Krugman On Friedman

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Media
Posted on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 01:55:00 PM EST
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The great thing about Paul Krugman, and something bloggers should learn from, he is not afraid to take on other pundits, even those on his own team. Atrios gets the chance to riff off of the Tom Friedman "Suck on This" video yet again because Krugman calls out Friedman. Here is the video:

Here is what Krugman wrote:

I heard a number of people express privately the argument that some influential commentators made publicly — that the war was a good idea, not because Iraq posed a real threat, but because beating up someone in the Middle East, never mind who, would show Muslims that we mean business. In other words, even alleged wise men bought into the idea of macho posturing as policy.

More . . .

But here is where Krugman is wrong:

All this is in the past.

But it isn't in the past. The stupidity that permeated every level of Washington on every issue, but especially on Iraq, has left the Beltway unscathed. Tom Friedman still writes at the Times. Fred Hiatt is still the Editor of the WaPo Editorial Page. People still listen to David Brooks. and if he were alive, the incompetent Tim Russert would still be the King of the Hill. There has been no reshuffling of the "Wise Men" of Washington.

No Accountability is not a concept restricted to government. It applies to all parts of Washington. That is not a thing of the past.

Speaking for me only

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Krugman On Friedman | 24 comments (24 topical)

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All I know is we need a whole helluva (5.00 / 2) (#1)
by PssttCmere08 on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:00:50 PM EST

lot more Krugmans!!

frankly, with rare exception (5.00 / 1) (#10)
by cpinva on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:49:00 PM EST

(dr. krugman being one), they're all crackpots. among the biggest has to be maureen dowd, with frank rich running close behind, or right next to her.

this isn't anything new, it's been going on for nearly 2 decades (3, if you count the reagan years, which i do). to his credit, dr. krugman has been among the very, very few (so few, i can't actually think of anyone else, off the top of my head) who has consistantly pointed out, in public, the inanity of the chattering class.

this hasn't earned him any friends among the class. fortunately for us all, their friendship doesn't seem to matter to him.

You know what a Krugman unit is? (5.00 / 1) (#13)
by MarkL on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 03:23:15 PM EST

It's NOW---no putting off reckoning.

If Vincent Bugliosi (none / 0) (#16)
by jondee on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 04:12:18 PM EST

who's seen a few, is right that Bush & Co are murderers, what does that make people like Friedman , and, or, those others who cherry picked the intelligence "we" had access to in order to justify the Iraq invasion?


: Definitely accessories, before and afer the fact! (none / 0) (#17)
by RalphB on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 05:14:22 PM EST

Before I found the blogs ... (5.00 / 1) (#19)
by Demi Moaned on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 06:13:14 PM EST

but after 9/11 I became more interested in reading political commentary. And I picked up a copy (remaindered) of Friedman's Longitudes and Attitudes. I just couldn't get through it. So many words chasing after so little meaning.

It was only later that I discovered how truly pernicious his opinions were.

But my most depressing discovery came a few days ago. He and I have the same birthday (July 20)-- though he's one year older. Is this an example of the elite from my generation?

: Don't be depressed - (5.00 / 1) (#24)
by Xanthe on Sat Aug 09, 2008 at 10:38:32 AM EST

a year makes a great deal of difference on an astrological chart and the hour and place of birth matter as well.

Holy S**t (none / 0) (#2)
by Faust on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:04:58 PM EST

That video is disturbing.

I don't, wait (none / 0) (#4)
by zyx on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:11:28 PM EST

I didn't like Tom Friedman. But I had no idea that he was that much of a raving lunatic. That is totally beyond disturbing.

I'll never look at him again without thinking that he's a deranged psycho. Period.


The tone of his voice (none / 0) (#7)
by Faust on Fri Aug 08, 2008 at 02:30:30 PM EST

was absolutely creepy. So smarmy, self satisfied, and just generally disgusting. So yeah. I agree. Before I thought he was just a run of the mill a$$hole. Now I know he's a cut above the regular ones.


: He sounded .. (