Home  »  Politics  »  U.S. Debt Default: An Impeachable Offense?

U.S. Debt Default: An Impeachable Offense?



Jul 26, 2011 10 Comments ›› Pat Dollard

The Week:

As Washington’s debt ceiling stalemate threatens the American economy, conservative Republicans warn of dire consequences — for President Obama

Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) took the rhetoric in the debt ceiling debate to a new level on Monday, saying via Twitter that President Obama could be impeached if he lets the U.S. default on its debts. King said there’s no reason to even suggest default is a possibility on Aug. 2, when the Treasury Department says the government will run short of money to pay its bills, because, in King’s words, “the 1st dime of each $1 of revenue services debt,” so while we might fall short on other financial obligations, the U.S. will always pay its debts. Rep. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) has also mentioned impeachment, should Obama raise the debt ceiling without congressional approval. Is impeachment really a possibility, or is this just wishful thinking on the part of conservative Republicans?

Let’s hope the GOP tries this nonsense: “Impeachment would be a good thing,” says Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog. Not because Obama deserves it, but because such an attack “without any semblance of an impeachable offense would smack some sense into America.” It would prove once and for all that our political system isn’t broken, it’s “being destroyed by a specific cabal of sociopaths known as the Republican Party.”
“Impeachment of the president? Would that also count as ‘both sides are to blame’?”

Impeachment should be on the table: Rep. King is right, says J.D. Longstreet at American Conservative Daily. “There will be no default — unless Obama wants there to be a default.” And if Obama torpedoes the economy by refusing to make debt payments or, as he has considered, raises the debt ceiling without congressional approval, he’ll be putting his own political aims ahead of the American people, and the Constitution.
“Obama is in over his head … again!”

Republicans might try impeachment, but not over this: “I’d be pretty surprised if the debt ceiling leads to impeachment,” says Jonathan Chait at The New Republic. The mainstream GOP is not going to such extremes yet. But if the GOP misses its “one real chance to oust Obama — the 2012 elections — “the impeachment sentiment currently lingering around the margins [may move] toward the mainstream of the party.”
“Obama impeachment watch”


  • Gator

    Obama is dumb like a fox! He will let this go to the final hour and then invoke Executive privilege.
    He will raise the debt limit and then let the court battles begin. It could be done and has been done before..Then he will lay the blame solely on the Republican Party and mainly on the Tea Party or
    As I gather the John Birch Society. Once in the courts it could take years to solve.

  • Gator

    Obama is dumb like a fox! He will let this go to the final hour and then invoke Executive privilege.
    He will raise the debt limit and then let the court battles begin. It could be done and has been done before..Then he will lay the blame solely on the Republican Party and mainly on the Tea Party or
    As I gather the John Birch Society. Once in the courts it could take years to solve.

    • Anonymous

       At what point is the last straw that the Kenyan-born Muslim has done????

      He pulls the shit your talking about, and it should count for the MILITARY TO DO ITS DUTY FOR ONCE AND REMOVE HIM!!!!!!

    • Anonymous

       At what point is the last straw that the Kenyan-born Muslim has done????

      He pulls the shit your talking about, and it should count for the MILITARY TO DO ITS DUTY FOR ONCE AND REMOVE HIM!!!!!!

    • Anonymous

       At what point is the last straw that the Kenyan-born Muslim has done????

      He pulls the shit your talking about, and it should count for the MILITARY TO DO ITS DUTY FOR ONCE AND REMOVE HIM!!!!!!

    • Navy_Patriot

      So, just to be clear, you are advocating for a military coup?

      Not going to happen, dude. The military all take an oath on enlistment or commission:

      I, (NAME), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.America is not some pathetic third-world banana republic. Our military actually sets the standard. If you have a problem with that, you’re more than welcome to take a hike.And I am not even going to address your retarded birther mythology, past mentioning that it’s retarded and proven wrong. Nor that Obama is not a Muslim.

  • Gator

    Obama is dumb like a fox! He will let this go to the final hour and then invoke Executive privilege.
    He will raise the debt limit and then let the court battles begin. It could be done and has been done before..Then he will lay the blame solely on the Republican Party and mainly on the Tea Party or
    As I gather the John Birch Society. Once in the courts it could take years to solve.

  • Anonymous

    …”he’ll be putting his own political aims ahead of the American people, and the Constitution.”

    So what’s new, why should today be different for the imposter-in-chief, just another day in the office for B. Hussein O?

  • AboutToBegin

    there are countless issues why he should be impeached…let me remind you of a couple… retaliation to the Attorney General…..oh and here is another,  Operation Fast and Furious and how he has tied our hands in the wars which has directly killed many Americans! How you ask…oh the little catch and release policy which allows the insurgents to go back and plant more IED’s.

    IMPEACH and then HANG for Treason!

    -aTb

  • Daniel Matthews