New New Deal, Who Knew?

Paul Krugman at the NY Times wrote today about how Bush's speech was "Not the New Deal." (registration required for the NY Times link)

Mr. Krugman says, "that the Bush administration, which tried to turn Iraq into a laboratory for conservative economic policies, will try the same thing on the Gulf Coast."

Somehow I think random unfocused attacks against a controlling force and writing your own Constitution like they are doing in Iraq are more liberal policies than conservative.

And I forget when did sending billions of dollars on nation building make sound conservative fiscal sense? I think even Ronald Reagan would admit that spending billions on the "Star Wars" program of the 1980's wasn't sound conservative fiscal policy but a necessary evil for national defense. And although I'm not so sure Iraq is in the best interests of our national defense, I'll have to wait for time to tell to make that decision.

Krugman also claims that, "President Bush subscribes to a political philosophy that opposes government activism - that's why he has tried to downsize and privatize programs wherever he can."

Well, let us see, President Bush just signed one of the biggest highway bills ever, and remember his "idol" President Ronald Reagan was credited with being very wise by vetoing a massive highway bill during his presidency.

Bush also created tons of new government employees with the TSA and an entire new department called "Homeland Security." Which makes me feel as safe as security guards at a shopping mall in Newark.

Not a whole lot of downsizing government going on here.

So I'm afraid Mr. Krugman is slamming Bush for all the wrong reasons.