Neil Macdonald, senior Washington correspondent for CBC News, has a nice little explanation for Canadians – Analysis: The perverse math behind the Republican budget showdown.

It is always worthwhile to see how others view what the US is doing, since most US commentators can’t shed their biases and report objectively.

He also explains something that has been nagging at me since the Cruz-athon. I was about ready to call one of my brothers who are both grandfathers and more current on the oeuvre of Theodor Geisel, as to why the use of Green Eggs And Ham was problematical. That’s in depth analysis when you cover details like that [or snark, if you are a blogger].

One of the best descriptions of the group of Republicans that are behind the current mess was given over 150 years ago in the Cooper Union Speech of future Republican President Abraham Lincoln referring to the Slave States:

Your purpose, then, plainly stated, is that you will destroy the Government, unless you be allowed to construe and enforce the Constitution as you please, on all points in dispute between you and us. You will rule or ruin in all events.

Knowing this reality, after the end of the Civil War the framers of the Fourteenth Amendment inserted Section 4:

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.

The framers knew that the Southern states would regain political power, and wanted to prevent them from reneging on the debt of the United States.

After the ‘Southern strategy’ the politicians from those states are now in the ‘Party of Lincoln’, and are talking about doing that very thing.

The Treasury has the legal authority to mint a trillion dollar platinum coin, depositing it with the Federal Reserve keeps the government well within the current debt limit and eliminates that leverage. It is legal. It is Constitutional. It is logical. Just do it and stop playing games with the whackoes in the House.

Note that this use is pay for current expenditures that have already been approved by Congress, it is not for any unapproved expenditures, so there is no conflict with the power of the Legislative branch. Congress passed the law that makes it possible.

Normally, a move like this would be inflationary, but this economy isn’t even warm, much less over-heated.

Position: 29.7N 42.0W [10PM CDT 0300 UTC].
Movement: Northeast [050°] near 7 mph [11 kph].
Maximum sustained winds: 35 mph [ 55 kph].
Wind Gusts: 45 mph [ 70 kph].
Minimum central pressure: 1010 mb ↑.

Currently about 1030 miles [1660 km] West-Southwest of the Azores.

It looks like it has found a path to follow, but has lost energy.

Here’s the link for NOAA’s latest satellite images.

[For the latest information click on the storm symbol, or go to the CATEGORIES drop-down box below the CALENDAR and select “Hurricanes” for all of the posts related to storms on this site.]