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Obama may Ignore the Debt Ceiling and Suspend the Constitution: Obama and the Debt Ceiling
The American Thinker ^ | January 5, 2013 | Jonathon Moseley

Posted on 01/05/2013 5:50:18 AM PST by Moseley

The debt ceiling is the last leverage that Republicans have to prevent out-of-control Federal spending and on various policy issues. Liberals know this: even as Senate Democrats talk of ending the right of Republicans to filibuster, liberals are seeking to defang the Republican House of Representatives as well. They are also now peddling a new theme that the debt ceiling itself is unconstitutional under Section 4 of the 14th Amendment. Therefore, President Obama may simply ignore the debt ceiling.

The looming debt ceiling fight could allow Republicans to soundly defeat Obama's overspending. In the "fiscal cliff" deal, Republicans succeeded by making most of the temporary Bush tax cuts permanent, but failed to get spending cuts. Yet now, Republicans could use the debt ceiling vote to slash spending. The overall result could be serious deficit reduction at lower permanent tax rates. But this requires Republicans to stand united and refuse to raise the debt ceiling.

Section 4 of the 14th Amendment requires: "The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law... shall not be questioned." Liberals argue that if Congress has authorized spending, this automatically gives the president the power and even the obligation to borrow whatever it takes to spend all the money for which Congress voted. When Congress votes to spend money, this includes the obligation of the chief executive to take whatever actions are necessary to pay the debts of the United States Government. That is because "the validity of the public debt" ... "shall not be questioned." Thus, any debt ceiling law violates Section 4, they argue.

Suddenly the appeal for Washington to abandon the U.S. Constitution from Georgetown Law Professor Louis Michael Seidman in the New York Times makes sense.

(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 113th; bho44; debt; debtceiling; deficit; fiscalcliff; obama; section4
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1 posted on 01/05/2013 5:50:25 AM PST by Moseley
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To: Moseley

When, when, when will the still-rational-left (if there are any remaining) see the overreach. I have been waiting for 4 years for someone over there to realize what is going on.


2 posted on 01/05/2013 5:54:22 AM PST by MustKnowHistory
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To: Moseley

When not one member of the US Congress cares about the
Constitution, then it functionally does not even exist.


3 posted on 01/05/2013 5:55:28 AM PST by Diogenesis (Vi veri veniversum vivus vici)
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To: Diogenesis
When not one member of the US Congress cares about the Constitution, then it functionally does not even exist.

Yep - "suspending" the Constitution would be suspending all that has happened in government to date, (Constitutional or not) and would result in a Monarchal Dictatorship with zero constraints, thereby fulfilling the "Zero" label many of us have put on the POS in the WH.

4 posted on 01/05/2013 6:03:20 AM PST by trebb (Allies no longer trust us. Enemies no longer fear us.)
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To: MustKnowHistory

They know what’s going. They’ve always known. They want it. No problem. Weeper of the House and the GOPe will stand firm and hold the line...(crickets)...


5 posted on 01/05/2013 6:05:26 AM PST by PowderMonkey (WILL WORK FOR AMMO)
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To: Diogenesis

I think its time to start suspending congressmen who are willing to cede their authority to Obama. If the people of their districts don’t like it, tough.


6 posted on 01/05/2013 6:05:55 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Moseley

Barrys popularity will be going down soon. When the kids see their paychecks go down and bunches of them get layed off ratings will drop like a rock. If Barry goes too far impeachment can be started. An egomaniac would do lots of damage to his party strong arming his won party to defend against impeachment.


7 posted on 01/05/2013 6:07:02 AM PST by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: trebb

So why wouldn’t this be liscense for 10 million Americans to march on DC and remove 537 individuals from their stations?


8 posted on 01/05/2013 6:07:33 AM PST by ez (When you're a hammer, everything looks like a nail.)
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To: Diogenesis

Nearly all members of Congress on the left see the Constitution — correctly — as a check on their power. Unfortunately, a growing majority of representatives and senators on the right see the Constitution as worth defending — but only when it’s convenient to do so.


9 posted on 01/05/2013 6:10:37 AM PST by glennaro
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To: Moseley
The debt ceiling is the last leverage that Republicans have to prevent out-of-control Federal spending and on various policy issues.

Good news: We have a chance!

Bad news: House Republicans have no guts.

10 posted on 01/05/2013 6:10:57 AM PST by St_Thomas_Aquinas
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To: Moseley

11 posted on 01/05/2013 6:14:29 AM PST by ILS21R (Everything is a conspiracy. No? You're living in one.)
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To: Moseley

If Obama borrows money without the permission of the people, then the people should feel no obligation to pay it back.


12 posted on 01/05/2013 6:16:45 AM PST by cotton1706
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To: Moseley

Last week I was telling folks, before the GOP caved on that vote::What’s the difference between a House GOP and the Anti-Christ?
the Anti Christ has “666” on forehead
the house GOP has “I caved”
It’s like Al-Jazerra buying Algores Current TV network: Net difference=Zero!
Freegards
LEX


13 posted on 01/05/2013 6:18:00 AM PST by lexington minuteman 1775
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To: Moseley
I just stated this on another thread. The left thinks they can cause chaos and then control it. Does that idiot Obama think he can get away with "suspending" the constitution?

IF the big O thinks that he will consolidate power after suspending (got to laugh) the constitution, he will only invite the age of the strongman, regardless of the results.

14 posted on 01/05/2013 6:18:59 AM PST by VRW Conspirator (We were the tea party before there was a tea party. - Jim Robinson)
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To: ILS21R

That is one powerful image.


15 posted on 01/05/2013 6:21:42 AM PST by TADSLOS (I took extra credit at the School of Hard Knocks)
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To: PowderMonkey

Yes, the hard core left understands and approves. But I still think there are lot of useful idiots over there who may wake up one day. Maybe I am delusional.


16 posted on 01/05/2013 6:22:17 AM PST by MustKnowHistory
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To: cotton1706
If Obama borrows money without the permission of the people, then the people should feel no obligation to pay it back.

I can't imagine that our credit rating would stay where it is if the far left does this. Increasing numbers of Americans are questioning whether we have a moral obligation to repay invalid debts - borrowing for government actions that are clearly outside the Enumerated Powers.

17 posted on 01/05/2013 6:22:34 AM PST by Pollster1 (Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. - Ronald Reagan)
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To: VRW Conspirator
Image Hosted by ImageShack.us
18 posted on 01/05/2013 6:23:07 AM PST by cripplecreek (REMEMBER THE RIVER RAISIN!)
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To: Moseley

We have to force The Kenyan to breech the Constitution. I think he would do it without much provocation, such as a short government shutdown. GOP Congressional leaders need to have war-gamed the whole scenario out. They need to look into appropriations bills for debt payments, military and essential services. GOP leadership also needs to have a chat with top military brass and remind them of their Constitutional oath. In the meantime, the GOP should put out their very best Constitutional experts and explain to the public that zero is assuming unconstitutional and dictatorial powers and that henceforth, any spending or legal actions by the executive have no basis in law, and citizens would be under no legal obligation to follow them.
It looks like we need to have a coup. If zero gets away with this one, why wouldn’t he just start outright arresting all political opponents, elected and non-elected.


19 posted on 01/05/2013 6:30:50 AM PST by grumpygresh (Democrats delenda est; zero sera dans l'enfer bientot)
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To: MustKnowHistory

This is /s, right?
The bigger question is when will the people get fed up & say No more! ?
(Sadly, I fear that we’re both SOL.)


20 posted on 01/05/2013 6:31:20 AM PST by KGeorge
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