I know it sounds insane, but Brad Delong, Matthew Yglesias, and Yale constitutional scholar Jack Balkin all think that Obama can continue to pay the bills by minting gigantic platinum coins.

Look, this may be crazy, but it's right there in the constitution. And when you have this nonsensical debt ceiling law (to authorize payments for spending you already authorized in the budget bill) and opponents who are not willing to compromise, you need to be able to show that you've got an alternative so you're negotiating from a position of strength.

Obama should just issue an Executive Order abolishing the debt ceiling.

Done.

I definitely think that in the case of a gridlocked Congress, the Executive Order should be used more. You don't like the Order? Pass a law revoking it!

I don't know if i like the idea as much if it's a Republican in the White House, but ultimately the people elected to govern should be able to actually govern.

I agree, but it seems that if Bush could put out Executive Orders to declare torture legal, than Obama can do to prevent a second 'downturn.'

The real problem is the post above, however.