Standard & Poor's has been wrong before.  But they're right now.  —  Standard Poor's decision to downgrade the United States has led to a lot of criticism of Standard Poor's.  The White House called their performance, which included a miscalculation of about $2 trillion, “amateur hour.”

Math Error Fuels Fight Over Rating  —  A mathematical error discovered late Friday by Treasury Department officials threw into limbo, at least temporarily, plans by ratings firm Standard & Poor's to downgrade the top-notch AAA credit rating the U.S. has held for 70 years, people familiar with the matter said.

United States of America Long-Term Rating Lowered To ‘AA+’ Due To Political Risks, Rising Debt Burden; Outlook Negative … TORONTO (Standard & Poor's) Aug. 5, 2011—Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today that it lowered its long-term sovereign credit rating on the United States of America to ‘AA+’ from ‘AAA’.

S.&P. Downgrades Debt Rating of U.S. For the First Time  —  WASHINGTON — Standard & Poor's removed the United States government from its list of risk-free borrowers for the first time on Friday night, a downgrade that is freighted with symbolic significance but carries few clear financial implications.

S&P Strips U.S. of Top Credit Rating  —  Unprecedented Downgrade Comes After Last-Minute Standoff; Treasury Says Decision Is ‘Flawed by a $2 Trillion Error’  —  A cornerstone of the global financial system was shaken Friday when officials at ratings firm Standard & Poor's said U.S. Treasury debt …

TRENDING: GOP candidates slam Obama after downgrade  —  Washington (CNN) - Republican presidential candidates issued harsh criticism of President Barack Obama Friday after the credit rating agency Standard and Poor's announced it was downgrading America's long-term debt status.

Why S&P Has No Business Downgrading the U.S.  —  Standard & Poor's downgrade of America's debt couldn't come at a worse time.  The result is likely to be higher borrowing costs for the government at all levels, and higher interest on your variable-rate mortgage, your auto loan, your credit card loans, and every other penny you borrow.

Questions abound after agency downgrades U.S. credit rating  —  (CNN) — A day after Standard & Poor's rating agency downgraded the U.S. credit rating to AA+ from its top rank of AAA, there were more questions than answers Saturday about what effects the move will have on the economy and American consumers.