If I were President right now I would invoke emergency powers to raise the debt ceiling.

[Odin2005]

And if the Pukes tried to impeach me the Dem-controlled Senate would not convict.

[LonePirate]

1. A true Democratic president would do that. Our current one doesn't have the balls to do that.

[dkf]

2. Why can't he use emergency powers to raise taxes?

Maybe he can do anything he wants to.

[elocs]

3. You can't invoke it right now because we have not passed the deadline.

Why is this such a difficult concept?

[Skink]

5. He could say he is prepared to use the 14th amendment.

but that might hasten a deal. It would be better to wait until the last second.

[cascadiance]

6. Many are saying he's doing this intentionally to get the Repubs to fuss about a lot more...

And try to come up with some "deal" they feel they can ram down our throats. With them currently feeling they are in "conrol" over the Dems, they will be arguing amongst themselves, and beating each other up, showing that they aren't capable of governing. And then whatever they come up will likely be a mess, unless they wise up and realize that they're going to lose unless they just put forth a clean debt ceiling bill to sign (which they also would be losing on).

If Obama telegraphs that he's going to use the 14th now, the Tea Party will just get hard nosed and not compromise at all, and try to use that to rationalize to their base that they are "principled" and don't give in, and there won't be any further fireworks. I'm hoping that Obama wants to mess them up, much like he did by waiting to release his birth certificate that arguably screwed many of them up too that it wouldn't have had he released it a lot earlier.

[Emillereid]

4. I totally agree!

The National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive (National Security Presidential Directive NSPD 51/Homeland Security Presidential Directive HSPD-20, sometimes called simply "Executive Directive 51" for short), created and signed by United States President George W. Bush on May 4, 2007, is a Presidential Directive which claims power to execute procedures for continuity of the federal government in the event of a "catastrophic emergency". Such an emergency is construed as "any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions." <1>

[sfwriter]

7. I'd give them one more chance to fail first...

As I see it, the damage is essentially done. A deal will hand the Republicans massive cuts, but open the door to committee recommended tax increases.

I doubt the Republicans will go for this. After they fail to pass something one more time, Reid can offer a clean limit increase and see what happens.

After that, its done and the 14th lets Obama save the country AFTER everyone has seen the Republicans were wrong about NOT needing the government.

The biggest thing broken in government is the Republican party by far.

[Odin2005]

8. Another idea I had: Tell treasury to just "print" the needed money.

The inflation fears will cause Wall Street to panic and BEG the Pukes to back down.

[Odin2005]

9. KICK