Let me start off by saying this diary is just that. It is nothing more than my perspective on what I rthink would be a politically winning strategy for Obama on the nonsensical debt ceiling situation on which we all find ourselves about to be tasting the crap end. I'm not even saying I like this solution. I'm just suggesting that given the current set of circumstances, implementation of the following seems likely to put Obama in a much better place politically than most of the other strategies I've read and thought about. I'm sure many will disagree with my perspective. I also recognize that some on here will find what I'm suggesting anathema. I have thought about that, and still think this approach is Obama's best chance for coming out of this looking good and. perhaps more importantly, for DC republicans to come out of it looking just awful. Politics can be a zero sum game sometimes. (Again) I'm not saying what I'm suggesting is what I want in terms of policy. Only that I think it leaves Obama in a much stonger place politically, compared to republicans, than most other options. Anyway, I just figured I'd put this out there, since I can't stop thinking about it.
So here's the deal. Obama invokes the 14th Amendment and, at least momentarily, end the fabricated crisis. I know, I know. That's nothing new. But here's the other part. He then goes on an absolute tear in support of a deficit reduction package at least as big as the Reid proposal. He uses the bully pulpit to do nothing but hammer the thugs and tea baggers over the fact that they are unwilling to accept the same spending cuts they already ok'd in the Ryan budget. Worst case scenario, he signs the Reid cuts into law.
Here's why I think this is a major win for Obama politically. At this point, invoking the 14th will be seen by most people who have just tuned in to this situation as a bit of a game saver. With all due respect to those who spend their time scouring the political blogs every day for the newest bit of info on this whole mess, my sense is that most people are only just starting to realize that things could be about to get stupid hairy over this thing. The story seems to be taking hold that a particularly crazy faction of the republicans (the baggers) are about to eff up Mr. and Mrs. America's 401ks for no good reason. Boehner has had a bad few days of news cycles. He looks out of control of his caucus (he is of course). His own caucus doesn't support his plan. Further, the alternative, provided by democrats of all people, actually has more in it that budget cutters find appealing (minus the SS and Medicare cuts of course).
So Obama comes in as the sane savior and says the faith and credit of the US will not be challenged. There will of course be lawsuits and pundits' heads will explode on both sides of the cable dial. But the less engaged person will know that Obama, at least for a time, forestalled an economic crisis. He can even say, "Hey, I would love to do anything but this, but at this point it is all I can do to protect you, Mr. and Mrs. America." Now I have my doubts about whether the courts would actually overturn this maneuver. If they do, it's back to the emergency drawing board. Regardless, while they're trying to sort it all out, the push to demand the $2.7 trillion in cuts proposed by Reid be adopted begins in earnest. This makes Obama look like the last minute savior and the guy who recognizes that the government books are not what they should be.
Moreover, he's willing to do something about it. How can the thugs reject the cuts when he offers them without even having the debt ceiling as a bargaining chip? Moreover, it gives a nod to the shithead ratings agencies that, although they got us into this mess in large part, could make things harder for us if we don't act like we give a crap about the deficit.
Most importantly, this takes the debt ceiling out of the debate. The bills keep getting paid, Obama saves the day, and the thugs look like they almost killed the economy just to be political dicks. Then, they almost have to take the cuts he's offering. Why wouldn't you if you love to cut spending so much. Any cut is a good one, right? The next time the thugs try to demand cuts, Obama and the dems can say, "Listen, we just gave you a bunch of cuts. It seems like a good time to straighten out the tax code a bit (i.e., get the wealthy to pay their share). This may be a helluva lot easier by the way, if dems miraculously manage to win back the House in 2012.
I know there are many on here who think Obama just wants to capitulate and give away the farm up front. These folks will of course hate this plan because a) they don't believe Obama can even play one dimensional chess, and b) they think the next time anything comes up, Obama will just acquiesce right away to republican demands. I don't believe that. I don't think he's perfect, but I do think he's smarter and quite a bit cleverer than pretty much anyone posting here (myself very much included). I think he's a pragmatist that wants to make the world a better place in the face of a bat shit crazy opposition.
Anyway, this was just something I've been kicking around and I guess I finally felt I needed to write it down. Better that than just wringing my hands over and over about whether a bunch of right wing douchebags are gonna drive the country into a ditch because they simply can't stand that a black guy is President (I know it's not that simple, but come on). I'm open to feedback and would be willing to consider any kinds of changes to such a plan if you think it would benefit. Have at it I guess.