President Obama should call on Speaker Boehner to resign.

[demsin06]

In an Oval Office address tomorrow, he should say that the speaker violated his oath and the consititution re: the 14th amendment. Holding America's economy hostage is illegal! If he doesn't resign within 24 hours the justice dept should appoint a special prosecutor to investigate conspiracy charges under RICO.

Take off the gloves, Mr. President!

[gopiscrap]

1. agreed

[NightWatcher]

2. call him out. Tell the presser that he obviously cannot lead nor even control his caucas

Call him out on his lack of leadership, hell even his lack of manliness. Question his abilities to get anything done aside from 42 votes to repeal Obama which went nowhere.

Rip into him like a spidermonkey into a cupcake.

[arcane1]

3. He did mention the failure to lead his caucus:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023857058

[demsin06]

5. Oval Office address though...

It's time our President did it!

[NYC_SKP]

4. It would sound much sweeter coming from someone on the Right. Or from several people.

I can dream, can't I?

[demsin06]

7. Time for President to use the full weight of his office.

Tea Party terrorists should be put on notice. Koch bros too. Conspiracy to crash the economy or credit of the United States is a crime, not a parliamentary procedure.

[stillcool]

6. that'll go over well...

I believe that is the job of the congress, no?

[demsin06]

9. democrats and moderate repugs will follow if President calls for it publicly.

A special prosecutor is totally within powers of executive branch too.

[stillcool]

12. moderate republicans....really?

would follow the President's lead? What law has the Speaker broken? What good would it do? The votes are the votes, no?

[demsin06]

13. really?

Is the Hastert rule law? The Speaker used his office to conspire with Tea Party to violate the 14th Amendment. Parliamentary procedures and made up rules are no excuse for violations of the constitution. They were elected to uphold it, not destroy it.

[krawhitham]

8. Why? No one can control the tea baggers

[demsin06]

10. Conspiracy

Special prosecutor can follow the money and go after those that would deliberately violate 14th amendment to crash US economy.

[Submariner]

11. President Obama is too much of a Gentleman to pull that stunt

which is why the teaf*cks try to walk all over him, but I prefer his style anyway.

[demsin06]

14. That would be why they think this is a game.

It's settled law. The Constitution is abused at your peril. RICO would be the legal grounds to go after the conspirators of this crime!

[onenote]

15. What is the predicate criminal offense for a RICO charge.

You sound like an expert.

[demsin06]

16. extortion, bribery, fraud

Ok I'm not a lawyer, but my reading of 18 U.S.C. § 1961 leads me to think there is enough there to link the activities of Speaker Boehner and his co-conspirators to this. They are attempting to conspire to ruin the US economy. The damages could be in the billions or trillions of dollars. If they can make a link with Koch bros financing to benefit them from a degradation of our economic stability, then it is time to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate these high crimes and misdemeanors against the constitution of the United States.

[longship]

17. Some people here do not understand the concept of separation of powers.

It's the primary deal with the US Constitution. Three branches of government, each with specified powers, all working together for a common good. When this system breaks down and one, or more, of the branches breaks down the country falls into what is called a Constitutional crisis.

I've known one in my life, and it happened on Oct 20, 1973 (nearly 40 years to the day). The Saturday Night Massacre was a real Constitutional crisis which was precipitated by a single executive action. That is what spurned Congress to initiate impeachment proceedings in President Nixon.

I have little doubt that this affair might rise to that level -- I fear that it may well do exactly that. The important thing is that President Obama not be viewed as the one who stepped over the line.

If I am POTUS, I hold my position and ask for a bill to sign... or veto.

That keeps me within Constitutional boundaries and lays the blame right where it belongs.

[demsin06]

19. while America burns?

Or the world economy?

[longship]

25. One doesn't want to burn the Constitution.

The Republicans have President Obama right where he wants them.

He has not received any bill on his desk to sign or veto. That is Congress's job. That's what the Constitution says. In fact, it is likely that POTUS has no emergency powers under the Constitution to remedy this. I'm no Constitutional expert, but I also haven't heard anything to indicate that POTUS has any resolution (except for the trillion dollar coin, which Obama has already said he would not do).

So President Obama has little choice than to do precisely what he is doing.

What action would you take that was Constitutional? Or would you roll the dice and go against your legal powers, or even push their boundaries?

President Obama is doing fine on this.

[nadinbrzezinski]

24. We are in a crisis, just a different type

but you are correct on the Separation of Powers.

[1000words]

18. Pretty sure the GOP machine will beat him to it.

I would be shocked if Boehner survives this debacle.

[demsin06]

20. The one silver lining.

Fredo will get it in the end

[backscatter712]

22. Yep. Boehner's about to go fishing... n/t

[Coyotl]

21. You might want to listen to the tone of the WH press briefing today.

Daily White House Press Briefing
http://www.c-span.org/Events/Daily-White-House-Press-Briefing/10737442065-1/

Sound begins at 0:54

[nadinbrzezinski]

23. Oy

Separation of powers...

[winter is coming]

26. Isn't that Keith Olbermann's job?

[Egnever]

27. Welcome to DU

Bonehead is doing just fine by himself though.

Besides if he goes what we will get will be waaay worse.

[Generic Other]

28. You all are being too nice

I swear if I was Obama I'd do my best to fulfill their worst nightmares. I'd be sorely tempted to declare martial law on them and sit their asses in some FEMA camp somewhere near the Mexican border until they fulfilled their oath of office or resigned. Or died of thirst. Whichever came first.

I hope Congressman Porkrind's mother calls him crying from her hair salon because other old ladies corner her and scold her for her son's actions, that Representative Swineherd will receive a bill he can't afford to pay for his father's very expensive heart surgery. Because hardworking Americans won't be able to pay their bills either. For ordinary people that means falling, losing, ending. People won't do this with grace.

How can anyone not be fed up with their antics?

I think they are guilty of insurrection. They deserve to be in the unemployment lines with the rest of us. And not waving a goddamn confederate flag.

[upi402]

29. agree n/t