Krugman: FIRE ALAN SIMPSON

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

August 25, 2010, 4:31 pm
Fire Alan Simpson

I always thought that the deficit commission was a bad idea; it has only looked worse over time, as the buzz is that Democrats are caving in to Republicans, leaning ever further toward an all-cuts, no taxes solution, including a sharp rise in the retirement age.

I’ve also had my eye on Alan Simpson, the supposedly grown-up Republican co-chair, who has been talking nonsense about Social Security from the get-go.

At this point, though, Obama is on the spot: he has to fire Simpson, or turn the whole thing into a combination of farce and tragedy — the farce being the nature of the co-chair, the tragedy being that Democrats are so afraid of Republicans that nothing, absolutely nothing, will get them sanctioned.

When you have a commission dedicated to the common good, and the co-chair dismisses Social Security as a “milk cow with 310 million tits,” you either have to get rid of him or admit that you’re completely, um, cowed by the right wing, that IOKIYAR rules completely.

And no, an apology won’t suffice. Simpson was completely in character here; it was perfectly consistent with everything else he’s said, and with his previous behavior. He has to go.

http://krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/08/25/fire-alan-simpson/

[mike r]

1. Shut down that sham commission

Everyone knows what they're trying to do.

[indepat]

5. If this is a sham commission, then in my opinion this was the intent all along: hopefully this

contention can disputed/refuted. :P

[Name removed]

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[tomp]

10. for the record, firing simpson won't change anything.

this is the plan, they are going to cut.

they will find someone else to do the dirty work, like they found someone besides kissinger to whitewash the 9/11 investigation. there's always another lackey to hand.

[Hannah Bell]

47. we won't have to listen to simpson's insults. it would change that much.

[Name removed]

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[Name removed]

65. Deleted message

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[Ignis]

68. When did DUer "mike r" say he hates Obama? Link, please.

[pa28]

7. +1

Simpson's commission is already hopelessly compromised. Obama has hitched his wagon to this guy and now it's time to concede mistakes and cut losses.

[Marr]

11. C'mon. Surely you can see that cutting Social Security would be

an Historic Achievement©.

[zipplewrath]

51. Now THAT'S funny

I wondered when they'd get around to the copyright.
They gonna call it a BFD and sell more T-shirts?

[beforeyoureyes]

98. +1000

[dflprincess]

2. And as soon as Simpson offends someone at Fox, he will be fired

until then, don't hold your breath.

[JDPriestly]

42. Simpson proves every day that no matter how much we want to work,

there comes a time when we have to stop.

I would have liked to work a lot longer. I am not senile, and I am not irritable and rigid like Alan Simpson has shown that he is. (Seriously, I think the reason that he wrote as he did is that he is beginning to lose mental acuity, is irritable and has become very rigid. His statements were made without the slightest thought about political effect. He displayed poor judgment, inability to control impulsive behavior.)

He is a good example of someone who needs to take his Social Security and spend a lot of time with his family.

Many of us who have taken Social Security would have preferred to work longer and were capable of it. But the jobs aren't there, and we can't live without income.

At current interest rates, you have to be extremely wealthy to survive without a job and without Social Security. There is no alternative to Social Security for older people. I don't think that fact will have change over the next 30 years. We are doing nothing to bring back jobs.

[dflprincess]

73. Simpson is eligible for a very nice government pension

with really good medical benefits. He doens't need Social Security which is probably why he thinks we don't need it either.

[scarletwoman]

3. Glad to see Krugman weighing in on this too. Enough, already, Simpson must go! nt

[JDPriestly]

26. The whole commission must go.

Obana promised transparency. The Cat Food Commission is supposedly operating in secret -- but is actually operating via leaks.

We need to protect American jobs from cheap labor in other countries. That's how we can insure our fiscal future. Germany is managing to protect its manufacturing base. Why can't we?

[Enthusiast]

45. Yes. Why can't we protect our

manufacturing base? Funny, how the European nations value domestic manufacturing while in the U.S. the big corporations could care less. I guess this is the 'freedom' they speak of. The freedom to abuse the citizens.

[AlbertCat]

61. Germany is managing to protect its manufacturing base. Why can't we?

No doubt the German Government is actually concerned about Germany and Germans. America is NOT concerned about America or Americans. The companies that run America are only concerned about the bottom line. And if that means destroying people's lives here, too bad.

