Budget Woes

How is that we must raise the nation's debt ceiling to maintain our high credit rating.  We don't have the money to pay off the debt so we raise our borrowing limit, borrow more money to make debt payments, then all is OK?  How does that work.  Also, how is it that the current administration (they have all done it) can run up our debt and then without missing a beat cry out loud to the public that we must get spending under control?