Jon Stewart interviewed a guy (http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-august-10-2011/john-coffee?xrs=share_copy) named John Coffee from Columbia U. on the Standard and Poor's issue. He mentioned that the financial outfits that received AAA ratings before tanking had paid S&P for their services. There was some speculation that the US govt. would have retained its ratings if it has been a client of the ratings organization.