I'll bet German Politicians do their job... which is make Germany a place you want to live and a country that is prosperous for its citizens. American politicians also do their job. But their job is to raise cash so as to be re-elected, and that's about it.

[Skink]

4. the humane thing would be to have Simpson committed.

[Ken Burch]

80. That wouldn't be humane for everyone ELSE in the Cuckoo's Nest

It would even be cruel to Nurse Ratched.

[lumberjack_jeff]

8. Exactly. n/t

[RainDog]

9. we are in yet another Republican-created depression

we do not need Republican "solutions" to make things worse.

I hope we can learn from the Hoover and early FDR years. We do not need to kick the retired, disabled and poor while they're down.

and, yeah, FUCK Simpson. go away, asshole.

[shraby]

12. Simpson talks about being on the "milk cow with 320

million tits"...what has he been doing all his adult life but living on the public dole?? He went from the gravy train in congress to retirement with a cushy pension AND social security. Without checking his whole adult history, these two things are true..don't know about his life before being congresscritter, but I'll give dollars to donuts that he was on the government teat then, too.

[dgibby]

15. His father was a US Senator IIRC. n/t

[Change has come]

29. You are right.

His father was Milward Simpson (former Governor and US Senator from Wyoming). His son Colin just lost in the Gubernatorial race in Wyoming.

[AlbertCat]

62. His father was Milward Simpson (former Governor and US Senator

How many fucking politicians have dads or uncles or moms or wives or whatever that were also politicians. This was called, in the olden days: ARISTOCRACY. I thought the USA was created as an alternative to the aristocracy.

Aristocracy (from Greek ἄριστος aristos "excellent," and κράτος kratos "power"), is a form of government in which a few of the most prominent citizens rule.

Get the money out of elections
TERM LIMITS!

[Hannah Bell]

70. particularly infuriating because every worker pays into SS & they've been

paying more than needed for 30 years -- which went into the federal budget.

[pscot]

13. Keep Simpson

Having Simpson at the heaad of this is like having a bell on the cat. The more he talks, the less likely we are to get a bad outcome. Would werather have some sharp aparatchik who works effectively behind the scenes to hurt us?

[glitch]

16. He's just the kabuki for Obama to save us from, with those little tweaks

that somehow add up to not repaying real money borrowed from real people.

[Zenlitened]

21. Yup, that's what I've come to suspect as well.

Pres. Obama and the Democrats will "save" us all... by acceding to only HALF of what the crazies demand in their quest to destroy Social Security.

[metapunditedgy]

84. So did Simpson realize he is the scapegoat, and intentionally release his

stupid quote?

[Zenlitened]

101. I don't think Alan Simpson leaves the house before someone...

... pins his name, home address and phone number to his sweater.

The man's a gibbering idiot. He's got dark spots on his MRI. No fruit in the ol' cake, just a lotta nuts.

I don't think "realizations" and "intentions" factor heavily into much that he does or says.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

19. Probably true, but since he will not be fired in any event...

...then calling for firing him is effective in itself.

[liberation]

34. No, I would just have that f*cking commission shut down.

Enough with the n-dimensional chess triangulation, regardless of how many dimensions you add the basics of chess still apply: peons always have to go in order to protect the royal pieces.

[Name removed]

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[Poboy]

17. kickity poo and recomendo. -nt

[suffragette]

18. If anyone should have been appointed to a serious commission

it's Krugman and other competent economists like Galbraith.

Simpson should have never been on it and they need to remove him from it.

Absolutely agree that "an apology won’t suffice."

[JDPriestly]

27. Obama did not have to form this Commission. It is not transparent

in its workings. It should not exist.

If our Congress cannot deliberate about fiscal responsibility openly with full disclosure to the American people, then why should we get out and vote for them.

[laughingliberal]

33. +1000 nt

[suffragette]

39. Great points all.

Transparency and full disclosure are key here.

This process is the clear opposite of that.

