Paul Krugman: Republicans Are 'Manchurian Candidates' Looking to 'Bring Down America'
"Sometimes you do wonder if [Republicans] are moles, Manchurian candidates for I don't know who, if their real job is to bring down America."
So said New York Times columnist Paul Krugman on MSNBC's Martin Bashir show Friday (video follows with transcript and commentary):
MARTIN BASHIR: What are your thoughts on Speaker Boehner announcing that he wants another fight over the debt ceiling? I mean, is this guy working to further undermine America’s standing given that the last time this happened America was downgraded?
PAUL KRUGMAN, NEW YORK TIMES: Well there is this question a little bit. Sometimes you do wonder if these guys are moles, Manchurian candidates for I don't know who, if their real job is to bring down America because they're really are doing the best they can.
But no, this is a, look, this is the extremism of the current Republican Party. They've become a Party which is so determined to have its way that they never mind this usual business of the constitution or actually passing legislation.
"Never mind this usual business of the Constitution or actually passing legislation."
Krugman deceptively evades the fact that Democrats that control the Senate haven't proposed a budget since February 2009.
He also ignores that the President's own budget failed in the Senate last week 99 to zero actually not receiving one vote even from members of his own Party.
Much as last year, this entire debt ceiling debacle could be avoided if the President and his Party created a budget that they support.
At that point, they'd have tremendous leverage with the press behind them to possibly force enough Republicans to back it.
But because we're in an election year, they don't want to do that, and Krugman along with the rest of his colleagues rather than holding the White House and Democrats to account for their deplorable abdication of Constitutional responsibility blame it all on Republicans:
KRUGMAN: What they will do is threaten to destroy the economy unless they get what they want. And I think on this round President Obama finally has to say, "No. Look, you’re going to do blackmail, we're going to call your bluff. You’ve gotten an awful lot of money from the business community. You got an awful lot of money from Wall Street. These guys will be hurt even worse than the rest of us if the economy tanks because the U.S. government goes into a gratuitous default. Let's see them yank their chain."
But no, it’s incredible. This is, this economics, economics by hostage taking, and it’s not something that can be allowed to stand.
Hostage taking, indeed.
Sadly like many of the prisoners of war in the classic film "The Manchurian Candidate," Krugman doesn't know who the hostages or the captors are.
Color me very unsurprised.
(H/T Noah Rothman)
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Comments
More unintelligible jabber from Krugman
Submitted by Galvanic on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 2:10pm.
PAUL KRUGMAN, NEW YORK TIMES: ". . . Sometimes you do wonder if these guys are moles, Manchurian candidates for I don't know who, if their real job is to bring down America because they're really are doing the best they can."
So, he postulates a conspiracy to bring down the United States, and that Republicans are the conspiracy's mole-assassins. But he can't identify the conspiracy itself.
Ohhhh - kaaaay. Can he throw in some alien beings or zombies to make more sense out of his analogy?
Krugman and Bashir -- who could've imagined this combination of anti-intellectuals 5 years ago?
I thought he very well described...
Submitted by JohnMcGrew on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 5:11pm.
...the Democrat congress 2006-2010.
and,...
Submitted by almostacowboy on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 5:40pm.
the current administration.
Talk about projecting!
Submitted by Newsbubba on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 2:22pm.
"moles, Manchurian candidates for I don't know who, if their real job is to bring down America."
THAT is the perfect description of Barack Hussein Obama, mmm, mmm, MMM!
Mitch the Bitch and Boner together could not do a better job of destroying this country than the RBFSOB if they actually TRIED!
Anybody want to tell me one actual fact about the life of Obama that is actually supported by proof? Anything?
Talk about a Manchurian Candidate. He actually became the Manchurian president.
One thing supported with proof-
Submitted by almostacowboy on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 5:43pm.
He's married to one angry black woman!
Second item supported with proof, ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 6:02pm.
he is a liar; he is incompetent; he is unduly arrogant, narcissistic - and is a fugly pos.
Ok, ok - second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth items supported with proof.
MD
My God, these men are dumb!
