Empirical measurements hardly matter at all, so they are disregarded. This is not surprising.
Yes, there are critically important impediments to the will of the majority reaching our government—3 million more voted for Hillary Clinton, after all. Gerrymandering, Russia, Comey, etc. But if we're willing to look outside ourselves, we have more than enough information to overcome them.
Bertrand Russell's History of Western Philosophy or Karl Popper's The Open Society and It's Enemies are very very relevant to our current experience. Both were written in the mid-40s, and the timing is not a coincidence.
33
What was especially disheartening was watching a liberal stalwart like Van Jones gush that Trump became the President just because that he read one speech form a teleprompter that he stayed on script. Mr Jones then try to spin his outrageous comment by claiming that Trump's opposition needs to adjust to this "Presidential Trump" to be effective. In the past year there have been many alleged morphs of Trump form Tweeter in Chief to something more conventional, and those that hoped this would be a permanent transformation have always been disappointed. Sure, the media should call out his outrageous lies be they twitter or otherwise, but don't give him undeserved kudos for form when the substance is the same old hard right shibboleths.
28
All of what you say is spot on. I would just add that the Mr. Trump has now informed his base that he has created "VOICE," a McCarthyesque office in DHS to address the needs of not all victims of crime, but simply victims of crimes committed by immigrants. Besides the constitutionally questionable singling out of immigrants yet again, do not the victims of all crimes deserve assistance regardless of whether the perpetrator was an immigrant or a citizen of the U.S.?
At least many members of Congress had the decency to gasp audibly when Mr. Trump announced this, but will Congress stop this shameful exercise? The answer, of course, is "no." This is horrifying.
The fact that this is getting almost no attention in the media is also horrifying.
At least many members of Congress had the decency to gasp audibly when Mr. Trump announced this, but will Congress stop this shameful exercise? The answer, of course, is "no." This is horrifying.
The fact that this is getting almost no attention in the media is also horrifying.
49
I keep thinking about personal integrity. The individual Republicans have subscribed to the "safety in numbers" theory of government. I wonder if they are at all concerned that they, individually, will be remembered for their individual inaction on these matters of critical importance. What legacies will they leave? What happened to good character and the highest ethical standards? In short, how do they sleep at night?
29
The Media is too broad a term. Cable news is - with some exceptions - entertainment. It's closer to ESPN than it is to the New York Times. Forced to fill 24 hours a day - and compete for limited eyeballs in that time - they tend to hype anything they can -- like a mediocre and mendacious speech to Congress. They do us all a disservice, of course. But, frankly it's their business model.
Real news doesn't come from interviews. It comes from leaks. Reporters uncover it - not TV personalities. I'm heartened by the response that the legacy print media has mustered to the Trump era. I myself have ponied up more subscriptions as my way of resisting the assault of the Trump era.
Real news doesn't come from interviews. It comes from leaks. Reporters uncover it - not TV personalities. I'm heartened by the response that the legacy print media has mustered to the Trump era. I myself have ponied up more subscriptions as my way of resisting the assault of the Trump era.
38
The Trump administration has shown that they will limit access to briefings to reporters who are not critical of their actions and exclude the others. Maybe some reporters are afraid they will lose access to briefings if they simply report the truth. Maybe some of them need to develop a backbone and do their jobs. Trump and his minions obviously have no problem with controlling the flow of truthful information.
8
Clearly elections have consequences but so do appointments and the actions of an administration once it takes the WH.
The fact that Paul Ryan and his GOP followers have allowed the lies and deception to take over is still astonishing to me.
Despite the racism, bullying, demeaning and sexist behavior of DJT and his cabinet the GOP goes along.
US voters should never normalize this type of behavior- now more than ever our kids are watching as well.
Let's keep the actions of everyone in power out in the open for all to see so the American people can make informed decisions about next steps and who should remain and who must leave office either at the end of their term or before!
The fact that Paul Ryan and his GOP followers have allowed the lies and deception to take over is still astonishing to me.
Despite the racism, bullying, demeaning and sexist behavior of DJT and his cabinet the GOP goes along.
US voters should never normalize this type of behavior- now more than ever our kids are watching as well.
Let's keep the actions of everyone in power out in the open for all to see so the American people can make informed decisions about next steps and who should remain and who must leave office either at the end of their term or before!
13
Trump has no problem lying in order to serve his needs. He has no moral compass whatsoever. His lie are repeated and reported so often, that to many, lies become the truth. Sessions is simply following the president's example.
12
I think the praise heaped on by the media was partly in the hope of looking unbiased. At this point they were looking for something, anything that they could point to and say hey look this was good. By doing that they feel they can respond to the finger pointing by republicans who have felt that mainstream media is being overly harsh with President Trump.
9
This fish stinks from the head down!
First Flynn, now Sessions - and multiple others, as Krugman correctly points out - and eventually the Biggest and Best Top Fraud of them all: The so-called president.
Will a full investigation be allowed, or will this silent coup d'etat be allowed to stand? But hey, let's not get too emotional about any of this - it's only the democracy of the United States that hangs in the balance. Just ask almost any republican and they'll tell you that's not such a big deal.
First Flynn, now Sessions - and multiple others, as Krugman correctly points out - and eventually the Biggest and Best Top Fraud of them all: The so-called president.
Will a full investigation be allowed, or will this silent coup d'etat be allowed to stand? But hey, let's not get too emotional about any of this - it's only the democracy of the United States that hangs in the balance. Just ask almost any republican and they'll tell you that's not such a big deal.
22
The title says it all! We are long past "alternative facts".
As Jon Stewart said the media needs to stop any whining and remove any appearance of bias and report, report, report the news. Clearly desensitization can and will occur with this approach but the reporting media, not the opinionators, needs to be "fair and balanced" in the true, not Fox News, sense. Leave the irony and outrage to Noah, Colbert, Meyers, and Krugman et al.
And the Dems, oh gosh, don't get me started. They also need to stop whining and projecting so much outrage and have constructive plan. However it was done, Trump won and we have to compensate somehow for this. Time for the big brains to actually think, not emote, and get to work!
As Jon Stewart said the media needs to stop any whining and remove any appearance of bias and report, report, report the news. Clearly desensitization can and will occur with this approach but the reporting media, not the opinionators, needs to be "fair and balanced" in the true, not Fox News, sense. Leave the irony and outrage to Noah, Colbert, Meyers, and Krugman et al.
And the Dems, oh gosh, don't get me started. They also need to stop whining and projecting so much outrage and have constructive plan. However it was done, Trump won and we have to compensate somehow for this. Time for the big brains to actually think, not emote, and get to work!
15
Trump is an illegitimate President. GOP should not be permitted to produce any regressive legislation while Trump's Russian collusion is being investigated.
26
Watergate began with a third rate burglary by people who sought to manipulate the outcome of a presidential election. Clinton's impeachment went forward simply because he wasn't believed when he said under oath, "I did not have sex with that woman," with his opposition using this most absurd pretense to subvert the outcome of a presidential election. Now, something of many orders of magnitude greater has happened: Americans who have been placed into high positions of authority clearly appear to have deliberately enabled a foreign power to manipulate the outcome of a presidential election.
If you are an American citizen and you stick your head in the sand on this one you are to my mind un-American. Our democracy is at stake. There still are people in Washington who care about the grand experiment begun in 1776 and formalized in 1789. Make your voice heard. Let’s not allow The United States of America to be consigned to the dustbin of history. “These are the times that try men’s souls…”
If you are an American citizen and you stick your head in the sand on this one you are to my mind un-American. Our democracy is at stake. There still are people in Washington who care about the grand experiment begun in 1776 and formalized in 1789. Make your voice heard. Let’s not allow The United States of America to be consigned to the dustbin of history. “These are the times that try men’s souls…”
79
A lot of citizens were highly disappointed with Obama's failure to investigate the previous administrations debacle with Iraq. To add insult to injury,
we get a thoroughly unacceptable morally and ethically compromised President who appoints and surrounds himself with persons dedicated to the destruction and/or privatization of the government of this country, and may even be himself, compromised by the Russians. In the words of a venerated American poet; " A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall...".
we get a thoroughly unacceptable morally and ethically compromised President who appoints and surrounds himself with persons dedicated to the destruction and/or privatization of the government of this country, and may even be himself, compromised by the Russians. In the words of a venerated American poet; " A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall...".
13
Trump is a 24/7 Lie Machine. What he spews out of his pie hole today may not hold water tomorrow. The Lies blend with Reality and the Surreal without a flinch from Trump. He not only can't tell the difference he really has no conscience to show us a tell that he is lying. That is disturbing, a sign that the occupant in the Oval Office is a psychotic.
DD
Manhattan
DD
Manhattan
10
A thought for Prof. Krugman: old school economics tends to underestimate the role of uncertainty in decision making. My claim is that uncertainty is paramount, particularly for Trump supporters. They find his lies more appealing because they are easy to figure out. They find a Trump administration easier to predict - at least in actions, if not in results. People dislike uncertainty more than they dislike dishonesty. We test risk aversion based on expected utility and variance, if events in our life are not normally distributed, we are leaving relevant information out. Looking at the circumstances of Trump supporters may show that skewed distributions (they worked in declining industries) and fat tails (and lost big - all or nothing situations).
2
A massive and growing body of Americans now think that the Trump administration was (and is) involved in a deliberate act to subvert the 2016 presidential election, all in concert with the Russians. Sessions lied and got caught and his reputation is in question; Flynn lied and got caught and was fired, not out of desire by Trump but because of pressure and a round of applause to the journalists who exposed this. If Trump is as innocent as he says he is on this matter, then what’s the problem with an investigation to put the issue at rest once and for all. Come on Trump, put your money where your mouth is, what are you afraid of?
22
Donald Trump is the manifestation of a phenomenon created by over a decade of right wing media. That toxic mix of entertainment and misinformation served conservatives well, creating a sizable portion of the electorate brainwashed into parroting Republican bromides. Fox News and right-wing radio convinced these people to hate elites, the "main stream media" and big government. They stoked racist fears and xenophobia with dog-whistle issues.
Then Trump stumbled onto the scene and hijacked that gullible mass. The dog-whistle racism became a scream to"build a wall" and ban all Muslims. When Trump threw in the populist twist of protectionism, the bargain was sealed.
Trump's ascension over that naive mass was so complete, he bragged, "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters."
Is it any wonder then, that mere lies would do little to dissuade his followers? We are dealing with mass hysteria.
The only solution is for the rational majority of Americans to directly pressure their government representatives. Make your voice heard. Contact your congressperson and senators. Let them know that reason and truth must prevail...or they will be out of work after their next election.
Then Trump stumbled onto the scene and hijacked that gullible mass. The dog-whistle racism became a scream to"build a wall" and ban all Muslims. When Trump threw in the populist twist of protectionism, the bargain was sealed.
Trump's ascension over that naive mass was so complete, he bragged, "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters."
Is it any wonder then, that mere lies would do little to dissuade his followers? We are dealing with mass hysteria.
The only solution is for the rational majority of Americans to directly pressure their government representatives. Make your voice heard. Contact your congressperson and senators. Let them know that reason and truth must prevail...or they will be out of work after their next election.
35
President Trump has a pathological relationship with the truth. No amount of spin that comes from him and his administration, or repetition of outright falsehoods (no matter how finely or relentlessly spun) must deter us from remembering this fact. The press should not get lulled into complacency. Thank heaven for American investigative journalism. It may be our salvation.
16
Thank you, Professor Krugman for your honesty! I have been astonished by the moral relativism displayed in government since Mitch McConnell hijacked the government by obstructing the work of the legislative branch for the political goal of harming President Obama's presidency. The press has done its work admirably in pushing out the drip, drip, drip of President's Trump's dishonest administration. Only structural safeguards of term limits, overturning citizens united and substantial campaign finance reform can protect the government from flavor-of-the-day populists and tyrants.
11
Yesterday morning I breakfasted with a friend who supports 45 and is a staunch Republican. She is a white retired professional who is financially comfortable in her mid-70s. The reason for our breakfast was for her to tell me how hurtful my comments about 45 and 45 supporters on Facebook were to her and that she is simply a good person who made poor choices(at least in my eyes). She is a GOPer in a bubble--all info comes to her through Fox. She hated Obama and has never believed he was American, a college graduate or a lawyer. Hillary was a dishonest criminal who belonged in jail and not in the White House. Her advice to me is to calm down--all will be well. I shouldn't worry about immigration round-ups, ACA destruction, military build-up, relations with Russia. In short, I should have a seat because she and her fellow Republicans are in charge now. Her attitude is what I see every day here in southwestern Ohio=white privilege at its strongest. Krugman is right. The dishonesty is blatant, thick, and hypocritical as hell.
922
I share Professor Krugman's disappointment with members of the media who lose their way the moment that Trump reads words off a teleprompter. But what is equally disheartening is the new normal assigned to members of the Republican party. We are becoming inured to the daily illogical malaise caused by the likes of McConnell and Ryan. Note that everyone that Professor Krugman cites as telling lies, save Michael Flynn, required confirmation by the senate. Ethical behavior loses out to political expediency. No matter how civilized Republican senate members behave or project to the public, they are still politicians, not statesmen.
16
45 is getting better at all of this; the subterfuge will deepen and the spin will accelerate. Print media, in particular, needs to recognize same and avoid being spun into complacency -- there is much more here .
9
I really like your column. It makes sense and reflects what I see. It helps me understands things I have not thought of. Thank you.
I was chagrined by the comments from various news reporters about Trump's address to Congress. They thought it was great. The Republicans appeared in awe. They reacted like anxious parents watching their toddler take its first step. Some were almost obsequious. It turned my stomach.
Yes some credit was due, he did not insult, disparage, or lie as much.
The problem is that that such reactions make them the "enabling parents" of an abusive, bullying adult. Pathetic.
So often I am stunned by how many in congress and the press and his supporters excuse his behavior, his words, his insults, his taunts, but most of all his lies. I ask them what they would do if their children acted this way. Would they encourage their kids to play with a child like that? Would they invite that child into their home? What would Dr. Phil say??
I was no fan of W, but his recent comments while promoting his book are very good. What encouraged me most was him saying that this is a very strong and resilient nation, and we will get through all of this. I wish he were President now...lol.
Thank you for this space. Keep on writing!
I was chagrined by the comments from various news reporters about Trump's address to Congress. They thought it was great. The Republicans appeared in awe. They reacted like anxious parents watching their toddler take its first step. Some were almost obsequious. It turned my stomach.
Yes some credit was due, he did not insult, disparage, or lie as much.
The problem is that that such reactions make them the "enabling parents" of an abusive, bullying adult. Pathetic.
So often I am stunned by how many in congress and the press and his supporters excuse his behavior, his words, his insults, his taunts, but most of all his lies. I ask them what they would do if their children acted this way. Would they encourage their kids to play with a child like that? Would they invite that child into their home? What would Dr. Phil say??
I was no fan of W, but his recent comments while promoting his book are very good. What encouraged me most was him saying that this is a very strong and resilient nation, and we will get through all of this. I wish he were President now...lol.
Thank you for this space. Keep on writing!
14
Trump has been a grifter all his adult life. Constantly shaving the truth until it became an abject lie and one that suited his purposes.
That is not in dispute.
What's important is not whether the Donald is presidential. It's how did we get here and how do we get somewhere else as quickly as possible.
Let us remember this man's words, and remember them well.
"Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. "
https://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/Ready-Reference/JFK-Qu...
Unwittingly, this President has passed the torch to us.
Kennedy's agenda is still our agenda. His promise for a better future our promise. His commitment to make the lives of all Americans better our commitment.
Those that have been disenfranchised by unfettered capitalism deserve our respect and help because they don't live in a blue or red state. They live in one of the United States.
There are Lincolns and Kennedys among us who will come forth and lead us to a better, more American place.
We must let them know, and let them know now, that we stand with them.
That is not in dispute.
What's important is not whether the Donald is presidential. It's how did we get here and how do we get somewhere else as quickly as possible.
Let us remember this man's words, and remember them well.
"Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans--born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage--and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world. "
https://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/Ready-Reference/JFK-Qu...
Unwittingly, this President has passed the torch to us.
Kennedy's agenda is still our agenda. His promise for a better future our promise. His commitment to make the lives of all Americans better our commitment.
Those that have been disenfranchised by unfettered capitalism deserve our respect and help because they don't live in a blue or red state. They live in one of the United States.
There are Lincolns and Kennedys among us who will come forth and lead us to a better, more American place.
We must let them know, and let them know now, that we stand with them.
16
The Trump administration tests our incredulity . It is important that we ask questions and get true answers, it is time that Trump's tax returns be subject to forensic evaluation because we won't know what questions to ask until this is seen.
Let us not stop at Trump , the entire entourage and family need to be open about sources of financing and potential situations that could compromise their judgement and the advice they are offering to president Trump. A full investigation needs to follow not only the trail of the russian hackings …it must also follow the money , and any and all who are a part of that trail.
Let us not stop at Trump , the entire entourage and family need to be open about sources of financing and potential situations that could compromise their judgement and the advice they are offering to president Trump. A full investigation needs to follow not only the trail of the russian hackings …it must also follow the money , and any and all who are a part of that trail.
13
Mr. Krugman, how do we move past this part -- the Carrier deal -- although, the jobs were kept, the wages were reduced, and the state revenue was compromised with the tax cuts. I'm sure the little guy will take the job loss in reduced revenue to the state. And, the little guy lost wages. Always the little guy. It all kind of reminds me of management vs. labor in the Post Office. (What little time I spent there -- what a mess!). It seems the problems are at the greedy tops and we have the income inequality to prove it. And the State of Illinois just fined me $250 for something I may have forgot and dad hobbles along at 56 on two broken knees.
6
Ok, we get the idea that you don't like Trump.
Are we going to have to read the same article from you for the next 4 years ?
You're supposed to be some sort of economist....how about an article about why the stock market is booming ?
Or a suggestion for what you would do if you were the Treasury secretary ?
You're getting a little boring already
Are we going to have to read the same article from you for the next 4 years ?
You're supposed to be some sort of economist....how about an article about why the stock market is booming ?
Or a suggestion for what you would do if you were the Treasury secretary ?
You're getting a little boring already
7
If there's a lesson in all this, it's that it's easier to be a pathological liar than to work for on as you are unlikely to have the years of circumventing the truth and utter lack of conscience that makes it effortless.
4
In Aesop's fable about the young shepherd boy who cried, "Wolf!" we learn the fatal dangers of lying. When there was no wolf insight, the boy yelled "Wolf!", and the town's people ran out, saw there was no wolf, and all laughed at the joke. This was repeated. Then, the wolves appeared, the cry went out, and all were tired of the joke. No one from the town came out to help. The flock was lost. I fear the comfort level with lying by this Republican led government will expose America to a fatal danger; e.g. environmental disaster, military conflict in the Black Sea or South China Sea, rise in hate crimes and no civil rights laws enforced, increased loss of rural schools and hospitals, and a huge wall along the Rio Grande in Big Bend National Park.
9
"Republican primary election voters, who are the real arbiters when polarized and/or gerrymandered districts make the general election irrelevant for many politicians, live in a Fox News bubble into which awkward truths never penetrate."
Solution: democrats register to vote as republicans and choose a better republican candidate in the primary/ bar the worst from re-election.
Solution: democrats register to vote as republicans and choose a better republican candidate in the primary/ bar the worst from re-election.
5
Great column. Would be nice if you could follow the money in Liar-in-Thief's foreign business dealings and illuminate his tax rip-offs to actual taxpayers. Hammering the villainy of this corrupt regime home economically might awaken the scruples of even the ethics-free white male business class.
11
Seems that you forgot Bill Clinton and Obama was no paragon of varsity. Or do you remember LBJ "ain't gona send no American boys to Vietnam". By historical standards Trump may be more truthful than many of his predecessors. You bias is showing.
5
Good try. But no, nothing in the past compares with the rate and fluidity of the river of lies we're living with now, which would have swamped any previous campaign and/or administration. That's the point. Giving examples of previous generations' whoppers just bring on the present situation's status into starker relief!
19
Agreed. The media's fawning over Trump's "presidential" speech to Congress overlooked the lies (I promise you "clean air and water" while dismantling the EPA) of this Russian stooge. The media should follow Jon Stewart's advice given on a recent Colbert show: "Get a hobby -- like journalism."
13
Knowing what we now know about trump's and putin's efforts to hack this nation, I for one am very happy the winner of The America. People's Vote used a private server.
4
Blatant dishonesty is the default setting we've witnessed steadily in Donald Trump's parallel universe and it isn't going away any time soon. And what drives it is his refusal to release his taxes, for in these tax returns is his long history, going back thirty years, of investiture involvement of billions of dollars with Russia and its oligarchs. The sooner Trump is strongarmerd to release his taxes, the sooner our nation will move forward. We can no longer put up with this rope-a-dope nonsense, put up with this boorish man's backhanding of our rights. Enough is enough. It is the tax season and Trump needs to belly up to the bar like the rest of us and file his tax return(s.)
8
We have watched a Spinmaking President-in-Pretense Campaign by declaring the free ability to Redefine "Truth" as Anything Convenient. Then,
this week, one Show redefines His Personality. We, as a People, have Normalized Abnormality. As he stated, He's "Enjoying this" show. Again,
"I Have Given Up My Search for Truth, And I Am Looking for A Good Fantasy". (Ashleigh Brilliant)
this week, one Show redefines His Personality. We, as a People, have Normalized Abnormality. As he stated, He's "Enjoying this" show. Again,
"I Have Given Up My Search for Truth, And I Am Looking for A Good Fantasy". (Ashleigh Brilliant)
8
This is not normal. The press cannot normalize the Trump regime. Resist!
10
Trump supporters are the key to this problem.
As long as they continue to believe he will get them jobs and go after those hated Muslims, Hispanics and certain racial groups, they will ignore everything else he does.
However, if he does not deliver on this, they will turn on him faster than pro wrestling fans turn on a good guy gone bad.
Only in America.
As long as they continue to believe he will get them jobs and go after those hated Muslims, Hispanics and certain racial groups, they will ignore everything else he does.
However, if he does not deliver on this, they will turn on him faster than pro wrestling fans turn on a good guy gone bad.
Only in America.
7
Calling Trump "presidential" is putting lipstick on a pig.
Trump will start telling the truth when pigs can fly.
(Sorry pig lovers.)
Trump will start telling the truth when pigs can fly.
(Sorry pig lovers.)
15
To be fair, NBC News political director Chuck Todd showed some video clips of Donald Trump's address to Congress side-by-side with clips from his CPAC speech to his zealous supporters. There were some minor differences in wording, and differences in tone of voice, but on important policy issues they were virtually identical.
6
The day for impeachment of President Trump it seems will come sooner than I have been guessing in two years.
7
I agree - Trump is a liar. Too many of the people in his Cabinet are liars. They lie about things very important and stupidly trivial. They are con men led by the Master Con Man and Snake Oil Salesman.
But I don't blame Trump. He is as he has always been and it was completely evident before the election. He never tried to hide his true self.
- he bragged that he grabbed women
- he hasn't released his tax returns
- he spent FIVE years questioning the legitimacy of Obama, a President elected with both the popular vote AND more electoral college votes than him. BTW - in 2011, he claimed to have sent a team of investigators to Hawaii and that unearthed information about Mr. Obama's birth records. “They cannot believe what they are finding", he said.
- he boasted "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters," at a campaign rally.
He was known - and yet millions of adult Americans voted for him, Republican 'leaders' supported him. I blame them for this continuing mess. They are the ones who should be ashamed of themselves.
But I don't blame Trump. He is as he has always been and it was completely evident before the election. He never tried to hide his true self.
- he bragged that he grabbed women
- he hasn't released his tax returns
- he spent FIVE years questioning the legitimacy of Obama, a President elected with both the popular vote AND more electoral college votes than him. BTW - in 2011, he claimed to have sent a team of investigators to Hawaii and that unearthed information about Mr. Obama's birth records. “They cannot believe what they are finding", he said.
- he boasted "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn't lose voters," at a campaign rally.
He was known - and yet millions of adult Americans voted for him, Republican 'leaders' supported him. I blame them for this continuing mess. They are the ones who should be ashamed of themselves.
14
Mr. Krugman writes of a "Fox News bubble into which awkward truths never penetrate." I read Fox News online most days, perhaps just to be outraged. It is true that Fox simply does not report certain facts, such as many of Trump's obvious confilicts of interests and history of dirty dealing in business (the Times' excellent expose on Trump's rip-off of Atlantic City never made it into Fox). Fox has never reported on the billionnaire status of Trump's appointees and their roles in the financial crisis, allowing Fox readers the illusion that Trump is busy cleaning the swamp. When Fox does report on awkward truths, the headline reads something like "Dems bash Trump for...." before naming Trump's failing, often in the closing paragraphs. When leaks show Trump's team has lied, Fox condemns the leaks more than the lies. Whereas, when a foreign power hacked into the emails of Democrats in the campaign, the Fox story was always oriented toward embarrassing the Dems, not toward condemning the leaks.
Given the fact that many Fox readers think that non-Fox, non-alt media is corrupt, the citizenry remains uninformed. This in itself is the most important news story of our time.
The Times and all the other responsible media should start regular columns on lies and distortions in Fox News. These lies and distortions are the greatest threats to our democracy. They are newsworthy, meriting regular reporting, not only editorial comment.
Given the fact that many Fox readers think that non-Fox, non-alt media is corrupt, the citizenry remains uninformed. This in itself is the most important news story of our time.
The Times and all the other responsible media should start regular columns on lies and distortions in Fox News. These lies and distortions are the greatest threats to our democracy. They are newsworthy, meriting regular reporting, not only editorial comment.
738
Truly pathetic, watching Trump's speech to Congress. His disingenuous tone, smirky expressions and wagging finger made clear his intent to cajole and seem sincere while chastising those who disagree with him. There are a lot of us out here who disagree and are not so easily duped. It feels like self-inflicted drip campaign is taking its toll on approval ratings, but the only change that matters will be at the polls. Even if you cut off the head, in this case the tail would still wag the dog. The focus has to be local races, dealing with gerrymandered districts and revealing - then ousting - more Issa's.
8
I didn't find the speech presidential at all -- even the oh-so-praised little speech about Navy SEAL Owens placed the blame anywhere but on himself. So much for "The buck stops here" -- Trump is one of the worst people I've ever seen for passing the buck anywhere and everywhere else. I wouldn't even hire him to run a company I owned, much less run a country, because he doesn't take any responsibility whatsoever when something goes wrong, preferring to exist within his own version of the "truth".
449
The fourth estate, the media, is letting themselves be distracted. They do a great job in digging down for the truth, as Krugman notes. But then Trump does something--either going off the rails, or in this case, acting "presidential"--that floods the front pages; this, then, pushes the great press reporting on real issues (concerning the administration's corruption and lies) off to the side.
So it is up to the media to stop letting themselves be distracted by these kind of sideshow activities and maintain high, constant focus on the real issues in the Administration. (And the Democrats too.)
So it is up to the media to stop letting themselves be distracted by these kind of sideshow activities and maintain high, constant focus on the real issues in the Administration. (And the Democrats too.)
8
Mr. Krugman asks... "who’s going to stop Trump?
On my personal dealing with liars I just stop giving credit to anything they say.
As soon as they open their mouths I willingly engage myself to a "boredom mode"... and as soon as they notice it their lies lose the edge.
Trump is worthless... and the rest of people that do care about honesty must automatically disqualify him in order to avoid an exhausting and predictable exchange.
Looking for an honest relationship with a pathological lier is like the fly that crashes against the window over and over again.
On my personal dealing with liars I just stop giving credit to anything they say.
As soon as they open their mouths I willingly engage myself to a "boredom mode"... and as soon as they notice it their lies lose the edge.
Trump is worthless... and the rest of people that do care about honesty must automatically disqualify him in order to avoid an exhausting and predictable exchange.
Looking for an honest relationship with a pathological lier is like the fly that crashes against the window over and over again.
332
he may be worthless, but his is in a position of great power.
3
Any praise of Trump comes from the longing of our country to have a semblance of normalcy once again. We long for the day when the President can be observed from afar doing his/her job and mostly not bothering us with his grandiose schemes and problems. We long for the of going to bed at night and not expecting another "scandal" in the morning. Lessons need to be learned and heeded from this horrible mistake.
7
Well what comes next? It seems beyond a doubt the Donald trump was colluding with the Russians to win the election. Top representatives of the trump campaign were involved including a seating senator, Jeff sessions. Mike Pence cannot pretend he was in the men's room during all those meetings. He is up to his eyeballs in this. And you have to assume others in the administration knew what was happening, cabinet appointees and current republican senators and house members.
So the head of the Republican Party, Donald trump, is found guilty of treason and the FBI is found to have obstructed the investigation and worked to take out Hillary Clinton. So who controls the government? Do Republican maintain control? Can the DNC and Hillary Clinton sue Donald trump and the republican Party for damages. Put a price tag on that one!! What comes next?
If I were Putin, I would leak all kinds of information on trump and then watch the riots and US government collapse.
So the head of the Republican Party, Donald trump, is found guilty of treason and the FBI is found to have obstructed the investigation and worked to take out Hillary Clinton. So who controls the government? Do Republican maintain control? Can the DNC and Hillary Clinton sue Donald trump and the republican Party for damages. Put a price tag on that one!! What comes next?
If I were Putin, I would leak all kinds of information on trump and then watch the riots and US government collapse.
10
Paul, I implore you and your colleagues to now move beyond just the word, "lies," which took the media too long a time to use.
The new word you need to use is "corruption."
C-o-r-r-u-p-t-i-o-n. That's how you spell it.
Now, please, say it after me, "corr-up'-shun." Stress on second syllable.
CORRUPTION. Adjective: "Cor-rupt'" - accent on second syllable.
I'll allow you to look up the definition, OK?
If you want to see it in context, look at any article about any third-world - or even first-world - government doing wrong things for profit and run by grifters. You guys use it all the time when writing about "the other."
Corruption is us now.
The new word you need to use is "corruption."
C-o-r-r-u-p-t-i-o-n. That's how you spell it.
Now, please, say it after me, "corr-up'-shun." Stress on second syllable.
CORRUPTION. Adjective: "Cor-rupt'" - accent on second syllable.
I'll allow you to look up the definition, OK?
If you want to see it in context, look at any article about any third-world - or even first-world - government doing wrong things for profit and run by grifters. You guys use it all the time when writing about "the other."
Corruption is us now.
8
People always believe who they like. It's so easy to lie.
3
The last Fox News poll I saw had 45% of the public believing that Trump was truthful and only 42% believing that the press was truthful. I'm not sure that we will be saved by a press corps that less than half of all Americans believe.
5
The "Grand Wizard of Birtherism" gave his first "press conference" at the same time as Sessions' confirmation hearing. It was so patently a case of "Don't look there! Look here!" And the media obliged.
The hearing was jaw-dropping: Sessions characterizing the Voting Rights Act as intrusive; testimony that he singled out trans people as unworthy of legal protection, & boasted he'd deport every undocumented person brought to the U.S. as a child, hundreds of thousands who have known no other home ... Lindsay Graham mocking the head of the NAACP and dismissing Sessions' repeated attacks on voting rights as a smear by an organization that doesn't like Republicans ...
And now we know Sessions lied under oath to Congress (twice, if you view the footage) when he said he had had no conversations with the Russians and had no information about those who did.
You write about the descent from spin to outright lies ... And as the administration lies, its allies in the media spin its behavior into normalcy. The Wall Street Journal today characterized Sessions' lies this way: "Sessions has come under fire for not disclosing his contacts with Mr. Kislyak during his Senate confirmation hearing to become attorney general. Democratic lawmakers have accused him of misleading Congress."
The hearing was jaw-dropping: Sessions characterizing the Voting Rights Act as intrusive; testimony that he singled out trans people as unworthy of legal protection, & boasted he'd deport every undocumented person brought to the U.S. as a child, hundreds of thousands who have known no other home ... Lindsay Graham mocking the head of the NAACP and dismissing Sessions' repeated attacks on voting rights as a smear by an organization that doesn't like Republicans ...
And now we know Sessions lied under oath to Congress (twice, if you view the footage) when he said he had had no conversations with the Russians and had no information about those who did.
You write about the descent from spin to outright lies ... And as the administration lies, its allies in the media spin its behavior into normalcy. The Wall Street Journal today characterized Sessions' lies this way: "Sessions has come under fire for not disclosing his contacts with Mr. Kislyak during his Senate confirmation hearing to become attorney general. Democratic lawmakers have accused him of misleading Congress."
12
My guess is that Putin spent billions buying Republicans. Follow the money. Even self proclaimed patriots have their price.
8
Thank you, Paul Krugman, for spelling it out so clearly! The idea that reading calmly from a teleprompter makes Trump "presidential" is simply delusional. There is simply no basis for assuming that anything Trump says is true, means anything to him or can be relied on. So he can't be presidential today when he wasn't last night and won't be tomorrow. - But in order to find one's own peace of mind one looks for these oh so rare moments of "goodness" to entertain the delusion that this is just a president like others before him. So watch out, or else we will be doomed.
6
It appears that those who voted for Donald Trump never read Mary Shelley. That's a shame, because now we all get to live it.
6
I agree with you at this stage of the game in regards to concern for the truth and the lack thereof by our current society, and our leadership. My concern with the fourth estate started from the day 45 came down the escalator. In that moment, all of the air was sucked out of the room and it stayed that way. Fooled into complacency by historical attitudes regarding 45 but riveted by the show thanks to the press. Even after his momentum was at the point that he was viable for nomination, we stayed lazy. Everyone showed surprise but the truth that he could win was so buried in preconceptions that the real and focused energy that should have gone into exposing this man was wasted on the shiny circus that was his travelling road show ad infinitum. All he really needed to do was keep doing shiny things that sold newspapers and commercial time. The more shocking, the more coverage. Suckers. While this was happening, the Repubs kept the focus on HRC with emails and Benghazi. All the while rigging the system with gerrymandering and rollbacks of voting rights that continue to this day. Throw in the "shocking" leaks about the DNC and it's a formula that kept the fourth estate occupied, 24/7. Threats to our Republic did not get the laser like attention they deserved. I spent the whole election frustrated by this. The components that characterize how we came to this point that still exist. It is so much more than just 45. Keep your eye on the ball, not shiny bait. Truth speaks to power.
7
The press should stop him. Bleep out lies the same way you bleep out curse words! After all they are just as offensive, if not more!
5
It is completely laughable that much of America and a good chunk of the media seem to believe that a single speech proves that Trump will now become a more traditional president. It's like the abusive partner brings roses once and you think he/she changed. I am so proud of the journalists out there who continue to pursue the truth. Please don't stop - that work may save this country from itself.
15
Voice of Sanity and Reason are you, Mr. Krugman. Too bad you're not a member of the U. S. Senate.
7
All I know is it would be odd if this WASN'T happening. What did everyone expect; Trump and his cronies to do a 180 and start being honest all the time? No way, forget it. Until this guy is stopped, do not expect any different. That IS the truth
Please remember: Washington DC, and the word "truth" go together like NY Yankees and Boston Red Sox fans.
Please remember: Washington DC, and the word "truth" go together like NY Yankees and Boston Red Sox fans.
3
Thank you professor Klugman. Once again right on the button. How can anybody say that was presidential? Trump supporters were overjoyed to see the nightmare get up and read ! The republican legislators time and again got up on their feet shamelessly to applaud the liar-in-Chief, knowing fully what they were : not even half-truths but outright lies! God, please save us.
I hope the press, especially the ones outcast by the WH will not go soft now. They are our only hope against disaster.
I hope the press, especially the ones outcast by the WH will not go soft now. They are our only hope against disaster.
9
Frankly, I find many courageous people in the news media. Unfortunately, I find more lazy people than true journalists. Donald Trump has always been easy news, and that is one big reason he ended up where he is. It has been easy to report his lies, obnoxious behavior, racism, sexism, narcissism, and so forth since he rode that escalator into the race for president. Now that he is in that office, the news has become more than entertainment and fodder for ratings. It is flat out frightening, so for him to spend an hour reading a speech someone wrote on a teleprompter, without going off the rails, is a way for the lazy reporters to have a bit of a vacation. A dog-bites-man moment becomes news, and they get to sit back and relax for a night. They got a free headline. Of course, all the news about his administration, Russia, and so forth goes on, and the good reporters, and good newspapers won't let up their pursuit for the elusive truth. Trump knows how to play the lazy media. He can't contain the real journalists, and we, the public will be watching all of them.
6
I think the press has been put in an unfortunate position because they have been required to respond to the many outrageous things that have happened in the new administration. It's not just lies; it's also chaos, contradictions and confusion.
When Trump atypically acts somewhat normal, is it possible for reporters and commentators to ignore the normalcy? Doesn't this leave them open to the charges, which we hear so frequently, that they just hate Donald Trump? Doesn't it sound something like a distortion of reality, which many people saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears?
The underlying reality is that Donald Trump read a speech that someone else wrote. It was carefully constructed to make his policies sound as good as possible. It was a kind of classic spin.
I think it's wrong to go overboard and call the performance presidential or imply that things are actually normal. Like much of what has gone before, we have to wait and see what happens. And be prepared to resist.
When Trump atypically acts somewhat normal, is it possible for reporters and commentators to ignore the normalcy? Doesn't this leave them open to the charges, which we hear so frequently, that they just hate Donald Trump? Doesn't it sound something like a distortion of reality, which many people saw with their own eyes and heard with their own ears?
The underlying reality is that Donald Trump read a speech that someone else wrote. It was carefully constructed to make his policies sound as good as possible. It was a kind of classic spin.
I think it's wrong to go overboard and call the performance presidential or imply that things are actually normal. Like much of what has gone before, we have to wait and see what happens. And be prepared to resist.
5
Is anyone in the media looking at the possibility of Mr. Trump's political entourage employing mega-data to shape American public perceptions and sentiments regarding the American social-cultural-political-military landscape? I recently read a thought-provoking investigative journalism article in the Guardian by Carole Cadwalladr, dated 26 Feb 17, on this subject concerning the Trump campaign. While we may at times roll our eyes at the audacity or truthfulness of statements made by Mr. Trump or members of his entourage, I am beginning to wonder if some of those statements are not made, at least in part, because mega-data is telling the Trump political machine that they are what its citizen support base wants to hear (and, building on them, the political machinery can seek to shape the political landscape because the citizen support base is already inclined to listen and accept). Should politicians have effective insight into what we really want to hear and start telling us mostly only that (simply to maintain our support) vice what they themselves believe or specifically intend to achieve, we are in trouble. In this sense, mega-data may be a danger to democracy.
10
The Guardian article described actions that went even farther than tailoring messages to what people want to hear, namely the use of data-mining to manipulate opinions at the level of individuals, tailoring the propaganda fed to people on social media based on what is likely to influence them. This goes some way, in my mind, toward explaining the seemingly unbreakable spell Trump has over his supporters.
4
This is Mercer's expertise.
1
I once had a brother who was a pathological liar. Even when caught in a lie, he would deny he lied. If you persisted in confronting one of his lies, fisticuffs were on the way. I moved out of the house at the earliest possible opportunity, with just my Dad's old army duffle bag full of everything I owned. Poverty and fear of an unknown future meant nothing so long as I no longer had to live in a house of mirrors, to finally be among people who at least tried to be honest and expected the same of me. What a blessed relief to live in the real world. Our current national nightmare can't end soon enough.