[lark]

79. The real question is why Obama "chose" to do this

You're right that it wasn't necessary, he wasn't getting pushed to it, there was no federal mandate or law that required this - he just wanted it. Why?? Did his real bosses, the rich folks that really run everything, tell him he had to? this is a real puzzler? Is his real role to destroy the Democratic brand forever? Any cuts will be labeled "Democratic" cuts because it's his commission. Repugs can vote against this and be stars for preventing a meltdown or they can vote for it and get what they really want - less money to workers than can go to the folks at the top - the rich corporations and those that run them. Even if they vote for it, it will still always be labeleled the Obama cuts. What is wrong with the man? Doesn't he want a 2nd term? Is he even a real Democrat or just a plant? So puzzling?

[w4rma]

52. Exactly. This commission is not a serious attempt at deficit reduction.

It's a pile of DLC/RNC pipe dreams that Rahmobama is actually trying to make come true.

[Laelth]

20. Hear, hear! k&r n/t

-Laelth

[pleah]

22. K&R

[rhett o rick]

23. Why arent any of the President's DU cheerleaders wading in on this discussion? nm

[liberation]

37. The fax machine for the talking points is on the fritz...

... plus summer schedule, gotta take a break from the spinning. It is hard work, you know?

[rhett o rick]

76. Very good. nm

[Canuckistanian]

24. Damn, he's good

It's about time someone spoke the truth. Although knowing Krugman, he's been saying it all along.

[Poboy]

25. ttt

[Hannah Bell]

28. fire the mad cow.

[democracy1st]

30. K & R

[Jakes Progress]

31. Obama admit a mistake? Never happen.

He'll trot out some cabinet person to tell us uppity liberals to go to hell. That way the republicans might like him more. That has worked so well for him. Slow learner.

[laughingliberal]

35. He would admit a mistake-if the headline said "Beck: Fire Alan Simpson." nt

[great white snark]

53. Never happen?

He admitted Daschle nomination was a mistake, HCR closed door meetings were a mistake, his handling of Gitmo detainees was a mistake, his "police acted stupidly" comment was a mistake, etc etc. In fact, he said he makes at least one mistake a day.

Now, will you admit your mistake?

[Jakes Progress]

92. Yep. When the pr calls for it

or when he needs to kow-tow to the right, he can apologize with the best of them.

My statement that he will never fire Alan Simpson stands. It would make beck angry.

[laughingliberal]

32. Huge K&R! nt

[Name removed]

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[highplainsdem]

38. K&R

[handmade34]

40. K&R

I will be sorely disappointed if Simpson doesn't go

[MilesColtrane]

41. Krugman should be the Secretary of Treasury and Volker should be heading the Fed.

We wouldn't be having this double dip bullshit.

[onpatrol98]

66. I disagree!!!

I say we need a new group actually comprised of people who "ACTUALLY SAW THIS COMING AND TRIED TO RING ALARM BELLS, BUT WERE IGNORED".

I read an article about a year ago about six individuals who tried to alert anyone who would listen about the possible meltdown. Not only was Paul Krugman NOT on the list. But, he was a naysayer. I listen to very little he says. And, tend to believe its probably better to do the opposite of whatever he suggests.

EXCEPT Yes, get rid of Simpson.

[MilesColtrane]

78. Please link to Krugman denying the existence of the recession and near collapse.

In fact he predicted that Greenspan would create a housing bubble back in 2001.

Here he is commenting after the bust of the dot com bubble.

Remember that Krugman is a Keynesian. He believes that the best way out of economic downturns is direct government spending to create jobs, not jacking with monetary policy to artificially inflate the markets.

...the recession of 2001 wasn't a typical postwar slump, brought on when an inflation-fighting Fed raises interest rates and easily ended by a snapback in housing and consumer spending when the Fed brings rates back down again. This was a prewar-style recession, a morning after brought on by irrational exuberance. To fight this recession the Fed needs more than a snapback; it needs soaring household spending to offset moribund business investment. And to do that, as Paul McCulley of Pimco put it, Alan Greenspan needs to create a housing bubble to replace the Nasdaq bubble.

Judging by Mr. Greenspan's remarkably cheerful recent testimony, he still thinks he can pull that off.

http://www.nytimes.com/2002/08/02/opinion/dubya-s-double-dip.html?pagewanted=1

[onpatrol98]

97. I am sharing my personal opinion

As I mentioned, it was from an article I read (NOT A RECENT ONE). If I find a link, I'll be more than happy to add one.

