Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

spanone

(135,889 posts)
Tue Aug 11, 2015, 11:08 AM Aug 2015

Krugman: G.O.P. Candidates and Obama’s Failure to Fail

What did the men who would be president talk about during last week’s prime-time Republican debate? Well, there were 19 references to God, while the economy rated only 10 mentions. Republicans in Congress have voted dozens of times to repeal all or part of Obamacare, but the candidates only named President Obama’s signature policy nine times over the course of two hours. And energy, another erstwhile G.O.P. favorite, came up only four times.

Strange, isn’t it? The shared premise of everyone on the Republican side is that the Obama years have been a time of policy disaster on every front. Yet the candidates on that stage had almost nothing to say about any of the supposed disaster areas.

And there was a good reason they seemed so tongue-tied: Out there in the real world, none of the disasters their party predicted have actually come to pass. President Obama just keeps failing to fail. And that’s a big problem for the G.O.P. — even bigger than Donald Trump.Start with health reform. Talk to right-wingers, and they will inevitably assert that it has been a disaster. But ask exactly what form this disaster has taken, and at best you get unverified anecdotes about rate hikes and declining quality.

Start with health reform. Talk to right-wingers, and they will inevitably assert that it has been a disaster. But ask exactly what form this disaster has taken, and at best you get unverified anecdotes about rate hikes and declining quality.


http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/10/opinion/paul-krugman-gop-candidates-and-obamas-failure-to-fail.html?mabReward=A3&action=click&pgtype=Homepage®ion=CColumn&module=Recommendation&src=rechp&WT.nav=RecEngine&_r=0
4 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Krugman: G.O.P. Candidates and Obama’s Failure to Fail (Original Post) spanone Aug 2015 OP
It is hard to honestly say Obama's administration is full of failures when we see and use his Thinkingabout Aug 2015 #1
"The only way to thrive, the right insists, is to be nice to the rich and cruel to the poor, while pampango Aug 2015 #2
Delish malaise Aug 2015 #3
I blame Obama Johonny Aug 2015 #4

Thinkingabout

(30,058 posts)
1. It is hard to honestly say Obama's administration is full of failures when we see and use his
Tue Aug 11, 2015, 11:15 AM
Aug 2015

success on health care which is successful. The GOP had a difficult in realizing success after a GOP administration who invaded Iraq under false pretenses and the Middle East is still in an uproar. Now with the possibility of Iran deal getting signed he is showing up the GOP. Will he stop, hell no, and we need to continue to return the USA to the greatness we are capable by electing Hillary Clinton as president.

pampango

(24,692 posts)
2. "The only way to thrive, the right insists, is to be nice to the rich and cruel to the poor, while
Tue Aug 11, 2015, 11:56 AM
Aug 2015

letting corporations do as they please.

What’s the common theme linking all the disasters that Republicans predicted, but which failed to materialize? If I had to summarize the G.O.P.’s attitude on domestic policy, it would be that no good deed goes unpunished. Try to help the unfortunate, support the economy in hard times, or limit pollution, and you will face the wrath of the invisible hand. The only way to thrive, the right insists, is to be nice to the rich and cruel to the poor, while letting corporations do as they please.

According to this worldview, a leader like President Obama who raises taxes on the 1 percent while subsidizing health care for lower-income families, who provides stimulus in a recession, who regulates banks and expands environmental protection, will surely preside over disaster in every direction.

But he hasn’t.
I’m not saying that America is in great shape, because it isn’t. Economic recovery has come too slowly, and is still incomplete; Obamacare isn’t the system anyone would have designed from scratch; and we’re nowhere close to doing enough on climate change. But we’re doing far better than any of those guys in Cleveland will ever admit.
Latest Discussions»General Discussion»Krugman: G.O.P. Candidat...