Submitted by CobraMan on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 2:41pm.
"What are your thoughts on Speaker Boehner announcing that he wants another fight over the debt ceiling? I mean, is this guy working to further undermine America’s standing given that the last time this happened America was downgraded?"
Hay, idiots, we were downgraded because Congress, with full approval of Obama, RAISED THE DEBT LIMIT! Boehner doesn't want that to happen again, an obviously sensible position. The Democrats, on the other hand, don't seem to care anymore about our credit rating, for they won't even allow a debate on it! They WANT to raise the ceiling on how much debt we hold, which would, once again, threaten our credit limit! But leave it to you and Krugman to get it backwards. You're both partisan hacks. You're the true Mancunian Candidates of the liberal media.
The funny thing is, in the story the Manchurian Candidate eventually figured out he was being used. You two idiots will NEVER figure it out!
The Citizens of each State shall be entitled to all Privileges and Immunities of Citizens in the several States. The US Constitution
Unless you're a fetus. The US Supreme Court
Or Anwar al-Awlaki.
HAHAHAHAHA......
Submitted by motherbelt on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 2:39pm.
they [Republicans] never mind this usual business of the constitution or actually passing legislation.
LINK
LINK
LINK
LINK
LINK
These two
Submitted by grammajane on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 2:48pm.
radicals actually believe the Conservatives want to bring America down? What the hel do they think their hero is doing, on a daily basis. So take the focus off hope and change and blame Conservatives for all the failures since BO took office. What is really weird is these two yahoo's are so unimportant and actually look alike
Krugman is such a willing tool
Submitted by c5then on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 2:51pm.
It's amazing the depths that he will descend to in order to prop up his failed ideology of socialism.
If only we were to tax all the rich out of existence...that would fix everything! Never mind that the vast majority of the "rich" used to be middle class and working class until they "succeeded" and found the American Dream. Krugman wants to demonize and punish the very people who are daily reminders that America is TRULY still the land of opportunity. Krugman's idea of the reward at the end of the rainbow is to punish those who actually struggled to get there.
Madison and Jefferson and Franklin built a Republic - Roberts killed it!
The left always projects and pre-empts
Submitted by metaphorsbwithu on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 3:27pm.
This is what the left does.
They pre-empt criticism of their ideology and agenda by accusing their opponents of the things that are much more likely to apply to their side ... like when they anticipated attacks on Elena Kagan's impartiality on ObamaCare by arguing Clarence Thomas (via his wife) was prejudiced against ObamaCare.
It's in their "book' of things to do ... always stay a step ahead of your opponent, anticipate their arguments, understand what your own weaknesses are and use them against the other side by forcing them to play defense.
It works especially well against Republicans because they mostly lack the guts to attack their opponents by saying what anyone who is paying attention knows is true.
Bingo
Submitted by ozarkian on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 5:50pm.
Beautifully put. Just what I was thinking and trying to figure out the words to say....and you beat me to it, putting it just right.
Recon-- stinking --ciliation
Submitted by KC Mulville on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 3:27pm.
The minute they passed ObamaCare by reconciliation, they lost any credibility about "They've become a Party which is so determined to have its way that they never mind this usual business of the constitution or actually passing legislation."
As an economist, I can see
Submitted by rbosque on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 4:08pm.
As an economist, I can see the economic world from a certain perspective and I mostly see gov't interfering with the conomoy in such a way that I am convinced it's done on purpose. Having said that, I know that Krugman is an economist and sees the same data I see. The fallacy here is that Krugman is so blinded by his allegiance to the left that the data is not registering properly in his head. It's the Democrats that are in charge Mr. Krugman, and speaking from an economic development point-of-view, it is the Communist/Socialist and statist nations that are detrimental to global economic stability. Every nation they control turns into a pile of dung and that would include Obama's economic "policies". But one doesn't need to be an economist to look at the numbers. Obama is incompetent and is the worse thing that can happen to any country.
Krugman is obviously confoosed
Submitted by Dave. on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 4:22pm.
