Paul Krugman was on ABC Evening News last night and blasted the Republican opposition to the Stimulus Bill. He said, “We’ve just had eight years of Republicans pretty much getting everything they want in Washington, and it happens to be the worst eight years since the great depression. I find it hard to understand how so many Republicans can be so confident about their economic judgment when having their own way for eight years led to this disaster.”

Krugman said, “The modern Republican party is a hard line, conservative, very cohesive group of people. They’re just not going to go along with anything that deviates from their philosophy. Obama did a tremendous amount of attempted outreach (to the Republicans), and he got absolutely zero, absolutely nothing. I hope he has learned his lesson from that.”

An article in the Columbus Dispatch says that John Husted wants to end gerrymandering in Ohio and that he is preparing a legislative proposal to change Ohio’s method of creating legislative districts. The article said that Husted’s proposal calls for reforming the five member State Apportionment Board.

The article said that, “If Husted can’t get the legislature to approve plans in time for the November ballot, he will lead a voter-petition drive to place the reform measures on the statewide ballot in 2010.”

I emailed the author of the article, Joe Hallet, and asked where I could find a copy of Husted proposals. Hallet sent me the following reply: “Husted does not have a proposal ready. He said he was in the process of crafting it and would consult with Republicans, Democrats and good-govt groups like the League of Women Voters. Sorry if the story left you or other readers with the impression that Husted had a plan ready to go.”

Paul Krugman, writing in the NYT, On the Edge, uses some alarming language.  He says, “It’s hard to exaggerate how much economic trouble we’re in.” And he says, “Most economic forecasts warn that in the absence of government action we’re headed for a deep, prolonged slump.”

Krugman condemns the Republicans.  He says, “The American economy is on the edge of catastrophe, and much of the Republican Party is trying to push it over that edge.”

Krugman says, “What should have been a deadly serious debate about how to save an economy in desperate straits turned, instead, into hackneyed political theater, with Republicans spouting all the old clichés about wasteful government spending and the wonders of tax cuts.”

Krugman criticizes Obama’s actions in this crises so far.  He says, “Count me among those who think that the president made a big mistake in his initial approach, that his attempts to transcend partisanship ended up empowering politicians who take their marching orders from Rush Limbaugh,” but, he says, “What matters now, however, is what he does next.”

Krugman urges Obama to go on the offensive.  He says, “Above all, he must not shy away from pointing out that those who stand in the way of his plan, in the name of a discredited economic philosophy, are putting the nation’s future at risk.