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DevilTakeMe Coin Operator from Wild Wasteland Since: Jan, 2010
Coin Operator
#46276: Jan 4th 2013 at 7:19:29 PM

Monday the US hits the debts ceiling.

The Fiscal cliff thing is to keep the government going a little while longer while everyone tries to work out some kind of plan. It gives the US about two months before it defaults on its loans and bills. The amount is somewhere in the ballpark of $16.394 trillion. That's a pretty steep payout, so Congress will likely raise the debt ceiling.

Glove and Boots is good for Blog!
PotatoesRock Since: Oct, 2012
#46277: Jan 4th 2013 at 7:25:34 PM

The US is technically constitutionally forbidden to default on its debts, last I checked.

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#46278: Jan 4th 2013 at 7:31:34 PM

Tell that to the Republicans.

AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#46279: Jan 4th 2013 at 7:31:46 PM

If that's true then that means they'll pretty much have to raise the debt ceiling. Someone said something earlier about the president eliminating the debt ceiling entirely. (Meaning that we would no longer be capping how much we borrow or something.) Is that actually within the presidential powers to do so?

Kostya (Unlucky Thirteen)
#46280: Jan 4th 2013 at 7:40:27 PM

No which is why he's trying to get congress to give him that power.

LMage Since: May, 2011
#46281: Jan 4th 2013 at 7:47:06 PM

The debt ceiling is going to be another political circus debate, just like the fiscal cliff was. There will be a lot of showboating and shouting, but in the end they will meet in something that roughly resemble a right-leaning middle.

Which, in my opinion, is fine. As long as the image of the Republicans as obstructionist, immature, foot-stomping children persists until next election season, we should be good.

TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
#46282: Jan 4th 2013 at 7:47:24 PM

Which obviously they won't, because if they were, then they wouldn't be voting against raising the debt ceiling in the first place.

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#46283: Jan 4th 2013 at 7:53:21 PM

Republicans threatened to shut down the government again.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#46285: Jan 4th 2013 at 7:56:06 PM

They won't shut down the government.

That implies Obama'll call them out on their bluff, like Clinton did.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
TheyCallMeTomu Since: Jan, 2001 Relationship Status: Anime is my true love
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#46287: Jan 4th 2013 at 8:07:57 PM

McCaskill put a provision that protects whitsleblowers in the NDAA bill.

The White House removed that provision without informing her of it.

edited 4th Jan '13 8:12:58 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#46288: Jan 4th 2013 at 8:32:33 PM

Boehner says debt ceiling battle will come with spending cuts

Pelosi favors use of 14th Amendment to avoid another debt-ceiling crisis

McConnell: Increased Debt Limit Must Come With Spending Cuts

Senator Schumer (D-NY): Dems Won’t Negotiate With GOP On Debt Ceiling

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) has privately told other Democrats, including President Obama, that if the administration used its constitutional and executive authority to continue paying its debts in the face of House Republican opposition, he would support the approach

Representative Alan Grayson: GOP Using Debt Ceiling Fight As ‘Legislative Terrorism’

Second day back in Congress after a 2 year absence, and Grayson is already denouncing the GOP as terrorists.

Paul Ryan: “I don’t believe we’re going to default on our bonds. I believe that we can do things to prevent that from happening.”

Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) embraces government shutdown as option in debt ceiling

That makes 2 Republican senators that have advocated the possible shutdown of the government.

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC): Republicans should “save their powder” for the debt ceiling fight.

Senator Chambliss (R-GA) to Obama: 'You'd better strap on your chin strap very tight'

Way to sound like a grouchy old man Chambliss

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) opposes Raising Debt Ceiling unless "we attach a balanced budget amendment to it and amend the constitution to say you can no longer borrow money that you don't have.

Round 2: Begin!

edited 4th Jan '13 8:48:41 PM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#46289: Jan 4th 2013 at 8:40:35 PM

Chuck Hagel will be nominated for Secretary of Defense.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
AceofSpades Since: Apr, 2009 Relationship Status: Showing feelings of an almost human nature
#46290: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:11:21 PM

RE that Harry Reid thing: Uh... isn't the administration legally obligated to continue paying its debt? I mean, that tends to accrue interest. Or is that also something the Republicans can block? (Although it doesn't really sound like it, if the White House can do it regardless of Republican disapproval.) Also, that sounds rather ballsy of Harry Reid to say. Guess we'll see how that pans out.

DeviantBraeburn Wandering Jew from Dysfunctional California Since: Aug, 2012
Wandering Jew
#46291: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:17:38 PM

[up]

Its Harry Reid

Ballsy statements are to be expected.

edited 5th Jan '13 1:34:32 AM by DeviantBraeburn

Everything is Possible. But some things are more Probable than others. JEBAGEDDON 2016
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#46292: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:21:40 PM

Yeah. Got to say, Reid is one of the brighter spots in Congress. Someone's got to take a bare-knuckle approach.

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#46293: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:33:46 PM

Reid was a lamb when it came to Bush. Now all of a sudden he's a lion?

Not buying it.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#46294: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:36:35 PM

There's something I don't get about the congressmen who say they're willing to cause a government shutdown: even if they don't believe the economic results would be catatstrophic, they must realize that shutting down the government means shutting down the military, too. Isn't that, like, the last thing in the world the Republcian Party wants?

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#46295: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:39:11 PM

[up] They're doing that because they think Obama's too chicken to call them out on their bluff.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#46296: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:43:52 PM

@Serocco: Amazing what having the President on your side will do to your confidence.

He's playing at being the lion because he sees that, right now, his side holds more cards than it's been playing. Come to think of it, Reid is sounding a lot like Bill Clinton in that...

edited 4th Jan '13 9:44:38 PM by Ramidel

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#46297: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:46:03 PM

[up] That's still true, at least.

Obama should call the Republicans out on their bluff and allow them to shut down the government, then place the blame on the Speaker. Just like Clinton vs Gingrich.

edited 4th Jan '13 9:46:51 PM by Serocco

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.
Baff Since: Jul, 2011
#46298: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:48:00 PM

Harry Reid will say the most combative things in the quietest voice.

I will always cherish the chance of a new beggining.
RavenWilder Since: Apr, 2009
#46299: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:55:39 PM

@Serocco: But what's it gonna do to their reelection chances when their opponent can point out they were willing to disable the entire U.S. military?

Serocco Serocco from Miami, Florida Since: Mar, 2010 Relationship Status: Faithful to 2D
Serocco
#46300: Jan 4th 2013 at 9:59:01 PM

[up] It cost Gingrich his seat, so it'll probably do the same to Baehner.

In RWBY, every girl is Best Girl.

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