Asked on thursday whether his inauguration speech would build on the hope motif that defined his campaign , the president-elect wondered , humorously , whether his former colleagues compelled him to change up themes .
Steve allen noted that anything could be dealt with humorously , including religion , death , cancer , oppression , etc. , but he stressed that this doesn 't make it socially appropriate to do so .
When paul krugman , a nobel prize-winning economist , clashed with niall ferguson , a famous historian ( and ft contributing editor ) , over how best to respond to the economic crisis , prof ferguson 's response was humorously humble .