English: Paul Krugman at the 2010 Brooklyn Book Festival. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I regularly watch ABC’s “This Week with George Stephanopoulos” on Sunday mornings. I think he is mostly a fair host and I make it a point to support a fellow Greek. So today, as has been the case for a while, I began watching the program. George introduced his guests on the “Powerhouse Roundtable.” One of those guests happened to be New York Times Economist Paul Krugman.
Let me just say it didn’t take too long for me to want to hurl a book at him. The guy simply is unbearable. He NEVER counters ANYTHING the White House says. I firmly believe he is just another spokesman for the administration. Today was no exception.
When George asked him what he thought of the recent announcement that the trillion-dollar coin wasn’t being minted Krugman began his barrage of Obama talking points. He used the habitual “Republicans are holding the economy ‘hostage’” sentiment shared by the President SEVERAL times in last year’s election. I have a problem with the phrase. This phrase expresses a distorted image of “rowdy, criminalist Republicans” holding “innocent, angelic Democrats” at gunpoint until Democrats do what they want.
In fact it is the President that has begun the second round of “debt ceiling” negotiations with an emphatic proclamation that he will not, under NO CIRCUMSTANCE, negotiate on the topic. Republicans must do as he says. I guess that is exempt from the “hostage” phrase because it is a Democrat making the demand.
Krugman also said that the Republicans were essentially forcing the president do something illegal by not raising the debt limit. They were forcing him to go around Congress. Yes, God forbid we have a check and balance system in place. Last time I checked it wasn’t illegal to balance the budget. Our politicians might think so, but it certainly isn’t. How exactly is it outrageous that Republicans actually want to tackle our debt problem? The only thing outrageous is the president seemingly is absent in all these negotiations. Most notably he sent Vice President Biden to do his job while he harped how horrible Congress had become during the most recent “fiscal cliff” negotiations.
I don’t have a problem with people of differing opinion. If anything I want to hear from them. That essentially is the reason for this blog. However, I don’t want to debate someone who only uses White House talking points. At least come up with your own words.
I thought of attaching the clip to this post, but decided I didn’t want to “torture” my readers with his obnoxiousness.
One more point to note Mr. Krugman:
When other people are talking, it is only professional and respectful to wait your turn to respond. You aren’t an adolescent any longer. At least I didn’t think so.
Before I get comments that I only rant on “liberal-leaning” individuals I’d like to point out that everyone is fair-game.
These posts should prove that:
Indiana senate candidate Richard Murdock makes stupid “rape” comment
Donald Trump’s announcement proves his irrelevance
Todd Akin is a legitimate idiot
Email: realtalkdebate2012@gmail.com
Twitter: @adrakontaidis & @talkrealdebate