Shameful! Scar and Niall Ferguson using today's MJ to do a hatchet job on Paul Krugman!

[CTyankee]

Last edited Thu Oct 10, 2013, 09:30 AM - Edit history (1)

I was close to muting the show but kept with it to see what was being thrown at Dr. K. While I am sure he will respond shortly on his blog, one thing became very clear: Ferguson IS an idiot. His diatribe was full of distortions about Krugman's views (and his track record of being right).

Question for Niall: you comment snidely on Krugman's "models" (while also making a sexist crack about female models, not a wise move, buddy). Are you an economist? The answer of course is NO. Geez, you accuse an economist of doing economic models, huh?

Second question: When did you get your Nobel Prize? I think we know the answer to that.

Ok, Joe, your turn: You claim to have "won" your "debate" with a Nobel Prize winning economist who teaches at a prestigious Ivy League college. And what are YOU? A congressman from some 15 years ago, a "has been" who quit because of a HUGE cloud over you regarding a female staffer who died under mysterious circumstances in your office.

I am convinced that Joe's REAL problem with Krugman is that nobody compared him to George Clooney...just sayin'...

[IMG][/IMG]

[abelenkpe]

1. Furguson on is a sad sad little man with a huge chip in his shoulder

Regarding Krugman. He is pathetic. Don't worry, most people can see through his sad little obsession.

[CTyankee]

2. Yep. He was totally out of his league today. And Joe was lying.

I found that photoshopped pic and added to my OP...just for giggles...

[malaise]

3. I turned it off

[CTyankee]

7. Maybe I should have, too. But I got my thoughts off my chest here so I feel better.

It was really bad, Malaise. But there was real desperation about what they were doing. They tried to smear Krugman by hinting that he was unhinged and darkly suggesting that the NY Times editors are wringing their hands about his blog. Total fabrication, IMO. Joe wouldn't reveal his source with that last one, so we can safely assume he's lying in his teeth...

[Cleita]

4. I started reading one of Ferguson's books and couldn't finish it because

his grasp of economics is so ideologue and removed from reality. He is an idiot.

[eShirl]

5. That's actually Clooney's head on his body in the film Syriana

He just has a similar haircut/beard to Krugman's

[CTyankee]

9. You are right...I musta automatically assumed it was a photoshopped deal...

I love the joke, in any event...quite a coup for the guy who created it...

[eShirl]

11. I love the meme, it never gets old :)

[CTyankee]

12. Krugman was pretty modest about it. He said he didn't see the resemblance.

I think initially he was embarrassed. I bet he isn't any more.

I still think Joe is mad about it, tho. Nobody compares HIM to Clooney, and they never will....he's an ugly, beady eyed RW thug...

[hatrack]

6. Niall Ferguson - Glenn Beck for smart people

[Capt. Obvious]

8. 4 term Congressman

Resigned during 4th term after murdering his aide who he was most likely having an affair with.

[CTyankee]

10. oops. thanks for the correction...

[muriel_volestrangler]

13. Did Ferguson (or JS) explain it was because Prof Krugman publicised F's ignorance, again?

Brad deLong caught Ferguson bullshitting in the Wall Street Journal:

Why oh why can't we have a better press corps?

Niall Ferguson: Niall Ferguson: The Shutdown Is a Sideshow. Debt Is the Threat:

A year ago, the CBO's extended baseline series for the federal debt in public hands projected a figure of 52% of GDP by 2038. That figure has very nearly doubled to 100%…

A year ago, the CBO was required by law to calculate its extended baseline by assuming that all of the tax cuts originally put in place in 2001 and 2003 would expire at the end of 2012, and never be reinstated. A year ago the CBO warned everybody who read its report about this, and told them to look not at the extended baseline but at the alternative scenario--which this year shows a 2038 debt-to-GDP outcome not 48% points worse but instead 30% points better than last year's.

No. I don't know whether Niall Ferguson does or doesn't understand the CBO's reports. I really do not know what he thinks he is doing. What he is doing with thing alike this--pretending that there has been an extraordinary deterioration over the past year in the CBO's long-term budget outlook when everyone who understands the budget and CBO knows that there has been an improvement is further misleading the readers of the Wall Street Journal editorial page, and further shredding his credibility with his peers.

http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2013/10/this-will-not-do-at-all.html

Plus http://delong.typepad.com/sdj/2013/10/whiskey-tango-foxtrot-wall-street-journal-bang-query-bang-query-is-this-some-strange-berkeley-acid-trip-i-am-on-weblogging.html

Krugman (who has a big readership) publicised it with this blog entry: http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/10/07/on-knowing-what-you-dont-know/

Now, while DeLong is a good academic, pointing out yet another Ferguson error in his blog will mainly be seen by economists and those with a definite interest in it. Ferguson's reputation with them is already at the bottom of the barrel, so it doesn't matter too much. But when Krugman points this out on his widely-read blog - hell, that could affect Ferguson's book sales among the general public. This is about money for Ferguson, so he's got to fight.

[Dawson Leery]

14. Krugman has credibility.

Ferguson has no credibility and Joe Scar has a dead intern.

[CTyankee]

16. I would like to see Ferguson GONE from Harvard...he's an embarrassment...

[Hong Kong Cavalier]

15. Autorec for the Krugman meme

I love that pic.