Geithner unsure if U.S. credit rating to be downgraded (Reuters)

[chill_wind]

Geithner unsure if U.S. debt to be downgraded: report

WASHINGTON | Tue Aug 2, 2011 1:38pm EDT

(Reuters) - Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said he is not sure whether the bitterly fought debt agreement to be considered Tuesday by the Senate will avoid a downgrade of the U.S. top-tier credit rating.

Geithner, in an interview with ABC News aired Tuesday, also said he thought the risk of the U.S. economy slipping into a double-dip recession was low, but added that the battle over the debt limit and the threat of default had damaged confidence in the economy.

"I don't think that that risk right now is very significant," he said of a double-dip recession, in the interview which was recorded Monday afternoon.

Geithner said the ratings agencies were "going to take a careful look" at whether Washington politicians have the will to act to bring deficits under control.

"It's not my judgment to make" whether the deal is enough to avoid a downgrade, saying that was up to the ratings agencies.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/08/02/us-usa-debt-geithner-idUSTRE7712WR20110802


U.S. AAA rating can still get negative outlook: Fitch

Reuters US Online Report Politics News

Aug 02, 2011 15:25 EDT

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Fitch does not rule out slapping a negative outlook on the United States' AAA rating when it concludes a review of U.S. ratings later this month, David Riley, the agency's primary analyst for the United States, said on Tuesday.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2011/08/us_aaa_rating_can_still_get_negative_outlook_fitch.php

http://www.reuters.com/finance

[derby378]

1. If we lose the AAA rating, it makes me wonder if this was all in vain

Too many people have been intentionally dragging their heels simply because they wanted to bring President Obama to his knees. Their greed and ruthlessness will be the undoing of us all - because now we know just how powerful they've been allowed to become.

[aquart]

2. Still wanna hang him.