Who said anything about paying down the debt?!? I'd be happy with eliminating the deficit, or heck just reducing it.
But nope! There's one thing everyone can agree on: MORE SPENDING.
Reducing the deficit doesn't help much ... it's still a deficit. Any deficit at all means the .gov spends more than it earns, which increases the debt. And what's needed is to eliminate (or, at least, significantly reduce) the debt. The problem is the debt -- the deficit is just the way we get (and increase) the debt.
What the .gov is doing is effectively the same thing as if every month instead of paying the balance due on your Visa card you only make the minimum payment. Do that, and it won't be long before that balance grows to a level you don't even dare look at.