I think he’s softening the ground to act unilaterally with the 14th amendment when the time comes unless the Republicans buckle and actually try to cut a bipartisan compromise… But I don’t think McCarthy has the power to do any such thing, and it would end his speaker ship… And it should. I have never believed Joe Biden would allow a default, and I still don’t....but he can’t do something as unprecedented as acting alone until he gives Congress every conceivable opportunity to resolve this properly.....get ready for #DarkBrandon to strike again peeps
I hope you’re right. 14th amendment is so much clearer and less ambiguous re paying our debts than the 2nd amendment language on ‘right to bear arms’ is. legal challenge or no. It’s time.
Wish it were so. But he says in his statement that there's not enough time to invoke the 14th amendment. It would most certainly be challenged in court, and moving it through the appeals process could take 2-3 weeks.
You must be reading a longer statement than what Simon shared with us.....either way, I still don’t believe he won’t ultimately do it....he’s very skilled at telling you why he can’t do something until the day he must do that very thing.....I’m an incurable optimist and something here just doesn’t feel like it is what it seems
Oops. You're right. I read it in a CNN article/interview. “We have not come up with unilateral action that could succeed in a matter of two weeks or three weeks. That’s the issue. So it’s up to lawmakers. But my hope and intention is to resolve this problem,” he said. https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/21/politics/debt-ceiling-talks-biden-mccarthy/index.html
I still have faith in Dark Brandon.... I don’t know what he’s planning for sure, but he has been a step ahead of literally everything since he won the South Carolina Primary while simultaneously appearing to be getting run over until he walks away with the goods....he knew this was coming for months and I’m certain he has gamed this out with every possible alternative
Although he didn’t say it today, he did say it earlier. It was such legal balderdash when he said it that it caused his friend Larry Tribe to hustle to an encore interview with Lawrence O’Donnell where he tried to straighten the president out.
Although Tribe didn’t get into the mechanics of it, based on my writing of Executive Orders when I was in government, it could easily be done this way—
Biden would issue an Executive Order to Yellen, starting with a bunch of Whereas Clauses (including both Lincoln’s famous takedown of Chief Justice Taney, and Justice Robert Jackson’s even more famous dictum that “the Constitution is not a suicide pact”).
Following the Whereas Clauses, Biden would direct Yellen to conduct business as usual pursuant to section 4 of the 14th Amendment (1) until Congress passed and the president signed a new Debt Limit bill, and (2) without regard to any court decision attempting to ignore either the 14th Amendment’s constitutional mandate or the President’s solemn constitutional oath “to preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States.”
This approach would - following Lincoln’s example - neuter the courts, while at the same making the Executive Order only a temporary measure, which would make it even harder for the opponents to fashion a plausible case for destroying the country by taking it hostage. If Biden doesn’t have Lincoln’s balls he shouldn’t be in the White House. But I’m betting he does.
All I know is that he and his team are in an entirely different galaxy of cleverness, intelligence, and political maneuvering than the confederacy of dunces they are contending with....if he does something that appears to be capitulation, it’s a move in a longer game that quietly gave him leverage or power that nobody else sees yet....I’ve never seen anyone in politics who managed to keep receiving such low expectations even as he repeatedly defies them. Great rundown on a possible E.O. btw....really cool inside baseball! 😎👍
Thank you for posting President Biden's statement, Simon. Unexpected on Sunday evening, but it's very much appreciated.
The statement emphasizes with bold type Mr. Biden's declaration that a bipartisan agreement is possible if Republicans negotiate in good faith. Chances of that happening seem pretty slim. So what everyone really needs to know is what follows the bold type declaration:
"I will not let MAGA Republicans hold the economy hostage to check boxes on their wishlist . . ."
It's almost certain Kevin McCarthy will stand with MAGA, since he promised them he'd do so in exchange for their votes making him Speaker back in January. That means the only way a bipartisan majority can pass a debt limit increase is through a discharge petition. That's the only way a bill can come to the floor without the Speaker's approval.
Democrats are united in supporting the discharge petition, meaning only 5 or 6 Republican votes will be needed. So if anyone reading this wants to do something more than just opine, call or write to the following Republicans urging them to sign the petition:
John Curtis (UT-3), Ashley Hinson (IA-2), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), David Joyce (OH 14), Victoria Spartz (IN-5), Don Bacon (NE-2), Mike Gallagher (WI-8), Andrew Garbarino (NY-2), Nancy Mace (SC-1), Dan Newhouse (WA-4), and David Valadao (CA-22)
Just scroll down past the parts about our network's effort to remove and replace Speaker McCarthy, and you'll find all the info you need, including short bios of each.