Me personally, I'm not a Krugman fan. I know most people think he's brilliant. I'm just not one of them. I was also not a Greenspan fan.

Although, I did have a coworker that started pulling his money out right before the bust who advised other people to do it. I thought he was nuts. Later, after the collapse, (after repenting for assuming he was nuts) I asked him about the idea of stimulating the economy with money.

His response, Krugman was smart, but misguided. Throwing the money we did at the economy was like trying to use a pebble to dam up water. We would essentially have to throw more money than we could imagine at an economy the size of ours to make a difference.

His analysis...the stimulus might do a little to ease some minds in the short term, but in the long term it was useless.

Talk about depressing...I asked him if the people who suggested this idea knew it would be useless. He said, yes, they were either 1) buying time OR 2) stupid.

He's since moved on to another job. I can't provide a link for him either. Just copy room talk, basically.

[DeSwiss]

43. K&R!!! n/t

[Enthusiast]

44. We don't need a commission to

tell us what we already know. We know the real tit is the military industrial complex and huge tax cuts for millionaires and billionaires.

[upi402]

46. Simpson's been on the public dole too long

Kick his puffed up ass to the curb.

[myrna minx]

49. K&R n/t

[Vinca]

50. The whole damn commission is disingenuous.

There's an easy cure for the problem: raise the cap. As opposed to: starve grandma.

[defendandprotect]

58. 1000% -- "raise the cap or starve grandma" .... ???? Which will Obama choose??

[Better Believe It]

54. Krugman: "you have a commission dedicated to the common good" It is not.

Krugman should just call for it to be disbanded.

Simpson is the poster child for what this commission really stands for.

[Orsino]

55. Might as well keep the royalists who are still loyal to King George III...

...or the Confederates.

[NorthCarolina]

56. Too late, The WH has already accepted Simpson's Apology on behalf of OWL.

End of story. http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x555835

[defendandprotect]

59. ... but do we accept his apology . . . ??? I certainly don't. And what is Obama thinking?

More putting a pack of foxes in charge of the chicken coop?

[NorthCarolina]

64. I don't really think what "WE" think has much to do with how the administration operates.

"WE" all wanted single payer, or at least a public option, in historic proportions exceeding 70% of the population during the health care reform negotiations. How much weight did the peoples desires carry during that debate? Seems to me that the administration and the media continued to insist that the majority were against health care reform. It's all a game, and the people are prohibited from playing.

[Ignis]

69. +++

The message is clear: We'll tell you what's best for the country. Just shut up and show up in November to pull the lever.

[lark]

81. They are relieving a lot of us of the interest in winning the

race for him. If Dems act just like Repugs, where is our motivation to donate, work or even vote for them? Just because he fooled us once, doesn't mean we're still that gullible the 2nd time around.

I could NEVER vote for a Repug, they are just anathema to me. If the Repug is awful enough, Rubio or Palin awful, I'd probably even for him again, but I'd be holding my nose the entire time. I certainly will not donate or work the phones like I did last time. I feel betrayed and am not happy.

[Ignis]

83. I'm shifting all of my time/money to the local/state levels.

The betrayal we've seen at the national level by those who Don't Like Change is sickening.

[defendandprotect]

85. The elites learned the lesson long ago -- control everything -- states long gone ... Pay to play!!

They'll be no democratic nation to save any of us this time around --

they're taking us all down at the same time --

[Ignis]

90. The core message is an Oldie But Goodie: Sod the proles.

It sounded better in the Original French, though.

[defendandprotect]

87. What I'm saying is... will that stop the demand for his firing?

Did we actually push hard enough when Obama came out of the gate with his Wall Street

team -- with DLC/Rahm?

Did we protest sufficiently when Baucus -- pre-owned by the insurance companies was put

in charge of health care?

And are we asking strong enough questions about Obama and what he's doing putting "foxes"

in charge of health care -- and Republicans in charge of Social Security?

Did you vote for Obama so he could turn government over to Republicans?

Nor is this the first time --

Certainly Sen. George Mitchell did this with a majority Dem Senate -- he turned it over

to Bob Dole -- and I watched via C-span while he did it!

If a Republican can't overturn Social Security, then send in the Democrat???