The person that is actually bringing down America is the Kenyan Mooooooooslim communist imposter of a fraud POTUS with a "D" after his name currently occupying the building at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
And if Krugman really thinks that the people who support moving back to this nation's Constitution wish to see America destroyed, then he is truly mentally ill.
-Dave
Vote for the American in November
Mulville make a good point
Submitted by needle on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 4:37pm.
The question seems to be:
Is this just another example of Liberals projecting, or an extreme case of denial about their own attempt to use a Manchurian candidate -- or in this case, an illegal immigrant -- to bring down America?
- Looking forward to the self-annihilation of the Manipulated Stories Machine.
Manchurian Candidate seems
Submitted by Kenny Bunkport on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 10:31pm.
Manchurian Candidate seems like an odd metaphor for Republicans. After all, isn't the definition of conservatism to keep the status quo, not to set up a covert revolution?
That would be like the Manchurian Candidate of fiction being a hardline communist party mole sent to inflitrate the the hardline communist party politboro. Makes absolutely no sense. Someone should have told Krugman it was a stupid comparison on the spot.
Obama is Manchurian President
Submitted by PVC1234 on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 5:02pm.
Watch the movie and tell me how the movie isnt Obama. pay attention and you can see Hilliary Clinton as the Angela Landsberry role. Keep spouting your liberal BS Krugman
Both the same
Submitted by alberta43 on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 5:31pm.
Republicans and Democrats both want to bring down America. For those who haven't noticed a difference in the parties, watch these videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD_ybaXhXno
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eD_ybaXhXno
➚ Mongolian Candidate
Submitted by Cool Arrow on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 5:59pm.
Hard to deny the child of pure marxism (aka Chinese communism) has delivered us into the hands of our enemies.
Once we fall, what need have we, or the world for that matter, of our current monetary system?
Get ready to be ruled by the Mongoloid Empire.
Some Interesting Similarities
Submitted by Samaritan01 on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 6:34pm.
Krugman's comments are interesting in a sort of bent and twisted way. After all there is at least one prominent politician who fits the description of Manchurian Candidate!!
Krugman
Submitted by lilium479 on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 6:59pm.
Got his Economic degree on Ebay.
Hey. Not cool.
Submitted by proudamerican1990 on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 7:02pm.
Don't trash ebay. I bought a used cell phone on there, and it works great.
Alright. Serious, important question here.
Submitted by proudamerican1990 on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 7:03pm.
Who told Paul Krugman our secret?
Did he appear on Jeopardy?
Submitted by merly1 on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 9:19pm.
It could'a been a trifecta!
Krugman engaging in
Submitted by Slyrr on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 9:29pm.
Krugman engaging in deflection like a good little media slave. He's accusing the GOP of trying to 'bring down America', because that is exactly what HE and his failed President are working towards.
And besides - Isn't ol' Barry-boy the one saying it's the GOP who wants to 'go back' while they (the dems) are 'looking forward'? The Republicans want to restore the USA to the good times and policies we had before Krugman's Affirmative-Action candidate wrecked everything with his stupidity and ignorance.
Sky high inflation. Sky high unemployment. National pain, misery and suffering. People losing jobs, homes and hope. If this is Obama and the Democrat's idea of 'moving forward', then I say we backpedal as fast as we can and let Obama and his foul cabinet 'move forward' straight off a cliff. We'll clean up the mess afterwards, like we always do.
Krugman is the ideological
Submitted by Kenny Bunkport on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 10:22pm.
Krugman is the ideological brother of Jimmy Carter. Both thought they could change the world. Both were afforded high positions and honors. Both lived to see their legacies denounced and ridiculed. Both are extremely bitter, intent on mocking and hurting those who exposed their folly. Both are being used as useful idiots by others with more nefarious plans.
All you have to do,
Submitted by texasborngranny on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 11:12pm.
to know what the dems/libs are up to, is listen.
Whatever they are accusing someone else of doing is what they, in fact, are doing.
Where is Matthewdean*
Submitted by cajun2 on Sat, 05/19/2012 - 11:30pm.
Need you MD to explain to this idiot what part of "conserve" in conservative do they not understand?
