The virtue of seriousness

Paul Krugman:

I suspect that the main reason for the dramatic swing in the polls is something less concrete and more meta than the fact that events have discredited free-market fundamentalism. As the economic scene has darkened, I’d argue, Americans have rediscovered the virtue of seriousness. And this has worked to Mr. Obama’s advantage, because his opponent has run a deeply unserious campaign.

h/t to DemfromCT

I would add that one must not confuse fearmongering with seriousness. George W. Bush has often tried to appear grave but is a very unserious man. He is a an aging fratboy with a strong sense of entitlement. A petulant narcissist. John McCain, fourth generation Navy man who crashed five planes and was fifth from the bottom of his class at the Naval Academy, is very much like him. They are serious about their ambitions and little else.

--the BB