"We believe that fail-safe mechanism is the 14th Amendment and the president of the United States."

[Zorra]

Larson said.

So...whadaya think? Dem leaders are getting behind this move. Will Obama take what seems to be the high road and do it and say "damn the torpedoes"?

Or will he cave to the republicans, if an EO is the only alternative to cutting SS and Medicare and capitulating to (or collaborating with) GOP corporatist terrorism vs. going into national default?

If it comes down to these choices of action, could this be the big test of where Obama really stands within the Democratic Party? The President could go a long way toward regaining the support of Progressives, and maybe the general citizenry, if he spits square into the republican's faces and pulls rank to save the country here.

House Democratic Leaders To Obama: Use The 14th Amendment

WASHINGTON -- House Democratic leaders emerged from a Wednesday Caucus meeting with a message for President Barack Obama: Invoke the Constitution to resolve the debt standoff.

If Congress can't reach a deal on a long-term debt limit increase by August 2, Obama should "sign an executive order invoking the 14th Amendment," said Assistant Minority Leader James Cyburn (D-S.C.).

"I am convinced that whatever discussions about the legality of that can continue," Clyburn said. "But I believe that something like this will bring calm to the American people and will bring needed stability to our financial markets."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/27/house-democratic-leaders-urge-obama-to-use-14th-amendment_n_910878.html

[DCBob]

1. I am starting to think this is going to happen. There may be no other option.

It actually could be a big win-win-win for the President.. it solves the debt crisis, no cuts to safey net programs, and he looks like a hero risking impeachment. Go for it! Yes we can!

[Bluzmann57]

2. "Risking impeachment"?

Impeachment for what? Having a set of balls? If he does invoke the 14th amendent, I hope those silly bastards do try to impeach him. They will look even stupider than they do now, and that will all but guarantee a gigantic victory for the Dems in November of 2012.

[DCBob]

3. You dont think the House Rethugs will try it??

[Bluzmann57]

6. That ain't what I said.

Yes I do indeed think the teahadists will try it and fail miserably. And as I said, they will look even stupider than before and guarantee the Dems a big victory in '12.

[DCBob]

7. agreed.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. Do it!

:patriot:

[DCBob]

12. Alot of Democrats are starting to come together on this today.

It almost sounds like a coordinated effort. I really hope this happens now. It would be great. Can you imagine POTUS on prime time annnouncing this.. it would be like the night he took out bin Laden.

[Zorra]

It looks like a great move from my POV, too. nt

[DCBob]

13. yes it would.. he would be hero again just like the night he took out OBL.

this guy has no fear. If he thinks it will help this country he will do it.

[denverbill]

4. If the Fed can loan $17 trillion to US and foreign banks to save them from collapse,

why can't the Fed loan money to the Treasury department?

Jesus $17 trillion is more than the entire US national debt and the Fed handed that out like candy at a parade.

[originalpckelly]

10. They do indeed loan it, but the government has to be authorized to borrow.

[damntexdem]

8. Don't ask today. Ask on Aug. 2.

But if all else fails, maybe TX Guv Perry's little meeting on the 6th will be able to pray the U.S. bond rating back up. ;-)

[originalpckelly]

9. Where in the 14th Amendment does it specifically say the President can do this?

[Zorra]

11. From the posted article in the OP, plus update

Section 4 of the 14th Amendment states: “The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payments of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.” Essentially, Democrats are arguing that since the "public debt" cannot be questioned, then the debt ceiling itself is unconstitutional.
snip---
Former President Bill Clinton has said he would invoke that option "without hesitation" and leave it to the courts to figure it out.

UPDATE: 5:20 p.m. -- Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and a handful of other Democrats are holding a Thursday press conference to urge Obama to use the 14th Amendment as a back-up option.

Reps. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), John Garamendi (D-Calif.) and Del Donna Christensen (D-Virgin Islands) will join with Engel at 1 p.m. to call to Obama to "invoke the 14th Amendment in the absence of a bipartisan agreement agreement to raise the debt ceiling and avoid national default," according to a press release. The group also picked a symbolic location to deliver their message: the corner of Constitution Ave and 14th St.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/27/house-democratic-leaders-urge-obama-to-use-14th-amendment_n_910878.html

[originalpckelly]

15. I've seen that many times before.

I was unaware that it specifically mentions the President of the USA changing the debt ceiling unilaterally, in direct contradiction of Article 1, Section 8.

[Bake]

14. The House can do whatever it likes. The Senate won't vote to convict/remove.

I say damn the torpedos ...

Bake

[stklurker]

16. 14th

I do not think this is a good idea... its not a solution and wont calm the financial markets much as it doesn't really solve the core problem.. 2 other big things:

1) I don't think the public at large will interpret this as positively as everyone here does
2) You are setting a dangerous precedent wrto budgets and debt with the president jumping in.. What if a repub president did this?? I am sure there would be howling from the rafters in here

[Zorra]

17. A republican President would never have to deal with this because

Democrats would not endanger national security to forward their agenda.