This is our Harriet Miers moment.

[The Hitman]

Here's out chance to defect with the president and demand he do something to placate us, his base. Just as Bush was forced to pick Alito, we must force Obama to raise taxes on the rich.

[gateley]

1. Keep calling and e-mailing until the very end. nt

[dkf]

2. What you going to do about House Republicans?

Seriously. I think you are forgetting how this works.

[The Hitman]

3. 14th Amendment

To hell with them. The law (and public opinion) is on our side

[unblock]

11. the 14th amendment only buy a little time.

the 14th amendment may (i agree with the logic but it is an untested theory and we have a hostile court interpreting things) permit the president to ignore the debt ceiling in order to honor debts ALREADY ON THE BOOKS such as interest payments, salaries for work already done, payment for supplies already ordered, etc.

however, there is nothing in the 14th amendment to suggest that the government can incur NEW debts beyond the debt ceiling. which means that unspent authorizations could not be spent, new supplies could not be ordered, etc. and of course the republicans could play the same sort of game with budget authorizations themselves.

the house majority sadly cannot be entirely ignored. they can be embarassed and politically outmaneuvered, but they cannot simply be ignored.

[David Gill]

15. Yes

But nothing substantial is going to get done with this Congress anyway. They certainly aren't going to get behind spending increases. The only important spending vote coming up is unemployment insurance. Boy it's too bad Obama did get that extended as many years as the tax cuts!

As far as a court challenge to the 14th amendment play- the court's conservative yes, but it's ruled time and time again FOR things like this (increases in executive power, plain text reading of the constitution, etc). Still, who knows...

[FirstLight]

4. that question is what weakens us

it's not about the technicalities of the balance of power, dammitt...
It's about the 24 hour news cycle and who OWNS it
it's about a squandered Bully Pulpit
...and so much more

[Hand_With_Eyes]

6. We hear the same excuse with every cave in

[dkf]

7. It's not an excuse. It's how the system works.

[aquart]

8. Only if you play by THEIR rules.

How about if Obama just LIES to them. Instead of to us?

Because you KNOW those concessions from them will disappear the second he hands those treasonous bastards our Social Security and Medicare.

[dkf]

10. Okay how do you propose he convinces the republicans to raise taxes on the rich?

What carrot or stick is going to accomplish this feat?

[cui bono]

16. You are assuming he wants to. We need to make him do what WE want.

And congress as well. Which is exactly why we need to try to make our voices heard and not give up without even trying as it seems you have.

[aquart]

19. Let's see.

I guess I'd wake up the DOJ and tell them to prepare indictments. i bet there's a whole lot in the Patriot Act that would be handy.

Because causing the government to default is a violation of Congress' oath of office. It is a terrorist act far more terrible than 9/11 and it will kill far more Americans for a much longer time. And I'd say so.

Also, I would tell the DOJ to pay particular attention to any member of Congress who might stand to profit from default.

I would also ask the FCC to check the license of FOX and ask the DOJ to examine the possibility that members of our government have been hacked here in this country.

And I would tell the American people that negotiating with terrorists never works and that I'm sorry I didn't recognize the new nature of the Republican party. It is always a terrible thing to be betrayed within your own house.

[dkf]

20. Sounds rather Nixonlike to me.

Are you serious?

[aquart]

22. Not sure.

Do I think what the Republicans are doing is worse than what Osama bin Ladin did? Yes.

Should Cantor or any elected official who makes a profit from default go to jail for any charge we can make stick? YES.

Do I think we can arrest members of Congress and not expect fatal repercussions? Nah.

But our failure to prosecute those bastards is going to kill us. It won't kill three thousand in one day in one place so they'll be able to fudge the numbers. But what they are doing is murder. Do you want me to believe there is no punishment for murder?

[Hand_With_Eyes]

21. Obama does not have to sign an extension

This is how it works in the real world.

[Somawas]

9. its an excuse

[cui bono]

14. First of all the system does not work.

Seriously though, the other way the system works is that the people make demands of their "representatives". Their job is to represent us so we must make our demands. Not just to Obama, but to the house members, especially if they are Republicans.

Not even trying is just playing into their hands.

[Marr]

13. Sorry, that's not an excuse anymore. The President is making right-wing arguments.

If he were arguing an actual left-of-center position and simply couldn't get his agenda passed, I might consider your question relevant. But he's not. He uses right-wing frames and right-wing arguments to endorse right-wing policy.

There's no leftward movement because he's paddling to the right.

[cui bono]

17. +1

[lonestarnot]

5. Throngs should be at the gates. No sleep until he gets the message.

[Somawas]

12. torches pitchforks & guillotines

[Name removed]

18. Deleted message

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[link:www.democraticunderground.com/forums/rules.html|Click
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[MadMaddie]

23. Ummm he is proposing raising the taxes on the rich

but I guess since it didn't happen yesterday and there is absolutely no obstruction form the Republican party he is at fault.

Does President Obama create the the legislation or does the House and Senate? Simple question.....