Remember just a few days ago when it was necessary to pass the "compromise" legislation raising the debt ceiling? We were told that if we did not do so right away, our credit rating would be downgraded?
A lot of new congressmen forgot their pledges to hold the line on debt, believing that the impending evil of a downgraded credit required them to agree. They bargained though, and got some vague promises of spending reductions, to be decided by a "Super Committee" headed by the most profligate of all Presidents.
They sold out for a pig in a poke, and created a monster with supra-constitutional power.
Well, the credit rating was downgraded. . . . BECAUSE we did this...
Those whose news sources are a bit more fair and balanced (LOL) knew all along that even if the debt ceiling was lifted, the agreement as crafted was not enough to protect our AAA credit rating. Most rating agencies have said all along that unless the cuts were at least $4 trillion and there were some revenue increases included, we were still at great risk for a credit downgrade.
And everyone needs to keep in mind that budgets are based on EXPECTATIONS and if revenues fall short of what's expected, or expenses are greater than expected, even a balanced budget ends up in a deficit.