Brit Hume mentioned on Fox News that Obama can force the Republicans to raise taxes.  To read, see and listen to the complete transcript and video of Hume's commentary, visit The Barefoot Accountant on Understanding the Debt Crisis.

If the debt ceiling is not raised and the U.S. runs short of funds, Obama can pick which departments and programs to stop funding.  In essence, he has the power of a line-item veto in this unique scenario.  Under ordinary circumstances, of course, the President does not have the power to decide on funding, the power of which is invested in Congress.

Needless to say, a real leader would follow his principles and fight for them.  But we all know that Obama will cave.  He has certainly established a pattern already of appeasement, if not downright folding his cards before the hand is dealt.  He is not a fighter by temperament.  He would in all likelihood take a lousy deal, and then alibi his actions on the grounds that he could not risk jeopardizing our credit.  Remember alibi Ike?  Well, it’s alibi Barack deja vu all over again.

Imagine if Obama was the Colonel defending Bologne against the Germans during the Battle of the Bulge.  And then imagine the Germans asking Obama to surrender.  Could you imagine Obama replying, “nuts”?!  Perhaps, “chocolates, sweetie?”, but definitely not nuts!

I have little doubt that Obama would not have only surrendered Bologne but also would have thrown in the entire country of Belgium, hastening to raise the white flag even before the Germans had an opportunity to ask for a surrender.  With leaders like him during World War II (remember Neville Chamberlain?), we would, most certainly, have lost the war, leaving us with a statute of Hitler on every street corner.

Obama should never have left his monastic, sanctuary retreat at Harvard.  He would have been safe and secure there, without any need to take justified and calculated risks.  He lacks the stuff of leadership, which requires a modicum of courage.  He has consistently demonstrated his refusal to take and hold a position, preferring to appoint a commission to undertake that difficult task so he could hide behind its cover.  Isn’t that cowardice by definition?

We had a name for a guy like that when I was young:  a mama’s boy.  Let’s see, Obama’s dad deserted him when he was about 3, leaving his mom to raise him.  Hmmmmm.

The Barefoot Accountant