Thank you, Jessica. That would be a huge help -- your readers are so proactive.
The discharge petition seems like a far better option than a unilateral move by Dark Brandon. If we can persuade some moderate Republicans to sign on, not only will Kevin McCarthy's manufactured "crisis" be resolved, but respect for the idea of bipartisan solutions can be resurrected as well. That's something our country desperately needs.
In his second paragraph, Biden says that if the Republicans don’t pass a reasonable bill, “it will lead to catastrophe.”
Yet, in his penultimate paragraph, he says, “I will not let MAGA Republicans hold the economy hostage…”
Either the first sentence is right or the second sentence is right, but there is no way that both of them can be right.
The only fair reading of his “catastrophe” prediction is that there is nothing he can do if “the Republicans don’t pass a reasonable bill”.
The only fair reading of his second statement is that he will invoke the 14th Amendment to prevent the MAGA Rs from holding the country hostage if they try to do so.
I wish I thought there was some grand strategy to all of this, but I don’t think there is, because nothing he is saying is either making an acceptable deal more likely or assuring the country that he will save it from collapse if a reasonable deal is beyond McCarthy’s capacity.
That's not really what it says, Craig. What it says is "...if Congress doesn't pass a bill to prevent default, it will lead to a catastrophe..." Congress consists of both Democrats and Republicans. Then later it says, "There is a path forward to reach a reasonable bipartisan agreement . . ."
I take the President at his word: "Here's The Truth"
I’m not sure I understand. I’m old, so maybe that’s the problem, but Biden explicitly said it would be a “catastrophe” if Congress (Read that as the Republican House ) doesn’t pass a reasonable new debt limit bill. But that “catastrophe” only happens if Biden doesn’t invoke the 14th Amendment. If he does invoke it, it’s business as usual, just like the government operated from its founding until World War I; during that time there was no debt limit law at all.
The Republicans raised the debt ceiling without blinking when Trump was spending all kinds of money, blowing up our nation’s deficit, and giving tax breaks to the rich.
Biden has already reduced our deficit very substantially.
The Republicans are playing games with our country.
They waste so much time, energy and do not negotiate in good faith.
They are exhausting! Good thing, we who appreciate Biden have plenty of energy to keep the faith and keep on task.
Republican bad actors are holding this country hostage, embolden that, as yet trump has not been stopped and is allowed to run for office.
Among the myriad work you do, this must be fixed. There must be NO way a seditious liar, twice impeached indicted person should ever get as far as trump has in this election cycle.. He lost the last election and still runs his mouth about how he is still president.
On the face of it, it's a lie or the rantings of an unbalanced person out of touch withbreality.
it's a good statement. but McCarthy just doesn't have the juice to stand up to his own caucus. which means there won't be a deal this week. sometime very soon, before the financial markets start freaking out, Biden needs to say that he will stay at the table but he's not going to be held hostage to the MAGA crown and an arcane 1917 law. "We're going to keep paying our bills, period - while we are resolving our budget differences." cut a short term deal to extend the stupid debt ceiling if you have to.
How much of an idiot does one have to be to put at risk the economic and physical livelihood of not just Americans but people around the globe just to hang on to the speakership? What an ego! The "it's all about Kevin" show is threatening every last one of us!
Oh boy. Just heard Kevin McCarthy say that the R's are the "only ones who have brought a solution to the table." What a bunch of rubbish. Dems need to take control of the message. The truth is that the risk of default wouldn't even exist if Rs would pass a clean debt ceiling increase like they did 3 times under the Trump administration.
Who was this statement released to?
To their email list which you can sign up for on his campaign website. It is a formal, public statement from the President.
I wish there were a way to release it to a wider audience. Maybe he needs to hold a press conference.
I think he’s softening the ground to act unilaterally with the 14th amendment when the time comes unless the Republicans buckle and actually try to cut a bipartisan compromise… But I don’t think McCarthy has the power to do any such thing, and it would end his speaker ship… And it should. I have never believed Joe Biden would allow a default, and I still don’t....but he can’t do something as unprecedented as acting alone until he gives Congress every conceivable opportunity to resolve this properly.....get ready for #DarkBrandon to strike again peeps
I hope you’re right. 14th amendment is so much clearer and less ambiguous re paying our debts than the 2nd amendment language on ‘right to bear arms’ is. legal challenge or no. It’s time.
