Every Friday in the New York Times, Paul Krugman shares op-ed page space with David Brooks -- a Nobel winning economist sharing space with a former right wing cheerleader turned phony moderate and master of false equivalency.
In past diaries, I've pointed out the subtle and unsubtle ways in which Krugman has shown Brooks to be a fool (usually in Krugman's blog, not his column):
Another Krugman rapid reply to Brooks
Krugman v. Brooks on Piketty - No contest
Krugman-Simpson-Bowles and Brooks: Ridiculous and Mind-boggling
On Friday, Brooks wrote a column so disingenuous that it belongs in the Museum of Willful Cluelessness. Brooks writes in
The Working Nation.
The federal government should borrow money at current interest rates to build infrastructure, including better bus networks so workers can get to distant jobs. The fact that the federal government has not passed major infrastructure legislation is mind-boggling, considering how much support there is from both parties.
(Emphasis of blatant lie supplied.)
Krugman can't take it. He references Brooks by name and links to his column in a blog entry called
the Invisible Moderate.
The Obama administration would love to spend more on infrastructure; the problem is that a major spending bill has no chance of passing the House. And that’s not a problem of “both parties” — it’s the GOP blocking it. Exactly how many Republicans would be willing to engage in deficit spending to expand bus networks? (Remember, these are the people who consider making rental bicycles available an example of “totalitarian” rule.)
David Brooks is wearing the Emperor's New Clothes, parading nakedly in column after column pretending that he's wearing "clothes" showing any Republicans are moderate and that there's real "far left" Democratic party.
Dean Baker in Beat the Press piles on with David Brooks' Great Adventures in Fantasy Land.
Really? There is bipartisan support for having the federal government borrow money (i.e. run larger deficits) to build up the infrastructure? Is Paul Ryan calling for this? Ted Cruz? Marco Rubio? John Boehner? Who are the Republicans who are there demanding that the government run larger deficits to build up the infrastructure?
Brooks could do the country an enormous public service here by naming names. The reality is that President Obama has been unable to get any notable Republican support for even nickel and dime infrastructure projects.
Sadly, none of this is likely to make a dent in Brooks's five-figure speaking fees and faux-sage commentary on the Newshour.
See the brilliant Driftglass for much more on Brooks.