Getting to a Majority

[MineralMan]

Whatever the solution (or non-solution) that ends this debt ceiling cricis is, it will take a majority vote in both the House and the Senate. How is that going to happen? That's the bottom-line issue. Personally, I can't see one coming that can make that nut. It's all fine to say that Obama should do something, but that's not where these things originate, and President Obama can't really do anything without Congress doing something.

So, what might have a chance to get those majorities? If you can think of anything, it would be good to hear it. I sure can't.

[Davis_X_Machina]

1. President Obama can't really do anything without Congress doing something.

That may well be the case, but there's a pretty substantial 'rule-by-decree' caucus here on DU.

A taste for monarchy is not a purely right-wing phenomenon.

The significance of that 'd' word in the board's title is sometimes lost.

[MineralMan]

2. I understand the frustration. I'm frustrated, too.

But there is no path for the President to take here without Congressional initiative. I don't think the 14th Amendment deal is viable, given the insurrection clause in it. It's clearly describing the Civil War situation, and not a Congressional impasse.

So, there's our dilemma. The President cannot act on his own, and Congress won't act responsibly. I just don't see a path here. Something may get done as a stopgap measure, but we're going to have to solve all of this at the polling place in 2012. The current situation is simply untenable.

[jwirr]

3. I have suggested that he is continuing the argument until it is beyond

the deadline or at the panic point getting them to commit more and more to their crazy ideas and then he puts it to a panicking congress that it is my way or the highway or just asks for an emergency one line law. That would take some real courage on his part because they could call his bluff but I doubt it. Wall Street, the banksters, corporations do not want a default so they will act together to force the rethugs. Or at least that is how it could happen - it is anyone's guess how it will actually play out.

[dawg]

4. The Reid plan is probably the best deal the Republicans can get.

They should take it, declare victory, and we all live to fight another day.

[MineralMan]

5. The trouble is, can it get those two majority votes. I'm not

convinced that it can. Frankly, I don't like any of the options at all. But, I don't see any new ones on the horizon.