We're in line for three major showdowns. We're already had one, which was the government shutdown, won by Speaker John Boehner. The Democrats wound up giving away more than the opening bid, all because some people threatened to hold their breath until they turned blue, which about two-thirds of the country was hoping they'd try.
The next big vote will be the debt ceiling, then the budget itself. So far, the score is Boehner 1, Obama 0. Boehner had once said he'd be an "adult" on the debt ceiling, but, since beating the administration on the shutdown, he's feeling his oats and thinking that maybe he won't be such an "adult" after all.
Matt Yglesias reminds us that not raising debt ceiling does not shut down the government. It limits expenditures to actually-received tax revenues. The President apparently has considerable discretion when it comes to the allocation of these funds.
The President could, for example, postpone farm subsidy payments. He could tell Boeing and Lockheed that they'll get their checks as soon as the debt ceiling is raised, but, until then, his hands are tied by the House majority.
Which is what Lyndon Johnson would do. He'd say, "Well fellows, it appears that you have just given me dictatorial power over who receives government payments for whatever-whatever, and, you know what? Not many of your constituents, unfortunately, are going to be getting checks from the government for any reason since we're in this, you know, extraordinary situation, which you fellows brought on."
That's what LBJ would do, but not, alas, President Obama.
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