Letters to the Editor
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Calling Dr. Freud
Professor Krugman is beyond his limit; he's an econ wonk. Economics is NOT science; predictability is not even claimed. Economists (like psychologists) are most proficient at explaining what happened but weak on formulating causes in advance.
Did Krugman not foresee the disastrous result of Clintons' NAFTA and China trade policy? How about their policies that have resulted in the amalgamation of power of utility providers, financials, broadcast media---in general, all the things that led to the corporatization of this county'es economy--did he object to them? Did he hate all those tax breaks for American companies that took jobs off-shore? If so, why did he not scream bloody murder at the time? If not, why should we assume credibility now?
Which brings us to the question of why Paul Krugman is so bent out of shape that people would presume to support someone other than his choice.
Get over it Paul; you are not necessarily better equipped to name the next president than we lowly voters.
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@AKASMITH
You said in a earlier letter:
"I would never dream of calling Obama supporters strident."
Really? What happened?
And next time be sure the person you quote is not a troll.
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Well said, Jay Bee!
You state: "She can't help it. It's her nature. She will continue to be brittle and inflexible. Her campaign has long reflected this, and if somehow she got into the White House I see four years of Republican filibusters, partisan sniping, and generally the 1990's all over again."
Exactly, exactly. Yes yes.
I still love Hillary; I'll vote for her if she wins the primary tho I hope she doesn't, but I also think the better choice was Edwards, and that Obama could use some experience. And since Edwards is out, Obama is by far my preference.
I'm a 62-year-old white woman of moderate income, and my husband and I (and indeed at least six of our 7 children and grandchildren who are of voting age) are directly behind Obama. We defy any number of comments made here today, and I don't think we're alone. We are white, and we see Obama as being inspiring (we also see him as lacking experience, and kind of wish he had gained just a few more years of it before running for president). We are mid to low income, and we have contributed to Obama. We are ages 18, 21, 22, 23, 37, 39, 41, 60 and 62 and we believe in Obama.
Hogwash on the "only rich" or "only black" being Obama supporters. Hogwash on the age factor. On my part, I am simply tired of the tension that I feel toward Bush and everyone who supports him, and don't find Hillary warm and fuzzy. And hogwash on the notion that only the rich are contributing to him.
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"And I'm sorry, if that's NYAMIGA, she's been baiting Obama supporters constantly."
Nope bilhelm was attacking an unidentified Anonymous Clinton supporter who no doubt felt quite blindsided by his attack.
Definitely not NYAmiga, because she didn't have Amiga's writing skills.
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I wish people wouldn't tell me what I think. I've got a pretty good idea.
I am from Illinois and I made up my mind to vote for Obama at the last minute. Dodd and Kucinich were closer to my way of thinking and Edwards was growing on me. Dodd dropped out before our primary and Kucinich and Edwards were sinking; I took a chance on Obama. Everything I've seen in the last week confirms the choice. But, I'm no sweaty, glassy eyed captive of a cult.
As for Hillary, I owe her nothing. I remember February of five years ago. It was cold and rainy. Four hundred of us marched against the war, in my small town. We were alone. Where were the leaders of the congressional Democrats? They left us in the streets. They wanted to be President. I will not vote for them and they will not be President. Gebhart, Dashle, Lieberman, Kerry, Edwards, Dodd, then congressman and now governor Blagojevich, and Hillary Rodham Clinton.
I'd be pissed at Hillary even if Obama were never born. I admire him though, for how he has inspired young people. Of course they are excited! We should be glad. Those of us in our 50s have seen so much shit in this country, that actual youthful hope seems so strange to some that they mock it. Speaking as one Obama supporter, I know he's not a god, but I'm glad to see people taking a leap of faith in favor of something , for once, instead of in simple opposition. I may be as opposed to Hillary as I am in favor of Obama, but those thousands of young people supporting him are not a cult, they are a refreshing tide.
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@Dcitti
"I think Obama is a disaster waiting to happen.
I am voting for Clinton...And if she does not get the nomination - I'm leaving." -- dcitti
Thank you for just joining Salon to share that with us. Will you also be leaving Salon if she doesn't get the nomination?
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Dems must unite this November
Thank You Mr. Krugman for saying something that has been on my mind a few days now.
The Obama supporters I meet seem to be so emotional about their candidate, I worry they wouldn't support Clinton if she got the nomination. In fact more than one Obama supporter has said this very thing to me. In contrast, the Hillary supporters I meet phonebanking and at rallies make a point of mentioning their support for Obama if he gets the nod.
A pledge of mutual support between the candidates would help heal this potential rift. The primary season is a time for Democratic voters to express their personal opinions; but unless we want Bush III in the White House, we all must unite behind Hillary or Barack come fall.
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Most of the posts on this thread from Obama supporters
prove Krugman's point conclusively.
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AKA
Quoting random Obama supporters does not amount to an argument. I am pretty sure I could dig up plenty of Clinton supporters' nasty comments (MICKI comes to mind, and cythera, whom some people think is a Clinton supporter, but I don't really want to spend my afternoon scrolling through their posting history). I think we need to be careful about these little anecdotes - especially since paid concern trolls who are probably supporting NO Democrats come into open forums like these with regularity and try to do some free negative advertising against both Dem candidates. If they pose as Clinton supporters and say nasty things about Obama, or vice versa, they make both candidates look bad at once. I don't think anyone would argue that NO Obama supporter anywhere ever said a nasty thing about Clinton. I'm sure they have. I've read their posts myself. But some people need to check the planks in their own eyes. And since when do we let random "supporters" characterize a candidate anyway? There are psychopaths, trolls, and idiots of all political stripes. That kind of thinking means that the paid-concern-troll thing really could work, and I always thought it was a dumb idea - dumber than penis enlargement spam. Apparently, since both persist, they have more power than I thought.