I saw in the last two days that there was some theory that Magoo could avoid the debt ceiling by invoking the fourth section of the 14th Amendment. I confess I had no idea how that could be. So I did a little research, not a lot because you know my legendary laziness, but it turns out that that section actually deals with the obligations of the federal government. The section is spelled out in the link below.
The purpose of the section was to make sure that debts of the north incurred during the civil war would have to be paid and that even if the carpetbaggers from the south took over Congress, they could not stop payment of the north’s debts nor pay the debts incurred by the southern states during the war.
There are a lot of legal positions on both sides. Some saying that because of this section the debt ceiling is unconstitutional and others arguing to the contrary. I believe the latter because to rule to the contrary would be to negate the constitutional requirement that all spending bills must originate in the House. And also because as far as I know the contrary argument has never been put forth before or attempted to be used by any president.
But if Magoo tries it, it will no doubtedly go to the Supremes and I like my odds with this court!
Hopefully this makes some sense.
Is he even smart enough on his own to know it exists?
No but he’s been told.