34
That Trump, a man of his disreputable character, became our President, and now we live on a day to day basis with "leaders", people who are in charge of our governmental systems, who consistently and brazenly lie, and/or are not made to be accountable for the lies, shows the change in culture that has now become American. What will our future look like? Great again???
10
One of the most important and truthful columns you've ever written, Paul. I'm so thankful for the "failing" New York Times, Washington Post, and every journalist serving our democracy by their persistence in finding and reporting the truth. This President and his administration must fail for the good of the country or else there will be little good left to save.
26
Mr.Krugman, your obsession with the democratically elected President seems to have trumped your obsession with the economy and economic growth.
No obsession is healthy for it warps rationality and you perhaps should concentrate more on matters economic which is more your forte.
You may even consider pontificating on the rise and rise of the stock market (and possibly your own share portfolio) since the election of Donald Trump and whether you think share portfolios would be as healthy should your preferred candidate have won the election.
In the meantime, perhaps a cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie down.
No obsession is healthy for it warps rationality and you perhaps should concentrate more on matters economic which is more your forte.
You may even consider pontificating on the rise and rise of the stock market (and possibly your own share portfolio) since the election of Donald Trump and whether you think share portfolios would be as healthy should your preferred candidate have won the election.
In the meantime, perhaps a cup of tea, a Bex and a good lie down.
3
Bruce, your best efforts to legitimize Trump and his ilk have already failed. He is not a legitimate president. Drip by drip the leaks will fill the tub of guilt. You can stay home and play with your stock market figures all you want, but please leave politics to people who actually know what's going on and care to make the effort for a better tomorrow for all of us. Paul Krugman, whatever his faults, is one those. Unlike the entire GOP who are only obsessed with taking from everyone else and giving to themselves.
7
Obama used a TelePrompTer and was jeered; Trump used one and is cheered.
30
And who did all these people report to after they had these meetings?
3
"[E]veryone was declaring the liar in chief “presidential.” It was! If (as Steve Colbert coined) "truthiness" is a lie that plays the role of being true, then Vice President of Sales Trump's speech was indeed "presidential". Presidential = successfully playing the role of being president.
4
I was a lawyer for 40 years before retiring.
If I did what Sessions did, I'd be in prison now.
If I did what Sessions did, I'd be in prison now.
34
Never let up, never stop, there was a day that an elected official caught in an outright lie, would for the good of the country, resign. Today it's all about staying in power until forced to leave. You and your supporters can spin the story until the cows come home, many will simply give up and take whatever you say as the truth, but the rest of us will keep plowing forward until the truth rules.......power or not.
At this point most of the Trump administration, include Trump himself are in the "should resign" area, never to return to normal....power, self serving and pure contempt for anyone but themselves is ruling the day...too bad for the rest of us
What a mess
At this point most of the Trump administration, include Trump himself are in the "should resign" area, never to return to normal....power, self serving and pure contempt for anyone but themselves is ruling the day...too bad for the rest of us
What a mess
8
Mary McCarthy said (of Lillian Hellman) every word she writes is a lie, including 'and' and 'the.'
It fits the President too well.
It fits the President too well.
17
What we're witnessing is pure brilliance.
You sell everyone who's lost a job or worried about their future that entitlements and "business as usual" in DC are to blame. You then highlight that everything said or printed by the media is an attempt to hold on to the old way.
The base that elected him isn't interested in details, they see all of the noise in DC as the opposition fighting to hold on. The more you point out as wrong, the more they think he's doing something good. They have no idea what that might be, but if you don't like it they support it.
Oddly, you have to wonder if Dr. Krugman and those already appalled by our new government should have kept some powder dry and allowed these idiots to dig deeper holes before pointing out their treacherous ways.
You sell everyone who's lost a job or worried about their future that entitlements and "business as usual" in DC are to blame. You then highlight that everything said or printed by the media is an attempt to hold on to the old way.
The base that elected him isn't interested in details, they see all of the noise in DC as the opposition fighting to hold on. The more you point out as wrong, the more they think he's doing something good. They have no idea what that might be, but if you don't like it they support it.
Oddly, you have to wonder if Dr. Krugman and those already appalled by our new government should have kept some powder dry and allowed these idiots to dig deeper holes before pointing out their treacherous ways.
6
It can be argued that social lying can spare hurt feelings and grease the skids of but the kind of lying we have seen from Trump and the Republicans is an insult far greater than the "basket of deplorables". A lie is an insult to your intelligence. Trump & Co. will lie because they believe we are too stupid to know the difference. An arrogance that the commoners will believe what ever Trump & Co. says. That the people don't deserve or care about the truth.
271
I understand that the media has to sell newspapers but calling Trump's address "Presidential" is reprehensible. We are again in the same situation we have been during the 2016 campaign: the media reporting on anything that Donald Trump does or says, not matter how fake or outrageous, in order to sell newspapers.
We have seen Donald Trump in action for almost 2 years now and it is patently clear that he is not the person who delivered the speech to Congress. He is the one who sees imaginary crowds, the one who insults judges (remember the "so-called" judge), the one who sees the press as an enemy of the American people and on and on. True to form, he came back on Thursday to his deplorable style calling the Sessions scandal a "witch hunt" by the Democrats because they lost the election.
The only thing that would have made a (small) difference
would have been Donald Trump telling the Congress and the American people "I am sorry for my many mistakes in these first weeks of my presidency. The job is much tougher than I thought it would be. So from now on I am going to give second thoughts to everything I am going to say or do. And I am going to look for help from knowledgeable people to do my job no matter his or her party affiliation"
We have seen Donald Trump in action for almost 2 years now and it is patently clear that he is not the person who delivered the speech to Congress. He is the one who sees imaginary crowds, the one who insults judges (remember the "so-called" judge), the one who sees the press as an enemy of the American people and on and on. True to form, he came back on Thursday to his deplorable style calling the Sessions scandal a "witch hunt" by the Democrats because they lost the election.
The only thing that would have made a (small) difference
would have been Donald Trump telling the Congress and the American people "I am sorry for my many mistakes in these first weeks of my presidency. The job is much tougher than I thought it would be. So from now on I am going to give second thoughts to everything I am going to say or do. And I am going to look for help from knowledgeable people to do my job no matter his or her party affiliation"
8
Thank you for this column. I was appalled and concerned to hear what many journalists were reporting after Tuesday night, as if all had been forgiven, ignoring Trump's bombastic and empty rhetoric, especially his grotesque pandering to the emotions of sadness and grief. Your words provide some relief.
469
So called, President Trump has drained the swamp alright. Then he has taken the ooze at the bottom and appointed them to positions in his administration. It is becoming impossible to believe a word any of them says. While I agree with Mr. Krugman that it is the totality of the administration's romance with the untruth that is so unsettling, it is important to point out that the attorney general is at the top of the slime. We must cringe when the attorney, experienced in the careful dissection of the spoken and written word, while under oath, makes a brazenly false statement twice, no less, and then says he thought they were referring to his other persona. Really?.
12
The fish rots from the head. Bigly.
5
The CBS evening news with Scott Kelley has been evaluating Trump's assertions for truthiness. I hope they keep it up.
6
Re the speech, I'd like to know what US Navy Seal William "Ryan" Owens thinks about being called "happy", but unfortunately he's unavailable for comment.
7
Mr. Krugman, you are absolutely correct. These GOP enablers are just as horrible, if not worse, than the Liar in Chief. I am just amazed how cheaply the GOP was bought by donald chump and his cabinet who sold their souls to Putin. They are nothing but shameless greedy traitors beholden to avarice and racism. It is truly depressing how America is allowing itself to be so easily betrayed.
4
". . . and suddenly everyone was declaring the liar-in-chief Presidential . . . Let's hope it doesn't happen again."
Why, Prof. Krugman, would you detract from a reasonably thoughtful column and join the comment thread trolls by referring to President Trump as "liar in chief?" If you are happy singing to the liberal NYT choir, sing away. But outside of that, the name-calling only serves to preserve the divide that is killing us. Liberals and Democrats need to get a lot smarter with their language if we are ever going to get off this gothic political carousel we seem to be on.
Why, Prof. Krugman, would you detract from a reasonably thoughtful column and join the comment thread trolls by referring to President Trump as "liar in chief?" If you are happy singing to the liberal NYT choir, sing away. But outside of that, the name-calling only serves to preserve the divide that is killing us. Liberals and Democrats need to get a lot smarter with their language if we are ever going to get off this gothic political carousel we seem to be on.
2
Tribalism has become the cancer of our Democracy. When New England fans don't care that Tom Brady and Bill Belichick are blatant cheats, when Knicks fans LOVED when the team hired Latrell Sprewell despite him clearly being a thug who tried to strangle PJ Carlissimo...twice, and Nets fans didn't care that Jason Kidd was accused of spousal abuse, is it any wonder that the "Our team: YAY! Your team: BOO!!!" behavior has infected politics and destroyed bi-partisanship and compromise?
There used to be one kind of political dishonesty: Basic corruption, false promises, cheating on spouses, etc. You know, all the money and sex power brings. Republicans do it, Democrats do it, and citizens bemoan it. It's not harmless, but it's not catastrophic to the Republic.
Then there's the Murdoch dishonesty, in all his papers and in Fox News. Now the lies are about blatantly obvious facts. Check out any right-wing bloggers and you'll see their view of Progressives is twisted beyond reality. We're all Gay or Lesbian, cowardly citified sissies, Commies (naturally), hate work, want something for nothing ("Obama Phones" were a favorite), to collect welfare, and live off the backs of hard-working Americans. If we're Black, then we're thugs and prostitutes, unwed mothers, and if Latino, we're drug dealers and smugglers. And we all, ALL HATE "America"! Remember that Trumpist thug shouting at the press: "JEW.S.A! JEW.S.A!"?
Just listen to the Steves: Bannon and Miller who have Trump's ear.
There used to be one kind of political dishonesty: Basic corruption, false promises, cheating on spouses, etc. You know, all the money and sex power brings. Republicans do it, Democrats do it, and citizens bemoan it. It's not harmless, but it's not catastrophic to the Republic.
Then there's the Murdoch dishonesty, in all his papers and in Fox News. Now the lies are about blatantly obvious facts. Check out any right-wing bloggers and you'll see their view of Progressives is twisted beyond reality. We're all Gay or Lesbian, cowardly citified sissies, Commies (naturally), hate work, want something for nothing ("Obama Phones" were a favorite), to collect welfare, and live off the backs of hard-working Americans. If we're Black, then we're thugs and prostitutes, unwed mothers, and if Latino, we're drug dealers and smugglers. And we all, ALL HATE "America"! Remember that Trumpist thug shouting at the press: "JEW.S.A! JEW.S.A!"?
Just listen to the Steves: Bannon and Miller who have Trump's ear.
17
"Sedition is overt conduct, such as speech and organization, that tends toward insurrection against the established order. Sedition often includes subversion of a constitution and incitement of discontent (or resistance) to lawful authority." Wikipedia
Sometimes, at the gym, I see Fox News for a few minutes, all I can stand. Lovely women sitting around (Outnumbered) distorting facts and grilling what appears to be a male like robot who is programmed to distort whatever subject they are railing about. It is always in favor of the GOP, Trump, and against anything smacking of 'liberalism'. The woman, if you listen to them, strike me as airhead bimbos with moving lips and long legs. Reminds me of a gaggle of addicts. You know, without a doubt, that if their lips are moving they are lying. That holds true for Trump and his entire team as well. The GOP is lost to Satan.
Sometimes, at the gym, I see Fox News for a few minutes, all I can stand. Lovely women sitting around (Outnumbered) distorting facts and grilling what appears to be a male like robot who is programmed to distort whatever subject they are railing about. It is always in favor of the GOP, Trump, and against anything smacking of 'liberalism'. The woman, if you listen to them, strike me as airhead bimbos with moving lips and long legs. Reminds me of a gaggle of addicts. You know, without a doubt, that if their lips are moving they are lying. That holds true for Trump and his entire team as well. The GOP is lost to Satan.
9
I'm so mad! So many lies! How to stop this madness?! I'm hopeless ... I don't see anyone in Congress willing to stand up against this man and his administration.
Thank you for your words Mr Krugman.
Thank you for your words Mr Krugman.
8
Democrat, Claire McHaskill, lied until they pulled up her Twitter acct. When over 30 senators casually meet Russian (and other foreign dignitaries) during an election year it is part of their day and business. Only desperate democrats( who still four months later cannot accept the election) could drum up so much drama over something so insignificant, casual without merit.
2
Why should his administration not lie. Trump lied at a rate of once ever four minutes during the debates.
If anyone is actually convicted of wrong-doing this could well top the Reagan administration for being the most criminal.
If anyone is actually convicted of wrong-doing this could well top the Reagan administration for being the most criminal.
1
Embassies are filled with overt and covert intelligence agencies. The American ambassadors have high level security clearance. The CIA has an office in most American Embassies. This is diplomacy and intelligence gathering.
Now, what about the Russian Embassy. Remember that in Washington the Russian Embassy is on the highest point in Washington DC and has more aerials than a die hard sports fan with every satellite station in the world tuned in. It is there to snoop on American intelligence signals and emissions. And what about the spooks who work there?
Now these Americans who met with everyone at the Russian Embassy and every KGB minion while on a shopping trip in the GUM store in Moscow for caviar and crackers and says "I can't say for sure if they were Russian agents,, they sure didn't show me their KGB ID cards" are either pathological liars or incredibly stupid.
Flynn, Sessions, The Trump Boys, Bannon? Who else.
This string of lies and the walk backs is funnier than a Marx Brothers film "The Marx Brothers Go To Moscow and Meet Karl Marx"
Retired Army Intelligence Officer and Vietnam Vet
Now, what about the Russian Embassy. Remember that in Washington the Russian Embassy is on the highest point in Washington DC and has more aerials than a die hard sports fan with every satellite station in the world tuned in. It is there to snoop on American intelligence signals and emissions. And what about the spooks who work there?
Now these Americans who met with everyone at the Russian Embassy and every KGB minion while on a shopping trip in the GUM store in Moscow for caviar and crackers and says "I can't say for sure if they were Russian agents,, they sure didn't show me their KGB ID cards" are either pathological liars or incredibly stupid.
Flynn, Sessions, The Trump Boys, Bannon? Who else.
This string of lies and the walk backs is funnier than a Marx Brothers film "The Marx Brothers Go To Moscow and Meet Karl Marx"
Retired Army Intelligence Officer and Vietnam Vet
4
I agree. My anger is reserved towards Congress. Collectively they are an intelligent group of men designated to govern us by consensus. Instead, McConnell has institutionalized a policy of scorched earth partisanship making consensus agreement synonymous with being traitors to their political party. Not only is the GOP dismissing lies under oath (and lying by omission is the same as lying directly), financial malfeasance by appointees, they are unbelievably ignoring what can only become increasingly obvious: the Trump Campaign was in regular contact with the Russian government during the election. They either explicitly conspired, or they were merely kept apprised and passed on information in chat to a foreign government that was actively seeking to subvert the election.
Congress is now complicit as we find more and more fire along with the choking smoke now issuing from the WH. Does any other government trust ours in negotiating without considering Trump's ties with Russia?--Only our own GOP Congress!
Congress is now complicit as we find more and more fire along with the choking smoke now issuing from the WH. Does any other government trust ours in negotiating without considering Trump's ties with Russia?--Only our own GOP Congress!
5
Memory is short and memory of political history shorter even. The accelerating spread of social media whose objective is simply to spread information- true or false, the popularity of radio and TV talk shows which aim at a fawning and ill informed fringe - right or left, and the compliance of the written publications to tow the so called patriotic line have all contributed to a rapid realization of what Noam Chomsky has termed "Manufacturing Consent". Just as Nixon drove thuggish behavior into the underground, Reagan drove clandestine involvement into the background and Cheney drove data fixing into the closet, so will Trump drive media falsehoods into a storage area all its own. Trump will come and Trump will go but the real question is what are we doing to not just stop but reverse the continuing downward spiral of ethical behavior.
3
Yes, what are we to be if not honest, honorable, compassionate? Who are we as humanity? My hope is that we are not 'doomed', but finally being forced into what healthy democracies require: educated and engaged citizens. We've taken so much for granted; including poverty, to give us a low-wage workforce, and a lack of communal commitment, leading us to criminal inequality levels.
Until we open our hearts and become our brother's and sister's keeper, until we see that 'civilization' requires real checks on power, wealth and control, until we give up this selfish dream of becoming 'rich', we will falter and fail. But, the 'until' might actually be starting.
Until we open our hearts and become our brother's and sister's keeper, until we see that 'civilization' requires real checks on power, wealth and control, until we give up this selfish dream of becoming 'rich', we will falter and fail. But, the 'until' might actually be starting.
There are lies, and then there are lies.
First kind of lie is to dissemble to anyone. Doesn't matter who what the lie iis about, especially when the lie serves Trump's purpose and those being lied to are Democrats or any other non-believer in Trumpism.
Second kind of lie is the one that directly involves or leads directly back to Trump and is exposed in the press. This is not just not OK, it is unforgivable.
But, to be perfectly honest, there is a third kind of lie: the lie exalted as perfect truth. That would be every word that slides of the tongue of Donald Trump.
First kind of lie is to dissemble to anyone. Doesn't matter who what the lie iis about, especially when the lie serves Trump's purpose and those being lied to are Democrats or any other non-believer in Trumpism.
Second kind of lie is the one that directly involves or leads directly back to Trump and is exposed in the press. This is not just not OK, it is unforgivable.
But, to be perfectly honest, there is a third kind of lie: the lie exalted as perfect truth. That would be every word that slides of the tongue of Donald Trump.
3
Although I appreciate Prof. Krugman's critiques of the Administration, I find his policy suggestions much more interesting and constructive. At a time when we're struggling with how we can improve the healthcare system, if you can call it a system, in the US, I would appreciate his thoughts on a health policy direction that might unite Americans behind a plan. I understand that this is a tall order, but I think Prof. Krugman could help lead us out of the quagmire we're in with healthcare.
3
I was astonished when pundits were declaring 45 Presidential because he read a speech written by his handlers off a teleprompter that was devoid of his usual insults. Hmm... is that all it takes. No discussion of the issues within the speech, just that he read it without insulting anyone. The fact that these people would ignore the utter chaos and lies since election time speaks volumes about them, and none of it good.
This administration is so riddled with corruption that it literally cannot sustain itself. It is only a mater of time before it implodes. When it does finally collapse because it has been exposed as traitorous, it will take all its enablers with it. All those Senators and congressmen that enabled the corruption to continue (see Ryan, McConnell, Chavetez, Nunes to name a small sample) will be swept out with the rest of those exposed as guilty of subversion.
The American people deserve a correctly functioning Democracy, not whatever sham is now going on.
This administration is so riddled with corruption that it literally cannot sustain itself. It is only a mater of time before it implodes. When it does finally collapse because it has been exposed as traitorous, it will take all its enablers with it. All those Senators and congressmen that enabled the corruption to continue (see Ryan, McConnell, Chavetez, Nunes to name a small sample) will be swept out with the rest of those exposed as guilty of subversion.
The American people deserve a correctly functioning Democracy, not whatever sham is now going on.
6
Dr. Krugman,
Republicans have been lying about far more important things than meetings with the Russian ambassador, who, apparently has many friends in Washington. They have been lying about the science of global warming, about having "better" solutions for healthcare reform, about who was responsible for the financial collapse. They lied about how well the Iraq war was going, and lied about the media making stuff up to make it look bad. They lied about the Clintons.
So it bothers me to see people pouncing on this seemingly minor issue with Jeff Sessions, even though, after the way Hillary was treated, he doesn't deserve to get any benefit of the doubt. Specifically, his failure to note that he met with the Russian ambassador when he was on the armed services committee because the meeting had nothing to do with the election is a reasonable assumption, even given the very real issue of Russian meddling in the election, and I think it is a bad precedent to validate the kind of partisan paranoia and character assassination engaged in by the Republicans because of this one thing. Go ahead and criticize Sessions civil rights record, but don't pounce on his integrity because of a probably innocent omission.
Republicans have been lying about far more important things than meetings with the Russian ambassador, who, apparently has many friends in Washington. They have been lying about the science of global warming, about having "better" solutions for healthcare reform, about who was responsible for the financial collapse. They lied about how well the Iraq war was going, and lied about the media making stuff up to make it look bad. They lied about the Clintons.
So it bothers me to see people pouncing on this seemingly minor issue with Jeff Sessions, even though, after the way Hillary was treated, he doesn't deserve to get any benefit of the doubt. Specifically, his failure to note that he met with the Russian ambassador when he was on the armed services committee because the meeting had nothing to do with the election is a reasonable assumption, even given the very real issue of Russian meddling in the election, and I think it is a bad precedent to validate the kind of partisan paranoia and character assassination engaged in by the Republicans because of this one thing. Go ahead and criticize Sessions civil rights record, but don't pounce on his integrity because of a probably innocent omission.
2
One man's innocent omission is another man's well-calculated obfuscation. Franken's question didn't ask him about HIS contact with the Russians. It was about what he would do investigating others for there's. Why did he disclaim his contact in response? Is he not bright enough to understand the question or too clever for his own good?
3
We must all remain diligent as we watch 45 and hear the lies, possibly disguised in calmness. I encourage our free press to continue to look beyond appearance and call utterances from 45 what they really are. I applaud the press for doing a great job so far, but caution all of us to not be complacent. Values, freedoms, civil rights, constitutional rights can be eroded, slowly and insidiously without the diligence we must all strive for.
4
Particularly disturbing in the media's general approval of the "new" Trump was how wowed thy were by the (very long) moment with the widow of the soldier killed in the botched raid in Yemen - a raid ordered by Trump. The weeping woman certainly deserves our sorrow. But why weren't fawning commentators like Anderson Cooper and Van Jones disturbed by the way the TV cameras lingered on her tears (I could almost hear the director ordering, "Close-up!")? Or by Trump's callow crack about the applause setting "a record?" Or by the context of his sympathetic remarks, which once again failed the Commander-in-Chief test by his refusing to take responsibility for the tragedy and, by implication, saying it was someone else's fault?
11
Americans are far too forgiving (forgetful?). The recent resurrection of and adulation shown for G.W. Bush is only the latest proof. "Gosh, honey, look at how he captures in oil the images of the brave soldiers he sent to die in Iraq and Afghanistan. I think we misjudged him. Hey, I might take up painting, too. It looks like fun!"
4
We're not "doomed," Paul — far from it.
The Democrats have virtually no political power but do have their moral indignation and an agreeable mainstream media working for them. Add to that a large number of Republicans who did not endorse Trump and eye him warily plus elder statesmen McCain and Graham, who have an ax to grind. Given Democrats' losses at the ballot box, the situation is better than one might expect, given a president so "unconventional."
But before awarding Trump an Oscar for the "the most dishonest man ever to hold high office in America," you might want to have your Price Waterhouse peeps re-run the numbers.
Nixon: "I am not a crook." He was.
B. Clinton: I did not have ..." He did.
And then there's LBJ's fabricated Gulf of Tonkin incident that flung the door of the Viet Nam disaster wide open.
And Reagan's Iran Contra affair plus so many distortions of truth that his attorney general Edwin Meese tried to minimize by pleading guilty not to lying but to "dissembling," which sent everyone scurrying for dictionaries.
Worse of all is GWB's false claims of WMD's in Iraq and Saddam being in cahoots with Bin Laden — lies that HRC, your candidate, had no trouble countenancing.
The opposition needs to continue its moralizing — that's its only tool, but at the same time needs to get beyond its political religiosity and start dealing with reality and start dealing with Trump.
Immigration reform, improving the ACA, infrastructure are fine places to begin.
The Democrats have virtually no political power but do have their moral indignation and an agreeable mainstream media working for them. Add to that a large number of Republicans who did not endorse Trump and eye him warily plus elder statesmen McCain and Graham, who have an ax to grind. Given Democrats' losses at the ballot box, the situation is better than one might expect, given a president so "unconventional."
But before awarding Trump an Oscar for the "the most dishonest man ever to hold high office in America," you might want to have your Price Waterhouse peeps re-run the numbers.
Nixon: "I am not a crook." He was.
B. Clinton: I did not have ..." He did.
And then there's LBJ's fabricated Gulf of Tonkin incident that flung the door of the Viet Nam disaster wide open.
And Reagan's Iran Contra affair plus so many distortions of truth that his attorney general Edwin Meese tried to minimize by pleading guilty not to lying but to "dissembling," which sent everyone scurrying for dictionaries.
Worse of all is GWB's false claims of WMD's in Iraq and Saddam being in cahoots with Bin Laden — lies that HRC, your candidate, had no trouble countenancing.
The opposition needs to continue its moralizing — that's its only tool, but at the same time needs to get beyond its political religiosity and start dealing with reality and start dealing with Trump.
Immigration reform, improving the ACA, infrastructure are fine places to begin.
4
Part of the problem is the continual moving of the "line" by Team Trump. One outrageous thing after another leaves the media chasing the most recent shiny ball rather than focusing on the primary issues presented throughout the campaign.
1. What are Trump's foreign entanglements?
2. Where is the promised ACA replacement?
3. Where is the wall?
4. Why does ISIS still exist?
5. Why are we not fully unified as a people?
Team Trump provides plenty of food at his buffet.
Focus on the meat. Skip dessert.
1. What are Trump's foreign entanglements?
2. Where is the promised ACA replacement?
3. Where is the wall?
4. Why does ISIS still exist?
5. Why are we not fully unified as a people?
Team Trump provides plenty of food at his buffet.
Focus on the meat. Skip dessert.
4
Remember 5 weeks ago when you could read the morning news without first being filled with dread at what crimes, lies, dishonesty, harm to Americans and un-American vileness would be oozing out of our White House?
11
Mr Krugman failed to mention the new Sec of State who lied about his and his companys lobbying efforts on Russian sanctions.
4
Republican moto: The more you repeat the lie the more it becomes the truth.
8
Lying under oath to Congress is perjury. Sessions and the rest of them should be prosecuted.
10
That has always been the plan of the GOP: lie, cheat, and steal as long as you are in power.
5
RE: "as long as they can get tax cuts for the rich and benefit cuts for the poor."
A prefect summary of the Republican platform. And Trump, his cabinet, as well as Ryan and McConnell, are de-facto proof that they are willing to sell their soul in achieving that end.
I am happy the Opinion Pages are catching up the readers in recognizing the state of affairs in our country. Republicans, lying since 1969.
A prefect summary of the Republican platform. And Trump, his cabinet, as well as Ryan and McConnell, are de-facto proof that they are willing to sell their soul in achieving that end.
I am happy the Opinion Pages are catching up the readers in recognizing the state of affairs in our country. Republicans, lying since 1969.
8
"For one thing, politicians used to limit their outright lies to matters not easily checked — hidden affairs, under the table deals, and so on. But now we have the man who ran the Miss Universe competition in Moscow three years ago, and who declared just last year that “I know Russia well,” then last month said, “I haven’t called Russia in 10 years.”"
We get it, Paul - Trump is a new and different kind of "liar". But does that absolve all the other liars (i.e., politicians) that populate our nation's capital? I think not.
We get it, Paul - Trump is a new and different kind of "liar". But does that absolve all the other liars (i.e., politicians) that populate our nation's capital? I think not.
5
I disagree with your view. At the risk of using a bad analogy, it's like comparing a person who eats a few grapes that havn't paid for at a fruit market to a gangster who walks in and loads a basket full of the best produce and walks past the store owner saying 'see you tomorrow' and daring you to call the cops - who he has been paying off anyway.
3
He acts like the typical abusive husband, boyfriend, etc. - beats you up and then the next day brings flowers and candy. And you think he has changed until the next time he abuses you. Wake up America
22
Donald Trump, President, needs a war. He wants a war, and he will have his way. The SEAL widow just wants her husband back. Our nation is this widow. The majority of Americans live and work in a world of sacrifice, truth and forgiveness; not lies or hate. Trump's leadership is a loser's game, and her loss is a sad glimpse of our future; undeserved. We are all now forced to embrace constant despair due to this Republican Party will never stop creating sadistic and cruel policies for us, and none for themselves.
13
The NYTimes and its liberal readers are making a big deal about issues that the average person, away from the liberal coasts, could care little about. It is time to move on.
3
No Aaron Adams, it is NOT time to move on, and I am tired of being told that I must. And if only the "liberal" coasts care about a so-called president who lies as a matter of course, then those are the "truthful" coasts, and the great centre of the country is no longer the bastion of plain-speaking, honest living that it once was. It is not a place of lies, anger, and increasingly violent speech.
5
I'm in the middle of the country and I actually care if my national political leaders tell the truth, can discern fact from opinion, and respect the responsibilities inherent to being public servants.
So why don't you?
So why don't you?
4
Why would people who live inland suddenly become unconcerned about being lied to by their government?
6
This isn't fiction. I'm starting to fear that we may be doomed.
8
"Against stupidity the very gods themselves contend in vain." - Friedrich Schiller
I remember reading this wonderful line in high school a long long time ago, in an America, far, far away. At that time, it was considered unacceptable to be willfully ignorant and/or defiant of facts. Being intellectually lazy was, well, deplorable.
Now, it seems that the raw, shameless dishonesty to which Dr. Krugman refers is all one needs to impress a huge number of Americans. As long as you can tell them something they want to believe, they will vote against their own interests and blame someone else for their problems.
I remember reading this wonderful line in high school a long long time ago, in an America, far, far away. At that time, it was considered unacceptable to be willfully ignorant and/or defiant of facts. Being intellectually lazy was, well, deplorable.
Now, it seems that the raw, shameless dishonesty to which Dr. Krugman refers is all one needs to impress a huge number of Americans. As long as you can tell them something they want to believe, they will vote against their own interests and blame someone else for their problems.
6
Krugman's decimation of the moral vacuity of the Republican Party as we now see it is useful only to a point. That point being that politicians as a whole have issues with morals and ethics. Its called being human.
I think Krugman's greatest writing (and he is an essential voice in this country) would be more useful when clearly stating Trump's opening the flood gates of hate and, yes, untruth, throughout American culture. To me, this is the most prominent reason why I hope for Trump's demise through impeachment or resignation as quickly as possible along with, hopefully a number of his top cronies.
In addition the degree to which Trump's corporate and white nationalist government is fully and un-repentantly gutting environmental regulations, skewering climate change progress as well as terrorizing immigrants and the lower classes is representative of this appalling conman's cynicism and meanness.
Yet I still think its important to avoid the moral high ground. Our government IS a mess. The rich are racing ahead of the rest of us faster than ever, no thanks to the Democrats, the American Auto Industry should have been entirely electric years ago, Our primary energy sources in this country should be solar and wind, we need single payer health care....and yes, of course, the Republicans need serous demolition and rebuilding as anormative aslightly right of center party.... now sadly stalled by the fascist clown in the White House.
I think Krugman's greatest writing (and he is an essential voice in this country) would be more useful when clearly stating Trump's opening the flood gates of hate and, yes, untruth, throughout American culture. To me, this is the most prominent reason why I hope for Trump's demise through impeachment or resignation as quickly as possible along with, hopefully a number of his top cronies.
In addition the degree to which Trump's corporate and white nationalist government is fully and un-repentantly gutting environmental regulations, skewering climate change progress as well as terrorizing immigrants and the lower classes is representative of this appalling conman's cynicism and meanness.
Yet I still think its important to avoid the moral high ground. Our government IS a mess. The rich are racing ahead of the rest of us faster than ever, no thanks to the Democrats, the American Auto Industry should have been entirely electric years ago, Our primary energy sources in this country should be solar and wind, we need single payer health care....and yes, of course, the Republicans need serous demolition and rebuilding as anormative aslightly right of center party.... now sadly stalled by the fascist clown in the White House.
3
Well said. Especially your point about the worst lie being the one Trump and his advisers insist on telling about our country - a dark, exploited place that needs to secure itself from immigrants, criminals, horrible trade deals and debauched liberals to survive.
2
Excellent
2
Comey put his thumb on the scale against Hillary's emails, where there was no crime, and covered up all this Russian corruption?
Why isn't he under investigation.
And pundits, can we stop with making excuses for Trump every time he "acts" almost reasonable. Stop lowering the bar.
Here's Jon Stewart, every word golden. If you don't have 10 minutes for the filler in the middle, skip to minute 7. "kick him to the curb" etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmdFne7LnuA
Why isn't he under investigation.
And pundits, can we stop with making excuses for Trump every time he "acts" almost reasonable. Stop lowering the bar.
Here's Jon Stewart, every word golden. If you don't have 10 minutes for the filler in the middle, skip to minute 7. "kick him to the curb" etc.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmdFne7LnuA
13
Jon Stewart: This breakup is gonna be good for you. "Take up a hobby. I recommend journalism."
4
I am grateful for the aggressive and detailed reporting that is consistently delivered by the NYT and the WaPo. Keep digging and expose this WH because if there's any there there We the People will be able to figure it out and vote accordingly.
This WH has been compromised by Russian influence and the events that have already taken place are too numerous to hide any longer.
First Manafort, then Flynn and now sessions. It will be interesting which members of the administration fall next on the way to getting all of the truth about DJT. If the past month is any indication DJT will certainly not finish his term and perhaps not 2017.
Challenge.Investigate. Resist. (Repeat)
This WH has been compromised by Russian influence and the events that have already taken place are too numerous to hide any longer.
First Manafort, then Flynn and now sessions. It will be interesting which members of the administration fall next on the way to getting all of the truth about DJT. If the past month is any indication DJT will certainly not finish his term and perhaps not 2017.
Challenge.Investigate. Resist. (Repeat)
4
Sorry Krugman, but to 'hope that it doesn't happen' again is sheer la'la land thoughts. Trump is not going to change. But there is some hope that maybe, just possibly our president will actually do something noteworthy. Considering those appointed as cabinet members as well as the state of affairs today, at this point I would be satisfied with pot-holes being repaired.
Of course Professor, as usual, you're right on. With trump, we are obviously living in an "alt-universe".
He is so morally bankrupt, that unless the fourth estate can shock his gutless party into action, we are liable to wake one morning to find that amid cheers from his supporters, he has pressed the "button".
And while donald will say that "bad hombres" made him do it "really very bad", eventually everyone will love it because he is really just leveling everything in order to make a really Huge golf course. "So so Huge that everyone will be able to play at the same time. We'll really love it. Trust me, you'll see. Really very very good."
Last november we played with fire and now, sooner that anyone expected, we're finding that the orange one really is making things too hot to handle.
Is there not one leader in the republican party with the honor to finally say "Enough"."America was better than this. We must stop donald and let America be great again."
He is so morally bankrupt, that unless the fourth estate can shock his gutless party into action, we are liable to wake one morning to find that amid cheers from his supporters, he has pressed the "button".
And while donald will say that "bad hombres" made him do it "really very bad", eventually everyone will love it because he is really just leveling everything in order to make a really Huge golf course. "So so Huge that everyone will be able to play at the same time. We'll really love it. Trust me, you'll see. Really very very good."
Last november we played with fire and now, sooner that anyone expected, we're finding that the orange one really is making things too hot to handle.
Is there not one leader in the republican party with the honor to finally say "Enough"."America was better than this. We must stop donald and let America be great again."
4
Every word of this editorial is correct. This country is sunk!
3
Action follows leaderdhip.
1
Unfortunately, the 2016 election was a choice between two transparently dishonest candidates: one of which was heavily promoted by this paper. In that respect, the fourth estate did indeed let us down. And that includes you, Dr. Krugman. You turned a blind eye to Hillary Clinton's dishonesty about her email server.
The prospect of a dishonest Democratic president didn't trouble you then. But now we have a dishonest Republican president and you complain that dishonesty is ruining our country. I'm sorry but that just won't cut it. If honesty matters, then it matters for everybody, all the time. If a candidate is dishonest -- Democrat or Republican -- then they are disqualified and we should look for somebody else.
The prospect of a dishonest Democratic president didn't trouble you then. But now we have a dishonest Republican president and you complain that dishonesty is ruining our country. I'm sorry but that just won't cut it. If honesty matters, then it matters for everybody, all the time. If a candidate is dishonest -- Democrat or Republican -- then they are disqualified and we should look for somebody else.
2
I wonder if the sense of proportion is in anyway related to a sense of patriotism?
People will believe (a) what they want to believe, and (b) what supports what they already believe.
2
Believing is seeing.
1
So much partisanship and politics in a column that is supposed to be about economics.
If you really want to read about economic policy matters, I suggest Dean Baker.
http://cepr.net/blogs/beat-the-press/
If you really want to read about economic policy matters, I suggest Dean Baker.
http://cepr.net/blogs/beat-the-press/
1
I agree with everything in this column, with one exception: Rather than "tax cuts for the rich and benefit cuts for the poor" it should read "tax cuts for the rich and benefit cuts for everyone else."
500
Mr. Krugman, John Stuart Mill once wrote a people have to be up to the responsibility of democracy as democracy places the power of the state with them. I believe Americans were once up to this role, but today, not so much. I have no idea what will come next.
7
Let's also not forget that Steve Mnuchin, Trump's Treasury choice, said that the Middle Class would receive tax cuts. Well, now we're hearing Wilbur Ross, close friend of a Russian Oligarch on his Cypriot bank board, and Trump's barely-confirmed Commerce Secretary, made an interesting--and highly expected--revelation today.
Remember that tax cuts for the Middle Class--the Consumers--help the economy, because they spend it. And tax cuts on the Wealthy don't necessarily boost the economy, since they tend to just Accumulate the additional discretionary wealth--either in bank or investment accounts. Well, Mr. Ross mentioned that "VATs are quite common".
Value-Added, Consumption, National Sales Tax here just different names for the same thing. The Trump Regime giveth, and it taketh. This is just a way for King Donald to give the Middle-Class a break with one hand, and take it away with the other.
Yes Wilbur, VAT's ARE common, but that is often the case in nations which have a tradition of not paying taxes, or grossly under-paying their fair share.
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
Remember that tax cuts for the Middle Class--the Consumers--help the economy, because they spend it. And tax cuts on the Wealthy don't necessarily boost the economy, since they tend to just Accumulate the additional discretionary wealth--either in bank or investment accounts. Well, Mr. Ross mentioned that "VATs are quite common".
Value-Added, Consumption, National Sales Tax here just different names for the same thing. The Trump Regime giveth, and it taketh. This is just a way for King Donald to give the Middle-Class a break with one hand, and take it away with the other.
Yes Wilbur, VAT's ARE common, but that is often the case in nations which have a tradition of not paying taxes, or grossly under-paying their fair share.
https://thetruthoncommonsense.com
1
Paul Krugman hits Trump out of the ballpark!
Trump is a slime-covered curve-ball. Pitched by Putin at the mound with Comey behind home plate.
Republicans are Machiavellian fielders. Wearing our team uniform, they are playing for the wealthy -- the stadium owners who rigged the game and watch from their luxury boxes.
Trump supporters, all in left field bleachers, angrily hooting and rooting for the stadium to collapse.
The great American game must be saved. The stadium must be cleansed. The teams must be vetted. The angry fans in left field must be given access to better seating. To that end, keep hitting home runs Paul!
Trump is a slime-covered curve-ball. Pitched by Putin at the mound with Comey behind home plate.
Republicans are Machiavellian fielders. Wearing our team uniform, they are playing for the wealthy -- the stadium owners who rigged the game and watch from their luxury boxes.
Trump supporters, all in left field bleachers, angrily hooting and rooting for the stadium to collapse.
The great American game must be saved. The stadium must be cleansed. The teams must be vetted. The angry fans in left field must be given access to better seating. To that end, keep hitting home runs Paul!
