Poll: Is turnabout fair play?

[Jim Lane]

At some point, there will be a Republican President. He or she will need the debt ceiling increased (because the more power the Tea Partiers get, the more they'll discover that their bloviating about balanced budgets is running into the hard realities of governing). What should the Democrats in Congress do? Should they just routinely approve the increase, as was generally done in the past, or should they use it as what Cantor called a "leverage moment" by making the approval contingent on substantive policy concessions that they couldn't get through otherwise?

[Ian David]

1. If we do this to a Republican president, the debt ceiling will be declared unconstitutional. n/t

[treestar]

2. First instinct is to say leverage moment

Then again, Democrats would not be so irresponsible with people's lives.

[Jim Lane]

4. Yes, that's what makes it a tough question.

If we use the leverage, we're being irresponsible with people's lives.

If we don't use the leverage, then we're ceding a major tactical advantage to the Tea Partiers, which means that policy outcomes will be more tilted toward the right wing, which is also irresponsible with people's lives but on a slower scale.

[Llewlladdwr]

6. LOL

I have to say, treestar, your faith in the party leadership is quite touching.

Misplaced, but touching....

[Jim Lane]

3. I forgot to add a reference to the filibuster

Even with a Republican in the White House and Republicans holding majorities in both houses, the "leverage" option would include finding 41 Senate Democrats to filibuster a bill increasing the limit.

That would be the extreme case of using the debt ceiling to pass legislation that would otherwise be DOA.

[ZombieHorde]

5. Yes, the CEOs will command their employees in the US Government to accept the deal. nt