# Re McConnell's desperate, pathetic proposal to give POTUS unilateral control over the debt ceiling **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [July 13, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833 "2011-07-13T04:12:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/41 "2011-07-13T15:30:07Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The people in this thread know that the time for childish game playing is over and someone has to step up to do the real work. You, not so much. How is it a childish game? What’s the problem with giving Obama, or any president, unilateral control when it comes to adjusting the debt ceiling? I would think that the Democrats would be absolutely giddy over such a proposal, since they have such an awesome plan to avert financial disaster in place upon raising the debt ceiling and could therefore take all the credit when everything works out. 😉 I swear, about nine out of ten threads are usually just GOP bashing, but the GOP-- if nothing else-- is extremely politically savvy. They’re giving Obama and the Democrats the chance to put their proverbial money where their mouth is, knowing that there’s no way in hell Obama and the Democrats would do that. A shame, really, all things considered. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/42 "2011-07-13T15:34:31Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > How is it a childish game? What’s the problem with giving Obama, or any president, unilateral control when it comes to adjusting the debt ceiling? I would think that the Democrats would be absolutely giddy over such a proposal, since they have such an awesome plan to avert financial disaster in place upon raising the debt ceiling and could therefore take all the credit when everything works out. > > …Oh, wait. Pretending that the Republicans are doing this to benefit Obama is your idea of “clever”? _Really?_ ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/43 "2011-07-13T15:35:25Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > How is it a childish game? What’s the problem with giving Obama, or any president, unilateral control when it comes to adjusting the debt ceiling? I would think that the Democrats would be absolutely giddy over such a proposal, since they have such an awesome plan to avert financial disaster in place upon raising the debt ceiling and could therefore take all the credit when everything works out. > > 😉 > > I swear, about nine out of ten threads are usually just GOP bashing, but the GOP-- if nothing else-- is extremely politically savvy. This is quite true actually. Despite the rhetoric of the Tea Party there has yet to be anything like the government shutdown by the 1994 Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Bloodless\_Turnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@Bloodless\_Turnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bloodless_Turnip)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/44 "2011-07-13T15:35:35Z")
> [@](#): > > I would think that the Democrats would be absolutely giddy over such a proposal, since they have such an awesome plan to avert financial disaster in place upon raising the debt ceiling and could therefore take all the credit when everything works out. Agreed. Just about everything I read here tells me that if allowed, the Democrats would fix everything and it’s just those ignorant and hysterical Republicans that are blocking it all. So, let the Democrats (and the Head Democrat) fix it! It’s a win right? ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/45 "2011-07-13T15:40:54Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Pretending that the Republicans are doing this to benefit Obama is your idea of “clever”? _Really?_ I said nothing about them doing it to benefit Obama. The Republicans are, thus far, against raising the debt ceiling. The Democrats are for it. This proposal would allow for the debt ceiling to be raised without Republicans voting for it. That works out in the Republican’s favor, simply because they know that the Democrats have no real plan for solving whatever debt issues the economy is facing. Hell, even the Democrats know it, which is why-- assuming it somehow got passed the Senate-- Obama wouldn’t sign it, at which point the Republicans could simply point out that Democrats don’t really believe what they say. Or, at least, are too chicken to place the issue on their own shoulders. Just think about this logically; don’t you think the Democrats would be absolutely ecstatic about this if they had an actual plan in place? They’d get the chance to fix America’s debt issue and they could say they did it without any Republican help. If there ever was a political ‘win’, that would be it. If it did pass the Senate and Obama signed it well… Then the Democrats are morons 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/46 "2011-07-13T15:45:06Z")
Hold on here! GOP bashing is not equivalent to Democratic Party promotion! It is the Teabag infested GOP that has been running a full out blockade of all legislation except tax cuts for the rich since Obama was elected, so they get the blame. Their latest move is now just an attempt to throw the problems they have created on the [del]weak willed sheep[/del] Democrats. ETA: The Republicans are not against raising the debt ceiling! Their masters are demanding it. The one term Teabag puppets just don’t know how to play the game. That’s why they have to turn the decision over to the Democrats. ---
