[Robert DeLong]

To avoid a downgrade, S&P said the United States needed to not only raise the debt ceiling, but also develop a "credible" plan to tackle the nation's long-term debt.

So S&P said kick the can down the road by raising the debt ceiling, but after that you really need to get serious about reducing the debt.

Of course trying to tackle it then and there was irresponsible on part of the Republicans (not that the GOPe stalwearts were serious about it either).

[Robert DeLong]

Dang fat fingers stalwearts=stalwarts.