Jason & the Obamanauts: Krugman On Furman As Obama's Economic Policy Director

[KittyWampus]

Jason and the Obamanauts
OK, this furor over Jason Furman’s appointment is silly, on two levels.

1. Furman is a very good guy, with a solid track record as a progressive. You can disagree with him about Walmart — and I do — but his heart is clearly with those who want more social justice and a stronger safety net.

2. He’s not, despite what the story says, Obama’s chief economic policy advisor — he’s the economic policy director, which is a process job: basically, he organizes other people to provide advice. Obviously there could be a real problem if the policy director steered the candidate away from progressive advice, but Furman is, as I said, a solid progressive, and well suited to the job of honest broker.

Maybe I’m wrong, but my sense is that Jason Furman has become a proxy target for some Obama supporters who, now that the Great Satanness has been defeated, are suddenly starting to have the queasy feeling that their hero might be a bit of a …. centrist. I’m tempted to say I told you so; in fact, I guess I just did. But that’s all in the past now.

Anyway, lay off Jason Furman, a good guy who will do his best to defeat a candidate who gets his economic advice from Phil Gramm.
http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/jason-and-the-obamanauts/

[Captain Hilts]

1. Paul hit the nail on the head. nt

[MarjorieG]

2. Let's forget labels. Obama is pragmatic, various looks at solutions.

Reality we have tough problems, need to find money to spend, but with the awareness of fiscal concerns. Obama is an independent thinker.

[FrenchieCat]

3. Aye......not an ideologue....

The Anti-Bush in that respect.

[Skwmom]

17. With all due respect, if being against worker exploitation, the destruction of our environment,

importation of dangerous products (b/c God forbid if we had any restrictions), etc. makes one an ideologue, so be it.

I believe in finding common ground. But I don't think free traders are looking for common ground.

Another thing that really bugs me is the guy who had a hand in the sub-prime crisis. You think such a MAJOR SCREW UP would disqualify you.

[Cha]

4. He is wrong..but it wouldn't be

the first time.

[KittyWampus]

5. I don't think he's wrong. Mainly, it's Krugman's perspective that has me a bit at odds

with him lately.

IMO, he became very emotionally invested in defending the Edwards/Clinton health insurance policy proposals with out realizing what it was doing to his outlook.

[papau]

7. LOL - Krugman stated what every Health Actuary knows to be true re Obama idea-"emotionally invested

is yet another crap DU opinion by those that need to put down truth - especially if it comes from Clinton - and Edwards and Krugman and this actuary -me -whenever it shows Obama with less than a Halo.

At this point the discussion is pointless - unless Obama also drops the elimination of underwriting individual health in issuing "health insurance" (the "Obama" proposal is to use Group underwriting methods) - or he drops the medicare for all alternative to insurance company issued coverage OPTION - so as to get some GOP love.

If he does drop either then by God there will be a revolution with me and my cane in the front row as we march on Obama.

God save us us from the Obama advisers like a conservative Rubin, a clueless on the economics of social insurance person like Robert Reich, or the George Will blessed Austan Goolsbee who as an adviser to Barack Obama more or less defines the center-right policy we should expect.

Granted they are miles better than McCain's supply side idiots - but to favorably contrast/compare Obama's economics adviser choices to the liberal and actually knowledgeable Krugman is to be blinded by that Obama Halo.

[dionysus]

25. wow, you're still pissed off huh?

:rofl:

[Cha]

11. He's wrong about this afaic.

"Maybe I’m wrong, but my sense is that Jason Furman has become a proxy target for some Obama supporters who, now that the Great Satanness has been defeated, are suddenly starting to have the queasy feeling that their hero might be a bit of a …. centrist. I’m tempted to say I told you so; in fact, I guess I just did. But that’s all in the past now."

What a self-centered creep. And, yeah, it's in the past but I'll never forget his smearing.

