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Bill Alstrom (MAtoMainetoMA)'s avatar

Good assessment. There are two possibilities now with regard to the debt ceiling. First, at the very last minute, McCarthy will resume his loyalty to the United States of America and submit a clean bill. He can do that with Democrats and a handful of Republicans. A majority.

Or President Biden will invoke the 14th Amendment. Will there be litigation? Sure. But think about it. What would the reputation be of those suing a President who simply wants to keep the nation financially afloat? "Yup, I am going to court to insist on the bankruptcy of the US of A!?"

And when it gets to the Supreme Court, do we really think we couldn't find five votes to uphold the financial structure of our country? Despite the horrors in the Court right now, I think few of them would like such a thing to be their legacy.

And we shouldn't underestimate the machinations and phone calls that are happening right now. How do you think Harlan Crow would feel about a crashing American economy?

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Virginia Witmer's avatar

Sorry, Bill Alstrom, but you made me laugh! I suspect that Harlan Crow hasn’t a patriotic bone in his body just as I recognize that Clarence Thomas is a racist. Neither cares about much beyond knowing that if the country fails, they will get on the yacht, taking their portable wealth and leave. Obscene wealth when children in the country are starving and dying from gun murders is held by obscene persons. A fair tax system in a democracy would make US become the country we pretend to be.

This SCOTUS does not care about its reputation. Look at the chief Justice.

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JDinTX's avatar

Thank you for saying it before I did…

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May 10, 2023Edited
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Pat Cole's avatar

Thank you Liz. One thing I picked up on for the first time was CT’s denigration of his sister’s plight on welfare. Rather than help her in her difficult circumstances he chose to use her as the model for Reagan’s welfare queen, launching his own rise to conservative stardom.

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J. Nol's avatar

Wow. Sounds like he became an embittered little boy, pointing his finger in the wrong direction. Unbelievable, that he wants to punish other people of color and I guess leave the racist system intact.

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JDinTX's avatar

Have never forgiven Ted for that and his sucking up to W later,

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Oldandintheway's avatar

I think Crow and his buddies would see the crash as a chance to buy stuff cheap, while holding on to more power. Thomas would vote to default.

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Michele's avatar

And there you have it. The greeds will swarm like locusts to get all they can from ordinary folks....opportunists always take advantage during any disaster, natural or manmade.

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JDinTX's avatar

Absolutely

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Dick Montagne's avatar

You may be right 🤷‍♂️

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Sandra VO (Maryland)'s avatar

What happens if the market crashes?

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Doug G's avatar

I've wondered myself about the possibility of Dems uniting to raise the debt ceilng and bringing along the minimum number of pragmatic Republicans representing districts Biden won handily. Would McCarthy ever allow such a bill to reach the floor for a vote? A patriot would risk his status as speaker and put the country first. McCarthy seems to be no such man (or indeed, much of a man at all -- he was emasculated by the likes of Greene and Boebbert to win the Speakership.)

Lawrence Tribe now believes the question should not be: does Biden have the Constitutional AUTHORITY to act unilaterally in this crisis. Rather, it should be: does he have the DUTY to uphold the laws passed by Congress, including the mandate to spend money previously authorized to be spent. Given such a Hobson's choice, he must honor his oath of office and ensure the nation's bills are paid.

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Jon Margolis's avatar

You’ve got it, Bill!

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