McCain Advisor - "Dow 36,000" Author - Says We Just Need To Stop Zoning Suburbs, All Will Be Well .

[hatrack]

. . . in the garden.

In truth, I don’t expect much from John McCain, who has both admitted not knowing much about economics and denied having ever said that. Anyway, lately he’s been busy demonstrating that he doesn’t know much about the Middle East, either.

Yet the McCain campaign’s silence on the financial crisis has disappointed even my low expectations. And when Mr. McCain’s economic advisers do speak up about the economy’s problems, they don’t inspire confidence. For example, last week one McCain economic adviser — Kevin Hassett, the co-author of “Dow 36,000” — insisted that everything would have been fine if state and local governments hadn’t tried to limit urban sprawl. Honest.

On the Democratic side, it’s somewhat disappointing that Barack Obama, whose campaign has understandably made a point of contrasting his early opposition to the Iraq war with Hillary Clinton’s initial support, has tried to score a twofer by suggesting that the war, in addition to all its other costs, is responsible for our economic troubles.

The war is indeed a grotesque waste of resources, which will place huge long-run burdens on the American public. But it’s just wrong to blame the war for our current economic mess: in the short run, wartime spending actually stimulates the economy. Remember, the lowest unemployment rate America has experienced over the last half-century came at the height of the Vietnam War.

EDIT

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/opinion/24krugman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin

[JDPriestly]

1. Our borrowing to pay for the war has weakened the dollar,

and that is causing inflation. Also, this regime's obsession with the War in Iraq has distracted it from paying attention to what is going on here at home. The war has not only distracted the Bushies but the American people. It has depressed us Americans, made us feel like no one is listening to us, like we are powerless. We are turning in on ourselves. We are angry and bitter about our lack of say in what is happening. Besides, the war is a losing matter. All of those factors are causing pandemic depression among Americans.

One thing you can say about the Clinton years: People believed that something good might be ahead. Clinton was an optimist, a positive leader, and the American people, even those who did not personally like him, felt optimistic -- excessively ebullient, was, I believe the word for the time.

Both Presidents Bush have been depressed and pessimistic. It's just their natures. And they have brought the feeling of the country down to their levels. What a pair of losers. The state of the country reflects the state of these two pessimists. The Wars in Iraq were the expression of the pessimism and hatred and vitriol of the two Bushes -- father and son. They both brought our country down. What awful men. The war is an outer manifestation of their inner ugliness.

Sorry to get so spiritual here. I know a lot of people won't agree with me on the premise that the inner nature of a person, the state of a person, affects what happens outside of that person. But certainly, we can agree that Bush's nastiness reflects in the way he treats others. And the war is just one example of the cruel, ruthless way that Bush treats other people. His nastiness is like a pussy sore that has caused the entire nation to become ill, to hurt and to feel inert and depressed. That emotional state leads to inaction -- depression, recession, whatever you want to call it.

We need a president who will inspire us to enthusiasm and positive action. That will make the whole nation more optimistic and will lead the way out of the recession.

[phantom power]

2. But goddam, he throws such an awesome barbecue.

And I bet he's super to have a beer with. And isn't that what's really important?

[tom_paine]

3. Everybody needs a thneed!