Paul Krugman: "Things look better than I expected"

By GottaLaff

This is more encouraging than a lot of things I've read lately, because Krugman has been a recovery thumbs-downer for quite awhile. It's a little like comfort food after a bad day.

Before I get too carried away, he does offer the caveat that "looks can be deceiving", but still:

And I’m not sure what to make of it, but casual observation suggests a stronger recovery than anything I see in published numbers. Lots of small-scale construction — home remodeling, tear-downs replacing old houses. Many new businesses and restaurants filling storefronts that were vacant a couple of months ago. [...]

Still, there’s the observation: walking around, things look better than I expected.

Yum.

Helen Thomas: Obama plays it safe, "which is probably smart"

By GottaLaff

Photo: Reuters

Helen is not a shrinking violet, which is why I lerve her:

Veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas [...] shared some observations about the office’s newest occupant with Washington Flyer magazine. “I think he has to be very daring, [but] I think he plays it very safe, very cautious, which is probably smart, but I’m not sure he’s going to really be as bold as I want him to be,” said Thomas, who is known for voicing critical, usually liberal opinions during press conferences. “I want to see a real transformation—a caring for the people, not just giving a $700 billion bailout to Wall Street while Detroit suffers.”