Non-tyrannical government cannot function without the trust/good-faith of its citizens; the US is rapidly running out of that currency and the 'default' there will mean the end of governance as we know it in the United States.
If instead of "trying to save face" the government would own up to what it's doing/said that would go a long way toward halting the bleeding-out of the people's trust; however, the government has taken to justifying all of its actions with "because I can". That attitude is exactly why Nancy Pelosi laughed when questioned on the Constitutionality of Obamacare. That attitude is exactly why the Supreme Court legalized larceny (Kelo v. New England). That attitude is exactly why the Executive branch violated the legal rights of GM bondholders. That attitude is exactly why LTC Col Lankin will be sacrificed in an unjust trial.
The Government has been sowing lawlessness for decades; now the harvest is coming in.
No argument there.