Wish it were so. But he says in his statement that there's not enough time to invoke the 14th amendment. It would most certainly be challenged in court, and moving it through the appeals process could take 2-3 weeks.
You must be reading a longer statement than what Simon shared with us.....either way, I still don’t believe he won’t ultimately do it....he’s very skilled at telling you why he can’t do something until the day he must do that very thing.....I’m an incurable optimist and something here just doesn’t feel like it is what it seems
Oops. You're right. I read it in a CNN article/interview. “We have not come up with unilateral action that could succeed in a matter of two weeks or three weeks. That’s the issue. So it’s up to lawmakers. But my hope and intention is to resolve this problem,” he said. https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/21/politics/debt-ceiling-talks-biden-mccarthy/index.html
I still have faith in Dark Brandon.... I don’t know what he’s planning for sure, but he has been a step ahead of literally everything since he won the South Carolina Primary while simultaneously appearing to be getting run over until he walks away with the goods....he knew this was coming for months and I’m certain he has gamed this out with every possible alternative
I agree. 100%.
I just checked out your stack and newsletter...great stuff! I subbed....there’s never enough or too many sources of positive truths! 😎👍
Although he didn’t say it today, he did say it earlier. It was such legal balderdash when he said it that it caused his friend Larry Tribe to hustle to an encore interview with Lawrence O’Donnell where he tried to straighten the president out.
Although Tribe didn’t get into the mechanics of it, based on my writing of Executive Orders when I was in government, it could easily be done this way—
Biden would issue an Executive Order to Yellen, starting with a bunch of Whereas Clauses (including both Lincoln’s famous takedown of Chief Justice Taney, and Justice Robert Jackson’s even more famous dictum that “the Constitution is not a suicide pact”).
Following the Whereas Clauses, Biden would direct Yellen to conduct business as usual pursuant to section 4 of the 14th Amendment (1) until Congress passed and the president signed a new Debt Limit bill, and (2) without regard to any court decision attempting to ignore either the 14th Amendment’s constitutional mandate or the President’s solemn constitutional oath “to preserve, protect and defend the constitution of the United States.”
This approach would - following Lincoln’s example - neuter the courts, while at the same making the Executive Order only a temporary measure, which would make it even harder for the opponents to fashion a plausible case for destroying the country by taking it hostage. If Biden doesn’t have Lincoln’s balls he shouldn’t be in the White House. But I’m betting he does.
All I know is that he and his team are in an entirely different galaxy of cleverness, intelligence, and political maneuvering than the confederacy of dunces they are contending with....if he does something that appears to be capitulation, it’s a move in a longer game that quietly gave him leverage or power that nobody else sees yet....I’ve never seen anyone in politics who managed to keep receiving such low expectations even as he repeatedly defies them. Great rundown on a possible E.O. btw....really cool inside baseball! 😎👍
Thank you for posting President Biden's statement, Simon. Unexpected on Sunday evening, but it's very much appreciated.
The statement emphasizes with bold type Mr. Biden's declaration that a bipartisan agreement is possible if Republicans negotiate in good faith. Chances of that happening seem pretty slim. So what everyone really needs to know is what follows the bold type declaration:
"I will not let MAGA Republicans hold the economy hostage to check boxes on their wishlist . . ."
It's almost certain Kevin McCarthy will stand with MAGA, since he promised them he'd do so in exchange for their votes making him Speaker back in January. That means the only way a bipartisan majority can pass a debt limit increase is through a discharge petition. That's the only way a bill can come to the floor without the Speaker's approval.
Democrats are united in supporting the discharge petition, meaning only 5 or 6 Republican votes will be needed. So if anyone reading this wants to do something more than just opine, call or write to the following Republicans urging them to sign the petition:
John Curtis (UT-3), Ashley Hinson (IA-2), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), David Joyce (OH 14), Victoria Spartz (IN-5), Don Bacon (NE-2), Mike Gallagher (WI-8), Andrew Garbarino (NY-2), Nancy Mace (SC-1), Dan Newhouse (WA-4), and David Valadao (CA-22)
Their contact information can be found here:
https://JerryWeiss.substack.com/p/nows-the-time
Just scroll down past the parts about our network's effort to remove and replace Speaker McCarthy, and you'll find all the info you need, including short bios of each.
