If it comes to it, at 11:59pm on August 1st, Obama *WILL* invoke the 14th Amendment

[scheming daemons]

But not a minute before.

[rurallib]

1. no drama Obama?

[elleng]

2. The drama is coming from all the s.o.b.s in Congress, including Senate.

[Cali_Democrat]

3. Obama doesn't have the spine to invoke the 14 Amendment

That approach would be too confrontational for him and he hates confrontation. It's just not in his nature.

He prefers to reach across the aisle in the name of compromise and get constantly rejected by the Republicans that want to destroy him. He prefers this approach.

It's who he is and he's not gonna change.

[scheming daemons]

4. Yeah... just like he compromised with OBL

you're full of shit.

[Cali_Democrat]

7. The truth hurts,

Obama has absolutely no spine at all.

He keeps trying to reach across the aisle in the name of compromise while the Republicans smack him upside the head.

Again and again and again.

[scheming daemons]

10. He is exposing them for who they are... he knows they won't accept any deal

He's showing America just who they are.


He was never going to sign cuts to SS.... and you'll see.

[CelticThunder]

12. Then why did he volunteer them. unasked?

[CakeGrrl]

22. He didn't. Modifications to extend its life are not cuts to benefits.

Would you rather let the program become unsustainable and flame out?

There is absolutely no allowance in some corners that a program can be operating inefficiently. It's a fact of large organizations that this happens.

But don't try to adjust it - you're TOUCHING it and that's bad!

That kind of rigidity of thought can't hold up forever.

[murielm99]

15. Between you and screaming daemons, I wish I knew

who was correct. You represent the extremes of DU these days.

Neither party has the right to keep us in such a state of fear. I resent both sides for doing this to our country.

There are many elderly, disabled and poor people out here who are paralyzed by fear. No democracy should to this to its citizens.

If we are sold out, we should take to the streets in anger, right away. I don't know what else to do any more.

[Renew Deal]

18. Yes

And apparently the truth hurts you the most.

[CelticThunder]

11. Really bad analogy.The Republicans were in favor of destroying OBL.

[Renew Deal]

17. That's BS.

It would have been much easier to not do health care reform, but he did it.

The fact is that if he invokes the 14th amendment before there's a crisis, he bails out congress.

[Speck Tater]

5. Or not. nt

[MadHound]

6. I hope he does,

Better yet, fifty nine minutes before that the grownups in Congress, both Democratic and Republican, realize the exact gravity of the situation they're facing and decide to do what is SOP. Put a clean, one sentence bill to raise the debt ceiling to a vote in both Houses, pass it and send it on to the President to sign.

There is enough bipartisan sanity in Congress to do this, the only question is there enough political spine to do this.

[Poll_Blind]

8. Or something. But I agree- he won't do it until absolutely the last second.

The last second. And he is correct not to do it a moment before.

PB

[William769]

9. Didn't Obamas press secretary say the 14 amendment was not an option?

[pa28]

13. Unfortunately Obama & Geithner have severely undercut the legitimacy of that strategy.

Successfully using the 14th would depend heavily on the president and the treasury secretary believing (publicly at least) in the legality of their actions. From there the burden would be on the court to show otherwise.

As the situation stands every blowhard in the media will be using the administration's own words against them if a 14th amendment strategy is used.

I'd love to see Obama do this but how does he walk it back now?

[elocs]

14. Nobody knows but Obama, and a few others, but certainly nobody here at DU. n/t

[Safetykitten]

16. Oh please!

[Time for change]

19. Maybe, maybe not

But I doubt it will come to that because in all probability he will make a deal with the Republicans that includes deep cuts in New Deal era programs.

[davidpdx]

20. I think he should

But I agree with a few others that he's boxed himself in with his own words (and those by his own administration). The better way to handle it would to have been repeatedly to say "Our main focus is getting a deal done to raise the debt ceiling" and not even comment on the 14th Amendment stuff. Then people (including Republicans) would have to either act or call his bluff. If they think he's bluffing, then he should do it.

[maryellen99]

21. what is he going to do if the "deal" does not pass the house nt?

We are screwed

[davidpdx]

23. Well what I'm saying is more in hindsight of what he should have done

He and his administration have made comments about the 14th amendment that seem to make it impossible to backtrack and do that now. I think that's a shame.