Rove’s Third Term

New York Times ^ | 07/04/08 | PAUL KRUGMAN

[Sub-Driver]

Rove’s Third Term By PAUL KRUGMAN

Al Gore never claimed that he invented the Internet. Howard Dean didn’t scream. Hillary Clinton didn’t say she was staying in the race because Barack Obama might be assassinated. And Wesley Clark didn’t impugn John McCain’s military service.

Scott McClellan, the former White House press secretary, titled his tell-all memoir “What Happened.” But a true account of modern American politics should be titled “What Didn’t Happen.” Again and again we’ve had media firestorms over supposedly revealing incidents that never actually took place.

The latest fake scandal fit the usual pattern as an awkwardly phrased remark, lifted out of context and willfully misinterpreted, exploded across the airwaves.

What General Clark actually said was that Mr. McCain’s war service, though heroic, didn’t necessarily constitute a qualification for the presidency. It was a blunt but truthful remark, and not at all outrageous — especially given the fact that General Clark is himself a bona fide war hero.

Yet the Clark affair did reveal something important — not about General Clark, but about Mr. McCain. Now we know what a McCain administration would represent: namely, a third term for Karl Rove.

[Sub-Driver]

Krugman needs medical supervision is all I can say........

[Bernard]

Wesley Clark's crowning military achievement was blowing up the Chinese embassy; that makes him a "bona fide war hero"?

Life must be much easier for a liberal.

[highlander_UW]

Howard Dean didn’t scream.

Yeeeahhhh! Sure he didn't. But who cares what lies are at the bottom of a bird cage or wrapped around a fish?

[Dawnsblood]

Al Gore claimed that he invented the Internet. Howard Dean did scream. Hillary Clinton did say she was staying in the race because Barack Obama might be assassinated. And Wesley Clark did impugn John McCain’s military service.

Fixed it for him. What a tard.

[padre35]

Krugman?

Please...who cares what the man says?

Clark is just a political hack, no more no less, he was a part of a Obamao hit team that was supposed to try and throw mud on Mad Jon’s Military Service, when it became clear it wasn’t going to work, they rest of the Hit Squad got no press coverage, Randy Beers and Charlie “You make it, we take it” Rangel also tried to hit Mad Jon but the hits were never covered in the Media..

Leaving Wes Clark hanging out to dry.

[andy58-in-nh]

It would seem that what we hear with our own ears is not to be trusted. We need liberals like Paul Krugman, whose superior consciousness enables him to properly interpret and reveal the nuances of human expression. We Troglodytes and Neanderthals out in Flyover Country need to just ignore the voices in our heads and heed the wisdom of our superiors at the New York Times. We're just too prejudiced and stupid to do otherwise, and it's time we learned that they have our best interests at heart. Me, I'm going right down to Town Hall, register as a Democrat, quit my job and volunteer for the Obama campaign.

The truth is, I was tired of using my brain anyway.

[airborne]

...given the fact that General Clark is himself a bona fide war hero.

You should have attached a "Barf Alert"!

[BallyBill]

Krugman just can't hide his jealousy of Rove, who actually does and can make things happen.

Oh and Paul, John McCain DIDN'T actually say he's stay at war with Iraq for 100 years.

[metesky]

I guess I’m one of the millions who were deceived by the holograph of Dean screaming on live tv.

[gusopol3]

numero uno qual for being President... being a community organizer; nothing else comes close.

[syriacus]

Krugman can't see the forest for the trees.

[Sender]

And Jeremiah Wright was merely inartful in his simple expression of “Jesus Saves”.

[Darkwolf377]

Al Gore never claimed that he invented the Internet. Howard Dean didn’t scream. Hillary Clinton didn’t say she was staying in the race because Barack Obama might be assassinated. And Wesley Clark didn’t impugn John McCain’s military service.

Krugman is one of those guys who thinks his readers are all boobs who can be manipulated through clever phrasing. In the cases he notes, he seems to want us to think, just because explicit phrases weren't used, then the meanings are other than they are.

Hey, Paul, when someone says "Go to Hell," they're not asking someone to get in a car and actually GO there. Similarly, when someone says "I hate your guts" they don't mean they loathe your intestines.

Is this too much for you to understand, Paul? Of course not. Because you know precisely what was meant in each of those instances.

Al Gore was trying to get us to believe he was instrumental in creating the Internet. Of course he was--what do YOU think he was trying to get us to believe?

Howard Dean didn’t scream--oh really? Who'm I supposed to believe, you or my lying ears? ("YEEEAAAARRRGHH!!")

Hillary Clinton didn’t say she was staying in the race because Barack Obama might be assassinated. That's true--but she was trying to imply just that. Only a total fool believes otherwise. You just don't want to believe that a democrat could be so vile as to want to put that notion in our heads. Do you SERIOUSLY want us to believe she brought up Robert Kennedy's not being in the race anymore and hoped we DIDN'T recall how that happened?

And Wesley Clark did indeed impugn John McCain’s military service. The man who bombed civilians unnecessarily may indeed be a liberal's idea of a war hero (a military man who opposes going into Iraq--"We'll lose 5000 just in getting to Baghdad" he famously said on CNN), but are you trying to get us to believe he was trying to give McCain a compliment?

Krugman, I am most definitely SAYING this, so there is no confusion--you are full of ****.

[syriacus]

And Jeremiah Wright was merely inartful in his simple expression of “Jesus Saves”.

LOL!

[PORD]

Wesley Clark stated that Obamarx was a man of integrity, with all of the pathological lies that are easily documented it shows Clark’s lack of character and disqualifies him in anyone’s eyes as credible that has a thinking brain.

BUT, we all know he is bucking for V-P.

[Jabba the Nutt]

I just want to get my hands on that Rove-invented mind-control ray. It’s amazing, I’ll be rich, rich I tell ya!

[LBKQ]

Do send your comments to Krugman in care of the NYT!
That was GREAT!

[Josh Painter]

If I had to choose, and I do, I would much prefer Rove’s third term to Jimmy Carter’s second...

[rodguy911]

Anyone see Rove destroy the giraffe last night on Hannity and colmes? It was invigorating!! I have always liked and respected Karl Rove. IMHO he is a political genius and if the rats ever go after him,try to seriously take him out, which they are bound to, we need to give him all the support he needs right here.

[gusopol3]

hey, Danielle Allen... please pass this along to your colleague/mentor and bud.... speaking of hyperbole and or lies.... when was Rove’s first term? When was his second term? Thanks Danielle.