Those are the questions WE need to be asking -- it is allegedly still our government.

I realize you're saying we have no leverage over our elected officials --

but what I'm saying are is are we going to ACCEPT that situation?

[defendandprotect]

57. Krugman isn't even being strong enough on this ... get the commission directed to

what we need to cut -- MIC -- we can save 28% immediately by merging the services.

STOP all war activity -- it's bankrupting the Treasury -- and aside from that it's

imperialistic, brutal and cruel -- and based on lies!

STOP giving taxpayer money to "faith-based" religious organizations --

Let's talk about cuts to Congress's paychecks -- no more automatic raises --

no more free health care until all Americans have the same guarantees!

What about Congressional travel and what that's costing us -- ??

We still have no idea, evidently, what the CIA is costing us -- or even how many

intelligence agencies there are now ABOVE the CIA!!???


I certainly didn't vote for Obama so that he could put Republicans in charge of

an attack on Social Security and Medicare!!

But it looks like that's just what Obama did --

IMO, we need a new Democrat running for president in 2012!!

[lark]

82. I'd vote for the progressive

and that's not Obama.

[avaistheone1]

96. You forgot to add that the Bush tax cuts to wealthy need to expire.

Those tax cuts have increased the deficit and only served to make the wealthiest among us wealthier.

The cost of the Bush tax cuts to the American people is greater than the cost of entitlements.

The Bush tax cuts need to expire.

[Doctor_J]

60. If he were a Dem he would already have been fired

the prez is afraid of the right wing. Here is they key phrase:

Democrats are so afraid of Republicans that nothing, absolutely nothing, will get them sanctioned.

On the money

[AlbertCat]

63. Democrats are so afraid of Republicans that nothing, absolutely nothing, will get them sanctioned.

Well, at least the label "Catfood Commission" stuck! That's us framing the argument.

[defendandprotect]

88. You mean the way Obama fired Baucus who helped destroy our best chance yet

for MEDICARE FOR ALL?

Obama and Baucus were two of the highest on the money list from the health

care industry --

This look more like cooperation -- not fear!!

[valerief]

67. Who's running this country? Pinochet? It sure seems like it. nt

[Ignis]

71. K&R

But the White House has already made it crystal fucking clear that Mr. Simpson can say anything he wants with impunity.

[cate94]

72. I wrote to the WH

and told them I agreed with Krugman's assessment and that it was inappropriate to accept Simpson's apology.

I also said that Alan "silver spoon" Simpson had no business heading this commission in the first place.

[earth mom]

74. Kick his a$$ to the curb!!!

:grr:

[katty]

75. simpson remains a major, entitled, asshole prick

[defendandprotect]

89. Who Obama put in charge of the Cat Food Commission . . .

there's no way to escape that point --

Is that what you voted for?

A Democratic president creating this "Cat Food Commission" and putting Republicans

in charge of it???

[dotymed]

77. Democrats "caving in to Republicans?"

Nope, they are what they are....far away from FDR, et al...

[avaistheone1]

86. Major blunder for Obama appointing Simpson to the

Social Security Cat Food Commission.

Now Obama should attempt to put things right and fire Simpson's sorry ugly old Scrooge ass.

[TBF]

94. He won't fire him - he agrees with him. nt

[Uncle Joe]

91. Kicked and recommended.

Thanks for the thread, Kurt_and_Hunter.

[Jackpine Radical]

93. Cowed by bullshit.

A person could milk this one for a while, but the humor's pretty cheesy. I hope I don't get creamed for it.

[BEZERKO]

95. Alan Simpson is a hateful old man!

It really is the "catfood commission."

[humbled_opinion]

99. Do you ever get that sinking feeling in your gut

That you have been played for a sucker? That is exactly how I am starting to feel about all things Obama.... I still have hope that I am at least partically wrong, but if this crap commission comes out and cuts needed social services and doesn't tax the rich pigs and I mean substantially, and doesnt' seriously cut the bloated DOD and force all those retirees onto a single payer system versus that overbudgeted money draining, TRICARE system and doesnt seriously recommend or implement a VAT then I will be proven right especially if Obama just joins right in and defends it.

[russspeakeasy]

100. Obama should negotiate with Simpson and make him say "teat".