July 28, 2011

  • Obama


    President Obama said he was tempted to bypass congress and change the rules about the debt on his own.
    I’m amazed that a lot of you have expressed that you would like President Obama to act on his own.  He has quoted President Lincoln.  Lincoln did not follow the constitution completely. 

    Would you be in favor of President Obama bypassing congress and extending the dept ceiling?

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Comments (51)

  • But can he really do it?

  • I don’t think it’s legal. But what the hey?

  • I would have to take a look at the Constitution (I haven’t looked at it in several months, I’m embarrassed to admit). I’m reasonably certain that that would be unconstitutional, but on the off chance that it wasn’t, then yes, I’d be in favor of it, if for no other reason than to avoid defaulting. If it is unconstitutional, then no. Defaulting would be a mess, but there are principles involved here.

  • Yes, definitely. The ramifications of the US defaulting on its debt would be very detrimental to the US economy and possible economies around the world.

  • That sounds like a good idea.

  • I say go for it ! Why not do something radical. Our leaders are crazy and irresponsable anyways. I mean, just look at this debacle. They’ve had 8 months to come up with a deal and they wait for the last moment to fix things ?

  • he wouldn’t be changing the rules. as a matter of fact the 14th amendment to the Constitution not only allows for the President to do so, it requires it. it’s never been done to my knowledge because Congress has never done what it is doing now, threaten not to raise it.

  • Sure, I think it would set a very good precedent if the President just decided to bypass Congress and the whole democratic process and do what he thinks is best for the whole country…:-/

  • DEBT CEILING! raise the DEBT ceiling!  that song is so catchy. youtube it.  http://youtu.be/EoS52fVtVQM

  • He should just go in with other fiat money countries and declare a do-over for everyone in the world! Then make it a law that can only be done once every 500 years on earth. Really people create the system of money and finances and world leaders can change the rules at any time.

  • I want to say that under the 14th Amendment, he could do that. But I’m not sure that it’s right or that a president should have that kind of power.

  • @Ancient_Scribe – it would be risky for him

  • @TheSutraDude – lincoln didn’t follow the constintution. That’s why Obama is quoting lincoln

  • @TheSchizoidMan – obama has been mentioning that Lincoln did not follow the constitution. -and Lincoln didn’t completely

  • The President keeps ruling that option out, publicly. That’s probably a smart move on his part for now. The GOP turned this into a big issue by taking over one house of congress and vowing not to raise the debt limit, which Obama no doubt viewed as an act of political warfare. I think the President is savoring the squabbling between the establishment Republicans and the Tea Party, and won’t consider invoking the 14th Amendment until the 11th hour.

    The question then will be, who would even be bold enough to challenge the constitutionality of such a move, if a reversal by the courts meant an instant default and economic doom?

  • @daily_scribble – as I have listened to Obama he is saying no to raising the debt on his own but is also saying “I could”. Both sides are playing politics with this, republican led strategy. I suspect what the President’s political strategy is is to make it look like the country needs him to rescue us from two fighting patries. He will take a huge risk for if he does this on his own and it goes bad he takes the complete blame

  • No. We elected a congress that campaigned on cutting spending and reducing the deficit and by doing so we sent a clear message to our president that we are concerned by our nation’s debt. I don’t know why he continues to push raising the debt ceiling.

  • @rocketopossum - Thanks – Yes there was a clear message sent by the Tea Party. 

  • At our house we could care less what our credit rating is, we’ve always lived within our means,spending less than we earn, saving what we can and trying to be prepared for any emergency or need that may come upon us. It should be the plan for our country.

  • @Lucy_or_Ethel - Absolutely.  We’ve lived like that also.  We’ve had no debt for decades.  I’ve taught my kids that and my older girls have nice cars which they paid cash for and they don’t make a lot of money. 

  • @Randy7777 -  Yes, I know about Lincoln — shutting down the newspapers during the Civil War was a true disgrace. Nevertheless, you can’t use one wrong to justify another one. I’ll have to look at the Fourteenth Amendment to see what it says.

  • @Randy7777 - The same for us. We have one son who lives far below his means and now has 2 sons in college both on academic scholarships debt free. He likes the older heavy cars for his sons to drive because they are safer plus cheaper and he is an able mechanic that keep the cars running LOL “Use it up, wear it out or be prepared to do without” seems to be our family motto LOL Debt free living gives one much freedom!

  • @C_L_O_G - Not raising the debt ceiling will not cause a default. It will only force the federal government to cut spending immediately because it no longer has the capacity to borrow more money. Revenues to the treasury will continue as usual.

  • @firetyger - The 14 Amendments is about paying debts. The US will still be able to pay its debts without an increase in the debt ceiling.

  • The 14th Amendment seems to imply that he could do it and get away with it, but I think public opinion would be very bad for him and the Democratic Party if he did. He keeps saying that he won’t, then dangling that, “But legally, I could” as if to remind us all that he has nearly unlimited powers- both parties are playing incredibly well with our fears here. I believe that in the end, they will come up with a last-minute deal that satisfies no one and keeps no promises, but people will breathe a collective sigh of relief at having avoided the oft-threatened default. Dang, they are masters at playing with fear to keep us from revolting.

  • @WaitingToShrug - I think you are so right.  Fear games will have bad results. 

  • @LoBornlytesThoughtPalace - The markets know that and that is the reason they are not reacting to all this.  It was a cruel scare tactic by saying Social Security recipeants may not get their check.  They will. 

  • @Lucy_or_Ethel - Hey I love your family motto.  I say lets make it America’s motto.  Oh that’s right, we had to destroy good working cars and get rid of “cheap” cars so they would cost more.   -lol

  • @TheSchizoidMan - You are so correct.  Lincoln bypassed the constitution to perserve the Union.  Obama is seemingly talking about the same thing – and it is not.  But that’s what he’s doing.  It wouldn’t surprise me if that on August 2nd if no deal was made President Obama making a nationwide speech stating what Lincoln did to save the US and how he, Obama is doing the same.  Let’s see.   

  • Obama thinks he’s the “you know what” if you ask me. I don’t like it.

  • The 14th Amendment Section 4, says the U.S. will pay all public debt authorized by law and it “will not be questioned”. “will not be questioned ” is considered very strong language. So he or the Treasury Sec. can keep writing  the checks. That was a guarantee the US made to pay off war bonds, pensions etc. I’m not sure where the debt ceiling even came from.

  • If it means averting economic devestation, then I’m all for it.

    As several others in the comments, I worry about the divisions of power and an undue consolidation of power in the office of the Presidency. But if it’s in the power is in the Fourteenth Amendment, it’s in the Constitution, and Obama has that power. If he does go that route, I really hope that its inevitable challenge reaches the Surpeme Court and that the Court can come to a sensible consensus about the power.

  • @TheSutraDude - If you actually read the 14th Amendment you’d see that it has nothing to do with the debt ceiling. The 14 Amendment gives the President the power to pay debts. The debt ceiling is all about acquiring new debt, not paying obligations already incurred.

  • @LoBornlytesThoughtPalace - The debt ceiling effects the country’s ability to pay debts.

  • @DistantShipSmoke - Interesting – I also wonder where the debt ceiling came from.

  • Debt ceiling should not be raised. =P

  • Oh man I don’t know. I just want these damned idiots to stop playing games and start working for the people instead of padding their own pockets.
    It I was a mood I would be anxious.

  • No way. If he did, there wouldn’t be any difference between him and a dictator.

  • I cannot wait till that man moves out of the white house.

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