[Hoot Gibson]

Check it out. I hate the deficit/debt as much as anyone, but if you think that a small downgrade from AAA to AA plus is bad? Think about it this way: That occurred with us PAYING our bills. Imagine had we not raised the debt, and NOT paid our bills.

As a radical conservative on fiscal issues, I believe the debt ceiling to be borderline unconstitutional, and I'm comfortable saying that. The 14th amendment can and should be used if congress ever fails to raise the ceiling. The fact is, Congress is the ONLY entity that can authorize spending now and in the future, thus they HAVE to raise the debt ceiling or else the credibility of that very body must be called into question.

Some of you guys on here need a lesson in civics. You can hate the politics, but you must respect the rule of law, and ethical government. I fall into this category.

Please give us a civics lesson, sir. Explain why Congress cannot constitutionally refuse to raise the debt limit and force the President to pay our creditors through tax revenues, by furloughing federal employees, and by selling assets to private parties such as most of the states of Alaska and Nevada.

Had the US defaulted on its debts, it would have been Obama's decision to do so. Had he made that decision, Obama would have been the person violating the law - not Congress.