My opinion of krugman is that he's a slimey snark..I don't care how good he's suppose to be in the Economic department.

[depakid]

26. Living proof that you can't reason with a "true believer"

They'll always find some way around the cognitive dissonance to preserve whatever opinion that they hold, regardless of what the facts show.

[Cha]

30. Yeah, like krugman's right about this?

Are you talking about yourself..that you're a true believer?

[depakid]

31. Seems to me, that was a very reasonable take

and quite a bit more charitable than other progressive groups have had.

[noiretextatique]

34. yep...indeed

to hell with all the economics crap...he spoke badly about "the one."

[ElsewheresDaughter]

6. sorry but I'm with Krugman on this one

[TexasObserver]

8. good stuff

[anonymous171]

9. I'll agree with Krugman. Seems that it's less about Furman and more about unmet expectations

Sometimes, at least.

[dorktv]

10. Krugman said "great Satanness?" Man dude, over the top!

[Jeff In Milwaukee]

12. That was a little gratuitious...

Somebody needs to send Paul the "Unity Memo"

[Skwmom]

13. Krugman is a BIG FREE TRADER, aka let corporations

move jobs where there are no worker rights, environmental protections, etc. So what the heck, let's just exploit workers and destroy the planet. About a safety net: Why should a company pay their employees so little that there has to be a public safety net? It's like corporations importing cheap illegal labor while expecting taxpayers to pay their medical needs, etc.

If Krugman supports the guy, that just confirms my feelings on the matter.

Free trade: free of worker rights and environmental protections.

[Shakespeare]

16. I think you're confusing him with Friedman.

Krugman does NOT hold the views you just described.

[Skwmom]

18. Krugman supports "free" trade.

He was critical of industrial policy (an approach Clinton later dropped under the influence of Robert Rubin and Lawrence Summers) and argued in favor of free trade. (He writes on p. xxvi of his book The Great Unraveling that "I still have the angry letter Ralph Nader sent me when I criticized his attacks on globalization.")

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Krugman

[Shakespeare]

19. He supports REGULATED free trade.

Globalization is a fact; what's important is how we deal with it. You show a stunning lack of knowledge about Krugman if you really believe what you've posted.

[Skwmom]

21. Free and regulated?

Hmmm.. I have nothing against world-wide trade. But the way these geniuses have promoted it hasn't worked out so well (well, except for the corporations that is).

[Romulox]

23. *Regulated* free trade. Hmmm... Seems like there may be an internal inconsistency there! nt

[Shakespeare]

27. Free trade as synonym for capitalism. It's really not oxymoronic. n/t

[Romulox]

28. "Free trade" is most certainly NOT a synonym for capitalism

For example, Japan and South Korea, two quite protectionist countries, are considered capitalist powerhouses. The US does not engage in "free trade" with either country.

[Romulox]

22. Krugman was on NPR's "Fresh Air" a couple months ago advocating for "Free Trade"

and downplaying its aftermath.

[KittyWampus]

29. He does support outsourcing. His position is, the problem is lack of new jobs here at home

not sending them overseas.

He has a point.

[OzarkDem]

24. Link?

[JNelson6563]

14. Clever, witty title.

I give it a "10"

Julie

[Skwmom]

20. I've never really met a SMART person that felt like they had

to make such petty attacks. But considering what "free trade" has brought the world, I don't think we need to worry about putting Krugman in the "smart person" category.

Of course, I've met plenty of people who use such petty attacks when they don't really have a leg to stand on. I think that definitely fits this situation.

[JNelson6563]

33. I'm a fan of plays on words and such.

As to Krugman, sometimes he's right on stuff, other times I wonder "what is he thinking?!?".

Julie

[Shakespeare]

15. Wow. I'm really glad he wrote that.

That had been my take on my admittedly limited reading I've done about Furman. He strikes me as someone who has good and interesting ideas.

[Alter Ego]

32. Wait, wait...Krugman is now defending Obama?