11
Most people require direct experience to learn, and the trouble is you can't warm people like a Cassandra or Chicken Little that the sky is falling--even when it really is. Note that some of the most horrible weather events are occurring in parts of the country that believe climate change is a hoax.
The signs are that the Trump administration is headed for implosion. The fundamentals are all wrong: A bunch of self-serving rich persons charged with running a government that they intend to wreck. An inexperienced, incompetent, lying president who tells his base one thing and does the opposite to further reduce the quality of their lives. An administration with so many skeletons in its closets that by the time the press gets finished finally doing its job, Trump will be a huge failure and a disgrace that will make Nixon's disgrace look mild by comparison.
But this will take time and it will be very painful waiting for Trump voters to realize they have been duped and stiffed by Trump's and the GOP's lies. As Mark Twain said: “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” But Twain also said: “If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.”
So stand back and watch as the Trump administration, too many GOP politicians, & Fox News entangle themselves in such a web of lies and deceit that a majority of Americans will never want to see or hear from these political hacks and liars again.
For hope, read Egan's column today
The signs are that the Trump administration is headed for implosion. The fundamentals are all wrong: A bunch of self-serving rich persons charged with running a government that they intend to wreck. An inexperienced, incompetent, lying president who tells his base one thing and does the opposite to further reduce the quality of their lives. An administration with so many skeletons in its closets that by the time the press gets finished finally doing its job, Trump will be a huge failure and a disgrace that will make Nixon's disgrace look mild by comparison.
But this will take time and it will be very painful waiting for Trump voters to realize they have been duped and stiffed by Trump's and the GOP's lies. As Mark Twain said: “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” But Twain also said: “If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.”
So stand back and watch as the Trump administration, too many GOP politicians, & Fox News entangle themselves in such a web of lies and deceit that a majority of Americans will never want to see or hear from these political hacks and liars again.
For hope, read Egan's column today
7
The temptation is to disengage from interest in politics because the current administration is so ugly. I know too many very nice people who voted for Trump. I simply listen to them in order to try to understand why. Some of it is blind party loyalty, but even that doesn't quite hold true because during the campaign they were for him. Surely, it isn't self-interest because many of these good folks will be hurt by his economic proposals. Some of it was a loathing of Hillary, but the consequence of that seemingly ought to horrify them. There are even educated women I know who voted for him, even after his crude remarks and obvious denigration of them. It is hard for me to understand the appeal of a self-aggrandising bully, but some of these same people voted for Obama. I have watched the silly discussion of Sessions statement, under oath, as if there is some disagreement with what he said. If he meant something other than what he said, he is intellectually unfit to be Attorney General. As for Trumps dishonesty, I think it is more a matter of his being delusional. He wouldn't know reality if he stepped on it. So, I sit and listen to my acquaintances as they rationalize the Trump trip of the day as if they are on acid and the world is floating in space. Maybe, just maybe the maniac was correct when he said he could walk down 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and still be elected! He has insulted war heroes, disabled reporters, women, judges and politicians with abandon !
9
Beyond the politics such as party loyalty by Trump voters, I am deeply disturbed that they tacitly supported the racism and bigotry that was on full display. Those were not normal political rallies, but were hate rallies, ranging close to lynch mobs. The many insults - including American POWs, the disabled, a Gold Star family, immigrants, minorities, Muslims, other candidates, women - were a constant stream of invective. Yes, Trump was deeply dishonest, and this was called out during his campaign. But why did people tolerate the hatred? I also know people who voted for Trump, and I no longer trust them on some level. They supported open bigotry and a sleazy lying candidate but go to church on Sundays. Strange world now.
6
In her Nov 2016 article in the NYReview of Books, "Autocracy: Rules for Survival," Masha Gessen, Russia/Putin expert, warns us not to be "taken in by small signs of normality."
We should heed that warning. Let's not be lulled into thinking everything's ok just because Trump managed to read a teleprompter.
We should heed that warning. Let's not be lulled into thinking everything's ok just because Trump managed to read a teleprompter.
766
I found Trump's speech worrisome. Until now his administration has been aptly and succinctly described as "malevolence tempered by incompetence." (Ben Wittes, Brookings, regarding the immigration executive order).)
Without the tempering of incompentence, the full malevolence of "The Trump Show" may come to fruition.
If Trump becomes sufficiently skilled at "playing the role" of President -- for him, after all, this is all just the latest series in his lifelong, self-centered celebrity reality show -- and begins to "look" more"Presidential," then the destructive, apocalyptic dreams of him minders -- Steve Bannon, Steve Miller, A. Putin et al -- will be fully unleashed.
If so, God help America. God help us all.
Without the tempering of incompentence, the full malevolence of "The Trump Show" may come to fruition.
If Trump becomes sufficiently skilled at "playing the role" of President -- for him, after all, this is all just the latest series in his lifelong, self-centered celebrity reality show -- and begins to "look" more"Presidential," then the destructive, apocalyptic dreams of him minders -- Steve Bannon, Steve Miller, A. Putin et al -- will be fully unleashed.
If so, God help America. God help us all.
4
For all of the railing against Donald Trump's incompetence, mental instability, pathological lying and his elevating to national prominence and power 5th rate "thinkers" like Steve Bannon, Steve Miller, Sebastian Gerka etc., it is the American people who voted for Trump and are supporting him that is the most troubling. How is it possible for a country as powerful, rich and as big as the United States with more universities and colleges than any nation in the world find itself governed by such a White House with access to the nuclear codes and America's secrets? And worse, how is it possible that a political party such as the current iteration of the Republicans, for me one of the worst political institutions in the history of Western Civilization, control the two houses of Congress, as well as most of the Governors' offices and state legislatures? The American people created this environment with the help of the political ineptitude of the Democratic Party over the last 9 years. The American media as well as journalists like Dr. Krugman have done their jobs telling us the truth and ferreting out the facts behind the lies and spin. For me then real story lies in the question, "What are we going to do about it?
9
Part of the answer to your question is the deliberate dumbing down of the American people. Nobody reads history, especially 20th century history about the rise of totalitarianism in Europe in the 20's and 30's. Apparently this is one of the few things that Trump reads and is following the script it lays out. But most of it is not that interesting to the average American, who just wants to be entertained by endless TV and stupid sports in the hope that your child will be a one in a million sports star. American's have done this to themselves out of total intellectual disinterest. We may never recover from our collective stupidity and laziness, at least not in our lifetimes.
8
Forgot about Trump. Our energy belongs to those focusing their efforts to lean on, push, and demand accountability from Congressional Republicans, and with that, to those dedicated to voting them out of office. Let's face it: Congressional Republicans are the true villains of the day, Mr. Klugman. They are the ones who are hurting our country and its citizens daily in irrevocable ways. Moral bankruptcy is just the tip of the iceberg.
14
These people are not free floating in an alternate universe. While the propaganda opposite world might protect them from public judgment, lying under oath has consequences in the real factual world for licensed professionals. Lawyers are bound by rules of ethics. Sessions should be subject to an ethics inquiry by his state legal bar, and disbarred or suspended if determined to have lied under oath, or his bar should clearly explain why he is an exception. The republican party was adamant about Clinton being subject to disbarrment. There was no immunity from professional obligations due to being part of the executive branch.
3
If the Republican Party as a whole had not lied about each other's serial lying throughout the Obama Adminisration I might cut them some slack. But the Trump administration has trumped themselves. Sorry guys. No more Mr Nice Guy. Thank you, Mr Krugman. Keep their feet squarely to the fire.
3
“Oh, what a tangled (wicked) web we weave...when first we practice to deceive.”
― Walter Scott, Marmion
I'm feeling more and more cynical about the FBI's web weaving.
― Walter Scott, Marmion
I'm feeling more and more cynical about the FBI's web weaving.
3
That buzz we hear is your own machinery spinning lies. It's getting so loud you're going to have to be destroyed. Your desperation having to put ads on TV is your last gasp.
Party over country, that is what the Republicans are getting famous for. Sucking up to the very rich so that the poor suffer...that is all that they really are in office to do. Cooperating with an enemy, Russia, so that they get into power, that is what history will condemn them for.
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
Hugh Massengill, Eugene Oregon
6
By now, our democracy is toast. The current New Yorker has the whole sordid saga in all its details. Even so, the press alone can't save us no matter what they do because the powers that be are flipping everybody off. Only the IC can save us now, and we have to hope the steady drip drip is part of their plan.
6
It's official: GOP now means Grandstanding Obnoxious Prevaricators. RIP old-school moderate Republicans.
6
I hope the people and Trump get rid of them all.
Politicians lie. We call it spin if they represent our vote or party. Stop The madness
Please be careful to get your facts straight when calling Trump a liar. I watched the speech and he did not say the murder rate was at the highest in 50 years. He said it increased at the highest rate in 50 years. One is true one is a lie. It discredits your otherwise well made and important argument. Leaders like you are going to be key in efforts to avoid calamity but You need to be 100%. There is no room for hyperbole or stretching of the facts by liberal thought leaders when we are trying to describe the actual factual state of the universe.
1
If the number of murders goes from 425 to 500 to 2 to 4 over a four year span, observing that "last year, the murder rate doubled " is factually accurate, but so misleading as to be a form of lying.
4
Trump has proven that fact, truth and honesty have apparently always been highly overrated commodities.
Everybody is now officially caught up in "Russiagate" (I love that!), but that is not what is going to ultimately bring the republic down. I wouldn't be surprised if Trump actually is hoping for the 24/7 spectacle of a full blown congressional investigation and a special prosecutor to boot.
If anybody thinks the end result of that is going to be Toto pulling back the curtain to reveal the wizard, you have another thing coming.
We don't have the competence or the stomach to do that kind of thing anymore.
Trump is going to use Russiagate as the ultimate distraction while he uses his power behind the scenes to pillage the nation.
He couldn't care less about policy, politics or the people of this country.
He cares about his ego and his pocketbook, and it would be a very good idea to always keep that in mind.
Everybody is now officially caught up in "Russiagate" (I love that!), but that is not what is going to ultimately bring the republic down. I wouldn't be surprised if Trump actually is hoping for the 24/7 spectacle of a full blown congressional investigation and a special prosecutor to boot.
If anybody thinks the end result of that is going to be Toto pulling back the curtain to reveal the wizard, you have another thing coming.
We don't have the competence or the stomach to do that kind of thing anymore.
Trump is going to use Russiagate as the ultimate distraction while he uses his power behind the scenes to pillage the nation.
He couldn't care less about policy, politics or the people of this country.
He cares about his ego and his pocketbook, and it would be a very good idea to always keep that in mind.
8
"At this point it’s easier to list the Trump officials who haven’t been caught lying under oath than those who have. This is not an accident."
A mode of operation for Trump- a lying, con man who was elected . Why is this a surprise.
A mode of operation for Trump- a lying, con man who was elected . Why is this a surprise.
5
Never in my lifetime have I seen as corrupt and dishonest a president as this one and I hope never to see such again.
Simply because Don the Con delivered a speech before Congress in a "normal" tone of voice, reading from a teleprompter, does not make him honest or trustworthy, as so many in the press have claimed. A crook is always a crook.
Simply because Don the Con delivered a speech before Congress in a "normal" tone of voice, reading from a teleprompter, does not make him honest or trustworthy, as so many in the press have claimed. A crook is always a crook.
38
Paul.
You and Tim Egan, to name just a couple, have risen to the occasion. Brooks. Douthat. Dowd. Not so much.
Thanks for understanding what is a stake here.
We never get a do-over in history.
Let's get this right.
You and Tim Egan, to name just a couple, have risen to the occasion. Brooks. Douthat. Dowd. Not so much.
Thanks for understanding what is a stake here.
We never get a do-over in history.
Let's get this right.
10
The most striking thing about all this is that DJT just doesn't care except about his hair. He has no demonstrated interest in anything other than attention, not even popularity. The devastating poll reading right now don't disturb him or his people as long as he's in headlines. The good news, of course, is that he actually has no desire to 'do' anything at all. He's just as soon let all thing molder while he basks in the sun of public attention. As Icarus found out flying too close to the sun is far more dangerous than it looks--the glue comes unstuck, people notice, and its a long ways to the ground.
2
The problem is that the alternative was just as depressing, and not so much more honest. We needed a shake-up. Trump was the price.
1
Thinking like this...the Bernie playbook, and the buying into every right wing site full of lies, brought us Trump. The price to pay for the demonizing of Hillary by Sanders, and the naivite of Sanders' followers. Where is the world did that "not so much more honest" come from. Oh right. Sanders. Thanks you guys. Your withholding your votes gave us Trump.
They are not the same. Quite telling that damned lie. Email server vs colluding with the Russians? Not even close.
4
The end entirely justifies the means for this barrel reeking of rotten apples.
2
THE GREAT LIE THEORY Has overtaken the GOP that unwittingly has sworn in a pack of liars that constitute the unconstitutional Cabinet of Horrors nominated by the Trumpenstein Monster! All of those who lied to Congress during their hearings as nominees must be required to resign and face criminal charges. Dan Rather warned that the Russia problem is like a bomb with the fuse lit. That it will explode. What will happen when the President and all of the top echelon of government must leave because of lying to Congress under oath? I guess Paul Ryan will become the president temporarily. What about the others missing from the Executive, Legislative and Judicial branches? Trump has purposely left the US federal government a ghost town. He drained the swamp all right. But he did it by failing to appoint officials required to run the government day to day. I expected horrible consequences of the Trump "presidency," but I did not anticipate his annihilation of the entire government! Our Constitution has been shredded in its entirety by Trump and his thugs!
5
the problem is that Krugman lied. A full review of the question/answers of Sessions shows without question that he answered the question about discussing the campaign with any Russians, which he never did. This is a latent attempt to damage Trump because the radical left wing cannot get over the fact that they lost and are doomed for at least the next 8 years to see their radical agenda dismantled. When Americans have jobs, pay less taxes and feel secure with a military that can handle any job, they will re-elect Trump with a huge majority. Liberals....Get over it, Trump won and you lost.
Nope.
And by the way, there is no radical left in the US. Sanders is a centrist. Clinton is a right of center conservative. Your problem is that you are so far to the right that a conservative like Clinton looks a full blown socialist to you.
And by the way, there is no radical left in the US. Sanders is a centrist. Clinton is a right of center conservative. Your problem is that you are so far to the right that a conservative like Clinton looks a full blown socialist to you.
4
He may have "answered" the question, but he lied, he said he didn't when he did. The funny thing is, he didn't have to lie. He could have told the truth about meeting with the Russians and none of this would be happening.
When Americans have jobs, pay less taxes and feel secure with a military that can handle any job, they will re-elect Trump with a huge majority.
The only problem is that any American who thinks that Trump is the one to get this done would be an American who would also think that Jeff Sessions gave a straight answer about talking to the Russians, while failing to mention two meetings with the Russian ambassador, including one private meeting in his office. Even if that meeting were in his capacity as member of the foreign relations committee, and not as a Trump campaign supporter, to deliberately leave it out is not honest.
The question from Franken was: "..if there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign, what will you do?
SESSIONS: Sen. Franken, I'm not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didn't have — did not have communications with the Russians, and I'm unable to comment on it.
He said later, "it slipped his mind that he had taken two meetings with Sergey Kislyak."
How many lies do people like you listen to before you start questioning things? If your wife, girlfriend, children, co-workers liked to you like this, would you accept that?
Sessions blew off the question. He didn't answer it.
The only problem is that any American who thinks that Trump is the one to get this done would be an American who would also think that Jeff Sessions gave a straight answer about talking to the Russians, while failing to mention two meetings with the Russian ambassador, including one private meeting in his office. Even if that meeting were in his capacity as member of the foreign relations committee, and not as a Trump campaign supporter, to deliberately leave it out is not honest.
The question from Franken was: "..if there is any evidence that anyone affiliated with the Trump campaign communicated with the Russian government in the course of this campaign, what will you do?
SESSIONS: Sen. Franken, I'm not aware of any of those activities. I have been called a surrogate at a time or two in that campaign and I didn't have — did not have communications with the Russians, and I'm unable to comment on it.
He said later, "it slipped his mind that he had taken two meetings with Sergey Kislyak."
How many lies do people like you listen to before you start questioning things? If your wife, girlfriend, children, co-workers liked to you like this, would you accept that?
Sessions blew off the question. He didn't answer it.
3
There's a simple formula to follow when listening to Trump, he's lying. That's all there is to it. If Trump has made any honest statement longer than a tweet about where he is, I'm not aware of it.
The man is a compulsive liar. And likes it!
The man is a compulsive liar. And likes it!
6
It's not lying, it's "truthful hyperbole."
You have to read about that in his book. You know, the one that he says he wrote all by himself. Oh, wait.....
You have to read about that in his book. You know, the one that he says he wrote all by himself. Oh, wait.....
Despite throwing shade on truth, turns out every last person Trump picked as soulmates has met with The Russians.
Trump's still looking for that 400 lb. hacker, thinking that will make him a good reality tv show if impeached.
Last week it was fake news, this week it's witch hunts.
Trump just can't see that Russia in its eternal resentment wants to undermine America.
So Trump wanders the White House in his now tattered robe, wondering what "geopolitical: means. He's already discarded the word 'truth.'
That truth gap grows:
Robot sidekick Mike Pence used AOL email as governor, and was hacked---but tore apart Hillary Clinton any way, who wasn't hacked.
Trump and his senior staff have private RNC email accounts, use private RNC server. Republican National Committee--political organization email and server---right there in the White House.
Lock 'em up.
Trump's still looking for that 400 lb. hacker, thinking that will make him a good reality tv show if impeached.
Last week it was fake news, this week it's witch hunts.
Trump just can't see that Russia in its eternal resentment wants to undermine America.
So Trump wanders the White House in his now tattered robe, wondering what "geopolitical: means. He's already discarded the word 'truth.'
That truth gap grows:
Robot sidekick Mike Pence used AOL email as governor, and was hacked---but tore apart Hillary Clinton any way, who wasn't hacked.
Trump and his senior staff have private RNC email accounts, use private RNC server. Republican National Committee--political organization email and server---right there in the White House.
Lock 'em up.
7
Paul,
Thank you for your clarity and good sense.
Thank you for your clarity and good sense.
5
As John Oliver said before the election,
"Look up! No, way, way up! See that star? That's "rock bottom" and we are below it"!
Okay, I'm quoting from memory but, really, the Trump so called Administration makes one long for the days of "Tammany Hall" and the "Teapot Dome Scandal" which seem mild by comparison.
Yes, folks, we're BELOW rock bottom with a Russian calling the shots and his "puppet" getting "rave reviews" because he managed not to say something outrageously stupid for an hour or so.
Brother, show me the bananas and let's go make a "Republic"!
"Look up! No, way, way up! See that star? That's "rock bottom" and we are below it"!
Okay, I'm quoting from memory but, really, the Trump so called Administration makes one long for the days of "Tammany Hall" and the "Teapot Dome Scandal" which seem mild by comparison.
Yes, folks, we're BELOW rock bottom with a Russian calling the shots and his "puppet" getting "rave reviews" because he managed not to say something outrageously stupid for an hour or so.
Brother, show me the bananas and let's go make a "Republic"!
10
Really great piece - well-written. - wish some right sources would offer this piece. Thank you!
3
Imagine, just imagine, if even a scintilla of such nonsense had occurred under a Hillary Clinton presidency--could you just hear the Republicans howling? The impeachment proceedings would have started already.
This election did and continues to do incredible damage. For me it's also personal, as I lost a good friend in the process, a Bernie supporter who believed that anyone would be better than another Clinton.
So, I'd like to make a shout out to that dear ex-friend, who insisted that Hilary was so evil that perhaps Trump would be better, then we could "blow up the whole system":
Well, here you go. Hope you enjoy it. Hope we survive it.
This election did and continues to do incredible damage. For me it's also personal, as I lost a good friend in the process, a Bernie supporter who believed that anyone would be better than another Clinton.
So, I'd like to make a shout out to that dear ex-friend, who insisted that Hilary was so evil that perhaps Trump would be better, then we could "blow up the whole system":
Well, here you go. Hope you enjoy it. Hope we survive it.
14
Regarding your dear ex-friend, Cirincis, I wonder if that person could ever back down from that position, based on additional information about how unhinged Trump really is.
I wonder that about other Trump supporters too. How dug in are they? How much do they personalize their bad choice and block themselves from the obvious truth that they made a terrible decision? How much is pride involved? What can be done to loosen people from their faulty thinking?
I wonder that about other Trump supporters too. How dug in are they? How much do they personalize their bad choice and block themselves from the obvious truth that they made a terrible decision? How much is pride involved? What can be done to loosen people from their faulty thinking?
2
"Oh, what a tangled web we weave when we first practice to deceive."
That goes for the press, too.
Thank you, New York Times, for your excellent work.
That goes for the press, too.
Thank you, New York Times, for your excellent work.
10
We are judged by our actions and not our words many would hope. The other night, the "so-called President" used the grief of a widow of a fallen hero for political benefit. Our "So-called President" then of course took no responsibility for the failed mission and lied about the benefits yielded to the nation. The cost was one American life, unknown numbers of other human life including children that can't be considered enemies, multiple injured American forces, a 75 million dollar aircraft, and zero intelligence obtained as indicated by military sources. In other words, it was by any metric, a disaster. It kind of makes you wonder how shameless both the "so-called President" is and those members of the Republican party are that cheered him on. The answer is provided by their actions and that is they are completely shameless, without any sense of honor, and have absolutely no sense of common decency. It is unfortunate that the fallen soldiers' wife allowed herself to be used as a political prop but she must be forgiven as she is still grieving and is easily manipulated by those who will soon care nothing about her. As for the father who lost his son and suffered the greatest loss a parent can experience, yet did not waver one bit on the code of honor and country his son died protecting, he refused to be a political pawn and for that I salute him. This is who the Republicans are, it is what they do, and why we must fight for our country and people like Ryan who deserve no less.
12
The news media, especially the tv talking heads, is predictable. Of course, the talking heads would favorably note the debut performance of Trump's Presidential persona. They are swayed by the pageantry of a Congressional address. It is the equivalent of the spectacle of the Queen's annual visit to Parliament.
Now, if Bannon had showed up in cut off denims and given the speech, the news media would have pNned the speech.
It takes about 24 hours for the legitimate talking heads to discuss substance. After all, how long can the talking heads discuss looking and sounding Presidential.
Now, if Bannon had showed up in cut off denims and given the speech, the news media would have pNned the speech.
It takes about 24 hours for the legitimate talking heads to discuss substance. After all, how long can the talking heads discuss looking and sounding Presidential.
5
I can't help but to see the irony of how technology has helped to usher in this "post factual" era. It has allowed President Trump to tweet out his thoughts and outright lies without the normal fact-checking that goes on in respectable media. So, if you distrust the "Fake News" you need only follow Trump to know what is going on in the world (SAD!!) Also, the preponderance of "news" websites like Breitbart creates a world of "alternative facts" and Fox News can peddle 24/7 opinion pieces as objective reporting. Truth has become a casualty of the "information age"... Just throw as many lies at the wall as you can and see what sticks!!
345
Yes, I think this is the root of everything that has gone terribly wrong in our politics the last couple decades -- with no common ground of facts, the split in how people perceive the world continues to grow. Even when hit with hard realities like worsening health care options or unemployment, there are always alternative facts to interpret the problem.
3
If only we could hook up a polygraph to Trump's phone or the Fox studio, a different reality would emerge.
1
While it was indeed disappointing to see so many "real" media outlets glow with praise of Trump for being "presidential", the real problem is the large number of American voters who have been indoctrinated to think that liberalism is the single biggest threat to the country. We know they are out there and think that because they comment on these threads and say so.
If one side believes, and perhaps actually craves, fake news; if people who claim to have "a personal relationship with Jesus" can twist themselves into moral knots to vote for Trump; if seemingly normal people can ignore the serial lies, utter incompetence, and total idiocy of the Trump presidency to gush over the fact that he read a speech from a teleprompter and didn't foam at the mouth; then what hope have we of reasoned dialogue leading to compromise?
The news media might as well try to once again become the Fourth Estate because they have no other choice. The Democrats might as well keep their newly implanted spines because they have no choice. And those of us who are resisting might as well ramp it up because the alternatives are unacceptable.
Steve Bannon says "politics is war" and has declared war on those mentioned in the last paragraph. Trump's election was our Pearl Harbor. Now it's our turn.
If one side believes, and perhaps actually craves, fake news; if people who claim to have "a personal relationship with Jesus" can twist themselves into moral knots to vote for Trump; if seemingly normal people can ignore the serial lies, utter incompetence, and total idiocy of the Trump presidency to gush over the fact that he read a speech from a teleprompter and didn't foam at the mouth; then what hope have we of reasoned dialogue leading to compromise?
The news media might as well try to once again become the Fourth Estate because they have no other choice. The Democrats might as well keep their newly implanted spines because they have no choice. And those of us who are resisting might as well ramp it up because the alternatives are unacceptable.
Steve Bannon says "politics is war" and has declared war on those mentioned in the last paragraph. Trump's election was our Pearl Harbor. Now it's our turn.
11
I worked in an office where we eventually numbered favorite jokes rather than repeating them. For example, we only needed to say, "Number 4", and it would elicit peals of laughter.
Except these days, when I say, "Number 1", it is no joke. Because it stands for the fascist Republican Party; the Party that has been responsible for assaulting and degrading our nation's democratic principles and moral values for years, and putting them at their most at-risk point in my lifetime.
The GOP's chronic dishonesty, lying, and defense of lying - aided and abetted by the Republican Propaganda Network (Fox) - are straight out of Vladimir Putin's disinformation playbook, as supported by RT (the Russian equivalent of Fox).
The Russian parallels to what Trump and the GOP are doing are obvious and are horrifying.
Except these days, when I say, "Number 1", it is no joke. Because it stands for the fascist Republican Party; the Party that has been responsible for assaulting and degrading our nation's democratic principles and moral values for years, and putting them at their most at-risk point in my lifetime.
The GOP's chronic dishonesty, lying, and defense of lying - aided and abetted by the Republican Propaganda Network (Fox) - are straight out of Vladimir Putin's disinformation playbook, as supported by RT (the Russian equivalent of Fox).
The Russian parallels to what Trump and the GOP are doing are obvious and are horrifying.
13
What distresses me the most is the willingness for a large part of the American public to discard logic and jump to false equivalencies at a moments notice. When confronted with a barrel full of Trump outright lies during the campaign the reply was, yes, but Hillary lied about being under fire running from the helicopter to the terminal! Even though she was issued a flak jacket and told to run. Lie after outright lie always weighed against the one time exaggeration of perceived danger. Not to mention the e-mails.
Now we have the Trump administration lying constantly and demonstrably, and the other side bringing up Monica. Lies which existentially threaten democracy weighed against a consensual dalliance that should have been an issue between Bill and Hillary. BTW, Bill said he did not have sexual relations, which according to every dictionary means intercourse, which was not what they did. Slippery but factually true, and no one's business anyway. Yet the quote is trotted out over and over.
If politicians want to disseminate the spin, I guess it is understandable, but disgusting. That much of the population buys into it makes me really frightened for the future of the country.
Now we have the Trump administration lying constantly and demonstrably, and the other side bringing up Monica. Lies which existentially threaten democracy weighed against a consensual dalliance that should have been an issue between Bill and Hillary. BTW, Bill said he did not have sexual relations, which according to every dictionary means intercourse, which was not what they did. Slippery but factually true, and no one's business anyway. Yet the quote is trotted out over and over.
If politicians want to disseminate the spin, I guess it is understandable, but disgusting. That much of the population buys into it makes me really frightened for the future of the country.
7
Trump and his peeps are dancing around your DEM bombs fairly well. I didn't hear any "lies: in Trump's speech. I'm sure I would have read about them here first. "Vile" to you is someone else's nation building and patriotism. That is why you are labeled the Fake News. A new country is being built up around you and your desperate to hold on to your perch.
When you find how Russia got Trump elected, call us back. Until then, find some real news.
When you find how Russia got Trump elected, call us back. Until then, find some real news.
To single out the veracity of this administration, true or false, is in total disregard for accurate and sincere reporting, Mr. Krugman. I can recall in a recent administration where there was a lot of lies, and perjury going on, but nothing was said. or at the very least ignored.
1
thanks, krugman, for the observation about "presidential" - it was the most disgusting speech I've ever not seen - the parts I did confirmed that I made the right choice not to watch in entirety - Then, for the media to congratulate the liar-in-chief (who is also the thief-in-chief, & in all other matters the kitschig/poshlost ignoramus-in-chief, who's going to get people killed, & who's going to reduce America to a vestige, & thus, the world to war . . . ) Oh, here comes my breakfast ... Anyway, thanks.
1
This is all about money pure and simple. The word "Kremlin" gets thrown out a lot and I think that's misleading. That sort of implies that this is all politically motivated. I'm not sure that is the case here. It's all about greed and money laundering. Fat cats from Russia mixing with fats cats from the Trump organization and sheltering money like a Monopoly board game. Isn't greed grand?
3
Yes, it was depressing and cognitively dissonant to read the morning after the teleprompter speech. That so-called 70% poll was the worst of it, though the question was deliberately phrased so that anyone who might have felt not-quite-so-bad-as-before could have tipped on it.
But he's in real trouble. And when the smoke clears, it may well be that NYT and WaPo will have saved democracy from the sharks. Stay the course, follow the money, tax returns, I deplore.
But he's in real trouble. And when the smoke clears, it may well be that NYT and WaPo will have saved democracy from the sharks. Stay the course, follow the money, tax returns, I deplore.
6
We are doomed. When all the liars and cheats running the big show take down the laws and regulations that protect the economy, the voters, the health and civil rights of all the people, we will finally become the country of hucksters, barkers and rubes.
3
Please name anyone associated with the Trump administration who is not a liar. I'm serious. I can't think of a single one.
4
Vote in 2018! The primaries the general election. Don't think someone else will do it. Get your friends your relatives your coworkers. We all have to vote. And if your can support monetarily candidates who actually want to govern and care for the our democracy do so.
3
Lying under oath- shameless dishonesty - the fish rots from the head down -and so all the corrupt and lying Trump officials are dealing with "alternative facts" aka lies. The chief Twitterer told us "I know Russia well" and then after he was inaugurated, avered "I haven't called Russia in 10 years". Dr. Paul, is there anything you can impart to us about how Trump and his hench-people can be stopped? There is, too obviously, no check on the President, beyond the "glory days" for journalism and reporters in these first weeks of Trump's
loathesome administration. So who thinks the liar in chief was "presidential" in his teleprompter address to the joint session of Congress? "Not I!" said the little red hen.
loathesome administration. So who thinks the liar in chief was "presidential" in his teleprompter address to the joint session of Congress? "Not I!" said the little red hen.
5
One hundred percent correct. The press needs to kick the tires, not merely gape at the buffed, waxed, combed over exterior.
5
I just don't know what to do anymore - call my congressman, call my senators, to complain about what? pretty much everything. This administration is a joke and Mr. Trump the biggest joke ever, perpetuated on the American people. Please Mr. Krugman, keep slugging away at this administration.
12
Is it possible that the framers of your Constitution did not anticipate a President who lies? I think the phrase is "high crimes and misdemeanors". Surely President Cheeto has qualified by now...
Oh, Flynn and Sessions are only the tip of the Iceberg headed for the Titanic Trump administration. At least his son-in-law did not testify before congress, otherwise he would be next!!! The sham of all this, yes sham, is that those coal miners were never getting their jobs back, those factories were going to open in the US, and the stock market was moving north because of factors other than Trump's election victory, and oh yes, the ACA (Obamacare) is complicated! But, you can't tell his Brexit supporters any of this because they are waiting for his true shakeup!!! Did things need to change?? Yes, sure, Do I want him to be successful? Of Course!!! But... how can T be in Newport news talking about the full confidence of his AG who never talked to any Russian, and the AG going on National TV telling us he did talk to the Russian, can't remember what it was about and that he should have told Al Frankin!!! That too is just not Presidential!! Doesn't T's Cheif of staff know how to run that job?? Well, obviously NOT!
How do we stop Donald Trump? We flip Congress in 2018.
4
Republicans have been "twisting" the truth for decades. Now that is so brazen and so acceptable can we ever go back? When a Democrat wins in 2020 (and one will), would they allow such corruption unchecked? Of course not. Worse than Trump and his lies are the shamefulness of Republicans falling in line. I see it among people I know who "reluctantly" vote for him. This so called President needs to go, and now!
The United States of America are doomed.
2
Is there no low low enough for the GOP from this president? Trump was right. He could stand and shoot somebody in the middle of 5th Avenue and not lose any voters. This is the very definition of anarchy.
2
In almost every case, we know the truth. We were alive when all of these things happened or were said and those of us who are alert and paying attention know the difference between the truth and its false counterpart. So when these men lie, fabricate and concoct fake news, it is apparent almost immediately. Yet, in the age of Donald Trump, "alternative facts" and altered reality seem to encircle his aura in a very disturbing way. The press must remain rapacious in its zeal to challenge this lunacy. WE must not allow this era of lunacy to gain a foothold in our democracy.
1
When reading PK these days one must remember that his biggest fear, dwarfing any concern for the Americans he purports to champion, is that a Trump presidency will succeed, and will demonstrate that it is conservative not liberal values that best solve the problems of American society.
The near hysteria produced by this fear manifests itself in his column through a never-ending stream of exaggerations which he compounds and links to create a picture of lies and corruption. This rivals or exceeds anything Trump has said or done, he is the pot calling the kettle black.
Although there is certainly lots of evidence to come on this, I think it will show that none of the incidents PK cites as outright lies are lies at all. Sessions answered the questions asked of him regarding contact with Russians in the context of the campaign. The questions were asked in that context, he answered in that context. And what if the Russian ambassador did say something about Trump's admiration for Putin, so what? Trump was openly campaigning on that..
Trump is on the threshold of leading America in a great step forward, something no president has been able to do in a long time. PK would stop that.
The near hysteria produced by this fear manifests itself in his column through a never-ending stream of exaggerations which he compounds and links to create a picture of lies and corruption. This rivals or exceeds anything Trump has said or done, he is the pot calling the kettle black.
Although there is certainly lots of evidence to come on this, I think it will show that none of the incidents PK cites as outright lies are lies at all. Sessions answered the questions asked of him regarding contact with Russians in the context of the campaign. The questions were asked in that context, he answered in that context. And what if the Russian ambassador did say something about Trump's admiration for Putin, so what? Trump was openly campaigning on that..
Trump is on the threshold of leading America in a great step forward, something no president has been able to do in a long time. PK would stop that.
1
Our country has been sold to the Russians by a pack of thieves -- Trump, Kushner, Tillerson, Sessions, Manafort, Bannon, Ross, etc etc. They have all met with, made deals with, schmoozed, and collaborated with the dictator Putin and his henchmen. They've all lied to Congress and worse, they've lied to the citizens and they continue to lie and sell us out. They aided and abetted the stealing of the election by a lying, ego driven, hate-filled and hateful racist, xenophobe. If Rachel Maddow can find the links between the Russians and money laundering and Sec. of Commerce, Wilbur Ross, the rest of the media and our intelligence agencies, minus Comey, can find those links too.
This entire administration is filled with traitors to our nation.
This entire administration is filled with traitors to our nation.
10
Trump's measured address was a head-fake.
With credit for its crafting going to Steve Bannon -- who told the media to "keep its mouth shut" and is surely the man behind the much-reviled, neo-fascist remark that the press is the "enemy of the people" -- and to youngster Stephen Miller, who said on Face The Nation "Our opponents, the media and the whole world will soon see as we begin to take further actions, that the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and *will not be questioned*," and “It is a fact, *and you will not deny it*, that there are massive numbers of noncitizens in this country who are registered to vote” -- the tone of this Trump's address to Congress was calculated to a very fine and manipuative degree. The firing of advisor Flynn, the Russia/Putin connection, the failure in the courts of Executive Order 13769 (written by Bannon and Miller), a set of clumsy cabinet picks, a failed raid in Yemen, ridiculously incessant tweeting characterized best by, as Shep Smith of Fox News pointed out, sophomoric misuse of the words "FAKE NEWS" -- all these amateurish events and more were begging for a measured tone. And yet within a mere two days -- boom -- Trump's attorney general is so exposed in prevarications to Congress that he is forced to recuse himself from the Russia/Trump investigation.
Will a Saturday Night Live skit emerge tomorrow from Trump's Tuesday address? It's the best we can hope for, isn't it?
With credit for its crafting going to Steve Bannon -- who told the media to "keep its mouth shut" and is surely the man behind the much-reviled, neo-fascist remark that the press is the "enemy of the people" -- and to youngster Stephen Miller, who said on Face The Nation "Our opponents, the media and the whole world will soon see as we begin to take further actions, that the powers of the president to protect our country are very substantial and *will not be questioned*," and “It is a fact, *and you will not deny it*, that there are massive numbers of noncitizens in this country who are registered to vote” -- the tone of this Trump's address to Congress was calculated to a very fine and manipuative degree. The firing of advisor Flynn, the Russia/Putin connection, the failure in the courts of Executive Order 13769 (written by Bannon and Miller), a set of clumsy cabinet picks, a failed raid in Yemen, ridiculously incessant tweeting characterized best by, as Shep Smith of Fox News pointed out, sophomoric misuse of the words "FAKE NEWS" -- all these amateurish events and more were begging for a measured tone. And yet within a mere two days -- boom -- Trump's attorney general is so exposed in prevarications to Congress that he is forced to recuse himself from the Russia/Trump investigation.
Will a Saturday Night Live skit emerge tomorrow from Trump's Tuesday address? It's the best we can hope for, isn't it?
4
Mr Krugman points out the only actual philosophy of government that the Republicans follow. That is the taking of our taxes for the benefit of the wealthy while cutting assistance for the 99%. This is not hard to see as it is reflected in almost all of their actions, yet they are reelected over and over again by the very people they will hurt. Amazing.
7
The number of people in the Trump administration lying under oath is appalling. What happened to honor? The weight and trustworthiness of one's word of honor? The Republican Party is the most dishonest, underhanded and mean-spirited group of people in America. These people disgust me, putting party over country and I hope they wind up behind bars as the traitors they are.
I also hope this administration installed by Vladimir Putin is short-lived and we put further safeguards in place to ensure this sort of debacle never happens again in our American elections or government, including requiring the nominees of major parties in general elections to make their tax returns public. And that we devise a means to further check and investigate any POTUS who is suspected of treason as Trump is by so many, when that POTUS' own party is in power like Trump and the GOP are now.
Consider, too, the dire consequences of Trump's threat to our environment, wildlife and global warming. We're at a crossroads in terms of climate change and the survival of life on earth. Trump installs Pruitt, clearly hostile to our EPA, to lead it, and signs an EO to roll back the Clean Water Rule. GOP plans to roll back our Endangered Species Act and Trump wants to pull the US out of the Paris climate change agreement. None of the GOP care that they'll make the US an ecological wasteland, cause extinction of endangered species, or doom humanity due to climate change. Including their own progeny.
I also hope this administration installed by Vladimir Putin is short-lived and we put further safeguards in place to ensure this sort of debacle never happens again in our American elections or government, including requiring the nominees of major parties in general elections to make their tax returns public. And that we devise a means to further check and investigate any POTUS who is suspected of treason as Trump is by so many, when that POTUS' own party is in power like Trump and the GOP are now.
