Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
From the National Memo:
Former President Bill Clinton says that he would invoke the so-called constitutional option to raise the nation’s debt ceiling “without hesitation, and force the courts to stop me” in order to prevent a default, should Congress and the President fail to achieve agreement before the August 2 deadline.
Sharply criticizing Congressional Republicans in an exclusive Monday evening interview with The National Memo, Clinton said, “I think the Constitution is clear and I think this idea that the Congress gets to vote twice on whether to pay for [expenditures] it has appropriated is crazy.”
Lifting the debt ceiling “is necessary to pay for appropriations already made,” he added, “so you can’t say, ‘Well, we won the last election and we didn’t vote for some of that stuff, so we’re going to throw the whole country’s credit into arrears.”
You tend to take an expansive view of executive powers, I know, John, but this? Does Clinton have any constitutional basis for this argument?
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Sep '10
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
Peter, you're too much of a pessimist. Next you'll be telling me that the President is declaring war on other countries without congressional or legal approval.
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
Former assistant treasury secretary Emil Henry, writing in today's Wall Street Journal, points out we are not facing default at the current time--there is ample current revenue to pay current debt service. The conservative caucus is trying to force not default but restructuring, which is necessary to our continued success and even viability as a nation.
As for Mr. Clinton, his perspective is certainly altered by being out of office and no longer able to commit an impeachable offense--or should I say another impeachable offense.
Apr '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
Isn't this exactly what we as conservatives want him to do? Raising the debt-ceiling by fiat and without anything in return is a very unpopular choice according to the polling I'm familiar with. The Democrats seem to know this and are trying to increase taxes as part of the Grand Bargain, so that they feel they have gotten something.
I'm seriously beginning to think Obama is toast is 2012 and this would all but assure it. Listen to what Steve Wynn had to say about him today. He is completely out of touch with the American Way and businessmen just want him to go away so they can start investing and growing their businesses.
Mar '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
Mark Steyn's "monarchial urge" on display for all to see.
Mar '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
Good one Douglas, I was thinking of the term the left dredged up for Bush, Imperial Presidency.
Nov '10
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
If Obama issues debt without a debt ceiling raise, there is a very good argument that the new debt is not a valid debt of the United States and that it does not have to be repaid. Suppose that a mayor of a small town signed a note on behalf of his town for debt that was not approved by the city council. Do you think that the city is liable on that note? The answer is certainly not. Similarly, if Obama signs the USA's name to a note without appropriate authorization, the lender will be taking an awful chance that the Supremes will later determine that this is not a debt of the USA. My take is let Obama try and let's see what fool is willing to take that risk.
Mar '11
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
Mr Clinton is perhaps remembering happier times in the Oval Office.
Aug '10
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
“I think the Constitution is clear and I think this idea that the Congress gets to vote twice on whether to pay for [expenditures] it has appropriated is crazy.” - Clinton
Maybe I am incorrect here, but did congress appropriate anything, anything at all? I thought no budget had been past for two years. Or is my understanding of fiscal matters off base?
Aug '10
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
i know this is about the constitutionality of the matter, but still...
Dec '10
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
Well, I was gonna make the same point as B59, so I will just sit here and look purty, instead.
May '10
Re: Bill Clinton's Latest, Or Calling John Yoo
So if Congress, with the sole power of the purse, does not choose to spend more money than it possesses, the Supreme Court and the President will combine forces and do it without them?
That's how democracy works, right? Majority vote. Two out of three branches of government can overrule the third branch on any of its Constitutional powers.