Now, 1 p. M. Have a fantastic weekend, everybody. Neil let it be known this is the week the president tried to become a dictator. I know, i know, it sounds crazy, and, man, do i hope im wrong, but this is the week i discovered a president who sized up an Opposition Party that was very weak. This was the week that barack obama came in peace to rip our constitution to pieces. Welcome, everybody, im neil cavuto, and i know, i know, i know what youre thinking, neils lost. You might be right on that, but i know im not wrong, not one bit. Now, again, i know that sounds mad, but a lot of folks are mad, very mad at a president increasingly willing to bypass congress and bypass something else, the constitution, to get what he wants whenever he wants it and get it fast. Just read this weeks ill call em takeover tea leaves. Vice President Joe Biden saying the president is exploring executive orders to combat gun violence to, essentially, confiscate guns. The Second Amendment be damned. The same president were told now considering executive actions to enact Climate Change measures, those opposed be damned. And timely to this whole debt debate going on in washington, the same president who supported saying the constitution allows him to raise the debt ceiling on his own, again, congress be damned. Add it up, im telling you, barack obama is doubling down. And heres the kicker. With plenty of compliant democrats in congress to help. But those democrats might regret what theyre aiding and abetting, because theyre the ones wholl be fumbling and fuming. When nancy pelosi pushes the 14th amendment to give the power to bypass congress, she is giving him the power to bypass her too. You dont need a trillion dollar magic coin to realize this is nothing less than a high stakes power grab. Now, its not unusual for president s of either party to try. It is very unusual for so many in both parts to lay down and let him do it. All right, here to hash it out, constitutional expert ilya shapiro and sabrina schafer as well as the wall street journals steve moore. Steve, a disturbing series of events, to put it mildly. No question about it, neil. And, look, we have a threebranch system of government in washington. The president is the chief of the executive branch, that means the president doesnt make the laws, he executes the laws that congress passes. And, you know, im in austin, texas, today. Here in texas everybodys been talking about this. What is with all these executive orders . What gives the president the authority to do this . And the one that, you know, im most interested in, obviously, is whether the president will try to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling without approval of congress. And that is the scuttlebutt right now in washington, that the president is simply going to do it whether Congress Authorizes that extension or not. Neil you know, sabrina, its odd that this is occurring the same week we saw the movie lincoln honored with 12 oscar nods. Of course, a lot of people point to the fact that Abraham Lincoln, you know, habeas corpus went way after and way beyond what constitutional powers he was granted, and critics say this president is, essentially, doing the same. I always remind people with this flippant comment, i knew Abraham Lincoln. Abraham lincoln was kind of an historical friend of mine. This guys no Abraham Lincoln, nor are the circumstances the same. What do you say . Youre exactly right. The difference is Abraham Lincoln had his priorities in order, a one of the real problems with president obama is his priorities seem to be a mess. Instead of talking about spending control, were talking about gun control. Instead of talking about solid, longterm Economic Solutions to help turn around the economy, were talking about minting a trillion dollar coin. This is a president who seems to be sort of thumbing his nose at what really needs to be done in this next term. I mean, instead hes doing a power grab to secure his legacy. Neil you know, ilya, hes not the first president to try to go beyond an election and take what was a victory if terms of a in terms of a striking mandate. Fdr did it, Richard Nixon tried it, george bush in his reelection tried it. Are there differences here . Anything noteworthy here . I mean, obviously, hes trying to get past a resistant congress to a lot of his proposals, and this styying of a lot of his proposals. Are you worried about the way hes doing it . Well, of course, im worried about it. This is why we have three branches of government. Any president of any party at any time is going to try to expand his powers. The nature of any public official whether youre a lowlevel bureaucrat or the president to do so. But we have in our constitutional system checks and balances both horizontally in terms of congress and the federal judiciary and vertically with federalism. And if courts enforce those structural protections for our liberties, then well be a lot better off. Neil you know, i was just thinking, sabrina, know, of bill clinton when he knew he would be challenged on some of the executive orders he gave and executive actions he took, he was quite aware of the distinct possibility that courts would overturn him, which many of them they did. But the damage was done, and he got what he wanted originally, and to undo it easier said than done after the fact. Is this this president s strategy as well . Im wondererring if he just feels extra confident. A lot of people thought obamacare would be overturned, and it was not. Neil true, true. Here we are seeing the debris thats left in its wake, and its not good for the economy or peoples liberty liberty. So i think this is a president who has a lot of extra confidence. Im just thankful someone like yourself is actually talking about this because really the conversation all this week has not been about this power grab or executive orde, but about a gender imbalance in the secondcabinet. How unimportant when