Motley Moose – Archive

Geithner versus Krugman has become the new Israel/Palestine debate on the blogs. It’s an Economist’s cage-match, with fervent supporters on both sides, and much hyperbole slung by both camps. Because the economic arguments are so opaque, and because both men are so highly qualified, choosing between their solutions has devolved to questionable character judgments. Krugman is “shrill”, and “never liked Obama”. Geithner is a “crook”, and “is incapable of seeing the problems he helped caused”.

I think we can do better than this. I believe that if we look closely, we can discern some dynamics between the two men, based on objective evidence. Furthermore, this dynamic may serve as a clue to clarifying the debate, and taking us a step closer to deciding who is “right”.

“Americans will put up with anything provided it doesn’t block traffic.”

– Dan Rather

Traffic is a minor miracle.

It’s a dance, and a competition. The stakes are incredible – driving at 60mph in a crowd of other cars is likely your most dangerous activity of the week. Each time you enter the fray, a stranger may have saved your life, and you may save another’s life in return. How many times do we avoid an accident because someone else was paying attention?

I love it here at the Moose. Interacting with you guys gives me, well…a  thrill up my leg. There, I said it. Because of the high regard I hold you all in, I wanted you to be the first to know:

I’m Going Galt.

“The chief characteristic and strength of the submarine is its invisibility due to its ability to submerge. As a consequence, the submarine is distinguished, at the same time, by another special feature, the advantage of surprise. ”

— THE SUBMARINE COMMANDER’S HANDBOOK, 1943 Edition

Andrew Sullivan has an interesting take on the Obama strategy:

Every single symbolic act has been inclusive and sober. From that speech in Grant Park to the eschewal of euphoria on Inauguration Day; from the George Will dinner invite to the Rick Warren invocation; from meeting the House Republicans on the Hill to convening a fiscal responsibility summit; from telegraphing to all of us Obamacons that he wasn’t a fiscal lunatic to … unveiling the most expansive, liberal, big government reversal of Reagan any traditional Democrat would die for.

(more after the jump)