Consider, too, the dire consequences of Trump's threat to our environment, wildlife and global warming. We're at a crossroads in terms of climate change and the survival of life on earth. Trump installs Pruitt, clearly hostile to our EPA, to lead it, and signs an EO to roll back the Clean Water Rule. GOP plans to roll back our Endangered Species Act and Trump wants to pull the US out of the Paris climate change agreement. None of the GOP care that they'll make the US an ecological wasteland, cause extinction of endangered species, or doom humanity due to climate change. Including their own progeny.
2
Every syllable of this column rings true. This situation, these dark days, are a supreme test of our institutions, our belief in and adherence to our founding principles, an of our nation's durability. With each passing day, we risk becoming inured to dishonesty, corruption, crassness, and destructive greed. The near complete absence of statesmen willing to stand up and call this out for what it is, and to call for justice, does not bode well for our future. Our media are, for the most part, doing us proud, and on them we must pin our hopes. Our other institutions are utterly failing us.
3
As has been observed, how could one not recall meeting with the Russian Ambassador (who looks like and whose name sounds like Ambassador Kissov from Dr. Strangelove) in these fraught times is a mystery to everyone. I wish more Republicans would ask themselves how they would have viewed Sessions's behavior had he been the Obama AG. They screamed bloddy murder when Bill Clinton met with AG Loretta Lynch - and they can't bring themselves to be outraged by these Russian links so very high up in Trump's administration: Flynn, Manefort, the Kushners (both Ivanka and Jared), ...!!!
We need a General Turgidson to bring some scepticism of the Russian's intentions ... this administration, lead by our own President Muffley-Trumpley, for all of its bluster and machismo, is naive in the extreme and perpetually dissembling in its explanations.
We need a General Turgidson to bring some scepticism of the Russian's intentions ... this administration, lead by our own President Muffley-Trumpley, for all of its bluster and machismo, is naive in the extreme and perpetually dissembling in its explanations.
3
News outlets like the Drugge report, Bietbart, The Blaze, Newsmax and many others have illustrated to politicians that a loud lie followed by a quiet correction has a lot of upside. These sources print articles that are clearly lies and later quietly correct themselves when the truth comes out. It gets them readers. People remember the stuff they want to believe not the truth.
4
"If you like your healthcare plan, or your Doctor, you can keep your plan" "Every American family will save $2,500 on healthcare". A deliberate attempt to deceive masses of people in order to get them to accept something they don't want.
Are you really hanging your hat on Al Franken? The guy who calls in sick for confirmation hearings? Did you see the look on his face the other night in the House chambers?
And what was the deal with the white pant suits? They went running out of there like new brides going to Filene's basement. Then there's Keith Ellison, the only person to sit during a tribute to a fallen hero. Really? You want him to run the DNC?
Outside you had Rosie O'Donnell and Michael Moore, two very fine spokespeople.
Kruggie, your party is broken, and it may not be fixable. The entire future of the Democratic Party is betting on of all things, Russia?
America is watching and they have already lost their patience.
Are you really hanging your hat on Al Franken? The guy who calls in sick for confirmation hearings? Did you see the look on his face the other night in the House chambers?
And what was the deal with the white pant suits? They went running out of there like new brides going to Filene's basement. Then there's Keith Ellison, the only person to sit during a tribute to a fallen hero. Really? You want him to run the DNC?
Outside you had Rosie O'Donnell and Michael Moore, two very fine spokespeople.
Kruggie, your party is broken, and it may not be fixable. The entire future of the Democratic Party is betting on of all things, Russia?
America is watching and they have already lost their patience.
1
Evidently some people are more gullible than others. Try to think of something GOP "conservatives" have gotten right in the last 25 years. They've screwed up the economy every time they've been in charge, & now this administration compounded the economic ineptitude with spin & outright lies, downplaying possible treason. Bill Clinton lied about fellatio, which doesn't sound like lying about a "high crime or misdemeanor"; the minions in the Drumpf administration lie about collusion with an adversary foreign power & laugh it off as a "witch hunt". I hope this is the beginning of the end of citizens swallowing supply side economic nonsense & right wing lies. We can't afford 4-8 years of economic hucksters, or alt-right distortions.
2
The so-called president, the Prevaricator-In-Chief, isn't lying; he is presenting "alternative facts." Just ask his spokespersons.
3
A wise man once told me "When you have a liar, you have nothing". We now have Nothing for a presidential.
6
Has there ever been such a rotten bunch of bananas in government? Why did we do this to ourselves?
6
Do you think someone in Congress with an R behind their name will say, "You lied!"
6
Yes, "the question is, who’s going to stop him?". And as much as I'd like to pin this responsibility on the media, we can't. The media can only report what the President says and report the distance between the comment and the fact. But it's the responsibility of the American voter to not vote for a liar. It's the responsibility of the American citizen to call his or her Congressman and demand that truth be held in a higher regard than party affiliation. It is the responsibility of the American to stop excusing lies.
Yes, it would be helpful if members of the media stopped trying to explain away the lies of their favorite elites. (And there's a difference between misstatement and lie; we need to take the time to sort out the mistake from the dissemblence.) People lie for reasons--mostly to protect themselves or someone else. The answer the media should be demanding is, for whom are Trump and his minions lying?
Yes, it would be helpful if members of the media stopped trying to explain away the lies of their favorite elites. (And there's a difference between misstatement and lie; we need to take the time to sort out the mistake from the dissemblence.) People lie for reasons--mostly to protect themselves or someone else. The answer the media should be demanding is, for whom are Trump and his minions lying?
1
Trump is everything the Reps dreamed Obama would have been, but it does not matter. Such is the effect of groupthink.
3
The fawning of the imbecile in chief was nauseating. It is a measure of the fight we are in. We need to fight harder.
Kant gave us "enlightenment requires nothing but ... the most innocent of "freedoms": freedom to make public use of one's reason in all matter."
It is that freedom that is being challenged: Reason.
Kant gave us "enlightenment requires nothing but ... the most innocent of "freedoms": freedom to make public use of one's reason in all matter."
It is that freedom that is being challenged: Reason.
3
One of the biggest lies being told for months is that Trump is not relesaing his tax returns because the he's undergoing an IRS audit.
LIE. Trump is CONCEALING his tax returns. And it is time honest journalists to call it such.
What is he hiding?
LIE. Trump is CONCEALING his tax returns. And it is time honest journalists to call it such.
What is he hiding?
6
Why is everyone shocked that the GOP is enabling a liar?
Did you not live through the 8 years of the Obama administration.
You know that right of center, mild-mannered, biracial American, somewhat aloof professorial president, who became the single most dangerous socialist interloper in America! Where do you think that came from? The GOP has been living a lie for more than 8 years, why would they stop now!
Did you not live through the 8 years of the Obama administration.
You know that right of center, mild-mannered, biracial American, somewhat aloof professorial president, who became the single most dangerous socialist interloper in America! Where do you think that came from? The GOP has been living a lie for more than 8 years, why would they stop now!
2
Prof. Krugman - you are not getting the main issue. The liar-in-chief was recently found to be honest by 45% of the people - quite a high percentage for a person who hardly ever comes up with a truthful statement. Importantly though the same survey had journalists at 41% - less than Trump!!!
It's the people, they're just stupid. He is only playing their song.
It's the people, they're just stupid. He is only playing their song.
5
One can only wonder the damage if [ in the near future] Putin masses military forces on the borders of 1 or more countries [say the Baltic states] and just before he invades he releases evidence [real or manufactured]that not only did Russia Hack and throw the election to Trump but in fact Donald Trump had full knowledge of it!
2
What do you expect from a Cabinet of the President that has lied the most, on the record, documented by multiple fact checkers, including the NYT?
The challenge is to get the fact straight and make them available to the people. This administration is exhausting.
This is going to be like Watergate but louder and with multiple heads.
The challenge is to get the fact straight and make them available to the people. This administration is exhausting.
This is going to be like Watergate but louder and with multiple heads.
1
Paul,
You write, "Mr. Trump is simply on a different plane from anything we’ve seen before."
Yes indeed, and shall we call it "Air Farce One"
You write, "Mr. Trump is simply on a different plane from anything we’ve seen before."
Yes indeed, and shall we call it "Air Farce One"
3
At the risk of sounding mawkish, here's a thought for today and all the days ahead:
If you value your freedom, thank a journalist. The ones who are in the trenches every day in these treacherous times, seeking out and reporting actual facts, not "alternative facts."
Thank you, Dr. Krugman.
If you value your freedom, thank a journalist. The ones who are in the trenches every day in these treacherous times, seeking out and reporting actual facts, not "alternative facts."
Thank you, Dr. Krugman.
5
You don't have to look very far or deep to see the smiley faces on the republicans' leadership; now that they've taken almost total control of all three branches of the US Constitution. And they have most of the keys of the fourth estate, having a pick and choose ability to disseminate the news through whichever media outlets they prefer. The unconstitutional banning of news outlets at the whim of a press secretary is as authoritarian as any fascist or commie totalitarian state. The only thing missing is the heavy handed, naked power so typical of past enemies we fought and won wars, over there.
Now the NeoAuthoritarian model has become more nuanced in weilding its power, something along the way of say, Vladimir Putin's neoSoviet Russia, or the neoMaoist China. It's become child's play for the very rich to band together in any nation on earth to have total control over all aspects of life in their societies.
Maybe they always have but we just couldn't see it. Now of course the naked power grabs are "self evident".
Now the NeoAuthoritarian model has become more nuanced in weilding its power, something along the way of say, Vladimir Putin's neoSoviet Russia, or the neoMaoist China. It's become child's play for the very rich to band together in any nation on earth to have total control over all aspects of life in their societies.
Maybe they always have but we just couldn't see it. Now of course the naked power grabs are "self evident".
4
As I watch the GOP so casually cast aside the last tattered shreds of their moral fibre and prostrate themselves before this nominally Republican Autocrat, just for a chance to enact laws to dispel their petty grievances masquerading as policies, this question (recast for today) keeps floating to the top.
For what shall it profit a man that he gain his tax cuts, and suffer the loss of his country?
For what shall it profit a man that he gain his tax cuts, and suffer the loss of his country?
7
Barely a month into the Trump presidency we have cabinet officers and other minions being called to account for their many lies. One of the things I most admired about President Obama's two terms was the almost total lack of corruption. No indictments etc-not even close. At least we have recent memories of a principled man leading other principled people in doing the country's work.
4
"Hope it doesn't happen again" ... but Tru!p is exactly what his political enablers hoped for and exactly what his minority slice of voters hoped for. Facts, a key component of rational thought, are of no consequence to either of these groups and therefore blatant lies in support of prejudices deeply felt are useful, not reprehensible. We are in a new Dark Age that will only be made darker when the consequences of Republican policies are felt by those who voted for him. We ain't see nuttin' yet.
4
There was not one word in our new fuehrer's address to joint session of Congress about foreign policy, nor one world about how referencing climate change.
When that mentally deranged man liar in chief, and fascist to boot is suddenly fawned over of being 'presidential', just because he is able to read a speech from a teleprompter, one that every fourth grader would be able to read, something is indeed rotten - not in Denmark - but in the State of the US.
When will the curtain fall on this Theatre of the Absurd after Godot finally arrives on stage?
When that mentally deranged man liar in chief, and fascist to boot is suddenly fawned over of being 'presidential', just because he is able to read a speech from a teleprompter, one that every fourth grader would be able to read, something is indeed rotten - not in Denmark - but in the State of the US.
When will the curtain fall on this Theatre of the Absurd after Godot finally arrives on stage?
8
Prof. Krugman is right. It wasn't a great speech. It wasn't even a good speech. It was listless, boring, manipulative and exploitative. It offered nothing. That the media would fall all over themselves just because he didn't go all Trump on us for once is very, very disappointing.
11
I think Dr. Krugman, as he often does, hit the nail on the head with this piece. The country is, indeed, in deep trouble. The line "And who's going to stop him?" sums it up. Our form of government is heavily dependent on effective checks and balances in order to thrive while sticking to the tenets of the Constitution. What Trump, Bannon and Miller are clearly doing, supported by a carefully chosen cabal of underlings, is systematically setting up a framework of loyalists dedicated to making sure the answer to that question is "no one". It's politically astute and would, if using its powers for good, be as close to interesting as observation of the political process gets. But this bunch is intent on using the system to line its pockets, with little or no regard for the finer things, such as the welfare of the bottom 95% and the ecosystem that allows us to live and rejuvenates the planet. To achieve that end, apparently, no lie or hypocrisy is too egregious. And there seem to be enough citizens out here who are eager enough to see the emperor's fine clothing that they won't recognize the horrific reality of his nudity until it's simply too late.
6
"At this point it’s easier to list the Trump officials who haven’t been caught lying under oath than those who have. This is not an accident."
Trump so pushed the envelope on truth during the campaign that his smaller lies now go unnoticed, and the big ones swept under the proverbial rug. I simply can't imagine any Democrat getting away with things Trump routinely does. His Yemen raid, for example, by now would be a full-armed services dressing down, complete with "investigations." Never mind we can't even get the most important investigation in our nation's history, the one attempting to find truth in the subversion of our election process, and perhaps our presidency, by a foreign power he loves and wants to emulate.
But thanks to the "best two print publications" in America, the New York Times and the Washington Post, now engaged in the competitive battle of their publishing lives, thinking people can find the truth. I love the new Times ad running since the Academy Awards: short, sweet, and only based on words running across a screen.
Yes the truth is getting harder to find which makes it more important than ever. Thank God for our free press, and please, God, allow us to keep it.
Trump so pushed the envelope on truth during the campaign that his smaller lies now go unnoticed, and the big ones swept under the proverbial rug. I simply can't imagine any Democrat getting away with things Trump routinely does. His Yemen raid, for example, by now would be a full-armed services dressing down, complete with "investigations." Never mind we can't even get the most important investigation in our nation's history, the one attempting to find truth in the subversion of our election process, and perhaps our presidency, by a foreign power he loves and wants to emulate.
But thanks to the "best two print publications" in America, the New York Times and the Washington Post, now engaged in the competitive battle of their publishing lives, thinking people can find the truth. I love the new Times ad running since the Academy Awards: short, sweet, and only based on words running across a screen.
Yes the truth is getting harder to find which makes it more important than ever. Thank God for our free press, and please, God, allow us to keep it.
18
Krugman: It was a speech filled with falsehoods and vile policy proposals, but read calmly off the teleprompter — and suddenly everyone was declaring the liar in chief “presidential.”
The bar has definitely been set very low for "presidential." The lying has become acceptable and the new normal, unfortunately.
The bar has definitely been set very low for "presidential." The lying has become acceptable and the new normal, unfortunately.
8
The left risks looking ridiculous if start looking for Russians under everyones bed. It is not necessarily an act of treason to speak to a Russian. That being said, congress could end much of this by releasing Trump's tax returns.
9
Not every bed.
Just the one in The White House's Master Suite.
Just the one in The White House's Master Suite.
2
The bar has been set so low for Trump that merely reading a speech without going "off the rails" into rambling incoherence is deemed presidential. We have lost our perspective and I fear that incompetence and lies are now the new normal while basic decency and rational speech are something for which we should feel gratitude -- as if this is not what the country deserves or expects from its leader. I am so discouraged by the Trump supporters who tolerate the lies and duplicity, the clear connection to Russian subterfuge, and the low standards set by this president. If economic self-interest is all that matters anymore, if truth is whatever you want to believe, our democracy is truly in peril.
11
Our bar of low expectations on Trump makes a single speech where he talks in complete sentences in a softer delivery that's relatively insult free seem like a "normal presidential" address. But he simply dressed up his inadequate policy proposals in a nicer tone of voice. Does he have "some" good ideas? Sure, everyone wants more and better paying job creation, and a 21st century infrastructure plan. But his vague proposals for getting there are unrealistic at best. I'm deeply disturbed by his cavalier dismantling of environmental protections, lifting bans on dumping waste into waterways, emissions into the air. This will bring coal jobs back? Hardly. It simply passes the cost of cleanup to taxpayers from those companies that created the toxic waste. Mining coal is not the same as having a market for it, when most power plants have been re-fitted for natural gas. Some may even have an conscience about going back to a dirtier fuel source. Infrastructure privately financed? Come on. They'll cut corners to save money and exactly how will they recoup that investment. He has no solutions for immigrants, legal or longer term illegal residents, just "tough talk" and barbaric deportations ripping families apart. The America first isolationist attitude will win us few friends and possibly a few too many enemies. He and his administration needs to take a hard look at the unintended consequences that will accompany his many wrong headed "ideas".
12
I have to disagree with the idea that the lying by Trump and Co. is somehow a break from Republicans' past dishonesty. It is just a more blatant, less sophisticated exercise of the deep dishonesty that the Party has been practicing for years with little pushback - and too often help - from the mainstream media. Why is no one bringing up Karl Rove's open admission to Ron Suskind of his disdain for those who live in the "reality based" (truth based) community and his bragging about Republicans creating their own reality, an open admission of lying?
Republicans have lied with little penalty for years. Many of them know full well that tax cuts do not magically pay for themselves (although I can accept that Reagan believed that fairy tale). The media has yet to make it clear that tax cuts, especially for the wealthy, always add significantly to our debt. Republicans willingly spent our tax money on deeply dishonest investigations of the Clintons when clearly most of them knew full well the Clintons had not murdered anyone or run drugs. The media was not outraged.
Republicans knew full well that Hillary's email "scandal" was a big nothing burger. If they really cared about the FOIA they would have been outraged by the sainted Colin Powell's open admission that he had deliberately all of his official emails destroyed. He was also found to have had classified emails in his private email account - an account that was hacked. The media knew all this, too, but buried the story.
Republicans have lied with little penalty for years. Many of them know full well that tax cuts do not magically pay for themselves (although I can accept that Reagan believed that fairy tale). The media has yet to make it clear that tax cuts, especially for the wealthy, always add significantly to our debt. Republicans willingly spent our tax money on deeply dishonest investigations of the Clintons when clearly most of them knew full well the Clintons had not murdered anyone or run drugs. The media was not outraged.
Republicans knew full well that Hillary's email "scandal" was a big nothing burger. If they really cared about the FOIA they would have been outraged by the sainted Colin Powell's open admission that he had deliberately all of his official emails destroyed. He was also found to have had classified emails in his private email account - an account that was hacked. The media knew all this, too, but buried the story.
12
For a decade, D's have been blessed with good facts- and GOPers have been stuck making lies. The so-called liberal press- harassed endlessly by The GOP- most notably Trump- have been bullied into "he said she said" instead of separating facts from lies.
Come on Press! Time to stand up to the bully boy, don jon. His regime is off the rails. Time to IMPEACH!!!
Come on Press! Time to stand up to the bully boy, don jon. His regime is off the rails. Time to IMPEACH!!!
Dear Paul. The situation with former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn, that has just had an encore performance with Attorney Jeff Sessions has moved well beyond "lying under oath" and enter the realm of treason collusion with Russian operatives and officials to undermine our democracy and the "rule of law" under the Constitution. Added to that is the curious and very troubling behavior of FBI Director, James Comey, who has known about these felonious acts, but has been unwilling to sound the alarm. His disturbing behavior was only heightened when he refused to answer questions before the House Intelligence Committee yesterday leaving them with the only alternative but to sub poena him. Until and unless an independent Special Prosecutor is appointed, we will continue down the slippery slope from democracy to autocracy. We are at a perilous point well beyond "raw dishonesty" and now face a national emergency,
16
Trump & co are liars and dishonest, we all agree. Sessions the racist should not be the secretary of justice. True for Devos, Pruit etc..
But when Brennan hacked the computers of the Senate how long did the media outcry last? Clapper lied to Congress in 2013 which is a federal crime. He was not prosecuted and now we are asked to believe these guys with no published evidence.
This just to point out that something else is afoot in the dark corners of the deep state. Why didn't the Democrats fight over voter suppression, notably in the key Rust belt states? The Russians are no angels (of course) and Putin is an autocrat who is happy to sow trouble ...in the countries that favored NATO expansion, for sure.
But as in 1947 when a very conservative anti-Communist senator, Robert Taft, declared he was "more than a bit tired of having the Russian menace invoked as a reason for doing any--and every--thing that might or might not be desirable or necessary on its own merits", we are in a very muddled political situation.
It is possible to accuse terribly bad guys for reasons that are less than commendable (see Saddam Hussein and WMDs). Trump should be impeached for his violations of the US constitution (emoluments clause) and protesters are right about all his infamies (women, Mexicans, Muslims, the environment...).
What is wrong politically and ethically is to encourage the secret services to stage a coup. Being opposed to Trump is not enough, the right democratic reasons matter.
But when Brennan hacked the computers of the Senate how long did the media outcry last? Clapper lied to Congress in 2013 which is a federal crime. He was not prosecuted and now we are asked to believe these guys with no published evidence.
This just to point out that something else is afoot in the dark corners of the deep state. Why didn't the Democrats fight over voter suppression, notably in the key Rust belt states? The Russians are no angels (of course) and Putin is an autocrat who is happy to sow trouble ...in the countries that favored NATO expansion, for sure.
But as in 1947 when a very conservative anti-Communist senator, Robert Taft, declared he was "more than a bit tired of having the Russian menace invoked as a reason for doing any--and every--thing that might or might not be desirable or necessary on its own merits", we are in a very muddled political situation.
It is possible to accuse terribly bad guys for reasons that are less than commendable (see Saddam Hussein and WMDs). Trump should be impeached for his violations of the US constitution (emoluments clause) and protesters are right about all his infamies (women, Mexicans, Muslims, the environment...).
What is wrong politically and ethically is to encourage the secret services to stage a coup. Being opposed to Trump is not enough, the right democratic reasons matter.
2
I too was dismayed by the reaction to the speech.
Please: All those yesterdays still exist. He's a fool and a narcissist. He's hiding a lot. His knowledge base is too shallow for good judgments. He lies at a crazy rate. He has the moral sense of a gnat when it comes to things as simple as paying those who do work for him. He's admitted to sexual assault and sees nothing wrong with it; he's indifferent to human life. Even his business skills seem to be limited to enriching himself at the expense of everyone else. He shows signs of being in the early stages of dementia.
Good teleprompter-reading skills are a very shallow achievement for a president. Stop crowing about them.
Please: All those yesterdays still exist. He's a fool and a narcissist. He's hiding a lot. His knowledge base is too shallow for good judgments. He lies at a crazy rate. He has the moral sense of a gnat when it comes to things as simple as paying those who do work for him. He's admitted to sexual assault and sees nothing wrong with it; he's indifferent to human life. Even his business skills seem to be limited to enriching himself at the expense of everyone else. He shows signs of being in the early stages of dementia.
Good teleprompter-reading skills are a very shallow achievement for a president. Stop crowing about them.
8
It is not a lie unless it can be proven by a recording. Even then, perhaps it can be claimed that the question was misunderstood.
All of this lack of truthfulness is the price we must pay to make America great again, make America white again, and make America first again.
It will only get worse.
Resist, every day in every way.
Indivisible.
All of this lack of truthfulness is the price we must pay to make America great again, make America white again, and make America first again.
It will only get worse.
Resist, every day in every way.
Indivisible.
10
Being "Presidential" means acting on behalf of the greater good for the greatest number of Americans. It means helping America to be able to make decisions that are in their own best interests. (By the way, can't the same be said for the obligations of Congress and media?) Until the country gets rid of the alternate definition of "presidential" - whereby we disregard the President's own words & deeds as long as he can read someone else's for a short period; and the Congress thumbs a collective nose at their role of caretaker; and the press prefers a role akin to commentating a sports event - we're going to suffer.
1
The "irrational exuberence" shown to our Republican president by the media is the same emotion seen when a man long in a coma wakes up. We delight in his apparent recovery when in reality he may have sustained severe and disabling brain injury (think PTSD or diffuse axonal injury after head trauma).
The fact a survivor of an IED blast may never hold meaningful employment again will sink in just as the evidence of our president's incompetence will shine forth soon enough.
He is engaged in a fearsome race to the bottom in the historical ranking of our past presidents which only delights the friends of former president Buchanan who previously claimed the lowest rung. He will hold on until his ongoing failures and past criminalities converge to sweep him from the office.
The fact a survivor of an IED blast may never hold meaningful employment again will sink in just as the evidence of our president's incompetence will shine forth soon enough.
He is engaged in a fearsome race to the bottom in the historical ranking of our past presidents which only delights the friends of former president Buchanan who previously claimed the lowest rung. He will hold on until his ongoing failures and past criminalities converge to sweep him from the office.
3
The Republican assaults on public education are finally paying off in voter apathy and ignorance and inability to think straight. Consider all of the breathless claims that Hillary Clinton had caused so much harm by having an "insecure" email server in her home. Who was it that was supposed to have been hacking her State Department emails? The Russians--although I don't recall that there was ever a claim that she actually was hacked. And so many voters hated her for her carelessness in the face of Russian spies.
But now, Russia doesn't even have to hack. They just send their ambassador over to chat with the President's son-in-law or our Secretary of State or some other highly placed official and find out what they want the old fashioned way--they ask about it. What could be simpler? And what a relief to all those Hillary haters that the Russians probably won't hack Rex Tillerson's email. Honestly, we get new reports every day of more high level contacts between the Russians and our administration and it's hangers-on. And where are those voters who were so upset about the potentially leaky email server? Glued to Fox News, probably watching films of that magnificent biggest-ever inauguration--and waiting for the promised jobs to magically fall out of the sky.
I get the feeling that the new Woodward and/or Bernstein are hard at work ferreting out the real story that may finally stick to the Teflon congenital liar. I hope that's not wishful thinking.
But now, Russia doesn't even have to hack. They just send their ambassador over to chat with the President's son-in-law or our Secretary of State or some other highly placed official and find out what they want the old fashioned way--they ask about it. What could be simpler? And what a relief to all those Hillary haters that the Russians probably won't hack Rex Tillerson's email. Honestly, we get new reports every day of more high level contacts between the Russians and our administration and it's hangers-on. And where are those voters who were so upset about the potentially leaky email server? Glued to Fox News, probably watching films of that magnificent biggest-ever inauguration--and waiting for the promised jobs to magically fall out of the sky.
I get the feeling that the new Woodward and/or Bernstein are hard at work ferreting out the real story that may finally stick to the Teflon congenital liar. I hope that's not wishful thinking.
12
Newly diagnosed cancer patients want desperately to be told that it was a mistake, that they don't face the surgery and radiation and chemotherapy. They live in denial until the process forces them to experience the reality of cancer treatment. I suspect Americans are a lot like that, still hoping against hope that our country doesn't have metastatic cancer at its core, in the hearts of a racist electorate.
15
There is to much truth to all the lies.
Each one of us must step up to be compassionate citizens for one another and be examples to each other, and the world, to respect and support each other as equals for the betterment of all of us, not just those who look like us, pray like us, or think like us.
Given the chance, humanity is a wonderful, kind, race.
Each one of us must step up to be compassionate citizens for one another and be examples to each other, and the world, to respect and support each other as equals for the betterment of all of us, not just those who look like us, pray like us, or think like us.
Given the chance, humanity is a wonderful, kind, race.
2
No race that includes Trump can be called "kind".
2
Love that title.
Part of the problem is the "TMI" aspect of modern life. People are bombed with information, and must make decisions as to what to believe. Couple that with human eternal hope and optimism and the blind loyalty to their party that is a second religion to Republicans, and you have a recipe for disaster. The snake-oil salesman who used to rush into town, con a bunch of people into buying his phony cures, then catch the next train out before he was exposed as a fraud is here to stay.
Sadly, Americans don't like to think. When I went to school in Canada, the teachers focused on critical thinking and why things happen. We had debates where we switched sides midstream and had to think like the opposition. Evolution wasn't magic, it was science. Math wasn't a made-in-China calculator. Even with the Russian fiasco and terrible danger to our environment, I fear that Betsy DeVos will turn out to be Donald's most evil infliction on our society. Another generation of closed minds.
Part of the problem is the "TMI" aspect of modern life. People are bombed with information, and must make decisions as to what to believe. Couple that with human eternal hope and optimism and the blind loyalty to their party that is a second religion to Republicans, and you have a recipe for disaster. The snake-oil salesman who used to rush into town, con a bunch of people into buying his phony cures, then catch the next train out before he was exposed as a fraud is here to stay.
Sadly, Americans don't like to think. When I went to school in Canada, the teachers focused on critical thinking and why things happen. We had debates where we switched sides midstream and had to think like the opposition. Evolution wasn't magic, it was science. Math wasn't a made-in-China calculator. Even with the Russian fiasco and terrible danger to our environment, I fear that Betsy DeVos will turn out to be Donald's most evil infliction on our society. Another generation of closed minds.
12
That Fox news bubble is interesting. I read an article on their web site the other day, which truly sounded like Trump is a miracle worker and it's morning in America. The content was coal-country. Apparently, mines are re-opening, miners are now working 7 days a week and have been told to count on jobs for at least the next four years.
It seems that removing those awful regulations, like the one which disallowed the polluting of streams by coal companies, has brought jobs and hope and plans to re-open or open more and more mines. It seems that coal will shortly be king again. Praise the lord Trump! Hallelujah! The savior has come - or so Fox News suggests.
Folks who ingest a steady diet of right-wing news must be giddy with amazement about our newly elected wunderkind and what he has done in less than 6 weeks. Imagine what a Shangri-la we will live in after 4 years! No wonder they don't want to hear anything reality based and/or negative.
It seems that removing those awful regulations, like the one which disallowed the polluting of streams by coal companies, has brought jobs and hope and plans to re-open or open more and more mines. It seems that coal will shortly be king again. Praise the lord Trump! Hallelujah! The savior has come - or so Fox News suggests.
Folks who ingest a steady diet of right-wing news must be giddy with amazement about our newly elected wunderkind and what he has done in less than 6 weeks. Imagine what a Shangri-la we will live in after 4 years! No wonder they don't want to hear anything reality based and/or negative.
29
Republicans in Congress are fine with Trump's dishonesty, ignorance, petulance and misogyny, and they'll look the other way so as not to see his self-dealing, so long as his presence in the Oval Office means power for the party. Their agenda - or more accurately, the agenda of their billionaire donors - is all that matters. That agenda decidedly does not "put America first," but the slogan itself is just one more lie.
13
Dear Paul
Do not despair. There are many great citizens in the United States. I believe there will be continuing leaks about the Trump campaign and his administration. The press will continue to publish the facts. The american people have been slow to wake up to the lies and now are engaging on so many fronts. If a great leader in the democratic party would emerge the tide would turn rather quickly. Need makes heroes of many.
Do not despair. There are many great citizens in the United States. I believe there will be continuing leaks about the Trump campaign and his administration. The press will continue to publish the facts. The american people have been slow to wake up to the lies and now are engaging on so many fronts. If a great leader in the democratic party would emerge the tide would turn rather quickly. Need makes heroes of many.
7
I think all the flack about leaks is hilarious. Who do they think were behind the leaks of the past 8 years? Democrats? Maybe some but mostly republicans. They can't help themselves now. They're junkies who look at making any splash in social media as their next fix. They've lost all ability to determine who's side they're on so long as they see it in media, victims of their own disease.
Krugman continues to hit the nail on it's proverbial head! What really gets me the most is the press. Republican elected officials have been showing their true colors for decades. Nothing new here to look at. They prostitute themselves for their wealthy donors at the expense of the tens of thousands of people who vote them back into office.
But, the press and the profit motive failed us, "bigly." The amount of free publicity Trump received wit little, if any, challenge to the bat guano crazy things he said and did, should get them all fired. Now far too late they are trying to sound the alarm. But, they are still clearly entrenched in the balanced coverage thing. Their brains are addled by all the lies.
I watched his address too. It was no where near presidential. It was more like a bad high school play whose lead actor was visibly uncomfortable with what he was doing. He may not have went off script, or displayed his blatant caustic self. But, there was the same tone to his words. The same lies put t forth. He dressed up his insults in less crude language, but they were still there. The press missed all of that. We ARE doomed.
But, the press and the profit motive failed us, "bigly." The amount of free publicity Trump received wit little, if any, challenge to the bat guano crazy things he said and did, should get them all fired. Now far too late they are trying to sound the alarm. But, they are still clearly entrenched in the balanced coverage thing. Their brains are addled by all the lies.
I watched his address too. It was no where near presidential. It was more like a bad high school play whose lead actor was visibly uncomfortable with what he was doing. He may not have went off script, or displayed his blatant caustic self. But, there was the same tone to his words. The same lies put t forth. He dressed up his insults in less crude language, but they were still there. The press missed all of that. We ARE doomed.
9
Exactly how I felt he said the same things as before just in a more soothing tone. Like now now Johnny go sleep and let me get on with destroying the country I'll try to be more quiet this time.
People who attended Trump's campaign rallies in Waterbury and Bridgeport saw him mock the notion of "being presidential," and give a brief demonstration of just how easy it is. It's an act, and it was an act Tuesday night. The only remarkable thing about it was that he was able to sustain it for more than an hour without cracking.
Make no mistake, the "real" Trump, so far as there is such a person, is the one that goes on the campaign trail and mocks the disabled, urges followers to do bodily harm to peaceful protesters, and assaults women.
Make no mistake, the "real" Trump, so far as there is such a person, is the one that goes on the campaign trail and mocks the disabled, urges followers to do bodily harm to peaceful protesters, and assaults women.
23
It's amusing to hear the mass hysteria generated by the liberals because the press and the media couldn't find much wrong with Trumps speech. On substance it was inclusive. On vision, it was noteworthy, and on optimism, it was defining. No one has cause to chastise or berate any President when he speaks of where he thinks the country should be going, and how we should get there. He has that right, and it's good for the country. We have now gotten beyond the last 8 years of the Obama administration, and the current President and his administration are trying to get this country solidly back on it's feet. He has made some good decisions so far and is working hard for the American people. Nothing wrong with that. All the constant negativity is unwarranted backlash because the Republicans were put back in power. As for lying, lest we forget, Bill Clinton was impeached for lying to Congress under oath about the disgusting sex he was having while cheating on his wife in the White House. Many, many, lies were told to the American people during the Hillary Clinton campaign concerning her emails, and classified information on her servers, and Barack Obama certainly lied to the American people about gun control, and Obama Care. This author shouldn't be throwing stones at Trump/Sessions. Get over it. They all lie to some extent. Time to put all the negativity and the hatred towards Trump to rest. Accept his Presidency, and let him and his administration, go about serving the public.
4
The lies of Trump are so blatant and disgusting and should have removed him from consideration for this position. He claims credit for job deals completed under Obama that are now coming to fruition, Claims credit for debt reduction that is a result of Obama's policies. He hasn't done anything yet, except sow confusion and fear among immigrants and people want ting to come to this country.. And lest we forget the Republican's had endless hearings and investigations into Hillary Clinton's so called crimes all for naught. SO where are these great Patriotic protectors of truth and justice now. These lies are to congress a potential felony. The subject suggests transgressions which at worst could lead to the conclusion treason has been committed or collusion with a hostile foreign power to undermine our democratic process. Thee are not remotely on par with lying about sex, though that may still be there. Hmmm "haven't spoke with anyone in Russia in ten years" Trumps words. Miss world pageant held in Moscow some three years ago. Guess he used email?
15
They will serve us , all right. But nothing that that a reasonable and reasonably empathetic person would want to eat. It will be the sandwich memorably and unprintably described by Gen. Harward when he declined to join the pirate gang otherwise known as the so-called president's inner circle.
I recommend to the readership here a blog called "TPM" (for "Talking Points Memo"). Its chief editor is Josh Marshall, a trained historian and investigative reporter, who seems to be level-headed and judicious as well as resourceful. Marshall has been delving into the strange tale of Felix Sater, his friend Artemenko (now being investigated in Ukraine for treason) and Michael Cohen, Trump's lawyer. Sater's potential role as a conduit between trump (and as a snitch for the FBI and CIA in exchange for a slap on the wrist for a major stock fraud) and Russian money of questionable provenance is, IMO, where the serious bodies are buried, some of them possibly quite literally.
The only respect of which Trump is worthy is that accorded a mob boss.
I recommend to the readership here a blog called "TPM" (for "Talking Points Memo"). Its chief editor is Josh Marshall, a trained historian and investigative reporter, who seems to be level-headed and judicious as well as resourceful. Marshall has been delving into the strange tale of Felix Sater, his friend Artemenko (now being investigated in Ukraine for treason) and Michael Cohen, Trump's lawyer. Sater's potential role as a conduit between trump (and as a snitch for the FBI and CIA in exchange for a slap on the wrist for a major stock fraud) and Russian money of questionable provenance is, IMO, where the serious bodies are buried, some of them possibly quite literally.
The only respect of which Trump is worthy is that accorded a mob boss.
6
Never.
2
At the end of the day, it is still well paying manufacturing jobs that decides future of Trump and the Republican Party and not glorification of speeches. Trump got elected because of lies of politicians and the Democratic party leadership failure.
3
Speech takeaway
1. It was the same exclamations from his campaign speeches except it was given to the excited GOP caucus and GOPers in the hall wearing suits.
2. It was a compilation written just for the teleprompter
3. The only thing missing were the campaign signs
4. There was no move to unity instead it treated the people who did not vote for him as if they were not there
5. His remarks on tariffs and stopping the drugs and the drug cartels were appealing
6. He seeks to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with nonsensical features that will make it so liked – it's a smokescreen
7. His remarks on the Care Act were reckless and exaggerated – it’s in trouble because of the withdrawal of subsidies to exchange insurers
8. His stance on allowing immigrants to come in based on merit is what we do now for H1 visas.
9. Chicken packers, tomato pickers, bed makers, house cleaners, strawberry pickers, mortar mixers, lawn rakers and cutters -- forget it.
10. Mexican immigrants are a menace – they are rapists and killers and we have the evidence here in the balcony.
11. It’s OK for a President to stigmatize
12. The state will bully businesses to meet new guidelines in their production and import/export decisions and be relieved of enforcing EPA regulations
13. We will lower taxes but no one has seen the spreadsheets
14. We respect our police but let’s not mention the Black Lives Matter folks
15. The only thing new was the buttoned coat and the blue- and white-striped tie
1. It was the same exclamations from his campaign speeches except it was given to the excited GOP caucus and GOPers in the hall wearing suits.
2. It was a compilation written just for the teleprompter
3. The only thing missing were the campaign signs
4. There was no move to unity instead it treated the people who did not vote for him as if they were not there
5. His remarks on tariffs and stopping the drugs and the drug cartels were appealing
6. He seeks to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act with nonsensical features that will make it so liked – it's a smokescreen
7. His remarks on the Care Act were reckless and exaggerated – it’s in trouble because of the withdrawal of subsidies to exchange insurers
8. His stance on allowing immigrants to come in based on merit is what we do now for H1 visas.
9. Chicken packers, tomato pickers, bed makers, house cleaners, strawberry pickers, mortar mixers, lawn rakers and cutters -- forget it.
10. Mexican immigrants are a menace – they are rapists and killers and we have the evidence here in the balcony.
11. It’s OK for a President to stigmatize
12. The state will bully businesses to meet new guidelines in their production and import/export decisions and be relieved of enforcing EPA regulations
13. We will lower taxes but no one has seen the spreadsheets
14. We respect our police but let’s not mention the Black Lives Matter folks
15. The only thing new was the buttoned coat and the blue- and white-striped tie
7
“Oh, what a tangled (wicked) web we weave...when first we practice to deceive.”
― Walter Scott, Marmion
I'm feeling more and more cynical about the FBI's web weaving.
― Walter Scott, Marmion
I'm feeling more and more cynical about the FBI's web weaving.
3
Apparently, Trump, his cabinet, Republican colleagues and supporters all subscribe to their own version of Taqiyah: lying to the enemy is support of their faith. And more so, they seemingly enjoy it.
