"
He had a GOP congress! Zilch progress was made."
In the contemporary political atmosphere, no progress is much better than progress. See the information in
comment #20.
Keep whatever administration tied up with an opposing Congress, until we reach the end of the default process. Repudiations of debt would mean that they have no money for making trouble. Big layoffs, offices closed. No regulations (or regulatory enforcement), ladies and gentlemen, start your manufacturing engines again in freedom.
And no, they can't simply print the money they need. Big government spending requires money of real value. After repudiations of debt, the dollar would fall like a rock.