This Week roundtable was essentially Paul Krugman making everybody else seem stupid

Oh my lord it's embarrassing how little George Will, Cokie Roberts and Sam Donaldson know about economics. Carly Fiorina can at least talk about business a little. Krugman made Donaldson, of all people, look like an absolute tool. I can't remember exactly what the exchange was but Donaldson was saying something about tax cuts and Krugman just said "No" and then eviscerated his point.

A few times somebody would bring up something historical and Krugman would elaborate on it. I guess that's the difference between a Nobel Laureate and people who think they know what they're talking about and basically pull things out of their asses. I'll look for the clips later on youtube and put them up.

eom

Maybe three times? George Will doesn't try to challenge him too much anymore, he knows too much. The conventional wisdom shills still think they can say something status quo oriented around him though, and that's never a pretty sight. That's what got Sam in trouble today.

In addition to flat out propaganda, these shows are designed to distract, deflect and ignore serious issues.

One, to know what individual politicians are saying about any given issue. It gives you a gauge on how the political nature of policymaking. You can learn how each side is playing the game. Is it all that serious? No. And good policy doesn't matter in this context, it's much more a political game than anything. But it allows you to figure out how the policy side of things is going to play out.

Two, it gives you insight into the status quo. These pundit types all regurgitate the same things they talk about with their buddies. Understanding braindead Beltway conventional wisdom is a good step in figuring out just what the rest of us are up against. It's infuriating, yes, but useful in devising certain types of communication and political strategies, for activists and political professionals.

Especially to George Will and Carly Fiorina.

eom

He says he doesn't have the temperment for government because he does things like that. He's not afraid to be a smartass either. I've seen him unnerve George Will a few times because he does those looks or somebody will be talking and he rolls his eyes and shakes his head. Usually these panels are mutual circle jerks, but Krugman isn't there to just go along at all. It's fun to watch. Once they had Krugman and Robert Reich on with Will and somebody else, I think last fall. It was brutal.

they are the best of the best in their businesses

I don't watch the sunday morning nonsense, which one was this?

Aside from the skill of looking comfortable on tv and being able to blather, these talking heads are so stupid and poorly informed that anyone who keeps up on modern history could debate them into the ground. Which is why they rarely let anyone from outside their "club" onto their shows.....

ill informed shit, then you know our politicians have little clue either. Obama probably knows best since he's seen it for the last 2yrs on the road. He knows its bad out here. D.C. needs to take a bus trip for a fact finding mission.. They love to travel to Iraq and Europe, perhaps its time to show them America.. Nancy Pelosi is clueless.

is actually smart and can hold his own a little. He can defend his ideology well, he's solid at that. I've seen him counter getting called on a discredited GOP idea fairly well. So he's ok at what he does.

But Cokie Roberts? Or say somebody like Mark Halperin? Oh man, they suck. I've heard those two in particular say some of the dumbest things I have ever heard a human being say. No sense at all.

:crazy:

lol

He was questioning a conservative and in lieu of there being a liberal interrogator, he played the liberal. It was actually quite good.

I think this Sunday morning sideshow was a bit different in the Spivak days of MTP, where they would have a panel of serious reporters grilling the politicians.

--imm

Watching it now... Krugman should be in charge of the Treasury.

almost like they were just waiting for him to jump in and disagree.

fiorina is just sooo fucking obnoxious i can't watch her

which is at least more than sam or cokie can manage.

As for georgewill and his attack on Bernie Saunders, well that was just out there. Oh, and mcdonalds will show a profit on monday, so the market is correcting because now people can only afford fast food at mcdonalds? that's not correction, that's desperation.

These people (with the exception of Krugman) are out of touch with anything resembling reality.


I haven't watched sunday morning teevee in over 3 years, I tuned in this am to see Krugman. I'd love to see him actually interviewed and talking, he's very interesting. But thiss was it for sunday tv for me. All that stupidity just hurts to listen to.

sam talks in soundbites

I love when he schools the morons. His style is so not obnoxious too, really does a fine job of staying in control.

Julie

krugman looks at her like she has taken the bad acid.

I would have preferred Krugman be part of the Obama administration.
That didn't happen.
But they can and should listen to him.

I don't watch much tv, certainly not the Sunday morning stuff.

But, THIS I want to see!

Paul Krugman, my future husband! :loveya: :rofl:

and why is Sam Donaldson baaaack? It did me in. I heard a couple of Krugman's wise comments and figured the rest would shout him down. Why are we back to the early 90's in their panel...with the exception of Krugman? :shrug:

He's said many times that he has the perfect gig already, and isn't very good at management. He won't even chair his department...

When Clinton's people called him in '93 he said, "I'm temperamentally unsuited for that kind of role. You have to be very good at people skills, biting your tongue when people say silly things."

I just went and watched it in 3 segments.