# Dear Republicans: The debt ceiling? Again?! WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH YOU?!? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 17, 2012, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190 "2012-05-17T08:12:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/161 "2012-05-18T13:51:23Z")
> [@Measure\_for\_Measure](#): > > The Supremes tend to be reluctant to wander into such inter-governmental and partisan spats and I respect that. So they are loth to sanction the House Republicans for their dereliction of duty. Nonetheless, the language of the 14th amendment is clear: the validity of the public debt of the United States…shall not be questioned. We have an objective measure of the decline in the validity of this debt: S&P downgraded the US from AAA to AA+ following last summer’s antics. It is a constitutional obligation to bring it back up to AAA. House Republicans shirk their constitutionally mandated obligations by pulling stunts like this. QED: my opinion is just, rational and wholly lacking in legal relevance. I give you points for being creative, but ultimately, your last, smaller, admission is the controlling one. S&P is not a constitutional actor, and they cannot create a constituional duty for Congress to act. If S&P said that the Bush tax cuts would stimulate the economy, and threatened to lower our rating if Congress elimnated them… would Congress have a constitutional duty to accede? In any event, “…shall not be questioned…” is a term of legal art. It means “cannot be challenged in court.” Accord Art I, Sec 6, regarding Congressmembers’ speech on the floor: “… and for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place.” You understand, I aussme, that doesn’t forbid me from asking Rep. Moran why he gave a speech supporting Obama last week? And it doesn’t forbid S&P from asking. And it doesn’t mean that Moran has a constitutional duty to shut up, lest I (or S&P) question him. Although I can dream… ---
**Author:** ![Folacin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folacin/32/3195_2.png) [@Folacin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folacin)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/162 "2012-05-18T16:18:02Z")
There is apparently a perfectly legal, statutory solution to the debt crisis (assuming it comes up again, and it certainly looks like it will) - [platinum coins](http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/07/28/282471/the-platinum-coin-option/): > [@](#): > > A little-known statute gives the secretary of the Treasury the authority to issue platinum coins in any denomination. So some commentators have suggested that the Treasury create two $1 trillion coins, deposit them in its account in the Federal Reserve and write checks on the proceeds. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/163 "2012-05-18T16:22:56Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Correct. I was trying to come up with a good analogy at the household level. This is better than mine, which involved ordering cable and then getting the bill and deciding you couldn’t afford to put it on your Visa, so you weren’t going to pay. Actually I kind of like your analogy. Except to really get the dynamic, you sort of have to make it a spousal argument: BARACK: We just got our cable bill and we don’t have any money in the checking account. I’ll charge it to our Visa. JOHN: No, you can’t do that. BARACK: Well… okay, I guess we’ll have to cancel cable. JOHN: No. We have to have cable. I wanna watch my stories. BARACK: Well, then, we’ll have to pay the bill, they’re threatening to cut it off. I’ll put it on the Visa card. Hey… where’s my wallet? JOHN: I hid your wallet. I refuse to allow you to get us into more debt. We’re in debt up to our ears after you spend all that money on fixing the house and groceries and whatnot. We have to do something about this debt. I’m putting my foot down. BARACK: Okay, I’ll call the cable company and… JOHN: I already called them and signed a contract for another year. I want my stories. Oh, and I ordered a new security system, it’s being installed on Monday. BARACK: Then we need to bring in some more money. You need to pick up a few more shifts to pay for this stuff. JOHN: No, I won’t, and neither can you. We work too hard as it is. We have to do this without any more income. BARACK: In order to pay the fucking cable bill we either need to make more money or put it on the fucking Visa card. JOHN: No. That’s the situation. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/164 "2012-05-18T16:25:06Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > There is apparently a perfectly legal, statutory solution to the debt crisis (assuming it comes up again, and it certainly looks like it will) - [platinum coins](http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/07/28/282471/the-platinum-coin-option/): “Solution” :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/165 "2012-05-18T16:29:38Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Oh, burn! It didnt take much to do it too > [@](#): > > No, you’re a lazy piece of shit. And you appear to have very little actual information. Lazy, stupid and arrogant about it. Someone needs a hug > [@](#): > > Ignoring factual information isn’t thinking for yourself. It’s not thinking. We bring facts and you demand that\* facts don’t matter\*. Please show where I ignored the facts. Please dont make up stories about me so you can flame me about them. I have acknowledged the facts. Your perception of theyre are more evil then us doesnt fly with me. That isnt ignoring facts son. > [@](#): > > You are throwing a tantrum, not thinking. Which is why you started your fantasy game about how I live? Im laughing at you boy, not with you. > [@](#): > > I’ll leave it to the peanut gallery to determine which of us is making an effort to keep informed. Typical. Letting others do more thinking for you. Gratz on your consistency. Seriously. seek out a gastrovisual implant. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/166 "2012-05-18T16:32:48Z")