you consider what were talking about here. Neil yeah, you know, these executive orderlies could be piling up orders could be piling up like planes at laguardia. And im wondering what happens. Once the president issues the order, you do it. You do what he says and departments operate accordingly. It could be months if not years later before theyre overturned f theyre overturned. So what are you envisioning in this term . Okay. So heres the problem. I mean, weve been rightfully critical of the president for this power grab, but let me say this, that i think also at fault here are the Court Systems and the congress. If theresident is encroaching which this president is doing on the legislative affairs of the duties of congress, then it is incumbent on congress to assert its authority. And, now, a lot of neil how do they do that . Do they go to the court . What do they do . Theyre not doing it. You were talking about executive orders, but lets talk about a lot of these regulations, for example, on Climate Change. The congress when it passes these Appropriations Bills, for example, the money that funds the epa can put language in Appropriations Bills saying, look, none of this money shall be used for Climate Change or whatever it might be. So i fault congress as well with. Even the republicans. If they are concerned about this, which they say they are, they have to get tough with this president in the way they deal with him and spend money and give agencies money. Neil ilya, it seems like the administration wants its cake and eat it too. I mean, it can use the 14th amendment to force executive privilege on just going ahead and raising the debt ceiling, but ignore t 2nd amendment and confiscate peoples guns. Im being a little flippant, but to make the point that they pick and choose their battles and the appropriate ammunition. Sure. It reminds me of a New York Times oped from last week saying we should throw out the constitution, oh, except for these parts i like. Neil thats right. Very good point. And the thing is even if i just said that all president s have tried to expand their own powers, what is unique to this one is just the amount of government by regulation by these administrative agencies that are seemingly unaccountable to anyone. I just saw a front page article in the Washington Post earlier this week how the last congress was the most unproductive, they didnt pass as many laws thatsrobably a good thing theyre not passing laws but the agencies have been the most productive in history. Exponentially, every two or four years the federal code grows exponentially, and thats really where much of the government is done now whether were talking environmental regulation or whether were now going to be talking about gun confiscation. Neil you know, sabrina you know, neil . Neil go ahead, steve. I having . About this 14th amendment issue because this is actually gaining currency, no pun intended, with respect to many people on the left saying the president has a unilateral power to raise the debt ceiling, and that is craziness. If you look at the 14th amendment, it says the full faith and credit of the u. S. Debt will be honored. And, of course, it will be even if we dont pass a debt ceiling on time because the first thing that gets paid, you and i have talked about this many times, the first thing that gets paid neil well, the lawyers argued that out in court, and thats what gets ridiculous. But, you know, sabrina, heres what worries me. Weve already soon an effective strategy on the part of the white house to marginalize the Republican House and make it sort of like the last part of the negotiating process on the cliff deal where it was take it or leave it, and youre going to look like obstructionists if you just leave it. So the house cowered and went ahead and accepted a deal. But they discovered a wisdom in that strategy to not only push the house aside, but maybe bypass it entirely. And i think thats a growing trend. What do we do . What do we say to follow be up on it . To follow up on it . Again, i do think the sort of growth of this Administrative State is what were all concerned about. Look, i just went throughthe process of trying to navigate the fdas prior notification system. It was a nightmare. And now were watching whats happening with the Consumer Regulatory Agency and housing regulations and what thats going to mean for banks and for consumers. I think all of this so much is happening behind peoples you know, people are seeing. Were not hearing whats going on between the lines, if you will. And, again, the onus is on congress to write these laws in a w that the courts dont have to read in between the laws and that limits the amount of power these regulatory agencies actually have. Neil well, the agencies are the ones calling the shots as you folks pointed out. Thank you all very, very much. Um, well try to keep the country together n. The meantime, you all know superheroes by now, right . The one, yours truly, fighting for truth, justice and the american way out of all of this spending. Well, theres a new superhero and she thats right, she is not a fan of your saintly spandexed superstar, and she is hot on many my trail because something i said has her hot and bothered, and its not just the sight of me in this incredibly formfitting suit. You will never guess whats got this crusaders cape in a knot. I will give you a hint, i think its something to do with this bizarre image of jerusalem today. Snow in jerusalem. And im not snowing it. Though i will tell you this though i will tell you this caped chall officemax has exactly the ink. Though i will tell you this caped chall your business needs. At prices that keep you. Out of the red. This week get a bonus 15 itunes gift card with any qualifying 75 ink purchase. Find thousands of big deals now. At officemax. We asked total strangers to watch it for us. