Scenarios: Obama's options if no deal on debt ceiling hike

[Judas BentHer]

WASHINGTON | Wed Jul 27, 2011
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - If the impasse over the U.S. debt limit is not broken soon, President Barack Obama will be forced to decide how he will manage the crisis.

The United States is drifting closer to a credit rating downgrade and default as Obama's Democrats and their Republican rivals work on competing plans to cut spending and raise the debt ceiling.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and a small team of his aides have worked on contingency plans should Congress fail to raise the U.S. borrowing limit by an August 2 deadline.
(Full Article)

This reminds me of a bad reality show. The real blockheads of DC.
They'll work all this drama from both sides of the aisle, and then at midnight on August 2nd they'll come around to a compromise. All the major players will smile for the camera's as if at a time of crisis, partisan politics could indeed be set aside for the "good of the country".
Camera cuts to back slapping, big smiles and puffed out chests as the script writers walk about with a glow of satisfaction. Certain that another term in office, elected by a grateful nation, private jets, limo's, mansions, custom tailored suits, power groupies and career politics are assured.

As long as this series is on the air we the people can't ever let them take our guns. How else will we shoot ourselves when the re-runs are way too much to bear?

[Anymouse]

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WASHINGTON | Wed Jul 27, 2011
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - If the impasse over the U.S. debt limit is not broken soon, President Barack Obama will be forced to decide how he will manage the crisis.

The United States is drifting closer to a credit rating downgrade and default as Obama's Democrats and their Republican rivals work on competing plans to cut spending and raise the debt ceiling.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and a small team of his aides have worked on contingency plans should Congress fail to raise the U.S. borrowing limit by an August 2 deadline.
(Full Article)

This reminds me of a bad reality show. The real blockheads of DC.
They'll work all this drama from both sides of the aisle, and then at midnight on August 2nd they'll come around to a compromise. All the major players will smile for the camera's as if at a time of crisis, partisan politics could indeed be set aside for the "good of the country".
Camera cuts to back slapping, big smiles and puffed out chests as the script writers walk about with a glow of satisfaction. Certain that another term in office, elected by a grateful nation, private jets, limo's, mansions, custom tailored suits, power groupies and career politics are assured.

As long as this series is on the air we the people can't ever let them take our guns. How else will we shoot ourselves when the re-runs are way too much to bear?

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One notes the following:
The Republican plan (which the Tea Partiers are objecting to themselves) only raises the debt ceiling until October. This certainly looks as though the Republicans are trying to make sure the issue comes up again during the General Election, not that they are interested in solving the issue.

The Democratic plan actually has about twice as much value in cuts, and also does not raise any taxes (a giant concession to the Republicans). The Republicans seem to be opposed to it because it came from the Democrats, not because it gives them what they want.

Congress is mandated in the Constitution to "uphold the good faith and credit of the United States," yet the Republicans certainly seem to be willing to forego the Constitution (when it doesn't uphold their positions) to make a political point in October. The Democrats seem to be primarily opposed to the Republican plan because it only puts off the debate for a couple months. The Tea Party wing seems to be opposed to the Republican plan because it does not cut enough, and the Democrats' plan because it came from the Democrats.

Does this qualify as treason as defined in Article III of the Constitution; intentionally foreswearing their oaths to uphold the Constitution, including the "good faith and credit" part?

James.