It would appear, cajun, that ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 1:48am.
there are those on the liberal side who truly fit within the parameters laid out by the statement "Liberalism is a disease".
It is one thing to adhere to a specific ideology because your entire family history says that is how you should roll; it is something yet again to be a proponent of any plan or set of mores you truly believe is beneficial for all concerned; and a case could even be made for a tertiary line of thought that states it is ok to push most strongly for any situation that might initially benefit you personally - provided that eventually, the largesse you expect, if it materializes, will be shared with, and by, all.
Though I am sure there are lefties who pay lip service to the theme of wanting good things for their fellow citizens - in the real world, those thoughts most generally turn out to be no more than a nod to good intentions, which unfortunately are known to be no more than paving stones for the highway to hell.
The liberal mindset seems to take no notice whatsoever of the law of unintended consequences - witness a half century of internal rot caused by the precepts of LBJ's "Great Society".
All the monies thrown into the sewer of entitlement programs? Whether framed as liberals, communists, Marxists, or progressives - those who believe the system they wish in place has failed in the past only because it was not implemented by the sheer force of genius they themselves represent, i.e., let us dictate the amounts needed; let us control the gathering of funds, let us direct the allocation of same - are those we will never, ever reach through representative dialogue. While they are absolutely certain they are correct - they are equally certain that conservatives have only one oar in the water; ergo, there is likely no way to get through to them; even if it appears they are actually listening to and absorbing what you have to say.
Dealing with muddle-headed lib 'thinkers' like Krugman, irrespective of the "awarding" of a Nobel Prize (think Yasser Arafat and Barack Obama to establish a proper perspective regarding any actual validity behind such insanity), displays perfectly the reasoning behind the saying "Never try to teach a pig to sing. You are wasting your time; and it annoys the pig."
Liberals and lefties can wave their banners, toot their horns, and denigrate conservatives all they want --- I know what I see; I know what is right; what is correct, and what is proper.
Liberalism ain't cuttin' it.
MD
Conservative means
Submitted by Boudin on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 2:06am.
Liberty for all, including THE conceived!
Please folks, can we get back to it?
Dear Cajun2
Submitted by texasborngranny on Wed, 05/23/2012 - 10:41am.
Need you cajun to explain why you referred to me as an idiot.
~She was referring to Krugman
Submitted by Wrathful Brunette on Wed, 05/23/2012 - 11:00am.
I don't know how her reply ended up under your comment, but I promise you she wasn't referring to you.
I wonder
Submitted by Benjamin on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 2:02am.
what the national debt would be . . . and what our credit rating would be . . . if we had spent all the money that Krugman wants to spend. With Krugman and the Democrats, it's never enough.
OH THE IRONY...
Submitted by Flying_Flynn on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 1:33pm.
Did anyone notice that the fraud aka Paul Krugman was spewing his do-do with Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs in the back drop?
Let me get this straight...
Submitted by megax5000 on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 7:31pm.
So Republicans are supposedly worried to death about our increasing debt, and that if it keeps growing it'll end up destroying our economy, that they're decided if the Democrats don't listen to their demands to gut SS, Medicare, health insurance for poor kids, education, etc. , they (the republicans) will go ahead and destroy the economy themselves by not increasing the debt limit?
Guess this makes complete sense in Republican land.
Btw, your god, Lord Reagan (peace be upon him), raised the debt ceiling several times, as did Bush the Stupider. Of course, they weren't democrats so I guess it doesn't count.
Ahh, megax5000 equals ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 7:43pm.
mega lib bullshit times five thousand.
Thanks for such biting insight; America is saved !
MD
You got it MD*
Submitted by cajun2 on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 7:48pm.
Look at all the lying liberal media myths all in one post.
Forgive me for "lying" so much, just...
Submitted by megax5000 on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 7:56pm.
..please name one lie in there. Just ONE. Please.
As a lib troll, mega smegma, what ---
Submitted by matthewdean on Sun, 05/20/2012 - 10:02pm.
"info" that you are imparting isn't questionable?
MD