Ted Kaufman
visiting professor
of the practice
at Duke Law School
and former U.S. senator
We are in uncharted waters. No one really knows what is going to happen. We have never had a challenge to shut down the government and default on our debt at the same time. When you read the floor debate especially from a large number of brand-new senators and representatives, it is clear that they do not appreciate the danger of the crisis they have caused. It creates the visual image of children playing with matches while being criticized by grownups in their own party like John McCain and Bob Corker. Let’s hope the cooler heads prevail.