> [@Bricker](#): > > Correct. I was trying to come up with a good analogy at the household level. This is better than mine, which involved ordering cable and then getting the bill and deciding you couldn’t afford to put it on your Visa, so you weren’t going to pay. I think your version is more apt, for what it’s worth, since it reflects the time delay between the appropriation and the expenditure (or lack thereof). ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/167 "2012-05-18T16:36:22Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > Actually I kind of like your analogy. > > Except to really get the dynamic, you sort of have to make it a spousal argument: > > BARACK: We just got our cable bill and we don’t have any money in the checking account. I’ll charge it to our Visa. > > JOHN: No, you can’t do that. > > BARACK: Well… okay, I guess we’ll have to cancel cable. > > JOHN: No. We have to have cable. I wanna watch my stories. > > BARACK: Well, then, we’ll have to pay the bill, they’re threatening to cut it off. I’ll put it on the Visa card. Hey… where’s my wallet? > > JOHN: I hid your wallet. I refuse to allow you to get us into more debt. We’re in debt up to our ears after you spend all that money on fixing the house and groceries and whatnot. We have to do something about this debt. I’m putting my foot down. > > BARACK: Okay, I’ll call the cable company and… > > JOHN: I already called them and signed a contract for another year. I want my stories. Oh, and I ordered a new security system, it’s being installed on Monday. > > BARACK: Then we need to bring in some more money. You need to pick up a few more shifts to pay for this stuff. > > JOHN: No, I won’t, and neither can you. We work too hard as it is. We have to do this without any more income. > > BARACK: In order to pay the fucking cable bill we either need to make more money or put it on the fucking Visa card. > > JOHN: No. > That’s the situation. LOL at half the story BARACK: We just got our cable bill and we don’t have any money in the checking account. I’ll charge it to our Visa. JOHN: No, you can’t do that. BARACK: Well… okay, I guess we’ll have to cancel cable. JOHN: No. We have to have cable. I wanna watch my stories. BARACK: Well, then, we’ll have to pay the bill, they’re threatening to cut it off. I’ll put it on the Visa card. Hey… where’s my wallet? JOHN: I hid your wallet, you keep giving all the money to your friends. I refuse to allow you to get us into more debt by cutting our needs while you fritter money on unnecessary stuff, simply because they funded your campaign. We’re in debt up to our ears after you spend all that money on fixing the house and groceries and whatnot. We have to do something about this debt. I’m putting my foot down. BARACK: Okay, I’ll call the cable company and… JOHN: I already called them and signed a contract for another year. I want my stories. Oh, and I ordered a new security system, it’s being installed on Monday. How about cutting out the BBQ for your friends where you ordered caviar and kobe beef instead BARACK: Then we need to bring in some more money. You need to pick up a few more shifts to pay for this stuff. JOHN: No, I won’t, you can if you want too. I work too hard as it is. The answer isnt making other make more money, the answer is cutting unnecessary bills like your parties. BARACK: In order to pay the fucking cable bill we either need to make more money or put it on the fucking Visa card. JOHN: No. In order to pay the bills you have to stop spending money on superfluous shit. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/168 "2012-05-18T16:40:14Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > It didnt take much to do it too We both agree that you haven’t brought much to the table. > [@](#): > > Please show where I ignored the facts. Please dont make up stories about me so you can flame me about them. I have acknowledged the facts. Your perception of theyre are more evil then us doesnt fly with me. That isnt ignoring facts son. You haven’t acknowledged facts. You dismiss them as irrelevant. It was shown to you that the Republicans are objectively doing worse, yet you throw up your hands and demand that it is equal. That’s what a lazy person does. That’s what a person who can’t be bothered to think about an issue does. > [@](#): > > Which is why you started your fantasy game about how I live? Im laughing at you boy, not with you. Uh, I assume you live in a trailer with a wart-covered wife. But in any case, it doesn’t matter how you live, it matters that you are unwilling to do the minimal work to be able to reason effectively. > [@](#): > > Typical. Letting others do more thinking for you. Gratz on your consistency. You don’t understand. You are asserting that you are getting the better of me in this “debate”. I disagree. But I trust that impartial observers will find that you’re simply not equipped to engage in rational discourse because you can’t measure two objects and see that one is different from the other. If everything is always equal, forever, you don’t need to learn. > [@](#): > > Seriously. seek out a gastrovisual implant. It wasn’t clever the first time. ---
