After the House of Representatives signed off on the "fiscal cliff" deal approved by the Senate, President Barack Obama commented that Republicans and Democrats can work together. Indeed. Under threat of a cataclysmic debacle, perhaps.
The prospect of a coalition among moderate Republicans and Democrats in the House has some entertainment value. Most likely, however, the Republicans will try to resume their solid anti-Obama stance. They probably think they can hold the country hostage to the debt ceiling authorization, despite the president's warning that he will not play that game again.
I wonder if the president is considering the following two options. First, a simple refusal to negotiate. The result of this would be clear — the United States would default on its payments. Second, an emergency order to lift the debt ceiling, citing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. Either of these would be political hardball of the first order. But each would force the Republicans to negotiate on substance and not threats.
Harry Roy
Troy