A whopper of an Extraordinarily Stupid Idea

I know that the White House habitually reads Paul Krugman's blog, and I know that it periodically reads mine, just as it follows all serious, and seriously political, blogs. Hence for possible WH notice I join my horrified voice with Krugman's in bellowing: "If anyone in the White House is seriously thinking along [the lines as sketched by Ezra Klein], please stop it right now."

Klein merely relates--he's not proposing--and here's the scuttlebutt he's hearing: "[T]he headline Democratic concession is likely to be that the Medicare eligibility age rises from 65 to 67."

Krugman is right about not only the policy but the broader politics of this extraordinarily stupid idea. "All that effort to reelect Obama," he muses, "and the first thing he does is give away two years of Medicare? How’s that going to play in future attempts to get out the vote?" Aside from the devastating effects on 2014--and possibly beyond, for youthful confidence in political activism could be chronically damaged--Obama's second term would be irreparably self-sabotaged even before its inauguration. The president would lose the old-school liberal base, he'd lose the progressives, he'd lose labor, he'd lose minorities, and he'd lose massive swaths of caring women. (He would, however, make significant gains among old, dyspeptic, angry white guys.)

I spent a good part of President Obama's first two years criticizing Krugman's politically obtuse criticisms of those years, but these days, Krugman's assessments are sublimely accurate. Yet now Jonathan Chait--who comprehended those delicate politics when Kruman did not--has assumed the Nobel laureate's abandoned throne of political opacity. Writes Chait: "[R]aising the Medicare age seems like a sensible bone to throw the right. For one thing, it has weirdly disproportionate symbolic power, both among Republicans in Congress and establishmentarian fiscal scolds."

Precisely. That--its "weirdly disproportionate symbolic power"--is precisely why it's the worst possible bone for throwing. The right just lost, big time, a fundamentally philosophical election. To now hand the right a hugely symbolic victory (though of course it's more than that) that diminishes, degrades and demeans the electorate's decision would do gratuitous violence to the essential concept of the people's will--not to mention that the right's justified takeaways would be that no election really matters; that sufficient breath-holding indeed guarantees promiscuous concessions; and that Democrats' backbone remains stuck in an arrested development phase.

Of course, Klein's reporting could be wrong. It could be that even in Washington such an extraordinarily stupid idea will but languish forever in the Extraordinarily Stupid Idea suggestion box. On the other hand ...

Comments

[Beauzeaux]

Could we please -- for once -- avoid setting our collective hair on fire until there's an actual proposal, not "scuttlebutt"?

[Chris Andersen]

It could just be yet another trial balloon. We have been and will continue to hear a lot of these until Jan 1st.

[shsavage]

Unfortunately, PM, short of a ten-generations-back retroactive abortion, accompanied by a repeal of the 13th amendment and a do-over on the 20th century, nothing that Obama can do will "make significant gains among old, dyspeptic, angry white guys". Indeed, the last thing the WH should be worried about is tossing a bone to the GOP. The strategy ought to be to further his own agenda and precipitate the crack-up of the GOP as quickly as possible.

[MinneapolisPipe]

Fortunately or unfortunately, Obama keeps his cards extremely close to his chest.

It's very vexing for his allies and foes alike. They'll drive themselves into a tizzy unless they're careful.

[martin boyle]

Why should the White House 'thinkers' have to read Krugman. Put him in the Cabinet and they can listen to him directly.

[Roberta in MN]

Hair on fire is what this is. This is the GOP talking points. Please, please relax. I am always amazed at the shit that is spewed and people buy it and get all excited for nothing. If you had his back, maybe there wouldn"t be all this crap. The media wants a fail please keep that in mind.

[Peter G]

How would Shakespeare phrase this? Unknot thy knickers and let not powder burns besmirch their linen splendor. It must be seen to be believed.

[nathkatun7]

Please forgive me for not joining in the frenzy about President Obama caving. I've witnessed this manufactured frenzy from the outraged holier than thou progressives before. I saw it with the stimulus bill, I saw it with healthcare, I saw it with DODT, I saw it with the 2010 lame duck session negotiations, and I saw it with debt ceiling negotiations. Guess what, in all these situations, President Obama ultimately negotiated more honorable deals that protected the vast majority of Americans.

Based on his record, and the fact that he understands the complexity of the politics in a divided government better than either Professor Krugman or the whiz kid pundit, Ezra Klein, I am putting my trust in President Obama. He has so far not disappointed me in everything he has negotiated with the crazy GOP.