Paul Krugman: Obama's Trust Problem

New York Times:

According to news reports, the Obama administration -- which seemed, over the weekend, to be backing away from the "public option" for health insurance -- is shocked and surprised at the furious reaction from progressives.

Read the whole story: New York Times

Comments

[konybvg]

Paul Krugman, do us all a favor shut up!!

[From the Raft]

Paul Krugman has fallen prey to Death Tank creations. These tanks are all over Washington made up of former member of the Reagan, H. W. and W. Bushes. Supported by lobbyists from America's largest corporations, Republicans in Congress, the religious right and wealthy conservative individuals. Members of Death Tanks are guaranteed jobs for life to destroy liberal administrations.

[waynesmyer]

But! But! as any fool can plainly see! We must give in to the Bush-Cheney-Rove REPUKES and stop this public option health care nonsense! your beloved pussy-presinator, IGIVEUP OBAMA
WHAT'S GOOD FOR AMERIKA IS GOOD FOR REPUKES!

[taricaziz]

never trusted the quick smile of Obama. Why would the republican party run an old guy with seniority for President, unless they knew their agenda would be continued under a so called democratic regime, in my mind there is no difference between the two. We have been punked.

[kgdr24]

I voted for Obama and I feel like I've been punked. He has been a waste of my vote. The things I really cared about- Health Care Reform, End of Torture practices, End of the Middle East Conflict, Gun Control, have been nothing but a let down from Obama. He panders to the Republicans like a toadie panders to the school bully. Progressives like me may not be loud, gun-wielding, liars like the Right Wing nutcases, but we do have votes and a way of holding officials accountable come election time. I will not be voting for Obama again.

[konybvg]

you never voted for barack obama so stop pretending. If you are a democrat saying this, you are just a plebian who sway to any direction where there is noise. No wonder bill mahr says Americans are dumb and could elect sarah palin some day. Where were you when bush distroyed this country for four years and you gave him another four years to finish it up. This president has just been in office for 7 months to clean up the mess and you guys wont let him. Americans are ungovernable and I am beginging to wish Sarah Palin on this country.you all deserve her and russia and China cant wait

[piperflyer]

I'm a simple man, a high school graduate. So the depths of this political world are above me, but, when a person's resume' is a strong history of concession and dialogue, of community and elitism, how may we be surprised when that person is true to his/her nature and tries to please everyone, resulting in sorrow for supporters and problems for us progressives. I'm simple, but when the light is green, I go.

[knowledgeP21]

Obama hasn't shown a lot a passion in this healthcare debate. When he gave his prime-time address on healthcare, he didn't sound like the Obama we know- he totally seemed out of it. What even made it worse was taking the question about Henry Gates' arrest?...The minute he answered that question, I knew we were somehow losing him... how could he take on such a question while trying to sell his healthcare plan to the Americans. At the end his whole address was overshadowed by the last minute of the whole press-conference. That to me symbolized Mr Obama's lack of commitment towards healthcare reform in America.
What Mr Obama needs to do now is go out there with all he's got and fight until he ends what he just started? Healthcare is a sensetive issue for most Americans and must be tackled with impartial devotion...there is no part-time in this kind of battle.

[konybvg]

This man is just a human being like you and me. Since he came to power he has being fighting for this country and should be tied by now since the whole country has his name in their mouth. Should americans be convienced they need health care to save their lives. Should this be a tough topic. If Americans are civilized, why should they be convinced to have health care for all. This man is being trashed from the left and from the right. I don't know why he is doing this for a bunch of ungrateful citizens. I hope Michelle Obama advises him not to run for reelection and lose his life for people who are not worth it. He is turing the economy around and yet he gets no cradit but a slipping poll. He is fighting to get health care for people who he cannot convince that their lives are worth saving. America deserve the republicans who will eventually turn this country to a third world country.

[NJmikeV]

I agree with Mr. Krugman. I made hundreds of phone calls and sent in hundreds of dollars to Mr. Obama last fall. When I voted, I voted for change.

Mr. President, how 'bout dancin' with the gal that brung ya . Quit pallin' around with the insurance industry ghouls.

[konybvg]

Keep quiet and vote for Sarah Palin next time fool

[HarlowGal1960]

all this about the president's unpreparedness for the task at hand is, sadly, true. even sadder is the fact that what we are seeing in term of an official response is "don't michelle's arms look great?" and "look, she shops at target." i am so over these people, including the web based progressives who got him the nomination and elected him.

