I am sure this has something to do with the USA's credit being downgraded again from AA+ to AA.

[link to www.bloomberg.com]

"U.S. debt has increased to 100 percent of gross domestic product, while debt climbed 23.6 percent from 2008 to 2010, the credit-rating firm said in a statement today. Egan-Jones lowered the U.S. grade to AA+ in a July....."

Yeah - vote for the 'O' if you want more of the same.