http://www.nytimes.c...08tribe.html?_r=1

He makes a good argument, but he's a good lawyer and can make a good argument on just about anything. I dunno who is right.

If something that Obama can sign isn't active by the time the SS checks need to go out, I assume Congress will buckle and something quick will be done (as Larry on MSNBC keeps shouting, it only takes a single line in a bill to raise the debt ceiling and it can be done by voice vote in 15 minutes).

If Congress still doesn't or can't act and the Treasury can't send the checks soon after August 3, I think Obama will do something. What? I dunno. He hasn't really ruled anything out, but it's clear that he thinks it's Congress's responsibility and he doesn't want to take that away from them. He's been pretty categorical that the US won't default.

The $2T platinum coins seem like a gimmick, but it may be less Constitutionally dubious than simply ignoring the limit.

Cheers,
Scott.