4
I think the most important insight is from the minister who wrote to the NYT in the past week and reported that when he attended the most recent Trump rally that many of the people in the crowd exhibited a passion similar to a religious fervor. This would explain why the Trump followers (some of whom post comments here in complete denial of recent facts and revelations) are so unwilling to believe anything negative about Trump,in spite of countless factual reports,and have misplaced faith in him.It is beyond frightening since it is for many an irrational stance that they have.
The ones I cannot understand are the Republicans in Congress who are standing idly by,proving how they are indeed the Greed Over Patriotism party.
The ones I cannot understand are the Republicans in Congress who are standing idly by,proving how they are indeed the Greed Over Patriotism party.
3
The word you are looking for, I suspect, is "cult".
No time to wail, or wallow in despair, or embrace this horror, as one political elephant put it. The stamp on the bubble of Trump and his Presidency has expired. The World is changing much faster in this Era and News of Progress in America is 'Gone Country'.
'Take back our Country'? From who and what? The Communists and the Rich? The Jews and Muslims? Wall Street? All for the love of Trumponomics, and the Market is booming. 'The Economy is doing good' from a retired building constructor and supporter of Donald. Now. Neither of us are playing the Stock Market, and his motto is 'Trust Nobody'. No need to list his views about equality, justice and liberty for all. He has his gun after all, and reminds this American of Charlton Heston when sitting in his mansion, a rifle across his knees, looking less like Moses and married to Madame Tussaud.
Trump and his Administration to go on an independent road because the Nation is moving ahead, without them, with stocks and barrels too.
'Take back our Country'? From who and what? The Communists and the Rich? The Jews and Muslims? Wall Street? All for the love of Trumponomics, and the Market is booming. 'The Economy is doing good' from a retired building constructor and supporter of Donald. Now. Neither of us are playing the Stock Market, and his motto is 'Trust Nobody'. No need to list his views about equality, justice and liberty for all. He has his gun after all, and reminds this American of Charlton Heston when sitting in his mansion, a rifle across his knees, looking less like Moses and married to Madame Tussaud.
Trump and his Administration to go on an independent road because the Nation is moving ahead, without them, with stocks and barrels too.
Who or what enjoys unwavering belief in society? Why, the Television industry of course. How many times have you read the phrase; "As seen on TV"?
Television addicts us as very young children and we spend the rest of our lives glued to the "Boob Tube", do we not?
Everyone believes anything they see and hear on Television and therein lies the problem, a pun.
Trump is the Television man who was elected partly because of Television coverage of his every utterance. It was estimated that a Billion dollars worth of airtime was devoted to his ramblings.
Yes, Trump lies and never has to admit it because many millions believe what they saw and heard on TV, and I'd bet he knows it.
Television addicts us as very young children and we spend the rest of our lives glued to the "Boob Tube", do we not?
Everyone believes anything they see and hear on Television and therein lies the problem, a pun.
Trump is the Television man who was elected partly because of Television coverage of his every utterance. It was estimated that a Billion dollars worth of airtime was devoted to his ramblings.
Yes, Trump lies and never has to admit it because many millions believe what they saw and heard on TV, and I'd bet he knows it.
2
"Everyone believes anything they see or hear on TV"?
Says who?
I doubt most everything I see on Fox Kids, or any of the other channels owned by the aussie immigrant.
As an adult I try to get corroboration from other sources before I move anything into permanent storage.
Says who?
I doubt most everything I see on Fox Kids, or any of the other channels owned by the aussie immigrant.
As an adult I try to get corroboration from other sources before I move anything into permanent storage.
2
3 billion I think in free press and exponentially more than all other candidates involved
To comment on the final paragraph, if it looks as if America is doomed then you need to pull your fingers out and do something to prevent it as a doomed superpower can't be doomed again; the first doom will do for the lot of us.
Two points none of the pundits seems to have brought up yesterday:
1. Sessions did not answer the question posed to him by Al Franken, to wit, "What would you (in your role as Atty Gen) do if..."
2. Sessions claims that he may have misunderstood Al's question. Really? An experienced and very dogged former prosecutor? I'm pretty sure Prosecutor Sessions didn't allow witnesses in his courtroom to get away with such nonsense. His comments about HRC certainly support that contention.
1. Sessions did not answer the question posed to him by Al Franken, to wit, "What would you (in your role as Atty Gen) do if..."
2. Sessions claims that he may have misunderstood Al's question. Really? An experienced and very dogged former prosecutor? I'm pretty sure Prosecutor Sessions didn't allow witnesses in his courtroom to get away with such nonsense. His comments about HRC certainly support that contention.
9
There is one egregious lie that stands out for me because it was such a ugly one, and I literally channel-changed to see it disproven in the next moment: the CSPAN clip of Obama trying his best to calm his crowd down from vocally attacking a Trump supporter who was protesting there. Trump goes off, asking the crowd if they had seen him trying to silence that protesting Trump supporter. How rude he had been, encouraging fans to heckle him, how he had Secret Service muzzle the guy. How ugly the whole thing had been. Literally the opposite of what had happened, disproven by changing the channel to hear the exact opposite. Not only easily disproven on video, but I didn't even have to go find the video. And CSPAN is about as far from fake news and you can get.
6
I am afraid the media is soft-pedalling on Trump, give it a few months and we will be dealing with an unsavory president but within the bounds of normal, like GW Bush perhaps. But Trump is way-way out of the bounds of normality, a cartoonishly sinister character who inexplicably got elected. This American tragedy needs to be pounced on by the media every hour of every day. It is our lives, folks, this is happening in the lifetime of us and our children.
8
Tell me. I am an old woman. The first great undoing was when as a child I discovered that my father was cruel to my mother and made her cry. That was 3/4 of a century ago.
The rest of my life was spent trying to undo that shattering foundation.
I have spent my life working for human rights. I have worked tirelessly to protect the environment. I have tried to fix the dishonesty I have discovered in personal relationships.
Again and again, I have found humanity strong. Again and again, I have looked at this creature who can create beauty, who can love, who can wonder at the colors and patterns and intricacies of our natural world, who can seek the higher good and I have found hope, though it has so often been a struggle through the terrible darkness.
Is it my aging brain that cannot take this in? I don't want my old age to be this. All that I have believed in and worked for seems to be folly. I feel overwhelmed. I feel the deepest sorrow and despair.
Was this life, in fact, "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing?"
How do so many of us find any mooring in a world of lies. We travel back to our lives as children when we too many of us discovered the lies of our very first assumptions. But now, all this... all this. My head is spinning; my heart is broken.
Thank you for showing us the lies. But, where, oh where, is the hope?
The rest of my life was spent trying to undo that shattering foundation.
I have spent my life working for human rights. I have worked tirelessly to protect the environment. I have tried to fix the dishonesty I have discovered in personal relationships.
Again and again, I have found humanity strong. Again and again, I have looked at this creature who can create beauty, who can love, who can wonder at the colors and patterns and intricacies of our natural world, who can seek the higher good and I have found hope, though it has so often been a struggle through the terrible darkness.
Is it my aging brain that cannot take this in? I don't want my old age to be this. All that I have believed in and worked for seems to be folly. I feel overwhelmed. I feel the deepest sorrow and despair.
Was this life, in fact, "a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing?"
How do so many of us find any mooring in a world of lies. We travel back to our lives as children when we too many of us discovered the lies of our very first assumptions. But now, all this... all this. My head is spinning; my heart is broken.
Thank you for showing us the lies. But, where, oh where, is the hope?
70
You are seeng societal regression where instincts and feelings override thinking and reasoning. It begins at the relationship level and has spread to society at large. Linear thinking, black and white thinking, I'm right and you're wrong approaches reflect it. Polarization, seeing symptoms rather than looking at the underlying process, blame, reactivity. Cause and effect thinking. Survival instincts.
When viewed from a neutral place all your descriptions of the beauty remain and are part of the human condition. They have not disappeared, only taken a back seat in this society, maybe around the world.
What we see now is the unwillingness to self manage amidst feelings of threat. And the desire to blame others when things are tough. It's not pretty but we all have that instinctual survival nature. It's how we deal with it that matters.
And what matters most is how I manage me. If I will work on that, whatever swirls about me will be seen for what it is: anxiety. But it's not and never will be the only component of being human. It's just extremely contagious when people feel threatened.
When viewed from a neutral place all your descriptions of the beauty remain and are part of the human condition. They have not disappeared, only taken a back seat in this society, maybe around the world.
What we see now is the unwillingness to self manage amidst feelings of threat. And the desire to blame others when things are tough. It's not pretty but we all have that instinctual survival nature. It's how we deal with it that matters.
And what matters most is how I manage me. If I will work on that, whatever swirls about me will be seen for what it is: anxiety. But it's not and never will be the only component of being human. It's just extremely contagious when people feel threatened.
3
Paula, please don't despair. thank you for your contributions.
all that you, and countless others, have worked for has not disappeared.
I don't know how long it'll take, but these evildoers will not prevail.
all that you, and countless others, have worked for has not disappeared.
I don't know how long it'll take, but these evildoers will not prevail.
1
You brought tears to my eyes. I too have watched the nation unravel. Lying seems to be how most people bridge the space between what they truly are and what they wish to be. What to do? Be honest with ourselves. And when we don't make the mark, don't beat ourselves up. There is a lot of good being done in the world. Choose something small everyday and make it happen. You're needed now more than ever. Never succumb to the lie of "I'll start tomorrow". Do it today.
2
I'm beginning to look forward to Russians meddling more than the hysteria and lunacy of the psychotic biased main stream media.
1
No screams when Obama was raked over the coals, Hillary? You don't call all that hysteria? Interesting how easy it is to point fingers and rail against whatever is not comfy when it's your side being looked at.
Chances are you ain't seen nothing yet, they aren't going to stop because you don't like it. And just because people don't like it doesn't make it inaccurate. I sure didn't like it when Fox, Limbaugh and congress were hysterical, leaning towards psychotic when decrying the democrats. Perhaps some of what they said which can not be described in any other fashion that how you describe msm, whatever that is, had merit.
You are in for a long ride. I suggest reading the news that suits you and staying away from the rest. You'll be more comfy.
Chances are you ain't seen nothing yet, they aren't going to stop because you don't like it. And just because people don't like it doesn't make it inaccurate. I sure didn't like it when Fox, Limbaugh and congress were hysterical, leaning towards psychotic when decrying the democrats. Perhaps some of what they said which can not be described in any other fashion that how you describe msm, whatever that is, had merit.
You are in for a long ride. I suggest reading the news that suits you and staying away from the rest. You'll be more comfy.
The GOP has reached the moment for which they have been plotting for years.
To control both halls of Congress and own the monkey-on-a-stick with a pen in the White house is their dream come true. Lying doesn't matter.
Get ready for the end of FDR's social safety net. Greed Over People!
To control both halls of Congress and own the monkey-on-a-stick with a pen in the White house is their dream come true. Lying doesn't matter.
Get ready for the end of FDR's social safety net. Greed Over People!
10
Thank you Paul!
13
Let me get this straight. Bill Clinton lied under oath about sex, and it was an impeachable offense. The current Republicans, who control the entire government, lie repeatedly, both under oath and not, about almost everything, and it's no big deal. This somehow seems to be okay. I feel as if I'm plunging through the looking glass. Is there no hope for my once great country?
30
Things have changed.
Perhaps the media's coverage of the TelePromter's reading was an attempt to lesson the acute embarrassment that a portion of trump voters feel. I divide up the American voter pie in this manner: 60 percent of the electorate are appalled, and of that percentage a good number are terrified, 10 percent are regretful, and 30 percent are delighted. It is only that 10 percent who can be moved in the near future. It is easier to admit a mistake when it can be said that there was any reasoning behind the error. I fervently hope that this is the media's underlying intent, or the game is up.
4
It's obvious at this point. The Trump administration runs on lies. And they're getting away with it for the most part so far, thanks to what is effectively one party rule. It's a soft coup, but a coup nonetheless.
But it wouldn't have been possible without years of false equivalency, he said/she said reporting, stenography journalism, and the Clinton rules. It wouldn't have been possible without years of Republican spin to discredit anything Democrats said as lies.
Truth fatigue has set in - too many people no longer have the energy to get upset about it - or they dismiss it as partisan nonsense. It's going to take something really bad to break through the "business as usual/all politicians are crooks" wall of apathy - especially for those who told themselves Trump would be different, the forlorn hopers.
Trump IS different. He's taken lying to an entirely new level.
But it wouldn't have been possible without years of false equivalency, he said/she said reporting, stenography journalism, and the Clinton rules. It wouldn't have been possible without years of Republican spin to discredit anything Democrats said as lies.
Truth fatigue has set in - too many people no longer have the energy to get upset about it - or they dismiss it as partisan nonsense. It's going to take something really bad to break through the "business as usual/all politicians are crooks" wall of apathy - especially for those who told themselves Trump would be different, the forlorn hopers.
Trump IS different. He's taken lying to an entirely new level.
6
It has been widely reported that the former spy at MI6 will be coming to Washington to testify what he knows about the Trump/Russia connection. Combined with the brilliant move by the Obama administration to preserve the evidence of Russian meddling in our elections, it becomes a house of cards for the Trump administration.
It seems that It's not a question of if but when Trump will be forced out of office.
It seems that It's not a question of if but when Trump will be forced out of office.
6
Indeed. For some, politics has moved from spin to alternative facts. Science fiction writers and astrophysicists have speculated about traveling to an alternative universe through wormholes. I always wondered about the origin of that particular term. Now I understand.
3
The lying is all a dominance display. Spin is weakness to them, while baldly lying is an authoritarian display of power. Let's hope they're not right, and enough Americans still take democracy seriously and don't want to be ruled.
8
Trump lied constantly during the campaign. He would contradict himself from one day to the next, often times from one paragraph to the next. His supporters didn't care. He was going to make America great again. They said don't take him literally, just take him seriously.
Many on the right claim that facts don't matter because there are liberal facts and conservative facts. This strategy has been used for many years. Trump's chief propagandist, Kellyanne Conway says we are in post truth America. Truth is whatever you can get someone to believe. She coined the phrase "alternative facts".
The Republicans have evolved from fact don't matter to words don't matter. News is now fake news. Nothing matters. except winning.
There is a problem with that strategy. Laws are just words and if words can mean anything then our laws mean nothing. We no longer have a nation.
Trump claims that building a wall will protect and preserve our nation. Then he and his crew totally demolish the most sacred thing that holds our nation together, respect for the truth. Without that respect, our laws are meaningless.
That's how Trump is going to make America great. He must be talking about a different America. Not this one.
Many on the right claim that facts don't matter because there are liberal facts and conservative facts. This strategy has been used for many years. Trump's chief propagandist, Kellyanne Conway says we are in post truth America. Truth is whatever you can get someone to believe. She coined the phrase "alternative facts".
The Republicans have evolved from fact don't matter to words don't matter. News is now fake news. Nothing matters. except winning.
There is a problem with that strategy. Laws are just words and if words can mean anything then our laws mean nothing. We no longer have a nation.
Trump claims that building a wall will protect and preserve our nation. Then he and his crew totally demolish the most sacred thing that holds our nation together, respect for the truth. Without that respect, our laws are meaningless.
That's how Trump is going to make America great. He must be talking about a different America. Not this one.
24
Bruce very well said. Kudos
1
"'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said, in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean — neither more nor less.'
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things. The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master — that's all.' " (Through the Looking-Glass)
So sayeth Trumpty=Dumpty.
'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things. The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master — that's all.' " (Through the Looking-Glass)
So sayeth Trumpty=Dumpty.
2
Spin has morphed into outright lies, and it has changed to straight hypocrisy, too.
Hillary Clinton was dragged through a shredder explaining Benghazi, and explaining her server. But the current Administration barely got questioned about an ill-fated, ill-planned attack in Yemen, or about using unsecured phones and servers. And talking to Russia, who hacked our election. We might disagree on whether they deserve investigation, but we shouldn't disagree that if the failure of intelligence and planning is unacceptable in one terrible situation, it ought to be unacceptable in others, regardless of who owns the failure.
We accept lies, we accept that things are OK if our side does it. Ultimately, that total lack of perspective and principle has the power to sink us. We can choose to excuse anything.
Hillary Clinton was dragged through a shredder explaining Benghazi, and explaining her server. But the current Administration barely got questioned about an ill-fated, ill-planned attack in Yemen, or about using unsecured phones and servers. And talking to Russia, who hacked our election. We might disagree on whether they deserve investigation, but we shouldn't disagree that if the failure of intelligence and planning is unacceptable in one terrible situation, it ought to be unacceptable in others, regardless of who owns the failure.
We accept lies, we accept that things are OK if our side does it. Ultimately, that total lack of perspective and principle has the power to sink us. We can choose to excuse anything.
2
Dr. Krugman is, as always, right on is his assessment of the expansion of the boundaries of untruths in the present administration. I would add one more dimension - the scary fact that the members of this administration seem to be lying to themselves. Trump et al ( with some exceptions ) see themselves as Masters of the Universe who deal with Putin and his minions as equals. Putin is a stone cold killer who stands on a mound of bodies. Bankrupting a casino and stiffing the debtors is not equivalent . The Russians are playing in a whole different league. It is beginning to look like some guppies got into a tank with some sharks. That will not end well for the guppies. God help us.
13
Different views of America once agreed on a common core of truths--principles/facts, values/service, found in and outside of government, high and low. Now we speak of security--not justice. We blame the poor, who, too often, have been cast off by the rich. Our police sometimes (too often!) shot our children. We take comfort in anger. We employ a squared logic, build around stereotypes.
In excess and waste, the New Lies are without honor: they serve only self. In Dickens' "Tale of Two Cities," the lie was a meaningful sacrifice; it contributed and preserved something greater than self or wealth. Advancing in tragic conditions the honor and courage of higher service, the lie exalted and accepted the risks freedom requires.
Now we are told the Big Lie: freedom can be risk-free. By its very practice and definition, freedom implies and fulfills risk, whether in celebration or tragedy, Freedom remains us in its practice that what makes democracy different from dictatorships and authoritarian regimes is its person-centered risk, shouldered by one, for all. Because we are bound together, we are free.
The deconstruction of the "administrative state" is a lie whose real intent is to take away freedom away by taking away our protections against risk--it uses "security" to undermine the freedoms security claims to protect! It is a complicated lie with many parts. But like all the New Lies, it is void of honor, self-serving and concentrates wealth and power.
In excess and waste, the New Lies are without honor: they serve only self. In Dickens' "Tale of Two Cities," the lie was a meaningful sacrifice; it contributed and preserved something greater than self or wealth. Advancing in tragic conditions the honor and courage of higher service, the lie exalted and accepted the risks freedom requires.
Now we are told the Big Lie: freedom can be risk-free. By its very practice and definition, freedom implies and fulfills risk, whether in celebration or tragedy, Freedom remains us in its practice that what makes democracy different from dictatorships and authoritarian regimes is its person-centered risk, shouldered by one, for all. Because we are bound together, we are free.
The deconstruction of the "administrative state" is a lie whose real intent is to take away freedom away by taking away our protections against risk--it uses "security" to undermine the freedoms security claims to protect! It is a complicated lie with many parts. But like all the New Lies, it is void of honor, self-serving and concentrates wealth and power.
14
Well said. This comment would make a excellent submission as a letter to the editor. Please consider.
2
Not unusual that a hostile foreign power would try to influence an election. Very concerning that probably an entire domestic political party would collude with them, though. Little of this would likely have come to light if that party had lost the presidency, as expected, but increased their numbers in Congress due to this strategem.
Now they are caught with their hand in the cookie jar and in the till as well.
Now they are caught with their hand in the cookie jar and in the till as well.
8
...due to its gerrymandering you mean.
1
Always a good idea to review some of the details of how subversion resides in these lucky if incompetent holders of what we, the People, rightfully should without anxiety expect from those fortunate ones having been given the spotlight. And they seem to thrill, smiling at the smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd.
We have historically downplayed the feeble strength of one of us, while at the same times have been thrilled that so many voices have spoken up loud and proud in the face of what the far right opposition baldly declares is "fake news". Can these loyalists to the crown ever wake to a hilarious realization that this Carnivale is full frontal admission that we are at times using opinion as evidence of our wants preeminence over needs. Junkies looking for a fix.
We have historically downplayed the feeble strength of one of us, while at the same times have been thrilled that so many voices have spoken up loud and proud in the face of what the far right opposition baldly declares is "fake news". Can these loyalists to the crown ever wake to a hilarious realization that this Carnivale is full frontal admission that we are at times using opinion as evidence of our wants preeminence over needs. Junkies looking for a fix.
3
I agree with Krugman that Trump is a clown of a president who, in time, will do untold damage to the country.
However, the press cannot be seen to be an arm of the Democratic party. There must be some semblance of balance on view, as difficult as that is to stomach, in order to maintain credibility in the eyes of everybody. Too many - and too much - Trump bashing will reduce the impact of the real Trump stories. When the big one comes along, no room must be left for the people to say "yet another Trump story, I'll ignore it like all the rest". Which, sadly, incredibly, roughly 50% of the American people seem adept at doing.
The media needs to keep on the balanced track it has followed. Trump will implode some-time in 2018, if not sooner.
However, the press cannot be seen to be an arm of the Democratic party. There must be some semblance of balance on view, as difficult as that is to stomach, in order to maintain credibility in the eyes of everybody. Too many - and too much - Trump bashing will reduce the impact of the real Trump stories. When the big one comes along, no room must be left for the people to say "yet another Trump story, I'll ignore it like all the rest". Which, sadly, incredibly, roughly 50% of the American people seem adept at doing.
The media needs to keep on the balanced track it has followed. Trump will implode some-time in 2018, if not sooner.
7
Just stay factual. It's not easy but it will serve all of us best. State the facts, leave out the conjecture, the maligning, the negative opinions. Just keep stating the facts. It will make a difference. Use the exact words when they speak. No need to explain them. The words will speak loudly if we let them.
You are right about our living in a shameless media bubble, Paul, and thanks for your ability to tell truth to power.
How do we counter Fox News, as well as the other networks who treat our president a if he were actually a thoughtful, caring person? We have to figure this out before it becomes completely obvious- and terrible damage to the Republic has occurred.
There are two possible solutions, actually. One is naming and shaming. The Fox News crowd wouldn't tell the truth if you put their feet to the fire- as long as their hands were grabbing hundred dollar bills.
The second path is to boycott key Fox advertisers, less as a way to punish them than to develop better educational tools. Truthtellers like you have become a harmless niche, Paul. It's time Americans learned what we are actually up against. They won't want to learn that the dolled up liars on Fox are Trump's soulmates, and are taking us- and the world- to a hellish place. But without that knowledge, fascism dressed in bimbo clothing and market researched slogans will smash up our world until it's too late.
How do we counter Fox News, as well as the other networks who treat our president a if he were actually a thoughtful, caring person? We have to figure this out before it becomes completely obvious- and terrible damage to the Republic has occurred.
There are two possible solutions, actually. One is naming and shaming. The Fox News crowd wouldn't tell the truth if you put their feet to the fire- as long as their hands were grabbing hundred dollar bills.
The second path is to boycott key Fox advertisers, less as a way to punish them than to develop better educational tools. Truthtellers like you have become a harmless niche, Paul. It's time Americans learned what we are actually up against. They won't want to learn that the dolled up liars on Fox are Trump's soulmates, and are taking us- and the world- to a hellish place. But without that knowledge, fascism dressed in bimbo clothing and market researched slogans will smash up our world until it's too late.
26
With due respect, I think you miss the larger point. The problem is not Fox News, the problem is Fox News viewers. When you have an ill-educated populace that has not been intellectually nurtured on rationality and evidence- based learning, they are always going to be ripe for manipulation by unscrupulous persons with the ability to play that audience's emotions like a fiddle. Just as Fox News and Trump are currently doing. That is the ultimate problem.
I blame religion which teaches that it is valid to believe in things for which there is no proof. If I believe it, it's true. Indeed, the depth of your blind faith is the measure of your religiosity. Is it not a short leap then to apply the same "reasoning" to the political realm? For many, it quite clearly is. Faith-based facts are not facts, they are beliefs. Fox News based "facts" are not facts, they are unsubstantiated beliefs at best, propaganda at worse. But the mental process for the hearer/viewer is exactly the same. Is it a mere coincidence that an overlay of where the Republican party's strength lies would coincide with those regions of the country with the highest rate of fundamentalism religiosity? And with the lowest levels of higher education.
When you are raised to believe and not question, when that is instilled in you as a valid way to approach life, what on earth do you think is going to happen when that intellectual vacuousness is transferred to political thought? Answer: demagogues.
I blame religion which teaches that it is valid to believe in things for which there is no proof. If I believe it, it's true. Indeed, the depth of your blind faith is the measure of your religiosity. Is it not a short leap then to apply the same "reasoning" to the political realm? For many, it quite clearly is. Faith-based facts are not facts, they are beliefs. Fox News based "facts" are not facts, they are unsubstantiated beliefs at best, propaganda at worse. But the mental process for the hearer/viewer is exactly the same. Is it a mere coincidence that an overlay of where the Republican party's strength lies would coincide with those regions of the country with the highest rate of fundamentalism religiosity? And with the lowest levels of higher education.
When you are raised to believe and not question, when that is instilled in you as a valid way to approach life, what on earth do you think is going to happen when that intellectual vacuousness is transferred to political thought? Answer: demagogues.
2
Paul Krugman is a national treasure.
What a relief that not everyone allowed themselves to be hypnotized Tuesday night. My heart sank Wednesday morning when Mr. Trump's festival of lies and demagoguery was received as the Gettysburg Address. It was as if, having realized too late that the car it eagerly bought was an Edsel, a family decided that it could, simply by renaming it, make the neighborhood believe the car was a Rolls-Royce.
At the moment of his inauguration, Mr. Trump was already the worst president the United States has ever had. His presidential campaign ensured that. His first five weeks have deepened his legacy. The most dispiriting part is that at least 46 more months stand between us and a government of literate, honest public servants who operate with the best interests of all those they govern.
What a relief that not everyone allowed themselves to be hypnotized Tuesday night. My heart sank Wednesday morning when Mr. Trump's festival of lies and demagoguery was received as the Gettysburg Address. It was as if, having realized too late that the car it eagerly bought was an Edsel, a family decided that it could, simply by renaming it, make the neighborhood believe the car was a Rolls-Royce.
At the moment of his inauguration, Mr. Trump was already the worst president the United States has ever had. His presidential campaign ensured that. His first five weeks have deepened his legacy. The most dispiriting part is that at least 46 more months stand between us and a government of literate, honest public servants who operate with the best interests of all those they govern.
39
Trump's base does not care whether or not Sessions lied under oath.
They do not care if other TRump appointees have lied.
The base believes [erroneously]that Trump will restore lost blue collar jobs and restore their economic well being.
That is the ONLY thing that matters to TRump's base.
The Democrats must espouse programs that will restore the base's economic well being.
HRC did not do this and that is why she lost.
Telling laid off coal miners to become call center operators at a fraction of their previous wage is not a solution.
Telling other displaced workers to retrain for new jobs at a fraction of their previous wage is not a solution.
If the Dems do not develop programs to help displaced workers, then they will turn to demagogues like TRump who will support policies to cut taxes for the rich, gut financial and environmental regulation and slash social programs.
They do not care if other TRump appointees have lied.
The base believes [erroneously]that Trump will restore lost blue collar jobs and restore their economic well being.
That is the ONLY thing that matters to TRump's base.
The Democrats must espouse programs that will restore the base's economic well being.
HRC did not do this and that is why she lost.
Telling laid off coal miners to become call center operators at a fraction of their previous wage is not a solution.
Telling other displaced workers to retrain for new jobs at a fraction of their previous wage is not a solution.
If the Dems do not develop programs to help displaced workers, then they will turn to demagogues like TRump who will support policies to cut taxes for the rich, gut financial and environmental regulation and slash social programs.
16
Trump's base is not very large. Trump didn't win by winning over his base. He won by winning over, first skeptical Republicans, and then independent and undecided voters at the last minute. He won't win in 2020 if only Trumpists vote for him, just like the Democratic candidate won't win if only liberals vote for them.
I agree that Democrats should have a clearer vision for economic fairness, though. A huge disadvantage for Clinton is that she did not successfully articulate a vision of what she wants the country to be like.
I agree that Democrats should have a clearer vision for economic fairness, though. A huge disadvantage for Clinton is that she did not successfully articulate a vision of what she wants the country to be like.
3
Having been raised in a fundamentalist Christian community, I can assure you that the only thing that matters to the 81% of Evangelicals who voted for Trump is abortion.
3
Mr Krugman mentions the general reaction of the media to Trump's speech. I've wondered the very same thing.
The speech wasn't a screen test. It wasn't an audition. It wasn't a beauty contest or a spelling bee. yet, trump generally received high marks, mainly for his "presidential appearance". Appearance? Appearance? What?
Since the election, outlets such as CNN and CBS News have been fairly critical of Trump. However, both gave high marks to Trump. It almost as though someone in the Administration threatened CNN and CBS to lighten up on Trump. Aside from the NYT, there was little hard analysis of the content of Trump's speech. If this sounds too conspiratorial, take a look at the tactics used by the GOP and by Trump over the last 10-20 years. The first rule is to attack, always be on the offensive. This Administration wants to bring the nation's free press to heel. They may have taken a big step already.
The speech wasn't a screen test. It wasn't an audition. It wasn't a beauty contest or a spelling bee. yet, trump generally received high marks, mainly for his "presidential appearance". Appearance? Appearance? What?
Since the election, outlets such as CNN and CBS News have been fairly critical of Trump. However, both gave high marks to Trump. It almost as though someone in the Administration threatened CNN and CBS to lighten up on Trump. Aside from the NYT, there was little hard analysis of the content of Trump's speech. If this sounds too conspiratorial, take a look at the tactics used by the GOP and by Trump over the last 10-20 years. The first rule is to attack, always be on the offensive. This Administration wants to bring the nation's free press to heel. They may have taken a big step already.
21
The lies by the Administration are worrisome. But Trump's affinity for falsehood was well known prior to the election. There have always been liars; but it is only recently that significant numbers of Americans have become so cynical that lying is accepted as a norm instead of an inappropriate aberration. Having reached that tipping point it is difficult to believe that matters will improve anytime soon.
16
And they all work for the Liar in Chief. Obviously Americans like liars better than sloppy email users.,
19
To be fair, Trump voters do not all "live in a Fox News bubble." (You tried to take some of the stink off that spin by using the words, "primary voters," because you know that Trump ran against a notorious liar during the general.) Some voted for Trump to hold Hillary accountable for her lies. That worked out well for us, didn't it? It was obvious that was a liar, but he told lies voters wanted to believe.
If voters lied with the veracity as politicians, we would all be in prison. Sessions perjured himself. Voters can't do anything about that and Congress will not. Hold them accountable two, four or six years from now? Really?
What about the lies from politicians who are not elected? Tom Perez said the "primary the process was rigged and it was. And you’ve got to be honest about it." Later that day he said, he "misspoke," which is politician speak for he accidentally told the truth. Now we are stuck with a liar, charged with representing the viewpoint of one third of American voters.
What is the solution" All I hear is complaining and moral outrage, but no game plan to remove these odious people from our government. We need a game plan, a third party with the ability to actually elect honest representatives. Our lying, thieving, crooked political system has convinced us that they are our only hope and a third party will never succeed. Now that we know they are liars, why do we still hold on to that particular lie?
If voters lied with the veracity as politicians, we would all be in prison. Sessions perjured himself. Voters can't do anything about that and Congress will not. Hold them accountable two, four or six years from now? Really?
What about the lies from politicians who are not elected? Tom Perez said the "primary the process was rigged and it was. And you’ve got to be honest about it." Later that day he said, he "misspoke," which is politician speak for he accidentally told the truth. Now we are stuck with a liar, charged with representing the viewpoint of one third of American voters.
What is the solution" All I hear is complaining and moral outrage, but no game plan to remove these odious people from our government. We need a game plan, a third party with the ability to actually elect honest representatives. Our lying, thieving, crooked political system has convinced us that they are our only hope and a third party will never succeed. Now that we know they are liars, why do we still hold on to that particular lie?
6
A remarkable display of cynicism.
"Some voted for Trump to hold Hillary accountable for her lies. That worked out well for us, didn't it?" If your exclusive goal was to hurt Clinton, I guess it did, but that's a strange reason to vote. By any measure, Trump has lied in ways that exceed anything Clinton did in the first term of office, so it seems to have been self-defeating to vote for him in order to punish someone else for lying.
"[Trump] told lies voters wanted to believe." White nationalist voters, at least.
"Voters can't do anything about that and Congress will not." Sounds like an application of might makes right reasoning.
"Hold them accountable two, four or six years from now? Really?" Yes, if you've got an administration that lies on an extraordinary level and blocks investigations about it, and their party in Congress closes ranks around them knowing full well the political risks of doing so, then you should hold those members accountable in future elections.
"All I hear is complaining and moral outrage." And and immoral activity, no less!
"Our lying, thieving, crooked political system has convinced us that they are our only hope and a third party will never succeed. Now that we know they are liars, why do we still hold on to that particular lie?" I don't think most people think that third parties could succeed under normal conditions in American politics. It's not even clear that this depends on access-closing by major parties. Look at Hotelling's law.
"Some voted for Trump to hold Hillary accountable for her lies. That worked out well for us, didn't it?" If your exclusive goal was to hurt Clinton, I guess it did, but that's a strange reason to vote. By any measure, Trump has lied in ways that exceed anything Clinton did in the first term of office, so it seems to have been self-defeating to vote for him in order to punish someone else for lying.
"[Trump] told lies voters wanted to believe." White nationalist voters, at least.
"Voters can't do anything about that and Congress will not." Sounds like an application of might makes right reasoning.
"Hold them accountable two, four or six years from now? Really?" Yes, if you've got an administration that lies on an extraordinary level and blocks investigations about it, and their party in Congress closes ranks around them knowing full well the political risks of doing so, then you should hold those members accountable in future elections.
"All I hear is complaining and moral outrage." And and immoral activity, no less!
"Our lying, thieving, crooked political system has convinced us that they are our only hope and a third party will never succeed. Now that we know they are liars, why do we still hold on to that particular lie?" I don't think most people think that third parties could succeed under normal conditions in American politics. It's not even clear that this depends on access-closing by major parties. Look at Hotelling's law.
2
What lies by Hillary? Certainly not about her emails. After a lengthy investigation, all the FBI came up with was a single email that had a small 'c' for confidential in the text and no Classified header. (Two similar emails about her call schedule for the day were said by the State Department to not be classified.). Comey admitted under oath that even a security expert would not have known that the one single email was classified since it did not have the mandatory header.
Do you mean Benghazi? Again after multiple investigations and millions of dollars, no wrongdoing was found.
Too much Fox and too much Breitbart. Fact checkers found that during the campaign Trump lied about 70% of the time and as president, he has lied an average of 4 times a day.
Facts matter. Sessions perjured himself and is part of this administration that almost NEVER tells the truth - either out of ignorance, indifference or malevolence.
History will be harsh on the Republican Party in the future. Lies are not the truth. No matter how much propaganda you swallow.
Do you mean Benghazi? Again after multiple investigations and millions of dollars, no wrongdoing was found.
Too much Fox and too much Breitbart. Fact checkers found that during the campaign Trump lied about 70% of the time and as president, he has lied an average of 4 times a day.
Facts matter. Sessions perjured himself and is part of this administration that almost NEVER tells the truth - either out of ignorance, indifference or malevolence.
History will be harsh on the Republican Party in the future. Lies are not the truth. No matter how much propaganda you swallow.
7
Oh, the buzzing and the hair splitting, the yes he dids and the no he didn'ts, the I don't recalls and the fake outrage and the real outrage and the video replays. What we need is a little succinctness here. Two things:
First: The Russians have tampered with our government. They admit it and both U.S. political parties acknowledge it. This endless back-and-forth about what to do, if anything, is inappropriate.
... In short: Investigate! Thoroughly. At once.
Second, When Clinton lied under oath, it was about sex. When Sessions lied at his confirmation hearing, it was about contact with a Russian official and, as Dr. Krugman says, we're living through "the real possibility that we’re facing subversion by agents of a foreign power [Russia] and that top officials are part of the story...." No Americans were ever kept awake at night, staring at the ceiling, worrying about danger to their country because of Clinton's sex life. But, in the Trump era, any informed American is filled with anxiety about Russian meddling in our government and the potential loss of our democracy.
... In short: Investigate! Thoroughly. At once.
First: The Russians have tampered with our government. They admit it and both U.S. political parties acknowledge it. This endless back-and-forth about what to do, if anything, is inappropriate.
... In short: Investigate! Thoroughly. At once.
Second, When Clinton lied under oath, it was about sex. When Sessions lied at his confirmation hearing, it was about contact with a Russian official and, as Dr. Krugman says, we're living through "the real possibility that we’re facing subversion by agents of a foreign power [Russia] and that top officials are part of the story...." No Americans were ever kept awake at night, staring at the ceiling, worrying about danger to their country because of Clinton's sex life. But, in the Trump era, any informed American is filled with anxiety about Russian meddling in our government and the potential loss of our democracy.
... In short: Investigate! Thoroughly. At once.
102
It appears to me that this country is in the midst of an emotional crisis Unfortunately, there are multiple crisis happening at the same time. European Americans cry for the stolen land they are losing. Baby Boomers lament the way things turned out on their watch. Millenials lament the disconnect the have with their own culture. Worst of all, the Republicans know there time is over and are willing to do anything to retain power.
All of these intertwining leads to a distant relationship with realty and truth.
We need an intervention and I can only hope it is one that awakens us emotionally and not make things worse.
All of these intertwining leads to a distant relationship with realty and truth.
We need an intervention and I can only hope it is one that awakens us emotionally and not make things worse.
2
Remember not so long ago when Bill Clinton was called "the Teflon president"?
Looking back on the campaign, if ever there was a Teflon coated person it was Trump. His campaign and his nascent presidency are filled with lies and with liars. Yet, even when the lies are proved, Trump's followers don't care one bit. In their minds, it seems, that if lies are required to "make America great again", no lie is too big.
It appears that Trump holds a "pass" card that has no expiration.
Looking back on the campaign, if ever there was a Teflon coated person it was Trump. His campaign and his nascent presidency are filled with lies and with liars. Yet, even when the lies are proved, Trump's followers don't care one bit. In their minds, it seems, that if lies are required to "make America great again", no lie is too big.
It appears that Trump holds a "pass" card that has no expiration.
12
Actually it was Reagan who was called the Teflon President: "Teflon Ron".
Actually, it was Ronald Reagan who was dubbed "the teflon president"
Wow...thanks to you and to "Shelley" for the correction. memory must be failing.
1
You've asked the salient question, Professor Krugman: who is going to stop him?
16
We know Bannon wants to destroy the government, maybe not by drowning it in the bathtub, Norquist-style, but perhaps by undermining any credibility the negative propagandists have left in place. Trump can say that criticism of him is part of a conspiracy to undermine him. Even threats to Jewish centers can be spun as the work of his enemies. So we're faced with a swathe of Americans for whom recitations of Trump's faults act to confirm their trust in him. Can someone, as Timothy Egan does today, try reciting the goodness of America that can be found outside the Trump Twilight Zone?
9
Trump's media bashing is an attempt at "preemptive innoculation".
He's betting that a discredited press will somehow protect him from the truth once the borscht hits the fan.