**Author:** ![Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/8edcca/32.png) [@Hentor\_the\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hentor_the_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/47 "2011-07-13T15:55:32Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > This is quite true actually. Despite the rhetoric of the Tea Party there has yet to be anything like the government shutdown by the 1994 Congress. And do you think that was a politically savvy move? If so, I would say that the problem with this conversation hinges on the definition of “savvy.” ---
**Author:** ![What\_the](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f4b2a3/32.png) [@What\_the](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_the)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/48 "2011-07-13T15:55:46Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > The people in this thread know that the time for childish game playing is over and someone has to step up to do the real work. You, not so much. When exactly did the time for game playing end? … and please let us know when it can start again. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/49 "2011-07-13T16:29:26Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > What’s the problem with giving Obama, or any president, unilateral control when it comes to adjusting the debt ceiling? Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. “The Congress shall… have the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States.” I thought conservatives and Tea Partiers wanted to uphold the Constitution, both its letter and intent. Is that not true? The issue of debt is a legislative power. Being afraid of the responsibilities of governing, and therefore outsourcing that power to another branch of government, may be a legal thing to do, but it is quite clearly in contravention of the intent of the Founders that the Congress have primary say on the finances of this country. I can only see this proposal as an admission that the Republican leadership isn’t prepared to accept that with power comes responsibility. Quite literally, they are afraid of doing their constitutional duty to make sure that our fiscal and economic status isn’t destroyed by their vapid, empty, and extreme political posturing. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/50 "2011-07-13T16:34:13Z")
It wouldn’t surprise me in the least if it was revealed that the Republicans got this “brilliant” ploy from a Mallard Fillmore strip. ---
**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:** [July 13, 2011, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/51 "2011-07-13T16:35:42Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution. “The Congress shall… have the power to borrow money on the credit of the United States.” I thought conservatives and Tea Partiers wanted to uphold the Constitution, both its letter and intent. Is that not true? > > The issue of debt is a legislative power. Being afraid of the responsibilities of governing, and therefore outsourcing that power to another branch of government, may be a legal thing to do, but it is quite clearly in contravention of the intent of the Founders that the Congress have primary say on the finances of this country. > > I can only see this proposal as an admission that the Republican leadership isn’t prepared to accept that with power comes responsibility. Quite literally, they are afraid of doing their constitutional duty to make sure that our fiscal and economic status isn’t destroyed by their vapid, empty, and extreme political posturing. I don’t think this is a problem as long as it’s done on a one time basis. A permanent shift of debt ceiling authority to the executive would be an unconstitutional delegation. A resolution authorizing POTUS to raise it now isn’t, IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/52 "2011-07-13T16:43:12Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > How is it a childish game? What’s the problem with giving Obama, or any president, unilateral control when it comes to adjusting the debt ceiling? I would think that the Democrats would be absolutely giddy over such a proposal, since they have such an awesome plan to avert financial disaster in place upon raising the debt ceiling and could therefore take all the credit when everything works out. > > 😉 > > I swear, about nine out of ten threads are usually just GOP bashing, but the GOP-- if nothing else-- is extremely politically savvy. They’re giving Obama and the Democrats the chance to put their proverbial money where their mouth is, knowing that there’s no way in hell Obama and the Democrats would do that. A shame, really, all things considered. What does raising the debt ceiling have to do with the budget? You realize raising the debt ceiling does absolutely nothing to address US spending/revenue priorities don’t you? Raising the debt ceiling merely allows the US to continue to pay the bills it has already agreed to pay. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/53 "2011-07-13T16:43:57Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Would they even have standing? I bet they could find a particularly crazy member of Congress (I’m looking at you, Ms. Bachman) to do it. Standing up for no debt? Would play great in some districts. