Is there anyone in the world with such a prestigious job, who has won so many academic awards, who is such a monotonous simpleton?

Economics is complex, and yet Krugman shovels platitudes that make the whole thing a simple equation: Democrat president, good economy; Republican president, bad economy.

Employment growth in the Bush years has been pathetic compared with job creation in the Clinton era.

If I were to join the economy-is-caused-by-one-thing brigade, couldn't I just as easily say:

Employment growth in the post-9/11 years has been modest compared with job creation in the early-Internet era.

But of course the economy is not so simple. But at the New York Times nuanced thinking isn't necessary as long as you toe the party line. Quality of life for Americans has never been higher, yet somehow those lower wages everyone's suffering from buys 2000 square foot houses, several televisions, air conditioning, and restaurant food several times a week. And this economic expansion has gone on for 35 years spanning both Democratic and - mostly - Republican presidents.