So Obama says he won't negotiate on debt ceiling

[SSG Snuggle Bunny]

What does this mean in practical terms?

The executive cannot dictate funding.

If he refuses to negotiate but we hit the ceiling congress can either

A) cede its power by letting Obama spend without limit; hoping for a brighter day in 2017

B) go along to get along, punting until 2017

C) we hit the ceiling and cripple ourselves

D) Obama grants himself "emergency power"

[JohnnyReb]

i

What does this mean in practical terms?

The executive cannot dictate funding.

If he refuses to negotiate but we hit the ceiling congress can either

A) cede its power by letting Obama spend without limit; hoping for a brighter day in 2017

B) go along to get along, punting until 2017

C) we hit the ceiling and cripple ourselves

D) Obama grants himself "emergency power"

I've watched to many Hitler, Hitler's Henchmen and Nazi documentaries in the last few days. Obama and the democrats similarities to the Nazi era are to close for comfort.

[Zeus]

The President doesn't have the authority to raise/lower or otherwise the debt ceiling so by his signaling a refusal to negotiate he is defacto signalling massive cuts so as to avoid hitting the limit. About time 

[thundley4]

The President doesn't have the authority to raise/lower or otherwise the debt ceiling so by his signaling a refusal to negotiate he is defacto signalling massive cuts so as to avoid hitting the limit. About time 

IIRC, the last time this happened, it was said that Obama did have the authority to determine how federal tax receipts were spent.  Meaning that he could choose whether to pay the interest payments due, welfare payments or more loans like Solyndra.   I might be wrong though.

[MrsSmith]

IIRC, the last time this happened, it was said that Obama did have the authority to determine how federal tax receipts were spent.  Meaning that he could choose whether to pay the interest payments due, welfare payments or more loans like Solyndra.   I might be wrong though.

I think that was made pretty clear, but he doesn't acknowledge that ability.  It's so much more "productive" to threaten to skip the payments on the debt and government checks than to admit that he can simply skip the "green" expenses.   

And of course, our highly educated and intelligent electorate knows that he is just bluffing...  right? 

[thundley4]

I think that was made pretty clear, but he doesn't acknowledge that ability.  It's so much more "productive" to threaten to skip the payments on the debt and government checks than to admit that he can simply skip the "green" expenses.   

And of course, our highly educated and intelligent electorate knows that he is just bluffing...  right? 

I think he mentioned that he didn't know if the military would be paid or if granny would get her SS check if the debt ceiling was reached.  What they aren't saying is that the government still has around $3 Trillion in actual revenue to pay bills.