Number 14 Dream

As the national debt ceiling negotiations seem poised to become as unhinged from reality as the "tea party wing" of the Republican party, a lot has been said about the possibility of President Obama invoking the 14th Amendment of the Constitution to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling. Being more familiar with the civil rights implications of that law, I wasn't sure what to make of that so I did something I suspect many "tea party" types probably don't do much. I read the US Constitution.

The relevant part is Section 4, which reads:

"The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned. But neither the United States nor any State shall assume or pay any debt or obligation incurred in aid of insurrection or rebellion against the United States, or any claim for the loss or emancipation of any slave; but all such debts, obligations and claims shall be held illegal and void."

Personally, I'm not quite sure it applies in this case, especially when Section 5 reads:

"The Congress shall have the power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article."

After all, if Congress (or at least its Republican "leadership") was actually inclined to enact appropriate legislation, we probably wouldn't be in this situation.

Everyday Chaos

Which belatedly reading yesterday's Washington Post, I had to laugh at the headline in the Metro section, "Traffic chaos in Bethesda feared". I appreciate that they were talking about the impact of the transfer of patients and staff from Walter Reed to the Naval Medical Center, but my first reaction was to think, "has this writer ever been to Bethesda?" Traffic in the DC area is like snow in Buffalo. As much as we say we hate it, if it wasn't here we'd have to find something else to talk about. Since that conversational vacuum would probably be filled with more politics, I'll stick with traffic. When it comes to moderation, I like to overdo it

The Nuge vs. Hussein B

Anyone who's been to a Ted Nugent concert (or read the opinion page of The Washington Times) in recent years has doubtless heard the rock icon make numerous disparaging remarks about President Obama. What most people don't realize is that this animosity actually has relatively little to do with public policy decisions. It's all about a song and a hard line drawn where compromise would have benefited all.

For many years "the Nuge" has wanted congressional recognition for his classic Wang Dang Sweet Poontang (possibly to replace The Star Spangled Banner as the national anthem - accounts vary widely). He knew he get no help from Michigan's senators Debbie Stabenow and Carl Levin, who he often referred to as "those [expletive deleted]", but when Barack Obama was elected to represent the neighboring state of Illinois in the US Senate he finally had hope.

This was not false hope, as Obama was known to be a big fan of the "Motor City Madman", but what he hadn't reckoned with was how much Michelle Obama disliked that particular song. In any case, during a meeting between the two men harsh words were exchanged when the future President suggested the equally classic Cat Scratch Fever as an alternative. Here again, accounts vary but most independent sources seem to agree that Nugent was pushing his luck with Hussein B (to use the future President's street handle) who was fully capable with putting a crossbow bolt up Nugent's "damn yankee".

Since then, the war of words has been unending, albeit one-sided as President Obama has chosen to take the high road. This schism between two men who each in their own way exemplify American individuality is a true American tragedy, all the more so because it could have been avoided if "the Nuge" had simply been willing to consider Cat Scratch Fever instead.

I am, of course, kidding about all of this.