New York Magazine: "Is Paul Krugman having a crisis of confidence?"

Is Paul Krugman having a crisis of confidence?
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And now it seems like Krugman himself is backtracking slightly. Today, he does something he hasn't done in a while, and — grudgingly, backhandedly — compliments the administration's efforts.

I don’t believe that even America’s economic efforts are adequate, but they’re far more than most other wealthy countries have been willing to undertake. And by rights this week’s G-20 summit ought to be an occasion for Mr. Obama to chide and chivy European leaders, in particular, into pulling their weight. But these days foreign leaders are in no mood to be lectured by American officials, even when — as in this case — the Americans are right.

Maybe it's just us, but we think it sounds like he's hedging his bets here, laying out a little foundation for the possibility that, someday, he might have to admit that the Geithner plan turned out to actually work okay (although it wasn't his first choice, and nationalization would have worked better). This seems like a good idea. After all, if there really is a magazine-cover curse, and everyone who is hailed as right is doomed to fall, there's no reason why it would spare Krugman. He might as well try to make the landing as soft as possible.