[konybvg]

How many presidents have tried health care reform and failed, what makes Obama unprepared for the job. Was FDR, Truman, FDR, JFK, Clinton unprepared for the job when they failed. For 60 years White presidents have tried and failed. The white presidents who ran this country down the gutter were definitly unprepared for the job

[deli lama]

here's a little warning from history: bill clinton tried to reform health care in his first year, but the left got enough of their panties in a sufficiently collective wad to give their own president a wedgie. why? because progressives weren't getting everything they wanted and just the way they wanted it.

thusly, the president's momentum was broken, the democrats were weakened, and republican hope was renewed by the smell of blood in the water. bill clinton, being a natural born politician/meglomaniac, promptly turned to the right. to save his own arse.

behold how history repeats itself, with an ambitious president, innocent and optimistic; and an unreliable, arrogant left, and of course a flock of remorseless right wingers, stoked with bile and gall, circling high overhead just like the buzzards they are.

[deli lama]

progressives are far too intelligent, knowledgeable, and noble to stoop to low brow virtues like loyalty.

they'd much rather be proven right than win. and they love to imagine that politics is all about who's the smartest. they'd much rather be perceived as superbly educated than to actually be politically successful. that's one reason why knuckle draggers like karl rove got the best of them for so long.

conservatives don't suffer from such hang-ups. they have natural political instincts. like musk oxen they immediately bunch up whenever there's a threat. but progressives are above all that. that's why they talk about obama like he's a disappointing chef/waiter in a restaurant. seldom are the winds are sufficiently favorable for the left to actually win an election. but when they do they proceed to spend their time sitting around with napkins tucked under their chins, grousing, impatient for service from their servants, who never manage to get their orders just exactly right.

obama is one of those rare, once in a generation progressives with enough snap to know how speak to the american people without condescending them. he's not fdr, but he's close enough. nevertheless, the left is so addicted to whining that they are simply unable to imagine that they might have more than one political duty, i.e., hold their nose and protect the president.

[Powerhgy23]

wow. thats hte best thing i have read in a long time. thank you. pass it on.
Democrats wondered why they lost with clinton in 94. They left him out to dry. Showed no loyality.
Lets hope history doesn't repeat itself.

[Oxonian2001]

At the moment, I'm not sure the Repugs are benefitting from loyalty either. They've abandoned GWB in droves and they couldn't even muster enough strength to stand behind John McCain. (In fact, it's even entertaining watching them on the verge of implosion as moderates fight the serious nutters.)

The problem with Dems?

Trying to play nice--or as you've put it politely, nobly. We saw it when they voted overwhelmingly for war in Iraq. We saw it when Kerry had every advantage in the game but refused to take them. We saw it when Pelosi backed away from impeaching GWB. And so on.

We need to remember that it takes courage and conviction to win. Appeasing others only detracts: ever heard of "give em an inch and they'll take a mile?" This is precisely why Dean was a strong candidate early in the game before the MSM tore him apart. And this is why Obama won both the primaries and the election in 2008.

Take it from someone who's been bullied during childhood: you don't back away--you fight back. And you fight back harder. That is the ONLY way to win.

[rosal]

Obama should know by now the Democrat Party is a Party of Free Thinkers, we are no robots or sheep. We like to hold our representatives accountable, and we don't bow to anybody. That's why Congress has so much trouble controlling us. I am sure some in Congress wish we were like Republicans, they get the talking point of the day, and they never, never, dream of questioning their masters.

[dennisrs]

But your leader bowed to the King of Saudi Arabia what was up with that rosal?

[djh1]

...yeah, yeah. And Bush kissed him, held his hand like a school girl, and made him billions of dollars...what's your point?

[konybvg]

I though it was a myth that some people are dumb like you.

[Raster]

Obama "win the trust back' from progressives? I don't think so. Too much turgid water has passed under the Bridge of Trust.

[From the Raft]

He never lost it.

[konybvg]

Thank you.

[Mikeeee]

In a debate with mccain, O said health care was a "right", he hasn't shown me he was sincere with that statement. He gave away "single payer" without getting anything from the repubs and sadly it's looking more and more like he's going to give away a "public option" as well. This is NOT change you can believe in.

[KayDGee]

It's also NOT a change that has been made. This is being debated as though it were in its final phase. HR 3200 is a work in progress; and it is a stepped negotiation. Only problem with Obama is that he is trying to enter the ring under Marquis of Queensbury rules, while the Right is throwing haymakers and hitting below the belt - At least they are consistent. GOP acted like 9 year old schoolyard bullies when Clinton was in office and they have maintained that same status since November 08.

[deli lama]

krugman's outstanding education and amazing intelligence has apparently rendered him a political idiot.

liberals would be wise to obey Reagan's 11th commandment.

[cliffhammond]

You sound like Rahm Emanuel.

[nicole473]

LOL! :)

[Raster]

Sounds more like a Repug operative "advising" Centrist/Doggy Blue "Dems".

[nicole473]

Thanks a lot, Krugman.