There are Twitter feuds — and then there are high-class Twitter feuds. Witness Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves taking on New York Times columnist Paul Krugman.
The Nobel-winning economist blogged Wednesday that he’s unimpressed by Estonia’s so-called recovery: “This is what passes for economic triumph?” Ilves shot back in a series of angry tweets: “Let’s write about something we know nothing about & be smug, overbearing & patronizing; after all, they’re just wogs.” And then: “Guess a Nobel in trade means you can. . . declare my country a ‘wasteland’. . . ” And then: “What do we know? We’re just dumb & silly East Europeans. Unenlightened. . . ” And so on, with several more hotly sarcastic jabs. Krugman stayed out of the Twitter fray and only barely acknowledged the tirade in a follow-up essay Thursday.
Er, is that really the president of Estonia? Using phrases like “Chill” and “y’all”? The embassy confirmed Thursday that it is.
Tweets after the jump. . .
Let’s write about something we know nothing about & be smug, overbearing & patronizing: after all, they’re just wogs: krugman.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/06/est…
— toomas hendrik ilves (@IlvesToomas) June 6, 2012
Guess a Nobel in trade means you can pontificate on fiscal matters & declare my country a “wasteland”. Must be a Princeton vs Columbia thing
— toomas hendrik ilves (@IlvesToomas) June 6, 2012
But yes, what do we know? We’re just dumb & silly East Europeans. Unenlightened. Someday we too will understand. Nostra culpa.
— toomas hendrik ilves (@IlvesToomas) June 6, 2012
Let’s sh*t on East Europeans: their English is bad, won’t respond & actually do what they’ve agreed to & reelect govts that are responsible.
— toomas hendrik ilves (@IlvesToomas) June 6, 2012
Chill. Just because my country’s policy runs against the Received Wisdom & I object doesn’t mean y’all gotta follow me. mobile.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/…
— toomas hendrik ilves (@IlvesToomas) June 6, 2012
Sorry, not conserv. or leftist. Just can't fathom why following agreed upon EU fiscal rules justifies smug & snide gloating re: my country.
— toomas hendrik ilves (@IlvesToomas) June 6, 2012
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