**Author:** ![otternell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecc23a/32.png) [@otternell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/otternell)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/169 "2012-05-18T16:45:12Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > JOHN: No. In order to pay the bills you have to stop spending money on superfluous shit. Um, I’m pretty sure that in order for this to be realistic, you also have to let Obama push back as follows: Obama: Then you also need to live within your shoe budget, which you already agreed to last year. Where shoe budget = military budget/cutbacks as were agreed upon last year. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/170 "2012-05-18T16:46:28Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > LOL at half the story In the original version, I understood what the fuck was going on. Are you trying to make Boehner sound more or less reasonable? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/171 "2012-05-18T16:47:54Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In the original version, I understood what the fuck was going on. Are you trying to make Boehner sound more or less reasonable? 😕 Remember, both sides are perfectly equal in dngnb8-world. ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/172 "2012-05-18T17:06:03Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > BARACK: In order to pay the fucking cable bill we either need to make more money or put it on the fucking Visa card. > > JOHN: No. In order to pay the bills you have to stop spending money on superfluous shit. Yes, and what John considers superfluous shit is the upkeep on Barack’s Mom’s nursing home. But he still wants to go to the range every weekend and fire off a couple of hundred rounds. ---
**Author:** ![Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/budget_player_cadet/32/205_2.png) [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Budget_Player_Cadet)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/173 "2012-05-18T17:40:16Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > JOHN: I hid your wallet, you keep giving all the money to your friends. I refuse to allow you to get us into more debt by cutting our needs while you fritter money on unnecessary stuff, simply because they funded your campaign. We’re in debt up to our ears after you spend all that money on fixing the house and groceries and whatnot. We have to do something about this debt. I’m putting my foot down. > > BARACK: Okay, I’ll call the cable company and… > > JOHN: I already called them and signed a contract for another year. I want my stories. Oh, and I ordered a new security system, it’s being installed on Monday. How about cutting out the BBQ for your friends where you ordered caviar and kobe beef instead Is it just because I’ve been hitting the Vodka for the last 5 hours, or does this comparison make no sense? BBQ for your friends? Giving money to friends? Did Obama turn into George W. Bush while I wasn’t looking? What in god’s name are you talking about? ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 5:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/174 "2012-05-18T17:52:03Z")
> [@Finagle](#): > > Yes, and what John considers superfluous shit is the upkeep on Barack’s Mom’s nursing home. But he still wants to go to the range every weekend and fire off a couple of hundred rounds. Plus his semi-weekly tanning sessions. Surely he is not expected to cut those! ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/175 "2012-05-18T18:01:46Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > Wait. > > You appear to be implying that . . . he has his . . . head stuffed up his – _kidney_? > > 😕 Why should you be confused? ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/176 "2012-05-18T18:02:53Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > In the original version, I understood what the fuck was going on. Are you trying to make Boehner sound more or less reasonable? 😕 Nope Notice I didnt give up his cable so he can watch himself? This isnt just about John being selfish, BO is too ---
**Author:** ![dngnb8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@dngnb8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dngnb8)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/177 "2012-05-18T18:03:57Z")
> [@Budget\_Player\_Cadet](#): > > Is it just because I’ve been hitting the Vodka for the last 5 hours, or does this comparison make no sense? BBQ for your friends? Giving money to friends? Did Obama turn into George W. Bush while I wasn’t looking? What in god’s name are you talking about? Um, you do realize he copied George W Bush with another fail Giftulus, right? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/178 "2012-05-18T18:04:23Z")
> [@Folacin](#): > > There is apparently a perfectly legal, statutory solution to the debt crisis (assuming it comes up again, and it certainly looks like it will) - [platinum coins](http://thinkprogress.org/yglesias/2011/07/28/282471/the-platinum-coin-option/): And we could get Monty Burns to deliver them! ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/179 "2012-05-18T18:07:32Z")
> [@dngnb8](#): > > Why should you be confused? What do you think “renal” means? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190/180 "2012-05-18T18:07:41Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > That’s the situation. Well, yes, except I feel I must object to the characterizing of Barack’s expenditures as reasonable (groceries, home repair) and John’s as more frivolous. But the time sequence and the process is captured well. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dear-republicans-the-debt-ceiling-again-what-the-fuck-is-wrong-with-you/622190.md?page=10)