He's betting that a discredited press will somehow protect him from the truth once the borscht hits the fan.
14
Write to your Senator. I did.
Your friend Jeff Sessions lied under oath, Your integrity is now at stake. Our nation's integrity is now at stake. What will you do?
Very Sincerely Yours,
Feel free to copy and paste.
Your friend Jeff Sessions lied under oath, Your integrity is now at stake. Our nation's integrity is now at stake. What will you do?
Very Sincerely Yours,
Feel free to copy and paste.
15
This won't accomplish anything in NY because both of our Senators are Democrats. The key is to convince Republican Senators to break with their party.
1
I think Krugman hits the nail on the head: Trump is dangerous but what's scarier is how quickly so many are willing to suspend disbelief and embrace him as America's great maverick leader -- a hybrid of Ronald Reagan and Rodney Dangerfield -- if he did just a tiny bit more Ronnie and less Rodney.
Minus spittle flying, hand waving racist improv, mocking disabilities and plus an earnest rendition of a responsible adult addressing Congress and America, with the whole world watching fingers crossed. Just that and -- like one of his acolytes declared in The NYT -- "he was very presidential."
His base is one part deplorable but two parts desperate: they prefer their reality confined to cable and TV shows and false but validating versions of news that debunk the liberal lying media. Like their President, they can't admit they're wrong, that they bought a lie so obvious, with such grave consequences, it was no less than the betrayal of America. Think very many of them would cop to that?
The next four years will be like Medieval pain management. Back then pain relief was achieved by applying greater pain to a separate part of the body so the original pain didn't hurt as bad. If you lived in the Middle Ages and had Dr. Trump for a dentist, he'd put your hand over a high lick of candle flame and just as you screamed, he'd yank out a tooth that wasn't aching.
It's really gonna hurt when the bill comes.
33
Excellent, Mr. Krugman, particularly the penultimate paragraph. The normalization Tuesday night into Wednesday morning was repugnant.
24
What will it take for Republicans in Congress to grow a spine, do their jobs and hold this incompetent and corrupt Administration accountable? Based on what we've seen thus far, I fear the answer is "nothing." In large part, it's likely due to Republicans lacking the essential gene that allows human beings to feel "shame."
8
This Russian scandal will have to be as bad or worse than we think in order for our Republican Congress to act against 45, and the press will have to track down the evidence to support it.
It's abundantly clear that Republican allegiance is to the party only. Their enemies are Democrats and non-Trump voting independents. External actors, like Russia, can be their allies or enemies, depending on whether their actions help or hurt the party.
Their reality is that they can go along and get much of the legislation passed or rescinded that they've wanted, including getting a right-wing Supreme Court, or they can act to remove the president, and have about half their voters turn against them by staying home on election day, essentially removing them from power for years.
The Republican Party is very much the same as Trump. What's important to them is ruling America, not America itself. America under a different administration is the worst result, not the loss of control of our elections to a foreign power.
It's abundantly clear that Republican allegiance is to the party only. Their enemies are Democrats and non-Trump voting independents. External actors, like Russia, can be their allies or enemies, depending on whether their actions help or hurt the party.
Their reality is that they can go along and get much of the legislation passed or rescinded that they've wanted, including getting a right-wing Supreme Court, or they can act to remove the president, and have about half their voters turn against them by staying home on election day, essentially removing them from power for years.
The Republican Party is very much the same as Trump. What's important to them is ruling America, not America itself. America under a different administration is the worst result, not the loss of control of our elections to a foreign power.
8
"Goodbye Spin, Hello Raw Dishonesty" is spin!
First riots in the streets and airports, then "electoral college", now "Russians" -- temper tantrum by Democrats because America did not elect Hillary.
Democrats hate and divide, Republicans govern and lead. Voters, choose who you think will be better elected officials.
First riots in the streets and airports, then "electoral college", now "Russians" -- temper tantrum by Democrats because America did not elect Hillary.
Democrats hate and divide, Republicans govern and lead. Voters, choose who you think will be better elected officials.
3
Yeah daddy, that Muslim ban roll-out really showed 'em, eh. It is really early for such a belly shaking laugh, but thanks.
1
Republicans govern and lead? Really? All I saw for 8 years, beginning with "He'll be a one-term president", and only 2 weeks into office "He's the worst president we've every had" (thank you Mitch McConnell) was hatred and division for years as they tried to delegitimize Obama in any way possible and used the word NO constantly. No attempt on their part to work with the other side. That's not leadership. That's a tantrum (sound familiar?) because their guy didn't win.
1
"Riots"? No. Principled citizens protesting the erosion of our democracy.
1
Thank you for writing exactly what I'm thinking...The bar is set so low and if the media is already giving up and calling him presidential after these despicable few weeks, there is no hope. Just heinous, the lot of them, it makes me despair that these very people are in control of our country.
6
The slow death of 'American Exceptionalism'.
Sad. (No, really).
Sad. (No, really).
1
Thank you for using the word "lie." For the life of me I can't figure out why it isn't used all the time.
The first day I saw the NYT use the word "lie" on the front page I shared it with everyone I knew because it was like seeing a unicorn.
The first day I saw the NYT use the word "lie" on the front page I shared it with everyone I knew because it was like seeing a unicorn.
8
I just don’t get it.
Americans shriek in approval when Trump a) called Hillary Clinton “a crook” then b) promised to throw her in jail the minute he was sworn in [that rated even higher on the “shriek-applause-o-meter”].
Say, did that ever happen?
Shriek and forget. That's Democracy at its tops!
Now everyones swooning over his speech, the big moment of which came when he told the weeping widow of a special forces soldier that the Congressional applause Record had now been broken and that her husband is smiling down at her.
The dead man’s father, incidentally, refused to participate.
He saw Trump’s decision to send his son and her husband to death after a thorough study of one week as President as a sign that Trump would soon later use his son’s death for political purposes.
Joining the chorus in Trump's support is some USSR [a rotten nation by any other name] is a Soviet (see previous [..]) “Spokeswoman”.
"What is happening now in the West, particularly in the U.S. media” is, opines Maria Zakharova, “just the manifestation of some kind of media vandalism.”
Yup. Nice to know we can trust Mother Russia, Father Trump Mitch McConnell and those scoundrels surrounding 'em, including, apparently, a goodly portion of The American People.
Face it: Jeff Sessions would have been called a Traitor by both Houses and parties in Congress had Trump discovered our nation was be addicted to woofin’ rather than telling the truth.
Roll over GeeDubya and tell Abe Lincoln the news.
Americans shriek in approval when Trump a) called Hillary Clinton “a crook” then b) promised to throw her in jail the minute he was sworn in [that rated even higher on the “shriek-applause-o-meter”].
Say, did that ever happen?
Shriek and forget. That's Democracy at its tops!
Now everyones swooning over his speech, the big moment of which came when he told the weeping widow of a special forces soldier that the Congressional applause Record had now been broken and that her husband is smiling down at her.
The dead man’s father, incidentally, refused to participate.
He saw Trump’s decision to send his son and her husband to death after a thorough study of one week as President as a sign that Trump would soon later use his son’s death for political purposes.
Joining the chorus in Trump's support is some USSR [a rotten nation by any other name] is a Soviet (see previous [..]) “Spokeswoman”.
"What is happening now in the West, particularly in the U.S. media” is, opines Maria Zakharova, “just the manifestation of some kind of media vandalism.”
Yup. Nice to know we can trust Mother Russia, Father Trump Mitch McConnell and those scoundrels surrounding 'em, including, apparently, a goodly portion of The American People.
Face it: Jeff Sessions would have been called a Traitor by both Houses and parties in Congress had Trump discovered our nation was be addicted to woofin’ rather than telling the truth.
Roll over GeeDubya and tell Abe Lincoln the news.
5
Add Betsy DeVos to the list of Cabinet members who lied under oath. When asked in her hearing about whether she supported reparative therapy for LGBT youth, she claimed that she did not, and said that the money her family had given to support reparative therapy had come from her mother's foundation. When asked if she was on the Board of her mother's foundation when those gifts were made, she said she was not. This was a lie that was easily proven when somebody pulled the Federal 990 forms her mother's foundation filed with the IRS. She was listed as the Vice President of the Board during the very years that those donations were made.
13
Welcome to Post Factism Era. Old populist leaders's real enemy have never been democracy (Hitler was elected) or the press or the opposite party : it has always been common sense. The traditional tactics to bend common sense during the XXe century used to be either finding scape goats (the jews, the muslims) or exploiting some huge event (911 => Irak War, Reichtag fire => Full Power, etc.). What we are witnessing is a new breed of fascism based on new technology that allows to bend common sense and the sound perception of facts by the masses with new simple tactics. Human brain can absorb only so much information and after overload is achieved, tends to stick to basic loyalty/partisan reflexes. It is highly addictive to be partisan, as it appels to reptilian aggressive instinct (lock her up) with loads of endomorphine secretion that trumps any cortex reasoning. People do not read books anymore and prefer to watch Live news. Smart people are diving into conspiracy theories and "false flag" stories that basically teach them day after day to discard plain facts and accept any crazy explanation coming from some obscur source as the "real real truth". Post-Factism can be defined as : The more dark the source, the more credible the fact ! This is a deep issue and only reinforced by labeling the professional media as sold out, the elected officials as corrupt, and foreign democracies are "weak".
5
Let me ask the readers here, do you trust anything that is uttered from the mouth of our current POTUS? Anything at all? I don't. Every time I listen to him my teeth go on edge. As Krugman notes all politicians obfuscate and spin according to their self-interests. It's endemic of the job as politician and I can accept this. But our current POTUS has taken that character aspect and sent it into a whole new Universe. And I don't like it. There's no more time for hand-wringing. There's no more time for anguishing over anything that is uttered by the man. Moving forward it is all about stymying and block, if not working to outright remove, this POTUS. He is not worthy of being called an American, much less President of these United States.
John~
American Net'Zen
John~
American Net'Zen
1105
I turned off the "reading from the teleprompter" as not only does 45 defile the WH and the oval office with his lies and his presence, but now he has defiled Congress.
1
The closing Trump advertisement in the election railed against a supposed cabal of international elite financial figures who were claimed to be causing America's decline. It pictured financier George Soros, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen, and GS CEO Lloyd Blankfein as the prime villains. Trump's inaugural address also reiterated the populist theme that the day of revenge against financial elites has arrived. Despite this, the one certain thing that can be predicted is that the Republican controlled congress will enact and President Trump will sign is elimination of the estate tax. This literally could be called taking from the millionaires to give to the billionaires. Estates under $5.49 million are now totally exempt from the estate tax. Billionaires are not as able as mere millionaires to employ strategies to avoid estate taxes. Repealing the estate tax will give $billions to a fraction of the top 1%, which will ultimately have to be made up by the rest of the taxpayers.
There will be a further shift in the tax burden away from the rich and onto the middle class. Since 1966, there has been a tremendous shift in the tax burdens away from the rich on onto the middle class. Corporate income tax receipts, whose incidence falls on the owners of corporations, were 4% of GDP then and were 1.77% in 2016. During that same period, payroll tax rates as a percent of GDP have increased dramatically from 3.27% in 1966 to 5.95% in 2016..."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4047890
There will be a further shift in the tax burden away from the rich and onto the middle class. Since 1966, there has been a tremendous shift in the tax burdens away from the rich on onto the middle class. Corporate income tax receipts, whose incidence falls on the owners of corporations, were 4% of GDP then and were 1.77% in 2016. During that same period, payroll tax rates as a percent of GDP have increased dramatically from 3.27% in 1966 to 5.95% in 2016..."
http://seekingalpha.com/article/4047890
4
Our society may crack. How is it possible to swallow Republican actions, either from this foul group in power - or from their ignorant slogan-loving supporters? Trying to have a substantive discussion is impossible. They have their marching orders and they are blindly loyal. There will be no true republican help from any corner, and anything that vaugely looks like sanity will be roundly applauded as our expectations of strength of character and true public service completely crumble.
Everyone, enjoy your tainted water, air, and food! The rich must have it all, you understand, so we can be "free." (Just not as to your own body, because the republicans know what is best for you in that area.)
Everyone, enjoy your tainted water, air, and food! The rich must have it all, you understand, so we can be "free." (Just not as to your own body, because the republicans know what is best for you in that area.)
3
It should be self evident that a disdain for truth is a dangerous signal. A yellow light as it were for freedom, fairness, and for democracy itself.
Thank You Paul for this article, and to to the NYT for the commercial that plead for a restoration of truth as a value and virtue.
Thank You Paul for this article, and to to the NYT for the commercial that plead for a restoration of truth as a value and virtue.
3
Tbe GOPutins are in the process of dismantling, repealing, subverting & selling our democratic republic right out from under us.
The news media need to stay focused. Patriots in federal service are risking their jobs, appointments, livelihoods, pensions, medical coverage & maybe even their well being exposing this fact. Distractions about Trump staying on script & KCON's feet on the couch are just that- distractions.
The news media need to stay focused. Patriots in federal service are risking their jobs, appointments, livelihoods, pensions, medical coverage & maybe even their well being exposing this fact. Distractions about Trump staying on script & KCON's feet on the couch are just that- distractions.
1
The only thing that gives me hope is knowing how fickle people can be. Trump is in essence an entertainer and people will grow tired of his rehashed lies
One of the things that has allowed Trump to flourish is the post-truth environment which Fox News and other Murdoch enterprises have fostered. What Murdoch has long realised is that a significant part of the population will always accept lying if the lies accord with their prejudices.
Trump is infinitely more corrupt that Clinton ever dreamed of being, but how many Fox viewers believe that? I am one of the many the people who started subscribing to the Times shortly after the election. The¨Failing New York Times¨ isn´t failing us at all. It´s commitment to the highest standards of journalism has never been more important. And your commentary has never been more necessary.
Trump is infinitely more corrupt that Clinton ever dreamed of being, but how many Fox viewers believe that? I am one of the many the people who started subscribing to the Times shortly after the election. The¨Failing New York Times¨ isn´t failing us at all. It´s commitment to the highest standards of journalism has never been more important. And your commentary has never been more necessary.
3
Trump has made the advancement of all things evil and dishonest possible and OK. When people look up and see a person that lies about everything over and over and talks hate at every turn elected President of the US, well they feel all bets are off. They are free to do and say whatever they want to advance their personal a gender.
1
Trump is the most thin-skinned self-centered double dealing compulsive liar ever to serve in any public office, anywhere, much less our highest office.
Defending the "thug" Vladimir Putin to Bill O'Reilly, Trump stated, and repeated, "We have a lot of killers. Do you think our country is innocent?"
O'Reilly got really curious and wanted to know what Trump was talking about. Trump, with an elongated "well," altered the subject.
Rachel Maddow devoted a major portion in one of her programs last year pointing out FBI was responsible for 155 murders on American soil. The few that were looked at by local police were judged self-defense cases and dismissed. All the cases were dismissed by FBI as having been self-defense.
That is 155 separate murderers who are employed by a government agency.
Mark my words: A fed-burr-of-eye domestic counter-intelligence official, born before 1951, not Comey, met with Trump shortly after the election and advised Trump extreme prejudice could be arranged upon his request—others who came before him have made that call and so could he.
The scum bag Trump has also stated, and repeated in speeches when he strays from his prompter "I am not representing the world. I am representing the United States."
I've stated many times on this page, "I bring to our political table a Television Scripture—world peace art to perform worldwide for all the worlds' peoples at once, as Homer dusk until dawn every line delicate rhyme.
What do you know grasshopper?
Defending the "thug" Vladimir Putin to Bill O'Reilly, Trump stated, and repeated, "We have a lot of killers. Do you think our country is innocent?"
O'Reilly got really curious and wanted to know what Trump was talking about. Trump, with an elongated "well," altered the subject.
Rachel Maddow devoted a major portion in one of her programs last year pointing out FBI was responsible for 155 murders on American soil. The few that were looked at by local police were judged self-defense cases and dismissed. All the cases were dismissed by FBI as having been self-defense.
That is 155 separate murderers who are employed by a government agency.
Mark my words: A fed-burr-of-eye domestic counter-intelligence official, born before 1951, not Comey, met with Trump shortly after the election and advised Trump extreme prejudice could be arranged upon his request—others who came before him have made that call and so could he.
The scum bag Trump has also stated, and repeated in speeches when he strays from his prompter "I am not representing the world. I am representing the United States."
I've stated many times on this page, "I bring to our political table a Television Scripture—world peace art to perform worldwide for all the worlds' peoples at once, as Homer dusk until dawn every line delicate rhyme.
What do you know grasshopper?
1
To Commenters: How does the Senate Judiciary committee act to enforce charges of perjury against Jeff Sessions ? Does it require a majority vote by the Senate Judiciary committee? Can Democrats alone on the Senate Judiciary committee file charges? Or does the committee turn over the request to the Justice Department to prosecute Sessions for committing perjury. Who in the Justice Department would handle that request?
What I'm driving at is the Democrats are lagging behind the activism of the left wing of the Party. It's been reported that Senate Democrat members are considering to move forward on the perjury charges. It's time for Democrats to abandon caution and ride the wave of a revved up activist spirit of the left wing to move boldly and jettison their failed policy of centrist politics to win elections. If someone as extreme as Donald can win a presidential election then that should be a clear sign that Democrats can embrace the left wing of the party to move just as boldly without fear of being voted out of office.
What I'm driving at is the Democrats are lagging behind the activism of the left wing of the Party. It's been reported that Senate Democrat members are considering to move forward on the perjury charges. It's time for Democrats to abandon caution and ride the wave of a revved up activist spirit of the left wing to move boldly and jettison their failed policy of centrist politics to win elections. If someone as extreme as Donald can win a presidential election then that should be a clear sign that Democrats can embrace the left wing of the party to move just as boldly without fear of being voted out of office.
2
The daily drip, drip, drip of lies from this administration has become the new normal for the Republican Party. Their leadership has signed on lock, stock, and barrel and their base just doesn't care. Without a serious correction, our democracy is doomed.
2
Mr. Krugman, I have nothing to add; you covered it all. I'm feeling I want to puke at the thought of what is going on.
1
Thank you, Mr. Krugman. You always keep us focused on what's really going on. Unfortunately, the NY Times was part of the weird media frenzy that suddenly started calling Mr. Trump "presidential." I saw the headlines and groaned. Paraphrasing one of the oiliest and most famous masters of spin, I thought, 'there they go again.' The Times is always so wobbly and so easily seduced. I think it's not only up to journalists to pick up the sword right now, but to the public as well.
2
Let's face the cold hard truth.The man-Trump-is a congenital liar,with a severe personality disorder.In my considered opinion---he is mentally ill.I,say this with all due respect to the office of president of the USA. The cold,hard fact--totally unsuited to occupy the Oval Office.I would say that 75 to 80% of Canadians feel exactly the same!The question put to you,is stark.What,are you going to do about it?Are,you going to wait until he has a major confrontation with North Korea or Iran? By confrontation----I mean war! That will be too late. For the good of America,and the civilized world---Impeach NOW!
Is anyone investigating Republican members of Congress for ties to Russia? It seems like only incriminating material or lots of money can get politicians to behave so dishonestly, against the good of their own constituents.
I disagree. The Republicans follow the party almost mindlessly. They just follow. If Trump announced that he struck a deal with Russia and he was ceding control of our country to Russia and that Putin would now be our leader, the Republicans would all chant: Better Putin than Hillary. All they care about is that the Republicans are in control. That is all the motivation they need.
1
What a dishonest and self-deluded column. The left can't stop spinning and no longer even realize they are spinning as is evident in this piece.
2
Comrade, listen carefully -- the truth will set you free.
3
The mind boggles. I mean seriously boggles. how can this be tolerated? It is Banana Republic gone mad. The rest of the world is looking on and wondering what on earth has happened to the USA.
In most democracies this would be simply intolerable, and confirms to me that there really are advantages of a parliamentary system, where the head of government can be voted out at any time by a small number of members of his/her own party taking a stand. The fixed-term presidential system makes it harder for pressure to be applied, and is very reliant on political standards and norms. Trump has shown how vulnerable these are to one who not only doesn't follow them, but often seems oblivious to their very existence.
In most democracies this would be simply intolerable, and confirms to me that there really are advantages of a parliamentary system, where the head of government can be voted out at any time by a small number of members of his/her own party taking a stand. The fixed-term presidential system makes it harder for pressure to be applied, and is very reliant on political standards and norms. Trump has shown how vulnerable these are to one who not only doesn't follow them, but often seems oblivious to their very existence.
3
In the words of the Gary Bartz:
Trump has shown us two things.
1. Anybody can become President.
2. Anybody can't be a President.
Trump has shown us two things.
1. Anybody can become President.
2. Anybody can't be a President.
1
"No president, or for that matter major U.S. political figure of any kind, has ever lied as freely and frequently as Donald Trump. "
Mitt Romney did. Paul Ryan still does.
The GOP found out long ago that it could lie with impunity and the morons in the press and cowards in the Democratic party would do nothing to stop/punish it.
So here we are, the natural near end point of what Reagan started.
Mitt Romney did. Paul Ryan still does.
The GOP found out long ago that it could lie with impunity and the morons in the press and cowards in the Democratic party would do nothing to stop/punish it.
So here we are, the natural near end point of what Reagan started.
4
To go back to where many of us were just after the election -- resist, resist, resist. Do not normalize. I have never seen a mobilization of resistance like what we're living through now. There is not a single social gathering I go to that doesn't start with a discussion of the shameless and cowardly enabling of the autocratic groper-in-chief by the Republican administration and what each of us is doing to resist. In fact, many gatherings are for the express purpose of organizing resistance. If the press won't hold him accountable (and in large part I think much of the MSM is getting the hang of doing it right) the people will. We will be in the streets and in town halls and on the ballots and in election booths and will hold on to democracy with a fierceness that will give the Republican liars the cold slap in the face of reality they deserve.
3
Lie constantly and fluidly. Continue to lie even when caught in the lie or even when it is obvious that you are telling lies. Falsely accuse everyone else of lying. Attack the press so they cannot hold you accountable. Set up a system so your cronies, your family and you can enrich yourselves by stealing from the country. Attack democratic institutions and civil society. Scapegoat minorities. Hide behind hyper-nationalism. Hide behind fighting terrorism. See the world as a clash of civilizations where only the strongest and most brutal prevail. Always lie until your propaganda is the only source of information for your supporters who worship your cult of personality.
Does that describe Trump or Putin?
The fact that the description applies to both should be terrifying to all Americans (that should include Republicans).
Does that describe Trump or Putin?
The fact that the description applies to both should be terrifying to all Americans (that should include Republicans).
1539
Trump has taken lying to operating heights. YOu have to ask when
is he telling the truth. The people he selected are also
serial liars.
The press has done double back flips to avoid calling Trump
and his menagerie of mendacity LIARS.
Now would be a good time to start.
WORD
is he telling the truth. The people he selected are also
serial liars.
The press has done double back flips to avoid calling Trump
and his menagerie of mendacity LIARS.
Now would be a good time to start.
WORD
4
Ah, remember the phrase: "What we need is business men running the government". So true, so true.
2
Thank you, Mr. Krugman. Keep your honest reporting - and moral outrage - going. Somebody has to tell the truth. I was shocked by responsible news agencies saying that Trump's congressional address was "presidential" because he didn't yell and act up. This clouds the real issues - 84 billion more for military, while cutting programs for the needy and the environment - and tax cuts for the rich!! He doesn't need to destroy Social Security and Medicare - just drain the treasury so there is nothing left.
8
I underwrite generally what Paul is describing here. However there is a detail in the narrative that US journalists have spun into a yarn to beef up the story: Sergey Kislyak, the "spymaster". In the eyes of the Soviets, diplomats were always "professional spies", and there is little doubt that in the empire of Vladimir Vladimirovich that hasn't change. First and foremost: His Excellency ─ as ANY diplomat ─ would be in dereliction of his duties if he wouldn't try to sound out AND shape the views of officials in his host country: After all, all the fancy parties, lunches and dinners (do the Russians still have diplomatic uniforms?), lavish housing and so on are justified by pointing out the central role of diplomacy: cultivating good relationships.
Particular diplomatic sensitivity is called for when you engage Her Majesty's Loyal (or not so loyal) Opposition. Governments are extremely jealous, so, double careful what you say.!
However, ambassadors are almost never engaged in the more sinister aspects of the spy trade, that is left to the specialists, at times higher ranking spies in officially lowly diplomatic functions or farmed out to journalists or other "free" agents. There is the need to sustain credible deniability, and while it is embarrassing enough to have 35 "diplomats" expelled, you don't want to have the ambassador included; that would really mean a crisis of higher proportions.
I suggest you ask friends in Foggy Bottom how your diplomats handle these things.
Particular diplomatic sensitivity is called for when you engage Her Majesty's Loyal (or not so loyal) Opposition. Governments are extremely jealous, so, double careful what you say.!
However, ambassadors are almost never engaged in the more sinister aspects of the spy trade, that is left to the specialists, at times higher ranking spies in officially lowly diplomatic functions or farmed out to journalists or other "free" agents. There is the need to sustain credible deniability, and while it is embarrassing enough to have 35 "diplomats" expelled, you don't want to have the ambassador included; that would really mean a crisis of higher proportions.
I suggest you ask friends in Foggy Bottom how your diplomats handle these things.
1
I would add, as Sam Harris describes, that normal politician's lies have some connection to the truth, bending truth to more or less degrees. The connection matters to them because they remain concerned with the consequences of their lies being exposed.
Trump has no concern for the consequences of lying. He is a florid narcissist whose every thought has self grandiosity at the center. He is incapable at viewing himself from outside his own ego. He cares nothing of saving face, because he has no face to save.
Trump has no concern for the consequences of lying. He is a florid narcissist whose every thought has self grandiosity at the center. He is incapable at viewing himself from outside his own ego. He cares nothing of saving face, because he has no face to save.
2
"His ability to get away with it, at least so far, requires the support of many enablers: almost all of his party’s elected officials, A LARGE BLOC OF VOTERS and, all too often, much of the news media" (emphasis added).
Is it not a form of lying, also, Mr. Krugman, when you paint all Trump voters as enablers? In fact, many are already having second thoughts about Trump and the turmoil he has spawned.
In your columns and blog posts you have consistently vilified Trump voters, if only by innuendo. What example does that set for your readers, who hang on your every word and will follow your lead in such matters?
Democrats desperately need to win in 2018 if they are to pull this country back from the abyss. In fact, they may have an historic opportunity to take back both houses of Congress and a dozen or more state houses.
Such a sweep may be possible if even a small percentage of Trump voters become disenchanted and return to the Democratic column, Make no mistake, these white, working-class and rural voters WILL be needed for a sweeping electoral repudiation of Trump and all he stands for. http://tinyurl.com/z7ydk7l
But liberals like you seem to have no interest in winning elections. By constantly vilifying Trump voters you seem determined to drive them back into the arms of Donald Trump, and produce yet another debacle in 2018. http://tinyurl.com/zjj36f7
As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
Is it not a form of lying, also, Mr. Krugman, when you paint all Trump voters as enablers? In fact, many are already having second thoughts about Trump and the turmoil he has spawned.
In your columns and blog posts you have consistently vilified Trump voters, if only by innuendo. What example does that set for your readers, who hang on your every word and will follow your lead in such matters?
Democrats desperately need to win in 2018 if they are to pull this country back from the abyss. In fact, they may have an historic opportunity to take back both houses of Congress and a dozen or more state houses.
Such a sweep may be possible if even a small percentage of Trump voters become disenchanted and return to the Democratic column, Make no mistake, these white, working-class and rural voters WILL be needed for a sweeping electoral repudiation of Trump and all he stands for. http://tinyurl.com/z7ydk7l
But liberals like you seem to have no interest in winning elections. By constantly vilifying Trump voters you seem determined to drive them back into the arms of Donald Trump, and produce yet another debacle in 2018. http://tinyurl.com/zjj36f7
As ye sow, so shall ye reap.
3
"a large bloc." A large bloc. This phrase is close to the opposite of "painting all Trump voters as enablers." Your comment seems to be directed at people who are angry at all Trump voters - as well we might be - but not at this column.
1
Republicans depend on hatred, fear and greed to attract voters and hold power. Democrats fail America, when they fail to remind the people of the singular character of Republicans and Republicanism.
Opening with fear and hatred, Trump's announcement of his candidacy would have destroyed any Democratic candidate. One outrage after another were not enough to end Trump's ascent to Republican leadership fundamentally because Republicans are compromised by their devotion to power at any cost.
Now, the Manafort scandal, Flynn, Sessions, Kushner are embroiled with their Russian connections. Trump's teleprompter moment is eclipsed with scandal. Saturday Night Live has enough material this week to have a special three hour show. The only funny thing about Trump is that he is still the President....and that is dangerous.
Opening with fear and hatred, Trump's announcement of his candidacy would have destroyed any Democratic candidate. One outrage after another were not enough to end Trump's ascent to Republican leadership fundamentally because Republicans are compromised by their devotion to power at any cost.
Now, the Manafort scandal, Flynn, Sessions, Kushner are embroiled with their Russian connections. Trump's teleprompter moment is eclipsed with scandal. Saturday Night Live has enough material this week to have a special three hour show. The only funny thing about Trump is that he is still the President....and that is dangerous.
4
Reading your columns is like breathing fresh air. We need much more of this solid reasoning.
To many liberals take the Trump administration as nothing more than a punch line, a big joke on the American people and the world while conservatives bask in the vindication of their anti-intellectual humiliation of the liberal elite. Neither side side pays much attention to or cares for any "Truth" but only that they win whichever game they think they are playing. And all the while our enemies gleefully collect the spoils.
We need more citizens from both sides to put away hurt feelings, take the country's malaise seriously and unite behind a repudiation of this gangster administration.
lff
To many liberals take the Trump administration as nothing more than a punch line, a big joke on the American people and the world while conservatives bask in the vindication of their anti-intellectual humiliation of the liberal elite. Neither side side pays much attention to or cares for any "Truth" but only that they win whichever game they think they are playing. And all the while our enemies gleefully collect the spoils.
We need more citizens from both sides to put away hurt feelings, take the country's malaise seriously and unite behind a repudiation of this gangster administration.
lff
722
Trump is a big joke, but most liberals also decry his horrible policies, his ignorance, his racism and misogyny, his executive orders, his bad impact on world affairs, etc.
To pretend that there is an equivalence between liberals and conservatives over "The Truth" is a big mistake. It's the Right that is anti-fact, anti-science, and global warming deniers, not the liberals or Left!
To pretend that there is an equivalence between liberals and conservatives over "The Truth" is a big mistake. It's the Right that is anti-fact, anti-science, and global warming deniers, not the liberals or Left!
4
Trump is a big joke but his ignorance, racism, misogyny etc. are not funny and the suffering of those affected should not be laughed at. The insouciance on the left is problematic - and certainly helped get Trump elected. Many liberals still live in some alternate reality where it is impossible for such a clown to be elected and think that somehow it will all work out without their being bothered to act. Laughing it off is a dangerous dodge when disaster is roaring down the tracks at you.
lff
lff
1
I sure wish i knew where you were seeing liberals treating this presidency as a punch line. We're horrified. If we laugh, it's the gallows humor of an ER surgeon during a disaster.
2
Lying under oath as these cabinet nominees and others of Trump's chosen have done is perjury. But it also is covering up wrongdoing and crimes. I was happy to see that former Pres. George W. Bush spoke out the other day about the racism, bigotry and isolationism of Trump's administration.
The Republican Congress is despicable and dishonorable. For years, witch hunts, threats of impeachment and investigations during the Obana administration have been the norm. A single email out of more than 30,000 with a small 'c' for 'confidential' (not for classified) that was technically not marked confidential in its header as required was ALL that the FBI could come up with against Sec. Clinton after an investigation of a year and a half but the pious posturing of Republican politicians acted like she had brought down the republic.
When it's their own, like Sessions, they say criticism is out of place, much less investigations. Price broke the law; Mnuchin lied about $100 million in an off shore account; and the whole Trump menagerie has lied about their many, many Russian ties and the money they took--including Eric Jr. and Flynn.
Remember when returning honor to the White House was a GOP claim? There is no honor or decency among thieves. Lock them up. Including Sessions.
The Republican Congress is despicable and dishonorable. For years, witch hunts, threats of impeachment and investigations during the Obana administration have been the norm. A single email out of more than 30,000 with a small 'c' for 'confidential' (not for classified) that was technically not marked confidential in its header as required was ALL that the FBI could come up with against Sec. Clinton after an investigation of a year and a half but the pious posturing of Republican politicians acted like she had brought down the republic.
When it's their own, like Sessions, they say criticism is out of place, much less investigations. Price broke the law; Mnuchin lied about $100 million in an off shore account; and the whole Trump menagerie has lied about their many, many Russian ties and the money they took--including Eric Jr. and Flynn.
Remember when returning honor to the White House was a GOP claim? There is no honor or decency among thieves. Lock them up. Including Sessions.
1840
Agree with you, but they actually found *three* emails that were marked classified somewhere in their midst with a (c).
Now, we find that VP Pence used a private, personal account to handle his state and government business! And, that unlike Hillary's account, his was hacked.
Why are the Trump supporters not chanting, "Lock him up! Lock him up!"?! (Yes, a rhetorical question.)
Now, we find that VP Pence used a private, personal account to handle his state and government business! And, that unlike Hillary's account, his was hacked.
Why are the Trump supporters not chanting, "Lock him up! Lock him up!"?! (Yes, a rhetorical question.)
2
Operatives sealed the vote for Bush Jr in SC in 2000 by rumor mongering that McCain had an illegitimate child by a black woman in a state populated by many current and former military, where former veteran McCain should have won in a landslide. Politics is just fighting over who divvies up the spoils and controls the armed enforcement to keep the shafted and exploited in line.
1
Mr Burns, er, the Republican Donor Class must be rubbing their hands and cackling in glee. Unlimited license to clear cut the American Economy, and absolutely no possibility of blow back. That's all they care about, strip mining our economy and picking our pockets.
My (Republican) congressmen emphatically stated that he was elected to enact the Republican Conservative agenda. not to represent everyone in his district. Too bad we can't revoke his (Generous) National Guard pension for his complicity in Treason.
My (Republican) congressmen emphatically stated that he was elected to enact the Republican Conservative agenda. not to represent everyone in his district. Too bad we can't revoke his (Generous) National Guard pension for his complicity in Treason.
18
The so-often-repeated false notion that the impeachment of Donald Trump would just lead to the ascension of Pence and therefore not change the situation, be a small improvement, or according to some (myopically focused on social issues) be worse, is ludicrous and needs to stop being repeated. To impeach Donald Trump would be a huge victory for Democracy and a hugely important gain politically as well--Pence would not be vested with the same support nor presumption of support from either Trump's base or independent voters, and, like Ford, who pardoned and cleaned up after Nixon, would likely not be elected to a new term.
15
Remember that you need to both impeach and convict him! Impeachment alone means to bring charges, not remove from office.
For example, Bill Clinton was impeached, but was not convicted!
For example, Bill Clinton was impeached, but was not convicted!
1
He truly is the reincarnation of Joseph McCarthy, updated for a new age. Trump's views are nothing but an expression of his own disorganized low-level paranoia. The role of Russia has shifted from arch enemy to key influencer, but the underlying destructive thought processes are the same. And Trump's pathological mendacity creates the inability to discourse on any subject whatever. There is no limit to the harm a bad leader can do.
14
I cannot recall any president displaying the same outright disregard for the truth.
If President Obama had uttered some of these same comments that the president has in speeches or press conference or tweeted what he has, the Republicans would have had him investigated for his entire eight years in office.
Remembers, the president spent five years claiming, falsely and with no named sources, that President Obama was not born in this country and therefore not a legitimate president.
There's no surprise, then, on what we've seen so far with this president.
And these same Republicans who spent so many years on hearings and investigations into Whitewater, Benghazi, emails, all without finding or any resulting criminal charges or censure, can't be bothered to investigate when a foreign government attempts to undermine our democracy.
A pox on your house!!
If President Obama had uttered some of these same comments that the president has in speeches or press conference or tweeted what he has, the Republicans would have had him investigated for his entire eight years in office.
Remembers, the president spent five years claiming, falsely and with no named sources, that President Obama was not born in this country and therefore not a legitimate president.
There's no surprise, then, on what we've seen so far with this president.
And these same Republicans who spent so many years on hearings and investigations into Whitewater, Benghazi, emails, all without finding or any resulting criminal charges or censure, can't be bothered to investigate when a foreign government attempts to undermine our democracy.
A pox on your house!!
1778
"If President Obama had uttered some of these same comments that the president has in speeches or press conference or tweeted what he has, the Republicans would have had him investigated for his entire eight years in office."
Not only that—they would have said he was insane, to lie so blatantly and so much, when everyone would know he was lying.
Yes—insane. Because it's the simplest explanation.
Yet now we seem to be getting used to it.
Not only that—they would have said he was insane, to lie so blatantly and so much, when everyone would know he was lying.
Yes—insane. Because it's the simplest explanation.
Yet now we seem to be getting used to it.
2
Yup, it's called hypocrisy. They turn their heads as long as their agendas (tax breaks for the rich, deregulation, etc.) get met.
1
"I did not have sexual relations with that woman"
This is the end result of a hijacked government enabled by legislation like Citizens United. This made possible the extremes of ideologies that have zero to do with governance and everything to do with enabling those seeking power and even more money. Through endless funding of whatever is their goal they hold, they now have unparalleled sway to accomplish those goals politically. These very special wealthy personal belief systems and enrichment are often in direct conflict with the Constitution and the rights of every citizen. Fringe, harsh and otherwise formally failed ideologies, be it economic, religious, the limits of law enforcement or otherwise, are then supported by politicians who can and will work towards those goals.
Trump is the ultimate expression of a system that doesn't serve anything but self interest and sees absolutely nothing wrong with it.
The difference with Trump is he is a bumbling buffoon who is the epitome of 'fake 'til you make it'. Otherwise; in Congress, 'team' politics ensures that a burnt out shell of what once resembled governance remains as no one can work together for the common good of the people they purportedly serve. Their funding and offices relies on absolute loyalty to those with deep pockets behind the curtain.
Trump is the ultimate expression of a system that doesn't serve anything but self interest and sees absolutely nothing wrong with it.
The difference with Trump is he is a bumbling buffoon who is the epitome of 'fake 'til you make it'. Otherwise; in Congress, 'team' politics ensures that a burnt out shell of what once resembled governance remains as no one can work together for the common good of the people they purportedly serve. Their funding and offices relies on absolute loyalty to those with deep pockets behind the curtain.
17
In the breach of politics—as white supremacy expands to a global brand of brute intimidation and tribute that shakes democracy and populations in fear; in a economic hegemony proven incapable of matching China's best efforts in the Pearl River zone--freedom and power have cleaved: freedom is a farce transfixed, empty of substance; power has turned against the people, its vision is the balance sheet and division. Power calls injustice fair, turns grief into a political wedge and expresses personal vanity—it seeks not the common good but bragging rights.
Trump, blinded by his Obama hatred—the fixture of his racism—is so inept in his governing, his only satisfaction at the end of the days are his lies and a self-stirred chaos blamed-on-others, a void of moral bankruptcy, and his assignation of pain to countries, companies, and people. The only non-lie is his cruel truth.
Trump, blinded by his Obama hatred—the fixture of his racism—is so inept in his governing, his only satisfaction at the end of the days are his lies and a self-stirred chaos blamed-on-others, a void of moral bankruptcy, and his assignation of pain to countries, companies, and people. The only non-lie is his cruel truth.
