Can Obama declare a national emergency in response to a shutdown?

[LetTimmySmoke]

It looks more likely that a shutdown will drag on. As it does, more and more harm will come to the country, such as troops not getting pay, mass job losses, and possibly an economic collapse. Given these circumstances, to what extent can the president declare a national emergency if the shutdown begins to drag on for weeks or more - using said emergency powers to keep the troops paid and to order the government to go back to work with pay?

I'm curious about what you think about this both legally and politically.

[zeemike]

1. He not only can but should.

That is exactly what we need....a big bold step to show us he cares...even if it only symbolic.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

8. "A symbolic Bold Step!"

What am I missing? :shrug:

[Blue Meany]

2. Maybe he can declare the Repubs in the House enemy

combatants and send them down to Guantanamo for further "negotiations"...

[Drale]

3. The Tea Party needs to be classified a terrorist organization

because they have done and are still doing more harm to this country then al qaeda ever has.

[Renew Deal]

4. Good point. Maybe he can finally open the FEMA camps

:hide:

[supernova]

5. Oh You!

:D

[Turbineguy]

6. He can put into action

those powers the repubs gave Dubya. The repubs won't like it but that's too bad.

[Davis_X_Machina]

7. Politically I think it's a great idea....

...it's clear that democracy is shot to hell in this country, and I thank God every morning that we get to impose a Democratic monarch.

Because that's a good form of government -- perhaps none better.

Just think, only a few years ago I couldn't sleep at night because of the risk of the GOP imposing a Republican monarch. Thank God for recent elections.

Because that'd be a bad form of government -- perhaps none worse.

NB This is a totally principled position, and does not contain any hypocrisy. The principle is 'four legs good, two legs bad.'