even if they lower it just a bit, for example, to a aa rating it will still raise the amount that the u.s. has to pay for treasury bills, and, that bill raise interest rates on home mortgages, car loans, and credit cards. now, fed chairman ben bernanke who testified on capitol hill yesterday and is back on the hill again today, says failure to raise the debt ceiling in time would leaded to a huge financial calamity that would add to unemployment and leave the economy in worst shape than when lehman brothers went bankrupt, in september of 2008. that, of course, launched the panic that put the country on the brink of depression, led to the bailouts of aig, and, two of the big three automakers. and that is what and, a recession that we are still climbing out of. martha: that is true. wendell, thank you very much, wendell goler reporting from the white house and we have new comments from mitch mcconnell as well, we ll get to you, very fiery statements, coming from senator mcconnell about