24
You could turn this into a sonnet. Call it the American Lie or Death of Democracy as We Know It.
1
A large enough minority of the population has elected this smug bully, this grotesque thespian of himself as our President. With plain-in-sight lies as the lube to keep the machine running. A large part of that minority loves wrestling, "reality" TV and monster trucks. Trump is just another cartoon character whose mouth moves out of sync with his words and his words are out of sync with the truth. And people love it.
59
Nah. I don't buy the first part. Trump only scrapped by with about 70,000 votes. Because 49% of eligible voters decided to sit the 2016 election out, Trump--with a mere 26% of the vote total--and the E.C. majority got into office. The GOP's gerrymandering campaign (Operation Redmap) gained them control of 70% of the E.C. votes. Rigged election, Russian help. Slam dunk.
29
Don't forget James Comey! Had he not illegally interfered in the election, Hillary Clinton would not be president!
Plus, 75 million people voted for someone other than Trump (for Clinton, for 3rd party candidates, and write-in). That's over 10 million more than Trump got!
Instead of the 70,000, realize that had 35,001 not switched from Clinton to Trump...
Easily 70,000 in three states voted for Trump instead of Clinton or would have voted for her but sat things out because of Comey's announcement of reopening the email investigation just 9 days before the election.
Yet, somehow that dishonorable man could not comment on -- and neither deny or confirm -- the actually serious ongoing investigation of the Russian-Trump connection.
What gives with that?!
Plus, 75 million people voted for someone other than Trump (for Clinton, for 3rd party candidates, and write-in). That's over 10 million more than Trump got!
Instead of the 70,000, realize that had 35,001 not switched from Clinton to Trump...
Easily 70,000 in three states voted for Trump instead of Clinton or would have voted for her but sat things out because of Comey's announcement of reopening the email investigation just 9 days before the election.
Yet, somehow that dishonorable man could not comment on -- and neither deny or confirm -- the actually serious ongoing investigation of the Russian-Trump connection.
What gives with that?!
2
And you don't think that it is significant that half of eligible voters didn't vote or that 15 million Democratic voters, who cast a vote for Obama in the past. decided to sit out this past election? Trump won a majority of the American people who have not quite given up on the political system. The rest of our citizens have zoned out and concluded the political system in this country is hopeless. They are not too far from accurate.
1
"and suddenly everyone was declaring the liar in chief “presidential.”
The fourth estate here was reacting with an almost human sense of relief when Trumps arc didn't continue its downward direction. Forgive this misdemeanor and encourage a return to the vital reportage needed, now more than ever, to expose the traitorous behavior of Trump et al.
If we can't, during this national nightmare, rewrite the script, at least wake us up and let us smell some coffee.
The fourth estate here was reacting with an almost human sense of relief when Trumps arc didn't continue its downward direction. Forgive this misdemeanor and encourage a return to the vital reportage needed, now more than ever, to expose the traitorous behavior of Trump et al.
If we can't, during this national nightmare, rewrite the script, at least wake us up and let us smell some coffee.
16
The President does not choose to lie, he is mentally wired to lie. So, let's not get distracted by the little ones or the big whoppers that are only intended to shift news headlines away from his real mistakes.
We and the press should go after the lies that will hurt a lot of people.
His lies to justify repealing the ACA, for example - job killer, failing, etc. The press needs to keep reminding Americans that full-time jobs increased and part-time jobs decreased every year since the Obamacare exchanges opened. And, enrollment increased for 2017 even after big premium increases. Premium increases for 2014, 2015 and 2016 were historical lows.
His lies about replacing the ACA, for example - will cover everyone, much less expensive, much better. Clearly only possible with national health insurance, which is far from the Repeal and Replace plan. That will throw about 4 million youth off their parents plans, push about 11 million low income people back into being uninsured, etc
His lies about tax reform, for example - "massive tax cut for the middle class" The CBO, press and economists need to crunch the numbers and demonstrate that the only massive tax cuts will be to the very wealthy
Trump is also mentally wired to cover up embarrassing facts. His Attorney General lied to Congress during confirmation hearings about a critical issue- did the Trump campaign collude with Russia to throw the election? We must find out whether Trump & surrogates did that and undo that
We and the press should go after the lies that will hurt a lot of people.
His lies to justify repealing the ACA, for example - job killer, failing, etc. The press needs to keep reminding Americans that full-time jobs increased and part-time jobs decreased every year since the Obamacare exchanges opened. And, enrollment increased for 2017 even after big premium increases. Premium increases for 2014, 2015 and 2016 were historical lows.
His lies about replacing the ACA, for example - will cover everyone, much less expensive, much better. Clearly only possible with national health insurance, which is far from the Repeal and Replace plan. That will throw about 4 million youth off their parents plans, push about 11 million low income people back into being uninsured, etc
His lies about tax reform, for example - "massive tax cut for the middle class" The CBO, press and economists need to crunch the numbers and demonstrate that the only massive tax cuts will be to the very wealthy
Trump is also mentally wired to cover up embarrassing facts. His Attorney General lied to Congress during confirmation hearings about a critical issue- did the Trump campaign collude with Russia to throw the election? We must find out whether Trump & surrogates did that and undo that
44
My premium went from $1100 to $1800 in 2016. ACA did allow more people to be covered, but the premiums are out of control.
There's a difference between lying and showing an utter contempt for the truth.
For example, I believe that Mr. Trump's "45-year high" murder statistic that is repeatedly characterized as a lie is a product of the President's garbled interpretation of the recent *increase* in the murder rate. (Even though the murder rate is low compared with 45 years ago, there has in fact been a relatively large uptick.)
I'm not sure whether Mr. Trump actually *knows* what he is saying is false.
But I'm pretty sure he doesn't care.
For example, I believe that Mr. Trump's "45-year high" murder statistic that is repeatedly characterized as a lie is a product of the President's garbled interpretation of the recent *increase* in the murder rate. (Even though the murder rate is low compared with 45 years ago, there has in fact been a relatively large uptick.)
I'm not sure whether Mr. Trump actually *knows* what he is saying is false.
But I'm pretty sure he doesn't care.
515
"You know, the powerful and the very stupid have one thing in common. They don't alter their views to fit the facts. they alter the facts to fit their views."
2
But, the people who wrote Trump's speech KNOW the statistics are a lie.
1
Sorry, but your excusing him rings hollow.
His Fake News crime stats have been thoroughly debunked by fact checkers across the nation and repeatedly shown to be categorically false.
After that has happened multiple times, if the person persists, he is lying! Indeed, he is willfully, deliberately lying. This goes well beyond making an error or repeating a falsehood -- it is a wanton, manipulative, calculated lie! It needs to be described as such. There are no excuses for doing it!
His Fake News crime stats have been thoroughly debunked by fact checkers across the nation and repeatedly shown to be categorically false.
After that has happened multiple times, if the person persists, he is lying! Indeed, he is willfully, deliberately lying. This goes well beyond making an error or repeating a falsehood -- it is a wanton, manipulative, calculated lie! It needs to be described as such. There are no excuses for doing it!
1
Thank you for using the correct word a lie is a lie is a lie. The term falsehood seems to be the default favoured by to many journalists to gloss over the fact we have a leader that lies easily and often.
The fact that he lies about easily debunked and silly things tells me it is pathological, he has done it so long and never paid a price that he can't stop even if he wanted too.
The culture of any organisation comes from the top down that explains what we are seeing with his cabinet. How this all ends is the question but one thing that is easy to predict is it won't end well for Trump or the country.
The fact that he lies about easily debunked and silly things tells me it is pathological, he has done it so long and never paid a price that he can't stop even if he wanted too.
The culture of any organisation comes from the top down that explains what we are seeing with his cabinet. How this all ends is the question but one thing that is easy to predict is it won't end well for Trump or the country.
31
It's true only to a certain extent that "the culture of any organisation comes from the top down…" The new leadership is inheriting a bureaucracy that has a culture of its own with a deep history; that does not change easily. If there is antagonism between the new leadership and the entrenched bureaucracy, the latter is likely to endure and the former to be thwarted. Of course, your statement "How this all ends is the question but one thing that is easy to predict is it won't end well for Trump or the country" is spot on.
2
Agreed. A lie by any other name is still a lie. Seems like the press is definitely an enabler, even if not intending such.
"For one thing, politicians used to limit their outright lies to matters not easily checked”. I don’t know about that, Paul. Certainly, the consistent denials of the scientific indications of human caused climate change fills that bill, and the very politicians who created our constitution said “all men are created equal” while giving slaveholders 3/5th a vote for every one of their slaves.
When slavery was abolished, that lie was transformed to black Americans in the south being denied the right to vote for about 80 years and segregationist politicians lied about their status being “separate but equal”. Virtually all southern politicians were segregationist until they were forced to change. But the likes of Strom Thurmond never confessed to his lies and wrong doing and was rewarded by his electorate with a Senate seat right into this century.
If you combine this factaphobic behavior with the belief system of creationist Christians, you have the essential foundation of the current incarnation of the GOP. Facts are the enemy and lies are our comfort. Trump is our president and is honestly fulfilling his campaign promise to be a chronic liar.
When slavery was abolished, that lie was transformed to black Americans in the south being denied the right to vote for about 80 years and segregationist politicians lied about their status being “separate but equal”. Virtually all southern politicians were segregationist until they were forced to change. But the likes of Strom Thurmond never confessed to his lies and wrong doing and was rewarded by his electorate with a Senate seat right into this century.
If you combine this factaphobic behavior with the belief system of creationist Christians, you have the essential foundation of the current incarnation of the GOP. Facts are the enemy and lies are our comfort. Trump is our president and is honestly fulfilling his campaign promise to be a chronic liar.
21
He lied hours before speaking to Congress about extending legal status to immigrants. He has absolutely no intention of doing that but it bought him a few hours of positive coverage. His "Presidential" act in Congress had more to do with the fact that Congress is the only institution that can legally remove him from office. Displaying mental instability right in their faces would have put his Administration in jeopardy so he stuck to a script he didn't write or read beforehand. Only the rest of us get the real him.
I don't see the point of this anymore. The President is going to come out and lie and then mock the media and the public for falling for his joke whenever he feels like it because it makes him feel better. We know what the end game is: to make people distrust the media. But to replace it people like Steve Bannon wants to turn this into some kind of traditionalist kleptocratic nightmare where the truth is what they decide and merit means absolutely nothing. I don't want to live in that world. I bet most Republicans in Congress wouldn't either, if only they thought it would only end with the liberals, the gays and the Muslims getting their comeuppance. But no, the brand of traditionalism Bannon is peddling is more destructive and more poisonous than we realize. It cannot tolerate dissent in any form and it views everything, from the Enlightenment to the civil rights movement as the wrong path for Western civilization.
I don't see the point of this anymore. The President is going to come out and lie and then mock the media and the public for falling for his joke whenever he feels like it because it makes him feel better. We know what the end game is: to make people distrust the media. But to replace it people like Steve Bannon wants to turn this into some kind of traditionalist kleptocratic nightmare where the truth is what they decide and merit means absolutely nothing. I don't want to live in that world. I bet most Republicans in Congress wouldn't either, if only they thought it would only end with the liberals, the gays and the Muslims getting their comeuppance. But no, the brand of traditionalism Bannon is peddling is more destructive and more poisonous than we realize. It cannot tolerate dissent in any form and it views everything, from the Enlightenment to the civil rights movement as the wrong path for Western civilization.
57
This is the most important issue, but it needs to be put in proper context.
President Nixon lied to us on television.
President Reagan lied.
President Clinton lied.
President Bush lied.
President Trump has lied with a brazen contempt for facts.
I believe that a decades of presidential dishonesty have created the climate in which Trump can get away with this.
My most serious concern is this: how can a parent explain to his child at the dinner table why he should always be trustworthy?
President Nixon lied to us on television.
President Reagan lied.
President Clinton lied.
President Bush lied.
President Trump has lied with a brazen contempt for facts.
I believe that a decades of presidential dishonesty have created the climate in which Trump can get away with this.
My most serious concern is this: how can a parent explain to his child at the dinner table why he should always be trustworthy?
12
That's your most serious concern?! How to explain it to the kiddies?!
Yes, the other presidents lied-- on a small handful of specific items. Trump, in contrast, lies repeatedly about virtually everything -- and about every major issue of the day. They are designed to inflame his base and fuel horrendous policies that are hurting millions, making the country less safe, and making the Earth less habitable.
For your children's sake, realize that it's their very future that is at stake, not just their vague impressions or questions about presidential dishonesty!
Yes, the other presidents lied-- on a small handful of specific items. Trump, in contrast, lies repeatedly about virtually everything -- and about every major issue of the day. They are designed to inflame his base and fuel horrendous policies that are hurting millions, making the country less safe, and making the Earth less habitable.
For your children's sake, realize that it's their very future that is at stake, not just their vague impressions or questions about presidential dishonesty!
2
Every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie, including the words and and the.
53
Nice nod to Mary McCarthy.
1
Yes that's true. I should have included attribution. I always loved that quote.
When the Allied forces in Germany interviewed German citizens after the war they all complained how they had been lied to and deceived. People in the US today living in a Fox News and Breitbart News bubble will do the same after their Social Security and ACA benefits are hallowed out and they are choking on coal fumes and battling weather changes.
And although I praise all good journalism and the free press of our western democracies, I find it hard to stomach the fact that it was their need for readership which drove all of then to promote Trump and make so much profit from doing so over the last 18 months. Trump is still selling papers with headlines as he crashes. Will we all go down with him?
And although I praise all good journalism and the free press of our western democracies, I find it hard to stomach the fact that it was their need for readership which drove all of then to promote Trump and make so much profit from doing so over the last 18 months. Trump is still selling papers with headlines as he crashes. Will we all go down with him?
172
Even with the resemblance of Goebbels and Hitler do many americans ponder, could the fail to see the warning signs ?
At some point it may be to late.
The press may go the way of Chelsea Manning, Trump will do the Erdogan, publishing leaks wil become a serious crime. And a riled up crowd will just applaud.
At some point it may be to late.
The press may go the way of Chelsea Manning, Trump will do the Erdogan, publishing leaks wil become a serious crime. And a riled up crowd will just applaud.
7
Fear not Professor, the idiot beast that is the Republican Party is slowly realizing that they can dump Trump and still have a fool with a pen sitting in the Oval Office. They are slow to see advantage and lack any imagination, but they will figure it out.
But the thing is, I was speaking with a "deep state" consultant, and now my confidence is very high that Trump will never finish his term.
But the thing is, I was speaking with a "deep state" consultant, and now my confidence is very high that Trump will never finish his term.
32
Tell us more!
1
The Liar in Chief reminds me of Gaddafi, the Lybian dictator, of Chavez, the Venezuelan autocrat, and of many other fantasists who managed to conquer and govern through lies. So, nothing new!, except for those who believed in America´s exceptionalism. Let´s see for how long Donald Gaddafi will manage to bully America with the help of his own "green book" and the GOP.
27
Yes, exactly.....he read off a teleprompter and suddenly, he is presidential? The young man who lost his life, for nothing, is happy? No - he is dead! Trump becomes more and more disgusting each day. When he does something that anyone could do - read off a teleprompter - then he became our president? I can do that, without the rudeness and disrespect toward a beautiful young American woman, who has lost the love of her life. God bless her - and the United States of America.
2090
When the GOP howled endlessly that Obama's oratory was a sham BECAUSE he used a teleprompter, these same people filled the airwaves with commentary on the so-called controversy, giving a GOP talking point endless free replay. The media must simply do their jobs. They must (re)learn how to dig the facts of a story out from under the lies and obfuscation, to report what an informed citizenry needs to know. Fluff stories on "optics" and "spin" are a waste of everyone's time and talents, especially since Trump lies as easily as he breathes.
3
Not just that that Owens is happy, but he got the longest applause ever. Once again, 45 turned a personal tragedy for a family into being all about him, while blaming the tragedy on someone else. It was stomach turning.
4
Please also remember the 25 civilians, including 9 children, who were gunned down in that misguided Trump military adventure.
3
How anyone could at any time call DT presidential is mindboggling. Although he was the quintessential Republican candidate for the presidency of the party of Nixon and Reagan, at least the former could be shamed and the latter's dementia was perceived as such.
Now our standards, brought low by those two, the rather dull two Bushes, and various members of the "Right," are off the bottom of the chart, or perhaps in the bottom of the swamp.
As Republicans enjoy trying to make President Clinton "look like them" or worse, I would like to refer them to the person who reminded listeners yesterday on NPR of the qualities of that rather unlikely president, Rhodes scholar, Harvard Law School graduate, and brilliant politician, who did his best for his country and who, coached by Wall Street, left office with a surplus in the treasury. Of course a Republican, Alan Greenspan, decried the surplus as fiscally damaging.
How the Republican line has changed! Until now. Sad.
Now our standards, brought low by those two, the rather dull two Bushes, and various members of the "Right," are off the bottom of the chart, or perhaps in the bottom of the swamp.
As Republicans enjoy trying to make President Clinton "look like them" or worse, I would like to refer them to the person who reminded listeners yesterday on NPR of the qualities of that rather unlikely president, Rhodes scholar, Harvard Law School graduate, and brilliant politician, who did his best for his country and who, coached by Wall Street, left office with a surplus in the treasury. Of course a Republican, Alan Greenspan, decried the surplus as fiscally damaging.
How the Republican line has changed! Until now. Sad.
948
Clinton spent only 1 year at Oxford and went to Yale Law school. Obama went to Harvard Law. Trump went Trump went to Fordham 2 years and then to Wharton 2 years.
Clinton was YALE law school, which is considered the more scholarly of the two schools when compared to Harvard. Harvard law school is more for people want to make a lot of money in the business world.
Goodbye synonyms ~ Hello BareTruth
untruthful
false
dishonest
mendacious
deceitful
deceiving
duplicitous
double-dealing
two-faced
perfidious
Since time began, the press\pundits have bent over backwards and turned themselves into pretzels using these words or derivatives thereof. Now we finally have them using the most applicable word; LIE .
With every other word and sentence, they are coming to realize what most of already knew, and that was the man leading this administration was not to be trusted because he _________s. ( pick a word ~ any word )
untruthful
false
dishonest
mendacious
deceitful
deceiving
duplicitous
double-dealing
two-faced
perfidious
Since time began, the press\pundits have bent over backwards and turned themselves into pretzels using these words or derivatives thereof. Now we finally have them using the most applicable word; LIE .
With every other word and sentence, they are coming to realize what most of already knew, and that was the man leading this administration was not to be trusted because he _________s. ( pick a word ~ any word )
21
Mr. Krugman, as always, has summed things up very well. There is an almost ethereal quality to this farce, but it is becoming so thick, one wonders if it will not all drop out of the sky because of its own accumulated weight. The reinforcement, though, for its continued existence is in things like when the media shows a clip of Mitch McConnell telling the press that 8 our of 10 Americans support the repeal of the ACA, and no one asks for documentation. The media just cuts away, leaving many believing that it is undeniably true. They saw it on TV.
28
Even sadder than the total lack of integrity so far in this administration is the disingenuous fawning over the president by the majority of Congress, and even more sad is the rise in Trump's approval ratings among those who voted for him.
There are so many disconcerting facts coming to light daily, and sometimes hourly, that show the weaknesses of this administration, its inability to govern, and its dishonesty. I only hope that if this continues, that the press and independent arm of the Courts will be able to stem the loss of our democratic process and save our nation. Already, the damage that has been done by DJT might take decades to heal.
There are so many disconcerting facts coming to light daily, and sometimes hourly, that show the weaknesses of this administration, its inability to govern, and its dishonesty. I only hope that if this continues, that the press and independent arm of the Courts will be able to stem the loss of our democratic process and save our nation. Already, the damage that has been done by DJT might take decades to heal.
33
Paul,
Yes, lying has been the norm for quite a while with a welcome respite while Obama was President. Here's hoping for more African Americans in the White House.
Once Bill Clinton showed everyone that it is more than possible to declare: "I did not have (whatever) with that woman"....then...go on to raise $2 Billion dollars and make himself vastly wealthy on the backs of those who would curry favor in case his wife became President and could do their bidding..
well...once everyone saw that, except for massive health problems, which, is known to co-exist with bad behaviors......Bill Clinton went on just fine...(what's a quintuple bypass when you have good health coverage?).
After Bill, Everyone realized that the old adage, long afforded to the East Coast Wealthy class as the standard: "Before telling the truth give lying a chance"....
was really the right approach.
Now everyone is doing it and you are surprised? Even though you have lived next door to Trump and his kind all your life?
Gotta peak out from under the shell a little more Mr. Krugman. The world awaits. And, it never has been, and is not, pretty.
one of the most significant distinctions between Homo Sapien, and, pretty much the rest of the animal kingdom is highly accomplished deception capability.
It is not new. It is an evolved trait that we all have. Welcome to the party.
Yes, lying has been the norm for quite a while with a welcome respite while Obama was President. Here's hoping for more African Americans in the White House.
Once Bill Clinton showed everyone that it is more than possible to declare: "I did not have (whatever) with that woman"....then...go on to raise $2 Billion dollars and make himself vastly wealthy on the backs of those who would curry favor in case his wife became President and could do their bidding..
well...once everyone saw that, except for massive health problems, which, is known to co-exist with bad behaviors......Bill Clinton went on just fine...(what's a quintuple bypass when you have good health coverage?).
After Bill, Everyone realized that the old adage, long afforded to the East Coast Wealthy class as the standard: "Before telling the truth give lying a chance"....
was really the right approach.
Now everyone is doing it and you are surprised? Even though you have lived next door to Trump and his kind all your life?
Gotta peak out from under the shell a little more Mr. Krugman. The world awaits. And, it never has been, and is not, pretty.
one of the most significant distinctions between Homo Sapien, and, pretty much the rest of the animal kingdom is highly accomplished deception capability.
It is not new. It is an evolved trait that we all have. Welcome to the party.
40
Deflect. Redirect. Make comparisons that are orders of magnitude different. That is the Republican way. To compare Clinton's lies to the monument of lies from Trump and the Republicans is to compare what we thought was a big sand castle to the Great Pyramid. And no amount of Clinton's lies, or anyone else's for that matter, justifies a state of lying. For years Republicans have been calling out various Democrats as liars as a means to distract the public from what has been the party of lies since Richard Nixon.
People who lie habitually believe "we all do it" just like people who swear, drink, or drive through red lights, and so act accordingly. Those who think like predators believe others do as well and justify their behaviors as "do unto others before they do unto me." From the President on down.
People who lie habitually believe "we all do it" just like people who swear, drink, or drive through red lights, and so act accordingly. Those who think like predators believe others do as well and justify their behaviors as "do unto others before they do unto me." From the President on down.
8
Ah yes, false equivalency. I put this in the same category as lying
8
Everybody lies about their sex life, as multiple elected Republicans have had much more embarrassing revelations since President Clinton. Can we just shove that particular (republican propaganda) talking point down the memory hole>
Anyone who starts by invoking Bill is simply another mouthpiece for the Right Wing Propaganda organs, the case is in no way comparable to what Trump and his band of cronies are doing to the body politic.
Anyone who starts by invoking Bill is simply another mouthpiece for the Right Wing Propaganda organs, the case is in no way comparable to what Trump and his band of cronies are doing to the body politic.
8
I think the Republican machine has attained the holy grail of the con game regarding their electorate who support them: Their targets can be conned in perpetuity because they don't realize they are being conned.
How is that situation corrected?
How is that situation corrected?
11
releasing his tax returns would help
4
The man lied...
6
Trump's dishonesty is simply a manifestation of the societal dishonesty that pervades so many walks of life. Mr Krugman in refusing to follow the truth about modern macroeconomics, carries forward the lies that diminish the society we are part of. Not to correct the falsehoods behind mainstream economics, such as the one where the government can run out of money and go broke, are never countered. That's no better than Trumps more casual lies. Trump is todays manifestation of the distortion manifest right across society
PiuDeiPie and his antics demonstrate the 'screening out' George Monbiot describes. a new disconnect from modern life, now so trendy across much of the world. Trump brings it to our attention, shows up what it is like.
PiuDeiPie and his antics demonstrate the 'screening out' George Monbiot describes. a new disconnect from modern life, now so trendy across much of the world. Trump brings it to our attention, shows up what it is like.
1
Krugman's prescription for the news media in dealing with the liar in chief is an excellent example of the reality that moving to the left would doom the Democratic Party. The approach most likely to lead to the defenestration of this regime is recapture of lost Senate, House and governors' seats in the noncoastal states in 2018 that went for Trump in 2016. Facilitating disillusionment of prior Trump voters with their president must be the goal. However, having drunk the Koolaid, these voters will only be reinforced in their beliefs by more polarizing, extreme, unbalanced criticism from Democrats and the mainstream news media. Their embrace of trumpism will only grow more intense and durable. But without that goad, the progressive accrual of disaster implicit in Trump's policy objectives is capable of doing the trick if his ongoing character disorder isn't sufficient. Krugman, Bernie, Warren and Ellison are a prescription for lasting submersion of American democracy in this foul cesspool. Discipline(hah) and patience from Democrats are needed. The only other path out of this mess will take longer: Further extremism from both parties leading to emergence of a new party for moderates, composed of those reasonable voters, repelled by both left and right extremes, who exist in sufficiently large numbers, to national elections at some point in the future. Perhaps a better solution, but too speculative and long-term to count on.
2
Relax. Krugman is not in league with Warren Sanders Ellison. I surmise you never read his columns this past primary season in which he sounded just as you do and never wavered from his support of Hillary Clinton. Look where that got the country. Now, who do you think is on the barricades. Is it folks that yearn for a return to the good old days of wall street influence of Clinton Obama Clinton? Somehow I think not. The Democratic Party lost its way and lost its working class base. Sanders had those voters and is still leading them. Just see this response by Sanders to Trump's address: http://bit.ly/2lSqshr
I thought the most succinct comment regarding Trumps speech was, " He didn't insult anyone."
7
Unless you think lies are insulting; 51 out of 61 points he made.
6
Yes he did. His treatment of the widow of a fallen soldier was insulting. His insinuation that the soldier would share his fixation with applause was insulting to the man's memory. I and many others were offended,
6
The bar is set so low for him that if he does not insult anyone or start twitting during the speech, it is deemed a masterpiece.
2
Sitting behind Sessions as a supporter during his confirmation hearing was former Senator Jon Kyl. As Arizona Senator, Kyl had once made a ridiculously untrue statement about Planned Parenthood and when called on it, told the public that what he said "was not meant to be a factual statement." I trace a lot back to that moment. Kyl's return for the Sessions hearing felt like a warning.
35
Lying is the doorway to many things. With Trump, it's clear that the sky is the limit. For some reason many of my fellow Americans have trouble understanding that, more often than not, the way you get to be rich is you take other people for a ride, with lies, lawsuits, and well laundered money. Billionaires are not your friends, ok? What about that isn't clear? Trump is (and has been!) turning America into a grand ATM for laundering Russian money, while also stroking the Repubs longstanding fantasies about enriching the rich, and starving the poor. And, yet, 35% of America thinks this is a good idea. If you can get your head around that, the rest of US politics is pretty easy.
"Even the real possibility that we’re facing subversion by agents of a foreign power, and that top officials are part of the story, doesn’t seem to faze them as long as they can get tax cuts for the rich and benefit cuts for the poor."
"Even the real possibility that we’re facing subversion by agents of a foreign power, and that top officials are part of the story, doesn’t seem to faze them as long as they can get tax cuts for the rich and benefit cuts for the poor."
22
Republicans, particularly Republican politicians, seem to live by a code of situational morality.
They pick and choose what rules they follow, giving great deference to Bible-pounding preachers who want to invade everyone’s bedrooms and doctors’ offices.
Republicans speak a lot about patriotism and display our flag at every opportunity, which is all right. But, they love clever tax cheaters and want honest taxpayers to pay a portion of every dollar Republicans donate to right-wing political organizations, as if those groups were religious, educational or charitable.
On that subject of patriotism, Republicans talk a good game and are flamboyantly self-righteous. They chafe at any supposed sign that Democrats are soft on our nation’s enemies. For a century Republicans claimed to lead the fight against Bolsheviks, Communists and modern aggressive Russians.
Now, apparently, the Republicans are in bed with the Russians, even though that nation has reverted to the worst excesses of the Cold War. First, the Republicans denied their new relationship. Then, as the truth began to come out, they tried to convince us to make it a threesome.
Throughout all of this, Republicans have followed their leader, Donald Trump, who has made their old lying habits socially acceptable in conservative circles.
Democrats aren’t buying it.
They pick and choose what rules they follow, giving great deference to Bible-pounding preachers who want to invade everyone’s bedrooms and doctors’ offices.
Republicans speak a lot about patriotism and display our flag at every opportunity, which is all right. But, they love clever tax cheaters and want honest taxpayers to pay a portion of every dollar Republicans donate to right-wing political organizations, as if those groups were religious, educational or charitable.
On that subject of patriotism, Republicans talk a good game and are flamboyantly self-righteous. They chafe at any supposed sign that Democrats are soft on our nation’s enemies. For a century Republicans claimed to lead the fight against Bolsheviks, Communists and modern aggressive Russians.
Now, apparently, the Republicans are in bed with the Russians, even though that nation has reverted to the worst excesses of the Cold War. First, the Republicans denied their new relationship. Then, as the truth began to come out, they tried to convince us to make it a threesome.
Throughout all of this, Republicans have followed their leader, Donald Trump, who has made their old lying habits socially acceptable in conservative circles.
Democrats aren’t buying it.
2066
Absolutely agreed and wonder if it's possible that when the Russians hacked the RNC, they pulled off some dirt on the Republicans to hold over their heads? Why else would Republicans dismiss the findings of 17 U.S. intelligence agencies and that of foreign governments?
8
Simply put, "got hypocrisy?" Ought to be the new political mantra.
Democrats don't have any moral high ground here.
What? Russia? Never heard of it!
I don’t know where it is,
and if I did I’d not permit
a hint of funny biz!
I met some Russians? No, not me!
I really wouldn’t dare,
besides, I swear it couldn’t be…
I wasn’t even there!
Or if I was, I quite forget
what things they might have said…
I haven’t heard a word as yet
that’s stayed inside my head!
Or if it did I couldn’t say
if it was good or bad,
so won’t you all please go away,
you’re making me quite mad!
I don’t know where it is,
and if I did I’d not permit
a hint of funny biz!
I met some Russians? No, not me!
I really wouldn’t dare,
besides, I swear it couldn’t be…
I wasn’t even there!
Or if I was, I quite forget
what things they might have said…
I haven’t heard a word as yet
that’s stayed inside my head!
Or if it did I couldn’t say
if it was good or bad,
so won’t you all please go away,
you’re making me quite mad!
28
What bothers me most about this is the insipid response from Democrats.
You have to pay them in the currency they understand, that is unless you've brought a knife to a gunfight.
The Democrats won't be able to get a special *impartial* but hard-headed special prosecutor. So what are the Democrats willing to do if they want to express what should be said, in the same vein as the Republican response to Mrs. Clinton ? The answer should be : Lock him up the traitor !
I know, it sounds extreme. But tell me, what else is likely to emerge from this outrage ?
You have to pay them in the currency they understand, that is unless you've brought a knife to a gunfight.
The Democrats won't be able to get a special *impartial* but hard-headed special prosecutor. So what are the Democrats willing to do if they want to express what should be said, in the same vein as the Republican response to Mrs. Clinton ? The answer should be : Lock him up the traitor !
I know, it sounds extreme. But tell me, what else is likely to emerge from this outrage ?
11
Since there's so much flak coming at the Trump administration because of Russia, I hearken back to one unpleasant story from my Russian family. That of the usurper Ekaterina (known as Catherine) who had her paramour Orlov and some of his drinking buddies strangle the admittedly childish reigning Tsar Piotr so that she, an unloved German, could assume the throne. The Romanov family was effectively extinct when Piotr was strangled and Ekaterina made a crass announcement that he had died of colic. No one believed her cynical statement any more than we can believe our latest aspirant to imperial power, inspired as he must be by the example of the present-day Muscovites. The cynicism that Trump and his fawning minions display with every passing event is but an indication of their lack of candor and inability to handle the truth or to administer anything like justice.
13
Paul Krugman, shows that Republicans, and Trump's cabinet lie so blatantly ad asks why? And how do they get away with it?
Well, the answers to these questions are provided in outstanding work by the researcher John T Jost and the deceased Margarita Krochlik in an outstanding article in Advances in motivation science.
There are differences between liberals and conservatives. Research has shows that conservatives/republicans, are better at self-deception. That is, they lie to them selves, and rationalise their actions. Consequently, hypocrisy and inconsistency are much more evident with republicans. Jost, and his brilliant earlier work, Jost et al. 2003, show that politicians, especially republicans ideology is motivated by self-interest. They cite one republican saying that "I used agree that climate change was real, until I found out how much it would cost to fix it".
Republicans are given more to intuitive thinking. If if feels good it is good. Again, this thinking is preferential to self-interest, and prejudice.
What drives all of this? The research is now clear and controversial Right Wing Authoritarians, tend to have a lower IQ and poorer cognitive abilities (Onraet et al. 2015). A perfect example is Trump saying "Who knew healthcare could be so complicated".
Republicans find it much more aversive to consider a situation from a liberal point of view than vice versa.
Well, the answers to these questions are provided in outstanding work by the researcher John T Jost and the deceased Margarita Krochlik in an outstanding article in Advances in motivation science.
There are differences between liberals and conservatives. Research has shows that conservatives/republicans, are better at self-deception. That is, they lie to them selves, and rationalise their actions. Consequently, hypocrisy and inconsistency are much more evident with republicans. Jost, and his brilliant earlier work, Jost et al. 2003, show that politicians, especially republicans ideology is motivated by self-interest. They cite one republican saying that "I used agree that climate change was real, until I found out how much it would cost to fix it".
Republicans are given more to intuitive thinking. If if feels good it is good. Again, this thinking is preferential to self-interest, and prejudice.
What drives all of this? The research is now clear and controversial Right Wing Authoritarians, tend to have a lower IQ and poorer cognitive abilities (Onraet et al. 2015). A perfect example is Trump saying "Who knew healthcare could be so complicated".
Republicans find it much more aversive to consider a situation from a liberal point of view than vice versa.
8
I too was surprised to hear/read a significant number of commentators speak/write approvingly of Donald Trump's change in demeanor as if that was sufficient (and, at last) proof of of his qualifications to be president. Like children just happy that their father came home sober for once. That's all it took: one speech. As you say, the content didn't matter, daddy is sober tonight so let's be happy. These commentator are the people who swore that they had seen the error of their ways during the campaign and would redouble their efforts to fulfill their responsibilities to the people in the future. But they didn't. I think that despair is indicated.
3017
It is so disturbing that our entire culture seems to be behaving like an " abused Family".
Our abuser in chief has demoralized us for more than two years leading up to his electoral college takeover with lies and false promises and evil intent.
We are acting in classic ways as victims.
The media needs to get a backbone and not worry so much about paychecks anymore. Trump uses wealth against the media. He can destroy a network and the media moguls know it.
Our abuser in chief has demoralized us for more than two years leading up to his electoral college takeover with lies and false promises and evil intent.
We are acting in classic ways as victims.
The media needs to get a backbone and not worry so much about paychecks anymore. Trump uses wealth against the media. He can destroy a network and the media moguls know it.
5
On the other hand, they were reporting the event, the news. It was that Trump made a speech in the tradition of presidential speeches. He did not rant and he did not remind us how wonderful he thinks he is.
That it was filled with hypocrisy and the variety of responses to the event, is the province of editorial comment. Sorting it out is the responsibility of each one of us - and that is where any failure lies, I think.
L&B&L
That it was filled with hypocrisy and the variety of responses to the event, is the province of editorial comment. Sorting it out is the responsibility of each one of us - and that is where any failure lies, I think.
L&B&L
1
The speech is already forgotten by half the citizens. "I Love You and America is a very, very beautiful Country" by No. 45 is appreciated but we are not all planning to rejoice in the common boat of despair. We are going to say to the Big Bungler, 'No!' and mean it.
2
Paul Krugman is correct about this President, with whom overbearing style trumps whatever substance (pun intended), productive or malevolent. Let's not play the fools to his bait-and-switch game. The stakes are higher than we've been permitted to know and are daily finding out.
33
A liar as chief law enforcement officer.(Some say also a racist). Lets focus on the essentials: the imperative need for a Special Prosecutor to examine the Russian file, the tax returns and the conflicts of interest. Parallel to that aggressive investigative journalism and comment.
55
My sentiments exactly !
I was so surprise to hear all that praise because Trump has learnt how to read on a teleprompter and the fact that he showed some respect to the Chambers of Congress. But, if one really listened, he repeated many false assertions that got him the Presidency.
What really got to me, was Ryan's satisfied smile throughout the speach. It was clear to me that there is not going to be real checks or balances while the GOP is in full control of the Goverment - if we let them.
Resistance with Persistance!
I was so surprise to hear all that praise because Trump has learnt how to read on a teleprompter and the fact that he showed some respect to the Chambers of Congress. But, if one really listened, he repeated many false assertions that got him the Presidency.
What really got to me, was Ryan's satisfied smile throughout the speach. It was clear to me that there is not going to be real checks or balances while the GOP is in full control of the Goverment - if we let them.
Resistance with Persistance!
201
“Not incidentally, if this news hadn’t come to light, forcing Mr. Sessions to recuse himself, he would have supervised the investigation into Russian election meddling, possibly in collusion with the Trump campaign.”
The ultimate issue – the fundamental question on which the fate of Donald’s entire presidency depends – is whether his campaign colluded with the Russians to hack the DNC, tilt the electorate away from Hillary, and thereby compromise our democracy. Everything else is secondary.
Given the overwhelming and ever-accumulating circumstantial evidence of a tight relationship between Donald/his campaign and the Russians, evidence made all the stronger by his desperate and debunked denials, the only surprising result would be that there was *no* such collusion.
So – get ready for a President Pence. I guess that’ll be progress – from a lying psychopath to a lying priest.
The ultimate issue – the fundamental question on which the fate of Donald’s entire presidency depends – is whether his campaign colluded with the Russians to hack the DNC, tilt the electorate away from Hillary, and thereby compromise our democracy. Everything else is secondary.
Given the overwhelming and ever-accumulating circumstantial evidence of a tight relationship between Donald/his campaign and the Russians, evidence made all the stronger by his desperate and debunked denials, the only surprising result would be that there was *no* such collusion.
So – get ready for a President Pence. I guess that’ll be progress – from a lying psychopath to a lying priest.
82
Yes, it does seem that Republicans in power are going to increasingly fear the obvious lies becoming so obvious that the ensuing chaos will bring everything they want to accomplish a standstill. At least with President Pence things will quiet down, and there will be a return to clandestine lying. Sad!
12
The one blessing that has come out of the Trump presidency is that the Republican party is being revealed for what it truly is. Had the same issues happened during the Clinton or Obama administration they would be voting to impeach the President so fast it would make your head spin. Any official in either administration caught lying would have been forced to resign.
The Republican party is nothing more than greedy oportunists who profit at the expense of their constituents. They are a bunch of hypocrites who use social issues and the threat of too much government to control their base while colluding with Fox news to keep them ignorant of what is going on in the real world.
On the plus side the press is teaching another generation why we need them. Keep up the good work on keeping us informed so we can hold our politicians accountable. Thanks for not normalizing this president.
