Here is an idea, a naive idea, I know, but it seems reasonable to me:

[vanbean]

Why can't Obama call both the House and the Senate together on Monday, just like FDR did the day after Pearl Harbor, and lay it out for them as the emergency that it is. He could propose that they just vote to raise the debt ceiling, without anything else attached. He could tell them all about the history of doing such, the ramifications of not doing it, how it should just be housekeeping etc...

It would get them all off the hook. Only the 80 or so Tea Party idiots would not vote to do so. At least, it would help him in justifying a 14th amendment option. I think that such a proposal just may be welcomed as a way out for both sides.

[Speck Tater]

1. Obama would never do that. It doesn't let him give away the silverware and the family jewels. nt

[Skink]

2. He's no Henry Paulson,

[nadinbrzezinski]

3. I hate to say it... but that would be leadership

[Horse with no Name]

4. And Obama isn't a leader. He is a political opportunist. n/t

[pnwmom]

10. You don't really think that could accomplish anything, do you?

The problem is that they either don't believe how bad it would be-- or they do, and they are trying to destroy his presidency.

[Odin2005]

5. He should tell them point blank that if there is no deal by the 2nd...

...that he will either have Timmy Boy at the Treasury to start up the printing presses, or else will invoke emergency powers and raise the debt limit.

[Davis_X_Machina]

6. It would still fail in the House...

...and still face a filibuster in the Senate.

There is a working majority in the House, and a large enough minority to stop all action in the Senate, who believe that no Democratic government is a legitimate government, and are prepared to act on that belief.

[housewolf]

7. You seem to have at least two wrong assumptions

The first, that all (or even a majority) of the members of Congress, excluding the Tea Party folks of course, is rational and wants the good of the country above political advantage

and the second, that Mitch McConnell didn't mean what he said when he said that his highest priority was making Barack Obama a 1-term president

[pnwmom]

8. Because not enough of them are reasonable people -- none of the teabaggers are

and they make up a large fraction of the House.

Besides, they already know everything he might say. They just don't believe it.

[McCamy Taylor]

9. GOP House would use it as a photo op to flex their muscles by not showing up.

Their Tea Bagger base would crow "They showed that uppity _____."

[Waiting For Everyman]

11. I think it's a good idea.

A joint session of Congress would get all media carrying it, which would mean that most of the public would know what's going on and get the same information about it. If it was one of his better speeches, and if he said the right things, most of the public might focus a lot of anger on the Repubs and convince them they'd better pass the clean bill.

Obama needs to inform the public, but not be boring or long-winded about it. And he needs to not cave on issues that are vital to people.

If the clean bill didn't pass then he could go for the 14th amendment and I think people would understand that he was doing it for them.

Your idea reminds me of something presidents years ago might have done.

[Syrinx]

12. the tea party people are lunatics. they cannot be reasoned with.

[Kablooie]

13. Leadership is not his style. He just referees other's disagreements.

[RagAss]

14. Why? So the Tea Boogers can scream out "LIAR !"