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/54 "2011-07-13T16:46:18Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I don’t think this is a problem as long as it’s done on a one time basis. A permanent shift of debt ceiling authority to the executive would be an unconstitutional delegation. A resolution authorizing POTUS to raise it now isn’t, IMHO. It’s a cowardly thing to do is my point. I’ve said twice that it isn’t unconstitutional. The Constitution says that Congress has control of the debt, and matters relating to raising of revenue must originate in the House. The House currently seems too afraid to deal with the issue of default on the U.S.'s debt obligations on any other level than as a partisan bludgeon – and to seriously consider handing off its constitutional responsibilities even for a short period of time is anathema to the conservative and Tea Party mantra that they are the true defenders of the Constitution. How seriously can one take a professed blind adherence to the Constitution if, the moment a decision gets difficult, the solution is to undermine the intent (but not the letter) of the separation of powers of the government? ---
**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:** [July 13, 2011, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/55 "2011-07-13T16:48:21Z")
Well, since the debt ceiling itself is a creature of legislation, not of the constitution, I don’t see how it signifies. Congress could just as easily repeal the ceiling altogether; would that be cowardly too? ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/56 "2011-07-13T17:07:45Z")
Boner is just admitting he can not control his people anymore. They want to play the stopping debt ceiling game as long as they can. It plays well to those who are not so bright. The tea baggers will likely not cave. Boner wants to be able to run up to the abyss and then give in claiming he was forced. The baggers don’t care. If they take it to the edge, they may find the lack of control of the Repub party may drop us over the edge. It may be that the Repubs are becoming afraid of what they may bring. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/57 "2011-07-13T17:12:04Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > How is it a childish game? What’s the problem with giving Obama, or any president, unilateral control when it comes to adjusting the debt ceiling? I would think that the Democrats would be absolutely giddy over such a proposal, since they have such an awesome plan to avert financial disaster in place upon raising the debt ceiling and could therefore take all the credit when everything works out. > > I swear, about nine out of ten threads are usually just GOP bashing, but the GOP-- if nothing else-- is extremely politically savvy. They’re giving Obama and the Democrats the chance to put their proverbial money where their mouth is, knowing that there’s no way in hell Obama and the Democrats would do that. A shame, really, all things considered. The national debt has existed for decades. It’s a problem but there’s no reason to think its existence will be a crisis in the next couple of years. But the Republicans ran around screaming there was a crisis. And now they’re going to hand over borrowing authority to the President. So he’ll raise the deficit ceiling and we’ll go back to business as usual - having a big debt we plan on paying off “someday”. So what will be the public perception? If you believe what was being screamed, you’ll think there was a huge crisis and then Obama stepped in and now there’s no more crisis - that will look a lot like Obama handled the crisis. The more intelligent people won’t believe this. They’ll realize Obama didn’t solve the crisis because all he did was do what’s been done for years. But these people will also realize that the Republicans were wrong about saying there was a crisis in the first place and then got in over their head. Either way this is a win for Obama and a loss for the Republicans in Congress. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/58 "2011-07-13T17:12:11Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Well, since the debt ceiling itself is a creature of legislation, not of the constitution, I don’t see how it signifies. Congress could just as easily repeal the ceiling altogether; would that be cowardly too? Yes. Congress could also decide that it is out of the budgeting business, and pass a bill saying that the president can spend whatever money he thinks is necessary. That’s a cowardly, but legal, way to run the government. ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 5:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/59 "2011-07-13T17:13:49Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I said nothing about them doing it to benefit Obama. The Republicans are, thus far, against raising the debt ceiling. The Democrats are for it. This proposal would allow for the debt ceiling to be raised without Republicans voting for it. That works out in the Republican’s favor So, they don’t want the debt ceiling raised but having the debt ceiling raised is in their favor? What? Wouldn’t it be easier to, I dunno, vote against raising the debt ceiling? Since you say they don’t want it raised? Instead of all quitting and handing it to Obama? Your spin doesn’t make any sense. It only makes sense if they do want it raised but don’t want their constituents to know they want it raised. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2011, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833/60 "2011-07-13T17:24:53Z")
Just to throw some more fuel on the fire, here’s a link to Mitch McConnell’s interview with Laura Ingraham where his real motivation comes out: [He thinks that giving Obama unilateral control will ensure a Republican in the White House in 2012.](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/13/mcconnell-on-his-debt-cei_n_897124.html?ref=fb&src=sp) (HuffPo, but with a link to the original interview) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/re-mcconnells-desperate-pathetic-proposal-to-give-potus-unilateral-control-over-the-debt-ceiling/588833.md?page=4)