It just gets crazier and crazier!

Republican Extremism, Bad Economics (New York Times)

But these are only the best-known of this crowd’s extreme views. In an unpublished interview, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas told Fortune magazine that if he had been president in 2008, he wouldn’t have engaged in the financial rescue effort. Without the bailout, initiated by the Bush administration, we would not have a functioning economy today..

Mr. Perry also wants to repeal the 16th Amendment, thereby eliminating the income tax, which accounts for 80 percent of government revenue. Like his fellow aspirants, Mr. Perry has offered no analysis to explain how the government would function under his vision.

Mr. Paul, who finished second in the Iowa straw poll on Saturday, has for decades sought to abolish the Federal Reserve, arguing that it is corrupt and unconstitutional. Eliminating our central bank is a crazy idea that would plunge the country back into an oscillating 19th-century world of panics and busts.

Rick Perry wants to do bad stuff to "traitor" Ben Bernanke. Can it get any crazier? Yes, I’m afraid it will. Can we talk about who is a traitor? Well, we can. But mark my words: those who throw stones, will act like crybabies if what they do to others is done unto them.

Governor Rick Perry’s thoughts on Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke

Texas Governor Rick Perry, who entered the presidential campaign on Saturday, appeared to suggest a violent response would be warranted should Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke “print more money” between now and the election. Speaking just now in Iowa, Perry said, “If this guy prints more money between now and the election, I dunno what y’all would do to him in Iowa but we would treat him pretty ugly down in Texas. Printing more money to play politics at this particular time in American history is almost treasonous in my opinion.” Treason is a capital offense.

See above link for Krugman’s comments on Governor Perry’s contribution to thoughtful and civil discourse.

For further political comment, see What Would Eisenwhower Do?