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. Ill be right back. They didnt take a dime. How much in fees does your bank take to watch your money . If your bank takes more money than a stranger, u need an ally. Ally bank. Your money needs an ally. Nothing. Are you stealing our Daughters School supplies and taking them to work . No, i was just looking for my stapler and my. This thing. I save money by using fedex ground and buy my own supplies. Thats a great idea. Im going to go. We got clients in today. [ male announcer ] save on ground shipping at fedex office. At legalzoom, weve created a better place to handle your legal needs. Maybe you have questions about incorporating a business youd like to start. Or questions about protecting your family with a will or living trust. And youd like to find the right attorney to help guide you along, answer any questions and offer advice. With an a rating from e Better Business bureau legalzoom helps you get personalized and affordable legal protection. In most states, a legal plan attorney is available with every personalized document to answer any questions. Get started at legalzoom. Com today. And now youre protected. Neil well, dont look now, america, but there is a new crusader tugging at my cape, and she aint happy. Not with my physique, as if. [laughter] im heroically trying to rein in no, no, no, she wants to pile on. Its true. The United States government is funding a video game that features a female superhero fighting Global Warming and pushing for more outofthisgalaxy bucks that it will take to wage this fight. Youve got more than just me standing in your freespending way. [laughter] look who i have here. Youve got no less than wonder woman melissa francis. [laughter] shes actually sitting right now in your way. P, the mighty melissa, former child actor star who knew Michael Landon personally, basked in the love and glow of millions of viewers internationally, not to mention a bursting trust fund before she even had braces. A woman who did more in her life before going on to harvard and becoming a business geek then realizing she had to be a business anchor tv geek, unfortunately at the wrong network, later becoming an even bigger business geek at, finally, the right network. A tv star who speaks of money as easily as i do, a woman who has done more to speak of the virtues of capitalism in one lifetime than any hastilysketched Washington Common creeton could in five lifetimes. I bring in now, the superhero who not only combats Global Warming as a crutch, melis creates Global Warming just flying over and ogling pan kind below. Wonder woman. Man kind. I think thats the best intro ever. Ever. Um, i wish my thighs looked like that. Um neil i wish that illustration looked like me. What do you think of this . Theyre actually doing this to sort of make heroic. At least you look more like a superhero. I love it. Neil im getting our graphics did you make one of those big enough for me to take home . Neil your next appearance fabulous. Neil well, were going to leave that alone. All right, so, this government tack to try to make spending, i guess, heroic no, i mean, we are having a lot of fun here, and iish this were a joke. Neil well, i am. They are really giving a prize to somebody who wrote a video game, you know, and theyre debuting it on womens, National Womens day, interNational Womens day. Neil thats right. And this, you know, hero is going to come out, and she attacks Global Warming. And its 100,000 grant for the people who went ahead and did it, and this is our taxpayer dollars hard at work, which is appalling to me. Im wondering, do these people know were broke . I mean, have they looked at the budget lately . Neil we know where they stand on the Global Warming debate. That doesnt shock me. But then to put our or money on it and using a character to sell it and push it, it is a little obsessive. Sell it to our children. Im just wonder, maybe the superhero could come in and balance the budget. Maybe the superhero could come in and do some math, teach our kids some math. Maybe she could teach our kids how to, you know, write a computer program. Theres a million things it could do. Neil this was the week if you think about it, melissa, right, we had all these, you know, heroic feats like a trillion dollar coin right. Neil the 14th amendment, to avoid the underlying problem spending. Right. Neil and addressing it. It is weird. It is weird with. Theyre totally ignoring it. But im actually serious about the video game. Theyre trying to shove Global Warming down our throat and make all our kids environmentalists. Thats well and good. Why dont we teach them math . Teach them how to balance their checkbook . Why dont we have her come down and frack our way to energy infence . We could be doing neutral things that would actually educate them, or we could neil you could actually have them start with congress on that. Yeah. Neil and then work their way to the american public. Thats right. [laughter] neil 100,000 or no, youve got to have kind of misplaced priorities to even entertain mething like this in an environment like this. I mean, the whole capital system is burning that theyve got control over, and theyre doing something goofy like this. Well, it was the National Endowment from the arts, just in case everybodys wondering, thats whos behind this. Collected the taxpayer money together and sat down and thought about how should we pirg out how to bestow this upon, you know, worthy folks neil its clearly aimed at the young. Oh, yeah. I guess, they want to insure that its a builtin base of supporters going forward. Neil but the idea being you need more money to fix this problem with money you say we dont have. Right. Were absolutely broke, but were going to train kids that they should be battling big oil more than anything else. Before you learn how to do math, before you learn how to read, before you learn how to balance your own checkbook, before you learn how to balance the countrys checkbook which, i admit, is near hi i