# A Poll: Will the US go into default in August? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 7, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220 "2011-07-07T19:21:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220/1 "2011-07-07T19:21:18Z")
I think it will. I think the Republicans will hold fast and expect Obama to cave. I think he WILL cave (from a Democratic perspetcive), and make a deal of huge spending cuts and almost no new revenue. But, he won’t be able to control enough Democrats in the House to end up with a majority vote. How do you think it will play out? ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220/2 "2011-07-07T20:24:34Z")
Dems in the House are pretty much irrelevant if Obama makes a deal with the Republicans. The House can pass legislation without any Dem votes, assuming the rank and file GoP members are on board. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [July 7, 2011, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220/3 "2011-07-07T20:29:51Z")
> [@Oakminster](#): > > Dems in the House are pretty much irrelevant if Obama makes a deal with the Republicans. The House can pass legislation without any Dem votes, assuming the rank and file GoP members are on board. Technically true, but its unlikely Boehner is going to be able to convince his entire caucus to vote on any likely deal, so he’ll need some Dems to sign on as well. I think Bachmann has already said she won’t vote to raise the debt ceiling under any circumstances, I doubt she’ll be the only one to hold that position. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220/4 "2011-07-08T03:47:41Z")
Yes, because for too many Pubbies their flawed ideology is more important than the reality. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 12:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220/5 "2011-07-08T12:23:38Z")
> [@Duckster](#): > > Yes, because for too many Pubbies their flawed ideology is more important than the reality. I don’t think fiscal responsibility really is part of their ideology. Just look at the huge deficits under Reagan and Bush compared to the balanced budgets of Clinton. But I think they might actually want a default to happen, so they can then go into the election campaign saying that Obama bankrupted America. They might actually see allowing a default to happen as a means to an end - the end being getting a Republican elected president. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2011, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220/6 "2011-07-08T17:37:34Z")
> [@Imasquare](#): > > But I think they might actually want a default to happen, so they can then go into the election campaign saying that Obama bankrupted America. They might actually see allowing a default to happen as a means to an end - the end being getting a Republican elected president. I’m afraid you might have a point here. They’re definitely doing what they can to force Obama into a position where he’s going to have to do things that won’t be popular with his party. I don’t think that’s necessarily in the best interest of the country. I wish we could focus on solving the problems we’re facing, without excessive partisanship…but that doesn’t seem to be possible. ---
**Author:** ![rich2600](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rich2600/32/7294_2.png) [@rich2600](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rich2600)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220/7 "2011-07-11T02:19:46Z")
> [@](#): > > But I think they might actually want a default to happen, so they can then go into the election campaign saying that Obama bankrupted America. They might actually see allowing a default to happen as a means to an end - the end being getting a Republican elected president. I’ve thought about this, I don’t understand how they could ruin the reputation of a democratic president by labelling Obama the “bankrupter of America”. Could the American peeps truly point the finger at Obama for his predecessor’s mistakes? And unfortunately, more on the republican side? Ok..Ok…he’s made alot of mistakes himself also. : ) Also, putting into light the “what if’s”… what if the government or federal reserve system is integrated into a world economy? Wouldn’t a collapse of the monetary system be required to successfully transition us to the new world order/world economy. (sorry…not to dig up conspiracy) ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220/8 "2011-07-11T02:48:15Z")
> [@rich2600](#): > > I’ve thought about this, I don’t understand how they could ruin the reputation of a democratic president by labelling Obama the “bankrupter of America”. Could the American peeps truly point the finger at Obama for his predecessor’s mistakes? And unfortunately, more on the republican side? Ok..Ok…he’s made alot of mistakes himself also. : ) Well, if you’re starting from the assumption that the Republican insistence on massive spending and tax cuts is a intelligent and responsible way to fix the economy, then Obama is indeed in the wrong, and it will be his fault for refusing to agree to the Republican plans. As the computer programmers say, GIGO. ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [July 11, 2011, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220/9 "2011-07-11T02:57:08Z")
> [@Imasquare](#): > > But I think they might actually want a default to happen, so they can then go into the election campaign saying that Obama bankrupted America. They might actually see allowing a default to happen as a means to an end - the end being getting a Republican elected president. This. > [@](#): > > Last October, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell confessed that his “[single most important](http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2010/10/25/126242/mcconnell-obama-one-term/)” objective was to make “President Obama to be a one-term president.” In an interview on Fox News Sunday this morning, host Bret Baier asked McConnell if his motivations in the midst of the debt ceiling negotiations are still to defeat Obama. McConnell reaffirmed that it is indeed his “single most important political goal” next year. [http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/07/10/264799/mcconnell-admits-defeating-obama-is-gops-‘single-most-important’-goal/](http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2011/07/10/264799/mcconnell-admits-defeating-obama-is-gops-%E2%80%98single-most-important%E2%80%99-goal/) However, they risk throwing the baby out with the bathwater. ---
**Author:** ![Imasquare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Imasquare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Imasquare)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2011, 6:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/a-poll-will-the-us-go-into-default-in-august/588220/10 "2011-07-12T06:09:59Z")
> [@appleciders](#): > > Well, if you’re starting from the assumption that the Republican insistence on massive spending and tax cuts is a intelligent and responsible way to fix the economy, then Obama is indeed in the wrong, and it will be his fault for refusing to agree to the Republican plans. As the computer programmers say, GIGO. They would have more credibility as debt busters if they didn’t have a history of rabidly campaigning on debt reduction and then proceeding to massively increase the debt. In fact, the only time I am aware of in recent decades that the US has had a budget surplus was when a Democrat was president.