Paul Krugman: A Heckuva Job

What we should have learned from Katrina was that political poseurs with nothing much to offer besides bluster can nonetheless fool many people into believing they’re strong leaders. And that’s a lesson we’re learning all over again as the 2016 presidential race unfolds. You probably think I’m talking about Donald Trump, and I am. But he’s not the only one. While Mr. Trump doesn’t exude presidential dignity, he’s seeking the nomination of a party that once considered it a great idea to put George W. Bush in a flight suit and have him land on an aircraft carrier. The point is that those predicting Mr. Trump’s imminent political demise are ignoring the lessons of recent history, which tell us that poseurs with a knack for public relations can con the public for a very long time.