.
I put this in my newsletter, along with phone numbers and a script, for tomorrow. With a hat tip to you, of course.
Thank you, Jessica. That would be a huge help -- your readers are so proactive.
The discharge petition seems like a far better option than a unilateral move by Dark Brandon. If we can persuade some moderate Republicans to sign on, not only will Kevin McCarthy's manufactured "crisis" be resolved, but respect for the idea of bipartisan solutions can be resurrected as well. That's something our country desperately needs.
.
Thank you for all that you do Jessica!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Expect they have gamed out strategies and are thoroughly prepared for any eventuality.
Sanity! Joe may not be a saint, but he is sane.
In his second paragraph, Biden says that if the Republicans don’t pass a reasonable bill, “it will lead to catastrophe.”
Yet, in his penultimate paragraph, he says, “I will not let MAGA Republicans hold the economy hostage…”
Either the first sentence is right or the second sentence is right, but there is no way that both of them can be right.
The only fair reading of his “catastrophe” prediction is that there is nothing he can do if “the Republicans don’t pass a reasonable bill”.
The only fair reading of his second statement is that he will invoke the 14th Amendment to prevent the MAGA Rs from holding the country hostage if they try to do so.
I wish I thought there was some grand strategy to all of this, but I don’t think there is, because nothing he is saying is either making an acceptable deal more likely or assuring the country that he will save it from collapse if a reasonable deal is beyond McCarthy’s capacity.
That's not really what it says, Craig. What it says is "...if Congress doesn't pass a bill to prevent default, it will lead to a catastrophe..." Congress consists of both Democrats and Republicans. Then later it says, "There is a path forward to reach a reasonable bipartisan agreement . . ."
I take the President at his word: "Here's The Truth"
.
I’m not sure I understand. I’m old, so maybe that’s the problem, but Biden explicitly said it would be a “catastrophe” if Congress (Read that as the Republican House ) doesn’t pass a reasonable new debt limit bill. But that “catastrophe” only happens if Biden doesn’t invoke the 14th Amendment. If he does invoke it, it’s business as usual, just like the government operated from its founding until World War I; during that time there was no debt limit law at all.
I’m sure I’m missing your point, but it’s 11:30!
Thank you President Biden!
The Republicans raised the debt ceiling without blinking when Trump was spending all kinds of money, blowing up our nation’s deficit, and giving tax breaks to the rich.
Biden has already reduced our deficit very substantially.
The Republicans are playing games with our country.
They waste so much time, energy and do not negotiate in good faith.
They are exhausting! Good thing, we who appreciate Biden have plenty of energy to keep the faith and keep on task.
It’s not just the 14th amendment. There are at least five other ways the debt ceiling is unconstitutional.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/5/14/2169325/-It-s-not-just-the-14th-Am-There-are-at-least-5-other-ways-the-Debt-Ceiling-is-unconstitutional
Thank you!
Don’t back down. Use the 14th Ammendment.
I am so glad you are the President!
Republican bad actors are holding this country hostage, embolden that, as yet trump has not been stopped and is allowed to run for office.
Among the myriad work you do, this must be fixed. There must be NO way a seditious liar, twice impeached indicted person should ever get as far as trump has in this election cycle.. He lost the last election and still runs his mouth about how he is still president.
On the face of it, it's a lie or the rantings of an unbalanced person out of touch withbreality.
it's a good statement. but McCarthy just doesn't have the juice to stand up to his own caucus. which means there won't be a deal this week. sometime very soon, before the financial markets start freaking out, Biden needs to say that he will stay at the table but he's not going to be held hostage to the MAGA crown and an arcane 1917 law. "We're going to keep paying our bills, period - while we are resolving our budget differences." cut a short term deal to extend the stupid debt ceiling if you have to.
How much of an idiot does one have to be to put at risk the economic and physical livelihood of not just Americans but people around the globe just to hang on to the speakership? What an ego! The "it's all about Kevin" show is threatening every last one of us!
Give this guy another 4 years!!
Ahhhhh, Sanity. Long Live Sanity!
Oh boy. Just heard Kevin McCarthy say that the R's are the "only ones who have brought a solution to the table." What a bunch of rubbish. Dems need to take control of the message. The truth is that the risk of default wouldn't even exist if Rs would pass a clean debt ceiling increase like they did 3 times under the Trump administration.