The Republican party is nothing more than greedy oportunists who profit at the expense of their constituents. They are a bunch of hypocrites who use social issues and the threat of too much government to control their base while colluding with Fox news to keep them ignorant of what is going on in the real world.
On the plus side the press is teaching another generation why we need them. Keep up the good work on keeping us informed so we can hold our politicians accountable. Thanks for not normalizing this president.
192
I hope I never hear any American refer to any Latin American nations as Banana Republics again, or look down with pity on citizens of any other countries of the word due to their governmental malfeasance – our own government is right at the bottom of the barrel with its abject corruption. We've had corruption in American government before, but it's never been as pervasive as now, and half of Americans are blissfully oblivious to the glaring evidence all around them.
Americans have been spoiled by the fruits of sensible government for far too long, but like a tree paradise paved over by a concrete parking lot, honest and rational people in government are all but extinct. The US government has long admonished foreign governments that to ever become fully advanced economies, they would first have to root crooks out of power. The tables have turned, and the US could must study the way other nations have successfully dealt with corruption.
If several members of Trump's cabinet aren't convicted of perjury, treason, and other offenses, our justice department will have badly failed in its duties, and the chances of restoring America to a true democracy will be slim to nil.
Americans have been spoiled by the fruits of sensible government for far too long, but like a tree paradise paved over by a concrete parking lot, honest and rational people in government are all but extinct. The US government has long admonished foreign governments that to ever become fully advanced economies, they would first have to root crooks out of power. The tables have turned, and the US could must study the way other nations have successfully dealt with corruption.
If several members of Trump's cabinet aren't convicted of perjury, treason, and other offenses, our justice department will have badly failed in its duties, and the chances of restoring America to a true democracy will be slim to nil.
283
The US has been in cahoots with corrupt regimes around the world when it suited it's purposes, even resorting to military intervention to install corrupt regimes, so it should come as no surprise when that pigeon of corruption comes home to roost. Trump is merely the fruits of abject failure by the US to check it's own ruthlessness.
14
Yes, thanks for making that point - it only adds insult to injury when the US State Department and bodies such as the IMF invoke harsh terms on other nations for their alleged profligacy when our own government and businesses have aided and abetted the very crooks responsible for their worst problems.
14
A fruit that was ripe for harvest. And hanging from a limb that only took a little shaking by Russian espionage, with the FBI holding the ladder.
If these developments weren't so tragic, I would suggest making a fruit salad - just to keep spirits up.
If these developments weren't so tragic, I would suggest making a fruit salad - just to keep spirits up.
2
“Not incidentally, if this news hadn’t come to light, forcing Mr. Sessions to recuse himself, he would have supervised the investigation into Russian election meddling, possibly in collusion with the Trump campaign.”
The ultimate issue – the fundamental question on which the fate of Donald’s entire presidency depends – is whether his campaign colluded with the Russians to hack the DNC, tilt the electorate away from Hillary, and thereby compromise our democracy. Everything else is secondary.
Given the overwhelming and ever-accumulating circumstantial evidence of a tight relationship between Donald/his campaign, made even stronger by his desperate and debunked denials, the only surprising result would be that there was *no* such collusion.
So – get ready for a President Pence. I guess that’ll be progress – from a lying psychopath to a lying priest.
The ultimate issue – the fundamental question on which the fate of Donald’s entire presidency depends – is whether his campaign colluded with the Russians to hack the DNC, tilt the electorate away from Hillary, and thereby compromise our democracy. Everything else is secondary.
Given the overwhelming and ever-accumulating circumstantial evidence of a tight relationship between Donald/his campaign, made even stronger by his desperate and debunked denials, the only surprising result would be that there was *no* such collusion.
So – get ready for a President Pence. I guess that’ll be progress – from a lying psychopath to a lying priest.
19
The so-often-repeated false notion that the impeachment of Donald Trump would just lead to the ascension of Pence and therefore not change the situation, be a small improvement, or according to some, worse, is ludicrous and needs to stop being repeated. To impeach Donald Trump would be a huge victory for Democracy and a hugely important gain politically as well--Pence would not be vested with the same support nor presumption of support from either Trump's base or independent voters, and, like Ford, who pardoned and cleaned up after Nixon, would likely not be elected to a new term.
7
You have a great advantage in your method of writing, Professor Krugman, because you rarely need interviews to discover information or carry your point home.
The majority of journalists, as you know, do depend on interviews and press briefings and, as we have learned to our shallow sorrow, journalists who refuse to give Trump at least an occasional fix of adulation are shut out of any chance for an exclusive.
This brute fact accounts, I suspect, for much of the too-extravagant praise in response to the president's appearing more or less sane before a joint session of Congress. The party was soon spoiled, however, by the Jeff Sessions Revelations.
My sense for many, many months has been that Trump is an essentially self-destructive person, and that anyone who works for or toadies to him will eventually experience a major loss of reputation or, just possibly, a spell in a barred cell.
As we learned from Watergate, big scandals are brought to light in small increments, and Trump will not be forced from office next month or the month after. But out he is bound to go.
Intuition tells me that he'll become a true bitter-ender, though it's been noted that a leader's followers are rather less likely to fall sacrificially on their swords if the leader in question happens to be a narcissist.
For my part, I'm prepared to be patient, as long as the mills of the law grind up the Trumpites into exceedingly fine bits while they're turning with the deliberate slowness of due process.
The majority of journalists, as you know, do depend on interviews and press briefings and, as we have learned to our shallow sorrow, journalists who refuse to give Trump at least an occasional fix of adulation are shut out of any chance for an exclusive.
This brute fact accounts, I suspect, for much of the too-extravagant praise in response to the president's appearing more or less sane before a joint session of Congress. The party was soon spoiled, however, by the Jeff Sessions Revelations.
My sense for many, many months has been that Trump is an essentially self-destructive person, and that anyone who works for or toadies to him will eventually experience a major loss of reputation or, just possibly, a spell in a barred cell.
As we learned from Watergate, big scandals are brought to light in small increments, and Trump will not be forced from office next month or the month after. But out he is bound to go.
Intuition tells me that he'll become a true bitter-ender, though it's been noted that a leader's followers are rather less likely to fall sacrificially on their swords if the leader in question happens to be a narcissist.
For my part, I'm prepared to be patient, as long as the mills of the law grind up the Trumpites into exceedingly fine bits while they're turning with the deliberate slowness of due process.
48
In other words, you want them to have a fair trial before their conviction, and you don't care how long it takes, so long as that's the outcome. That's fine. What astonishes me so often is that people who take positions like this, on both sides of the aisle, actually think they are fair.
4
"journalists who refuse to give Trump at least an occasional fix of adulation are shut out of any chance for an exclusive" What use, exactly, is an "exclusive" with Trump? In a sense it might well be completely exclusive, in that the journalist could hear and then report some "fact" or "promise" or "trend" or "hint" that would never be heard of again and could very well be flatly contradicted.
5
Yes I dream of the day a real Washington purge occurs.
Imagine .... recalling every last elected representative home to their state .
Imagine allowing the " administrative state " being managed by state governors. Until we revamp the tricameral government. So it becomes a true
Republic.
Just a dream.
Imagine .... recalling every last elected representative home to their state .
Imagine allowing the " administrative state " being managed by state governors. Until we revamp the tricameral government. So it becomes a true
Republic.
Just a dream.
I despair, like Dr. Krugman, at the public and media's inability to focus, constantly reacting to the latest distraction.
Russia. Taxes. Russia. Taxes. Focus. Bring this nightmare to an end.
Russia. Taxes. Russia. Taxes. Focus. Bring this nightmare to an end.
344
Trump is a throwback. Years ago sales guy would lie to a customer and then turn around and tell a different lie to the next one. The Information Age changed all that. The customer shows up more well informed than the sell in modern selling so you have to have some expertise.
Trump has lived his entire life lying to and stealing from his customers and vendors. The con movement is based on a lie that they care about anything other than the 1%. They are in some ways a match made in heaven or maybe hell for those of us with a conscious.
He's a simpl
Trump has lived his entire life lying to and stealing from his customers and vendors. The con movement is based on a lie that they care about anything other than the 1%. They are in some ways a match made in heaven or maybe hell for those of us with a conscious.
He's a simpl
38
Does anyone else find it ironic that while the Senate is sharpening the knives for Attorney General Sessions they just approved Ben Carson for HUD Secretary and Rick Perry for Energy Secretary without a whimper of protest. What happened? I thought the Senate, especially the Democrats, were going fight confirmation for every Trump cabinet level nominee tooth and nail.
137
When will we start reading about our Commerce secretary , who ran the bank of Cyprus?
204
Here's a look at Commerce Secretary Wilber Ross' role at the Bank of Cypress where he maintained contacts with long-time Putin ally and investor Viktor Vekselberg and Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, a former vice-chairman of Bank of Cyprus and former KGB agent with a close relationship to Putin. Ross recruited Deutsch Bank CE Ackerman to the bank's board. Deutsch is said to be Trump's largest debt holder (unless another source turns up when Trump's taxes get released.
(1) "White House Accused of Blocking Information on (Cyprus) Bank's Trump-Russia Links"- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/27/commerce-nominee-wilbur-...
(2) "What Does It Mean to Have Repeated Contacts with Russian Intelligence"
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/02/what-does-it-m...
(3) "The Curious World of Donald Trump’s Private Russian Connections" http://www.the-american-interest.com/2016/12/19/the-curious-world-of-don...
(1) "White House Accused of Blocking Information on (Cyprus) Bank's Trump-Russia Links"- https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/feb/27/commerce-nominee-wilbur-...
(2) "What Does It Mean to Have Repeated Contacts with Russian Intelligence"
https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2017/02/what-does-it-m...
(3) "The Curious World of Donald Trump’s Private Russian Connections" http://www.the-american-interest.com/2016/12/19/the-curious-world-of-don...
14
The Donald’s a pretzel, all twisted and bent,
turned back on himself, a contortion that meant
we’ve witnessed a really amazing event…
a man who arrived at the same time he went!
He looked to the left as he faced to the right,
while arguing black was much whiter than white,
that “up” was now “down”, and that sunshine meant night,
for east was out west and the darkness was light.
He said that “hereafter” was really “before”,
while “less” wasn’t smaller, but meant to be “more”,
that all the “rich” people should now be called “poor”,
and it was illegal to follow the law!
He’s backflipped so often I wonder how he
can shut his eyes tightly and still claim to see,
while locked in a mindset that meant he would be
an amateur bumbler, a White House trainee.
turned back on himself, a contortion that meant
we’ve witnessed a really amazing event…
a man who arrived at the same time he went!
He looked to the left as he faced to the right,
while arguing black was much whiter than white,
that “up” was now “down”, and that sunshine meant night,
for east was out west and the darkness was light.
He said that “hereafter” was really “before”,
while “less” wasn’t smaller, but meant to be “more”,
that all the “rich” people should now be called “poor”,
and it was illegal to follow the law!
He’s backflipped so often I wonder how he
can shut his eyes tightly and still claim to see,
while locked in a mindset that meant he would be
an amateur bumbler, a White House trainee.
52
I would like to see this illustrated. Possibly by one of the New Yorker cartoonists. Well done, David.
3
Self publish these jingles as poems or lyrics w music.
We need these in the fields of true protest.
Maybe Ed Sherrin can sing them at protest rally's.
Love em.
We need these in the fields of true protest.
Maybe Ed Sherrin can sing them at protest rally's.
Love em.
3
Yes, DT’s habitual, compulsive lies are on a different plane from the usual spin and PR. To elect this totally unethical egomaniac, millions of voters made the emotion based decision to overlook all his extreme faults of character that in the past would have sunk any candidate.
This is the product of years of disrespect by the Gop and some Dems for the citizen majority’s needs, along with the general public relations spin of our big money politics and media/cable TV needing to fill 24/7 coverage.
Big money picks our nominees for us to choose from. Our candidates have to sell themselves to us voters, while still adhering to the requirements of the elite wealthy and corporate donors that sponsor their run for office. This makes for a schizophrenic political culture, separated from reality. Then this unreality becomes a norm, for millions. It’s a sort of mass insanity.
I couldn’t stomach the speech, so had a nice evening taking a vacation from TV. Very enjoyable. Seems a few TV cable pundits apparently wanted to appear ‘fair and balanced’, and look at the bright side, phony or not. These are show host types, looking for ratings and popularity, and to avoid political labels.
The next day I saw most of the Times commenters regarded the speech as a calculated, unconvincing performance, and said we must beware of the great manipulator’s next move.
Didn’t have long to wait, as he then defended his lying attny general, Sessions. What next?
This is the product of years of disrespect by the Gop and some Dems for the citizen majority’s needs, along with the general public relations spin of our big money politics and media/cable TV needing to fill 24/7 coverage.
Big money picks our nominees for us to choose from. Our candidates have to sell themselves to us voters, while still adhering to the requirements of the elite wealthy and corporate donors that sponsor their run for office. This makes for a schizophrenic political culture, separated from reality. Then this unreality becomes a norm, for millions. It’s a sort of mass insanity.
I couldn’t stomach the speech, so had a nice evening taking a vacation from TV. Very enjoyable. Seems a few TV cable pundits apparently wanted to appear ‘fair and balanced’, and look at the bright side, phony or not. These are show host types, looking for ratings and popularity, and to avoid political labels.
The next day I saw most of the Times commenters regarded the speech as a calculated, unconvincing performance, and said we must beware of the great manipulator’s next move.
Didn’t have long to wait, as he then defended his lying attny general, Sessions. What next?
55
What's got to be keeping the Pauls of elitist New York up at night is the realization that their favorite boogeyman is quickly ditching his thin-skinned persona for the polished world of the orator and who gets things done.
The possibility of an economic boom seems so near that the dedicated, devoted Left is seeing 18 Democrat Senators whose states supported Trump becoming an endangered species. And getting downright queasy about it.
Those pesky American Voters! Why don't they let the media tell them what to think, like Mika B told them last week?
The possibility of an economic boom seems so near that the dedicated, devoted Left is seeing 18 Democrat Senators whose states supported Trump becoming an endangered species. And getting downright queasy about it.
Those pesky American Voters! Why don't they let the media tell them what to think, like Mika B told them last week?
4
Don't forget those crops rotting in the fields as the cheap labour is deported and /or are afraid to work. American farms are in real danger of ruin and produce will be imported from Mexico instead. Walmart is desperately trying to avoid increased costs on their imports. I've said this before, average Americans want cheap fruit and vegetables and are used to cheap clothes that fall apart after a few washings. This economic boom you speak of will not return the middle class to the glory days of the 1950's.
39
" the polished world of the orator "
Not sure who you are referring to here. I saw someone who demonstrated that he can read text prepared for him without going on unhinged tangents.
Did you notice the policies remained those of a right wing white nationalist?
Not sure who you are referring to here. I saw someone who demonstrated that he can read text prepared for him without going on unhinged tangents.
Did you notice the policies remained those of a right wing white nationalist?
21
D.Trump is very far from being anywhere near a "polished world" of anything. Money cannot substitute for talent and taste.He remains a semi-literate huckster with a very limited vocabulary and even more limited intellect.
21
The GOP will begin to hold Trump accountable for his lies, as soon as they perceive their re-election prospects are in jeopardy. It will not be because of their principles or love of country. Some GOP members of congress are starting to feel the heat. While that is good news (maybe) for the country, Americans should remember how the GOP rammed through unqualified nominees and rushed thier votes for confirmation. Democracies function only when rules are followed. The GOP (at least this version of it) does not feel they need to follow any rules. They need to be voted out, permanently. If the current GOP had been in power during Watergate, Nixon would never have had to resign. They are despicable.
105
Are the Democrats bringing a Robert's Rules of Order to a knife fight?
3
Dr. Krugman, we're in the belly of the beast. FBI Director James Comey knew of these back-channel communications between the Trumpistas and the Russians even as he dropped a dime on Hillary Clinton ten days before the election. He chose to toss a red herring on the trail and the press and the public, like hounds, yelped and bayed and barked and followed the delicious scent which led to...a dead end. In the meanwhile, Mrs. Clinton's thin-and-shrinking lead took her under and we have Donald Trump. The FBI, the nation's leading (stop laughing, please!) investigative agency, put more than a thumb on the scales; it put both feet on it.
Not only that. President Obama, of course, knew all about it and told the Congressional leadership. Mitch McConnell said he didn't want this information out there. Paul Ryan remained silent. The president, for obvious reasons, could not go on national television and tell us that our national security and electoral process were compromised by a hostile foreign government in collusion with the Trump campaign. Most Americans would have thought that over the top and more partisan than the Senate Majority Leader's coup of the executive's duties to nominate court justices.
The press, of course, sought ratings, not truth, and joined in the national feeding frenzy, swallowing the chum that the Trumpistas tossed overboard. The press took its cues from the right and hammered home Benghazi and email servers, Mrs. Clinton risks to the nation.
No risk now.
Not only that. President Obama, of course, knew all about it and told the Congressional leadership. Mitch McConnell said he didn't want this information out there. Paul Ryan remained silent. The president, for obvious reasons, could not go on national television and tell us that our national security and electoral process were compromised by a hostile foreign government in collusion with the Trump campaign. Most Americans would have thought that over the top and more partisan than the Senate Majority Leader's coup of the executive's duties to nominate court justices.
The press, of course, sought ratings, not truth, and joined in the national feeding frenzy, swallowing the chum that the Trumpistas tossed overboard. The press took its cues from the right and hammered home Benghazi and email servers, Mrs. Clinton risks to the nation.
No risk now.
866
Yes, amazing isn't it what a risk-free world we now live in. Thanks, Comey, McConnell, Ryan - and the mainstream press. Now we can sleep safely in our beds.
9
The FBI, the nation's leading (stop laughing, please!) investigative agency, put more than a thumb on the scales; it put both feet on it.
AND jumped on that scale with both feet.
AND jumped on that scale with both feet.
6
True the extent of this Administration's lies is unprecedented. The challenge for progressives is to remain focused on a few salient issues and not be scattered and distracted by the sheer volume of untruths. We have to choose a handful of issues where Administration lies hide the facts, and point these out again and again if they are to have any effect in 2018. My three candidates : 1) The Russian connection - keep insisting on an independent prosecutor and pushing for answers right up to 'What did the President know and when did he know it.' 2) ACA - demonstrating how the GOP's untruths hide the fact that they never did and never will have a better solution. 3) GOP proposal for 10% more military spending - show how throwing more money at the services does not mean a safer America...It's impossible to catch up with systematic lying in every corner. I'd be happy to know what others think are the most important 3-5 priorities
65
The Russian connection, taxes and conflicts of interest
5
Another thing to avoid is getting so fatigued by opposing Trump that a speech from him that seems on the face of it normal (!?!) becomes an enormous relief - leading to relief-induced normalisation of this guy.
5
Dr. Krugman, the common thread of all these Cabinet appointees is shameless prevarication to Congress in order to get confirmed to their plum positions in this president's administration. After all, to the victors go the spoils, starting with the biggest liar of them all, the man who won the votes and confidence of the American electorate.
It's quite possible that the president suborned perjury by his hand picked Cabinet members in order to get them confirmed to their posts as quickly as possible. Why else would the Republican Senate and Congress push so hard to fill these Cabinet posts knowing that the president's choices weren't properly vetted. The president wasn't properly vetted himself during his White House run, which is one reason his tenure thus far has been stormy and chaotic.
Soon, the court will be in session for the the Attorney General, who seems to feel that merely recusing himself from investigations into the president's Russian entanglements is enough to quell doubts about his fitness to function as the nation's top law enforcement official. This Attorney general, in lock step with his president and his fellow Cabinet brethren, is dishonest, untrustworthy and found wanting in ethical and moral fitness to hold the offices that are now theirs. This Attorney General has his president's full confidence to move forward and do his job but it's already plain both men are flawed beyond redemption and they should both step aside for the good of the country.
It's quite possible that the president suborned perjury by his hand picked Cabinet members in order to get them confirmed to their posts as quickly as possible. Why else would the Republican Senate and Congress push so hard to fill these Cabinet posts knowing that the president's choices weren't properly vetted. The president wasn't properly vetted himself during his White House run, which is one reason his tenure thus far has been stormy and chaotic.
Soon, the court will be in session for the the Attorney General, who seems to feel that merely recusing himself from investigations into the president's Russian entanglements is enough to quell doubts about his fitness to function as the nation's top law enforcement official. This Attorney general, in lock step with his president and his fellow Cabinet brethren, is dishonest, untrustworthy and found wanting in ethical and moral fitness to hold the offices that are now theirs. This Attorney General has his president's full confidence to move forward and do his job but it's already plain both men are flawed beyond redemption and they should both step aside for the good of the country.
35
Professor Krugman raises a good point about the media. They have been uncharacteristically dogged in calling Trump on his many, many lies during the first month or so of his presidency. However, they seem to have slipped back into their old habits very quickly once Trump delivered a "normal" speech (i.e. he did not petulantly berate anyone in attendance or deliver an unhinged rant).
Never mind that, on substance, the speech was more of the same -- untruths, distortions, xenophobia and crass manipulation. Simply because it was delivered without the usual clownish flourishes, the media pundits gushed.
This begs the question, was it the lies, deception and corruption that spurred the media to actually do its job as watchdog? Or was it the buffoonish manner in which Trump has begun his presidency? I suspect it was the latter, and if Trump can maintain a thin veneer of "presidential" behavior, he will get away with his lies and corruption. (Of course, it remains to be seen if the notoriously unstable Trump can actually maintain that veneer, and based on what I've read from people who know him, it seems doubtful.)
The watchdog in the press cannot be lulled by a false sense of normalcy with this administration. Its policies are just as dangerous and ill-conceived as the president's behavior.
Never mind that, on substance, the speech was more of the same -- untruths, distortions, xenophobia and crass manipulation. Simply because it was delivered without the usual clownish flourishes, the media pundits gushed.
This begs the question, was it the lies, deception and corruption that spurred the media to actually do its job as watchdog? Or was it the buffoonish manner in which Trump has begun his presidency? I suspect it was the latter, and if Trump can maintain a thin veneer of "presidential" behavior, he will get away with his lies and corruption. (Of course, it remains to be seen if the notoriously unstable Trump can actually maintain that veneer, and based on what I've read from people who know him, it seems doubtful.)
The watchdog in the press cannot be lulled by a false sense of normalcy with this administration. Its policies are just as dangerous and ill-conceived as the president's behavior.
3258
I think it's partly exhaustion. As though here we are at the big family reunion, run by the biggest bully in the family, whom we all find embarrassing and offensive, and here he is acting nice. Oh the relief. So he acts nice at the big dinner. He's still the same jerk afterwards.
8
@David
The press has not been uncharacteristically dogged as of late. They have been the same ole' same ole'; being manipulated (as you say ) to go from story to story every day. ( even within the same news cycle )
What is a story and what is the truth is a whole different mater.
The press has not been uncharacteristically dogged as of late. They have been the same ole' same ole'; being manipulated (as you say ) to go from story to story every day. ( even within the same news cycle )
What is a story and what is the truth is a whole different mater.
4
Dogged in their reporting ? These are lies broadcast on national TV, in front of congressional committees and, of course, tweeted by the loud mouth himself to millions. Bold faced lies told with great impunity. All 'the media' did was reproduce the tape or re-tweet the post.
3
"But then you watch something like the way much of the news media responded to Mr. Trump’s congressional address, and you feel despair. It was a speech filled with falsehoods and vile policy proposals, but read calmly off the teleprompter — and suddenly everyone was declaring the liar in chief “presidential.”
And there is the nut graf. The swooning and fawning over Trump's speech by the media -- particularly TV but also in print -- was truly depressing. Given Trump's well documented history of mendacity, and his branding many of those waving lighters for him after this "speech" as an "enemy of the people," one has to ask: can't anyone play this game?
Trump made word-like sounds that he read verbatim of a TelePrompTer (a device the Right lambasted former President Obama's use of) with all the conviction of an eighth-grader stumbling thourgh a book report on a novel he'd never read. The words themselves were meaningless; all that mattered was the Big Sale.
I truly cannot believe how much of our media fell for this nonsense.
And there is the nut graf. The swooning and fawning over Trump's speech by the media -- particularly TV but also in print -- was truly depressing. Given Trump's well documented history of mendacity, and his branding many of those waving lighters for him after this "speech" as an "enemy of the people," one has to ask: can't anyone play this game?
Trump made word-like sounds that he read verbatim of a TelePrompTer (a device the Right lambasted former President Obama's use of) with all the conviction of an eighth-grader stumbling thourgh a book report on a novel he'd never read. The words themselves were meaningless; all that mattered was the Big Sale.
I truly cannot believe how much of our media fell for this nonsense.
163
Word-like sounds! Can you tweet that and let it go viral? It's wonderful.
12
The head of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the National Intelligence Advisor cannot have been unaware that all activities and communications of the Russian ambassador are closely monitored by the US intelligence agencies. Sessions and Flynn were unaware that this information would be shared with the press. It seems that the intelligence community is taking its job seriously which is to work for the American people. Long may this proud tradition continue.
115
The man read a speech that approximates some semblance of the knuckleheaded alt-reality demagoguery that got him elected, yet even modern day Republicans won't coalesce around most of the 19th century protectionist America first, last, and only clap trap he's peddling. Most of his laundry list of proposals would have the effect of plunging the American economy into a serous, yet avoidable recession. So for now, let the REpublicans applaud their president... it will undoubtedly be a short lived thrill.
30
The amazing thing is to watch the GOPers abandon every possible principle that they lied about supporting, if it at all stood between them & the acquisition of power. They'd hand over the nation to Russia & Putin if it allows them to have hegemony over Democrats & workers. All that stuff about God, country & family values is just a bunch of carbon fiber.
The problem has to do with money. Follow it and you'll find the crimes & the truth. Unfortunately money knows no boundaries & thanks to the Supreme Court, our government & politicians are more for sale than they have ever been in recent memory.
Some argue that Putin, at a net worth of $85 billion is the richest man on the planet. Moreover one oil deal he's made with Exxon-Mobile is said to be worth a half trillion dollars. That kind of $ will attract every craven sellout w/ a pulse. It doesn't matter that Russia's a gas station w/ a dysfunctional economy the size of Italy, its wealth is highly concentrated, money knows no boundaries & it appears it has found its natural acolytes in the GOP who I believe history will prove that they sold out the country for song.
This probably originates w/ one of Trumps bankruptcy's burning American banks. Unable, as a bad credit risk, to get loans for his projects from American banks he seems to turned to using the Russian as creditors. But like w/ the mafia, using goes both ways & once in, one is never able to leave and grew from there.
This is what I think investigations will find.
The problem has to do with money. Follow it and you'll find the crimes & the truth. Unfortunately money knows no boundaries & thanks to the Supreme Court, our government & politicians are more for sale than they have ever been in recent memory.
Some argue that Putin, at a net worth of $85 billion is the richest man on the planet. Moreover one oil deal he's made with Exxon-Mobile is said to be worth a half trillion dollars. That kind of $ will attract every craven sellout w/ a pulse. It doesn't matter that Russia's a gas station w/ a dysfunctional economy the size of Italy, its wealth is highly concentrated, money knows no boundaries & it appears it has found its natural acolytes in the GOP who I believe history will prove that they sold out the country for song.
This probably originates w/ one of Trumps bankruptcy's burning American banks. Unable, as a bad credit risk, to get loans for his projects from American banks he seems to turned to using the Russian as creditors. But like w/ the mafia, using goes both ways & once in, one is never able to leave and grew from there.
This is what I think investigations will find.
486
I think "every craven sellout with a pulse" bears repeating. Thank you. It fits DT and most of his cabinet to a T.
17
I think the investigators are looking for a job with Trump. Therefore are not getting him riled up.
2
Greed and the lust for power will destroy this once-great country.
1
Corruption and lying are one thing. Incompetence is another. They are not unrelated, but it is incompetence that will destroy Trump and his regime not corruption. The corruption will provide the excuse, but incompetence will provide the reason. The simple truth is they are incompetent to govern and this will become more obvious with each passing day. They have not even yet faced a single real crisis, and yet they are in crisis. When a real crisis hits, it will be the end.
227
I must say I have developed a new understanding and empathy for those millions of people living under the rule of crazy, thieving, autocrats and despots.
Everyone sees what's happening but no one can stop it from continuing.
There are 1340 days, 23 hours,4 minutes and 50 seconds left in Trump's term.
Every minute seems like an hour.
https://days.to/election-day-in-us/2020
Everyone sees what's happening but no one can stop it from continuing.
There are 1340 days, 23 hours,4 minutes and 50 seconds left in Trump's term.
Every minute seems like an hour.
https://days.to/election-day-in-us/2020
157
Sometimes the best defense is a good offense. Progressives should demand big increases in the death tax and force Trump and the Repubs to defend themselves. Jefferson did it, we can too. Same with the 50% discounted income taxes on other unearned income, like capital gains, which were taxed almost the same as other income until 25 years ago.
To a large extent, Trump's lies and outrageous statements are diversions intended to prevent us from paying attention to the fact that the 1% is robbing the rest of us blind. That is a large part of the discussions of transgender, gay, and abortion issues, which are important but not as important as the tax issues. They are a smokescreen.
Watch Comedy Party Platform on YouTube, and keep in touch. [email protected]
To a large extent, Trump's lies and outrageous statements are diversions intended to prevent us from paying attention to the fact that the 1% is robbing the rest of us blind. That is a large part of the discussions of transgender, gay, and abortion issues, which are important but not as important as the tax issues. They are a smokescreen.
Watch Comedy Party Platform on YouTube, and keep in touch. [email protected]
71
Regarding taxes, the tax code is far too complicated for me to proffer anything but a simple response.
"Clinton raised the top marginal rate from 31 percent to 39.6 percent with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993"
"President Obama's budget proposals to tax the rich are usually DOA with Republicans. Nevertheless, the top 1% are now paying an average tax rate that's 6 percentage points higher than when Obama first took office." from:http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/30/pf/taxes/obama-taxes-rich/
"Clinton raised the top marginal rate from 31 percent to 39.6 percent with the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993"
"President Obama's budget proposals to tax the rich are usually DOA with Republicans. Nevertheless, the top 1% are now paying an average tax rate that's 6 percentage points higher than when Obama first took office." from:http://money.cnn.com/2015/01/30/pf/taxes/obama-taxes-rich/
22
The hypocrisy of the GOP and their base it was has me feeling hopeless for the future of this country. Less than a year ago a Secretary of State was under years long investigation for a terrorist attack on an embassy that the GOP denied increased security for. Meanwhile the sitting president who ordered a disastrous mission in Yemen is declared a brave leader by this same base. The absurdity of blaming a Secretary of State for Benghazi is bad enough but when the same people don't hold trump liable for losing American lives while he ate steak then how can there be hope for reason and reconciliation? The same voters that claimed Obama was weak in Russia now think Russia is a fine friend. As far as I can tell the republicans and their base have no cohesive agenda, no morality and absolutely no values except to oppose whatever people they deem the enemy aka liberals. I fear this fissure is permanent.
1121
It's been building for half a century thanks to unscrupulous, unpatriotic moneyed Americans, who would like to destroy democracy in this country.
28
Seen from my European perspective, it seems that the GOP base confuses politics with a sport's game. They've picked their team a long time ago based on sometimes flimsy "values" (abortion, gun rights, religion ...?) and they root for their team no matter what. They hate the other team and rejoice in any "win" over the other team. No amount of facts can be allowed in that type of reasoning, only your gut feeling and loyalty to the team.
European politics are far from being perfect but at least we still share a reasonable amount of facts if not opinions.
European politics are far from being perfect but at least we still share a reasonable amount of facts if not opinions.
39
Republicans have been test marketing lying as a political strategy since the day when Richard Nixon declared "I am not a crook" and actually got away with people believing it for a while.
And it is rampant throughout all levels of the party. Just read some local papers to learn what kind of lies are told in state legislatures and senates to get an idea of the kind of farm club players the GOP is grooming for the majors.
Donald Trump and his cabinet of grifters and sleazeball artists simply represent a natural evolution from "I am not a crook. No wonder former New York mayor Ed Koch wholeheartedly agreed with his deputy mayor who wrote in a memo, "I wouldn't believe anything Donald Trump said if his tongue were notarized."
And it is rampant throughout all levels of the party. Just read some local papers to learn what kind of lies are told in state legislatures and senates to get an idea of the kind of farm club players the GOP is grooming for the majors.
Donald Trump and his cabinet of grifters and sleazeball artists simply represent a natural evolution from "I am not a crook. No wonder former New York mayor Ed Koch wholeheartedly agreed with his deputy mayor who wrote in a memo, "I wouldn't believe anything Donald Trump said if his tongue were notarized."
483
Charley - And St. Ronnie/GOP'ers were never made to pay a political price for the Big Lie told to get him elected; that lie which was admitted by David Stockman (future Billionaire) that there were no actual Ray-gun budget numbers as professed during the campaign - that " none of us really understands what's going on with all these numbers ":
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1981/12/the-education-of-da...
The tribalism we live under today was in full sunlight at that point, not even 12 months into St. Ronnie's 8-year term; trafficking in GOP'er lies has just gotten more in-your-face ever since, with St. Ronnie's message-shapers starting up the Faux Noise Machina 24/7 propaganda outlet.
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1981/12/the-education-of-da...
The tribalism we live under today was in full sunlight at that point, not even 12 months into St. Ronnie's 8-year term; trafficking in GOP'er lies has just gotten more in-your-face ever since, with St. Ronnie's message-shapers starting up the Faux Noise Machina 24/7 propaganda outlet.
15
The bodyguard of lies Republicans keep telling in their war against the middle class, working poor and the impoverished and elderly are legion.
Yes, there was Reagan's nonsense about tax cuts for the rich give the government and the middle class more money - an absolute untruth that Paul Ryan and Sam Brownback keep peddling. Reagan also lied about the hostages in Iran and Iran-Contra.
Dubya and Cheney lies about tax cuts and Iraq.
Trump lies about everything, even when telling the truth would be easier. Which is why our generation should borrow a chant from our parents and follow Trump everywhere he goes shouting:
Hey Hey Donald J!
How many lies did you tell today?
Yes, there was Reagan's nonsense about tax cuts for the rich give the government and the middle class more money - an absolute untruth that Paul Ryan and Sam Brownback keep peddling. Reagan also lied about the hostages in Iran and Iran-Contra.
Dubya and Cheney lies about tax cuts and Iraq.
Trump lies about everything, even when telling the truth would be easier. Which is why our generation should borrow a chant from our parents and follow Trump everywhere he goes shouting:
Hey Hey Donald J!
How many lies did you tell today?
22
Keep it up, Paul! I'd like to see your analysis of the congressional address too. So often responses to the Con-Man-in-Chief are about only style, not substance. He read calmly so he was a great speaker. Nonsense. What did he *say?*
110
One thing he said that I can't get out of my mind because it is so ridiculous is: "Dying industries will come roaring back to life"
Right, and the dodo bird is no longer extinct.
Right, and the dodo bird is no longer extinct.
31
Paul is struggling to keep reality in play and not let the big lie become the new accepted big truth. Bonne Chance to all of us!
80
Republicans in Congress will only address the lies of this administration when their constituents insist that they do... so that might never happen. Don't forget that the WaPo was out there on its own for a long time during the Watergate investigation. It takes courage to challenge elected officials in red states.
256
"...WaPo was out there on its own for a long time during the Watergate investigation."
Yes. They've recently adopted the slogan, "Democracy dies in darkness."
And I liked Stephen Colbert's suggestion for another for them (as best I can remember it): "We took down Nixon. Who wants to be next?"
Yes. They've recently adopted the slogan, "Democracy dies in darkness."
And I liked Stephen Colbert's suggestion for another for them (as best I can remember it): "We took down Nixon. Who wants to be next?"
15
It turns out that Sessions, who claims having met with MANY ambassadors in his office in his role as a senior U.S. senator seeking better U.S. – and this is something that can be proven true or false easily with records – was asked a question during Senate confirmation hearings for AG by a partisan senator looking for any pretext to demonize him, and didn’t connect a veiled accusation of shenanigans with his normal activities as senator. And this was a meeting reported by the WaPost when it happened, so if Sessions HAD made a connection, he’d have been pretty dumb to deny the meeting. To call his testimony “lies” is an act of transparent ideological interest and outrageous.
When Sessions demonstrates that he met not just with a Russian ambassador noted for being an energetic D.C. networker – which is, after all, a big part of his job – but many ambassadors, as he claims, it will occur to most Americans that these accusations were and are nothing more than a liberal bushwhack of Sessions, and the credibility of further attempts at Trump team demonization by a left in mortal fear that Trump will succeed at implementing his agenda … will be damaged severely. It might even cause people to recall an Obama IRS sic’d on conservative groups.
I’m no fan of Sessions, but the grundoons working for opposed members of Congress might have focused on finding even more damaging evidence of racism in Sessions’s past, and not set themselves up for a predictable and deserved drubbing.
When Sessions demonstrates that he met not just with a Russian ambassador noted for being an energetic D.C. networker – which is, after all, a big part of his job – but many ambassadors, as he claims, it will occur to most Americans that these accusations were and are nothing more than a liberal bushwhack of Sessions, and the credibility of further attempts at Trump team demonization by a left in mortal fear that Trump will succeed at implementing his agenda … will be damaged severely. It might even cause people to recall an Obama IRS sic’d on conservative groups.
I’m no fan of Sessions, but the grundoons working for opposed members of Congress might have focused on finding even more damaging evidence of racism in Sessions’s past, and not set themselves up for a predictable and deserved drubbing.
13
Excuse me - the idea that Sessions has made a series of contradictory statements, including an outright untruth during the Senate hearings in response to Franken's question. Kliendienst, Nixon's short-lived Attorney General was forced to resign for exactly this kind of falsehood. The precedent is clear. I don't claim to know why Sessions is lied and is lying, but such behavior by an Attorney General is not acceptable.
168
Senator Franken did not ask a trick question.
Sessions could have replied truthfully that he had met with the Russian ambassador and that there is nothing wrong with such meetings.
That is true..
It is plausible that Sessions might not recall everything that was discussed.
It is not plausible that Sessions did not recall either meeting as having occurred.
Why did Sessions lie.
Attacking Senator Franken is not an adequate explanation.
Sessions could have replied truthfully that he had met with the Russian ambassador and that there is nothing wrong with such meetings.
That is true..
It is plausible that Sessions might not recall everything that was discussed.
It is not plausible that Sessions did not recall either meeting as having occurred.
Why did Sessions lie.
Attacking Senator Franken is not an adequate explanation.
214
Meeting twice with the Russian ambassador and then less than a year later claiming that you haven't met any Russian officials is not a liberal bushwack. It's a completely self-inflicted wound and a bald-faced lie.
186
Perjury is no longer a crime
When you're living in Donald Trump time,
And in spite of the Press
He lies nonetheless
On TV at hours that are prime!
And he'll make the US debt-free
By his technique called Bankruptcy,
With cool and low cunning
Repulsive but stunning
Paying ten cents per dollar, you'll see!
When you're living in Donald Trump time,
And in spite of the Press
He lies nonetheless
On TV at hours that are prime!
And he'll make the US debt-free
By his technique called Bankruptcy,
With cool and low cunning
Repulsive but stunning
Paying ten cents per dollar, you'll see!
476
Excellent, Larry.
6
Oh Larry!
6
Superb! Always a pleassure to read your verrse. Thanks.
2
Sigh.
This guy is a fraud who will sell out practically anybody and anything to make a buck and get some attention.
To see him in military garb yesterday makes me sick.