Majority Leader Cantor (R-VA) has just said that the House GOP will just let the debt limit expire

[Tx4obama]

Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) has just said that the House GOP will just let the debt limit expire. Without doing anything.
Once things get really bad, then they'll talk.

http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2011/04/up_against_the_wall_chumps.php?ref=fpblg

------

Cantor: U.S. Will Hit Its Debt Ceiling

House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) suggested Tuesday that Congress will allow the country to hit its debt ceiling, and continue to hold out for dramatic spending cuts while the nation approaches a genuine default.

"I think Treasury has, if I'm not mistaken, has put ... out a notice that there is a window within which we have to act in order to avoid the eventual default of this country on its debt," Cantor told reporters at his weekly Capitol briefing. "And I believe that that outside deadline is early July."

The country will hit the debt ceiling well before early July. In letters last week, Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner warned Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) that the country will hit its debt limit no later than May 16. If Congress hasn't acted by then, the Obama administration will have to take unusual measures to avoid a default -- but they can only buy themselves about six weeks. By about July 8, the country will be in default no matter what.

Republicans view that "outside deadline" as the actual deadline, which means they're ready to walk to the brink if it means securing yet-to-be-named concessions.

Full article here: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/04/cantor-us-will-hit-its-debt-ceiling.php

[leftstreet]

1. You mean it's possible to just do nothing?

Gee, did the Dems understand that about the Bush Tax cuts?

[SDuderstadt]

6. Yes...

and not only would that have raised also taxes for those making less than $250K, it would have meant no extension of unemployment benefits. We've been through this over and over.

[leftstreet]

8. The 99ers got no extension. Cutting services is the same as raising taxes

As you say...we've been through this over and over

[SDuderstadt]

12. I didn't say the 99ers did...

did I?

Maybe you should call Obama with your strategy. After all, I'm certain you've been heavily involved in congressional negotiations, right?

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

2. "...they're ready to walk to the brink ...

Are they ready to walk over that brink?

NFW

[Vincardog]

3. Our side needs to propose raising the taxes on the rich and closing the obscene loopholes on the

the parasitic corporations BEFORE we talk about cutting the Military.
Then we can raise the estate tax on the rich (over $5 Million)
Then we can think about what other cuts we need to make.

[Tx4obama]

5. See the last paragraph posted in the OP on the link below

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x871407

[Angry Dragon]

4. Perhaps it is just me, but it sounds like Treason to me...........

[jaxx]

7. It's not just you.

[SDuderstadt]

14. It's just you....

it isn't treason.

[indepat]

9. Republicans seem to be declaring war on our Republic while engaged in three foreign wars thereby

unnecessarily, maliciously, and dangerously distracting the commander-in-chief. Who else but yours truly will dare call it treason? :patriot:

[Wait Wut]

11. Oooooh...I like that!

Not sure it would fly, but it sure as hell gave ME chills!

[SDuderstadt]

13. It's despicable...

but it isn't treason. Check the Constitution. It's spelled out there.

[Angry Dragon]

21. War takes many forms

"there must be an actual assembling of men, for the treasonable purpose, to constitute a levying of war."

They have assembled, they have declared war on the majority of the American people-which is the true government
they are threatening the future of this country with their deviant behavior

[SDuderstadt]

24. Politics and governance....

as badly as the GOP does it, isn't "treason".

[gratuitous]

10. Well, that will save a LOT of money

You know, if you just decide you don't want to pay your mortgage this month, don't. I mean, think of all that money you'll have that the mortgage company doesn't. And you can spend it any way you want to! It's your money, and you need it now, dammit.

Oh sure, there's always the possibility of late charges, interest, penalties and a bunch of other stuff. Heck, you could even lose your home. But that's all hypothetical stuff in the far-off future. Money in my pocket today is a reality, baby! No need for conjectures and what-ifs; just the long green lining my wallet.

I've worked in law offices for 30 years, and I have actually heard this type of thinking expressed. I have also watched attorneys almost literally beg clients not to engage in such reckless behavior. Sometimes they're successful, sometimes not. Gotta make sure your malpractice insurance is paid up when a client embarks on such a self-destructive course.

[tritsofme]

15. More of a technical point, but default would come much later than July

If we are forced down that road.

Shutting down most of the government and priority debt service payments from tax revenue could forestall any actual default for quite a long time. But the problem is that unlike the budget battles, there is no hard deadline on the debt ceiling, and I can see House Repuplicans slow walking their way into a crisis.

[Buns_of_Fire]

16. Power has gone straight to Cantor's itty-bitty mind, hasn't it?

A couple of years ago, he didn't seem as repulsive as he is now. Still dumb, but not barfingly repulsive. Now, though...

That man needs an Atomic Wedgie. Just on principle.

[northoftheborder]

17. Cantor and friends: certifiably insane

[damntexdem]

18. Gonna get some corporate interests rather pissed that way.

Not to mention some allies, and non-ally holders of our debt.

[tnlefty]

19. And where were these jack-legged bastards when Bush** ran

up the debt by lying about 2 wars and cutting taxes for the rich? Oh, yeah, on their knees in total approval.

Money to blow things up and kill people, but not for the country. Assholes.

[jpak]

20. That will create a lot of jobs

fucking losers

yup

[Buns_of_Fire]

22. I think they've decided to just go ahead and throw that mask away.

It got them elected. It served its purpose. Now we get to see the real face of the Phantom.

[Tx4obama]

23. Regarding the word 'treason'

Oran's Dictionary of the Law (1983) defines treason as "... (a)...citizen's actions to help a foreign government overthrow, make war against, or seriously injure the parent nation." In many nations, it is also often considered treason to attempt or conspire to overthrow the government, even if no foreign country is aided or involved by such an endeavour.

---------

Well the republicans are definitely trying to 'seriously injure our county' but they are NOT 'helping a foreign government' to do so.
I believe what the republicans are doing probably wouldn't result in 'congressmen' being charged with treason, but I wish they could be :)

What exactly is the USA official legal definition of 'treason'?

-----------------

Edited to add:

United States
Federal

To avoid the abuses of the English law (including executions by Henry VIII of those who criticized his repeated marriages), treason was specifically defined in the United States Constitution, the only crime so defined. Article III Section 3 delineates treason as follows:

Treason against the United States, shall consist only in levying War against them, or in adhering to their Enemies, giving them Aid and Comfort. No Person shall be convicted of Treason unless on the Testimony of two Witnesses to the same overt Act, or on Confession in open Court.
The Congress shall have Power to declare the Punishment of Treason, but no Attainder of Treason shall work Corruption of Blood, or Forfeiture except during the Life of the Person attainted.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treason#United_States

[Fuzz]

25. So glad the adults are in charge.