Would President Obama ever allow a default to occur ?

[steve2470]

I've already read that, via the White House spokesman Jay Carney, the 14th Amendment will not be used by President Obama.

If nothing gets through Congress for the President to sign (which I fervently hope does not occur), would he allow a default ? Sorry to be a worrywart, but ruling out the 14th Amendment in advance bothered me a tad. Thanks for your time.

[CakeGrrl]

1. No.

[Tx4obama]

2. No. n/t

[Jon Ace]

3. I have a feeling this will be a last second thing.

Probably a clean debt ceiling limit increase at 11:59pm on August 1st.

As for Obama allowing a default, I think he knows it would look bad on him if the US defaults (even though the lack of bipartisanship is to blame), so no.

[Tx4obama]

6. Yep.

I think that Obama CAN'T say right now that the 14th amendment 'is' an option because if he did then the pressure would be taken off of Congress to get a bill passed. He wants the Congress to believe that 'they and 'only they' must do it.
But if it really comes down to August 2nd and a bill hasn't been sent to his desk - I'll betcha Pres Obama will use his 'emergency powers' and invoke the 14th amendment via an executive order.

[bluestateguy]

11. If he allows a default, that's all the historians will ever remember him for

People won't remember all of the constitutional niceties and play by play legislative history. He will only be remembered as the president who had the US default for the first time on his watch.

[R. P. McMurphy]

4. No. (n/t)

[TheWraith]

5. Would he really have a choice?

If the 14th isn't an option--and I agree with them, it's not, that's just a bad reading of it--then he can't legally undo what Congress has done. The only remaining option would be the trillion dollar coin thing.

[Tx4obama]

7. Article LINKS regarding the 14th amendment

Defaults, Debt Ceilings and the 14th Amendment
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=13297

Obama urged to invoke 14th Amendment as debt ceiling deadline nears
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0711/60038.html

Sanders: Obama should play 14th Amendment card
http://bangordailynews.com/2011/07/29/news/nation/sanders-obama-should-play-14th-amendment-card/

Can Obama Really Use The 14th Amendment To Raise The Debt Limit?
http://blogs.forbes.com/rickungar/2011/07/29/can-obama-really-use-the-14th-amendment-to-raise-the-debt-limit/


p.s. I believe the 14th amendment WOULD be a good option on August 2nd.

[TheWraith]

15. Any yet, most legal experts--including the White House's own--say that there's no "14th" option.

And frankly, it's hard to see how they're wrong. The 14th doesn't say what a lot of people seem to be thinking it says. What it DOES say is that there will be no question of the legitimacy of the US debt. That's not the same as saying there can't legally be a cap on it.

[Angry Dragon]

8. It is not going really matter what the President does

We will be sitting in this same place 6 months from now, 1 year from now, 2 years from now
These fucking people have no idea what they are doing.
This country does not bring in enough money to take care of the programs that they have.
Two choices, either cut programs or take in more money.
For 31 years the republicans have decided that they do not like to bring in any more money
The President has decide that he will reject an option open to him.
The only thing left is to cut programs.
The programs that everyone is looking to cut help the vast majority of Americans.
So the Americans that have been left behind for the last 31 years will again
carry this country on their backs while the very small minority will give up nothing.

Fuck them all .......... the vast majority in politics care nothing for the people that they work for.
They are greedy, selfish, and bigoted slime

[bluestateguy]

9. I'm inclined to say no

But his proclivity to play nicey nice and kissypoo with people who hate him seems to suggest otherwise.

I could see him invoking the 14th on August 2nd with the proviso that his executive order will be lifted once Congress sends a debt ceiling increase to his desk.

[Old Codger]

10. According to him

He has no control over any of it, no 14th so nothing in his power......

[OHdem10]

12. No, they will gigure out something, to be sure

[On the Road]

13. He Doesn't Have to Invoke the 14th

All he has to do is pay bondholders first out of government revenues. The shortage would be taken out of other government payments. And it looks increasingly as if that's what's likely to happen.

[Name removed]

14. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bigwillq]

16. I don't think so (nt)