No Accord in Budget Talks as Policy Fights Hamper Deal  —  WASHINGTON — Another day of intense negotiations between the two parties failed to yield a budget deal on Thursday, leaving the federal government hours from a shutdown.  —  After the third round of White House talks in 24 hours …

Both parties continue talks over elusive 2011 budget deal  —  Gallery: Government shutdown: Democrats and Republicans have so far failed to reach an agreement on the 2011 federal budget, increasing the likelihood of the first government shutdown in more than 15 years.

Bachmann wants ‘clean’ bill to fund government for one week  —  Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.) expressed support for a one-week government funding bill approved by the House, but suggested it should be stripped of language dealing with abortion.  —  In an interview with CNN's John King on Thursday night …

Three Anti-Abortion Republicans Tell House GOP To Drop Planned Parenthood Rider To Avoid Shutdown  —  If Congress fails to reach a budget deal, the government will shut down at midnight tonight — an event that would hinder economic recovery and withhold payment to soldiers.

White House hopes last-minute heroics keep government running  —  Republicans have hit President Barack Obama for being out of touch, disengaged and unwilling to lead on the budget negotiations — and Democrats aren't wild about his taste for last-minute heroics either.

As Latest Talks on Budget Fail, Democrats Cite Abortion Funds  —  WASHINGTON — Congressional budget negotiations broke up before dawn on Friday without an agreement, putting the government on a path to a shutdown when financing for federal agencies runs out at midnight.

Corrected Brookfield tally puts Prosser ahead after 7,500-vote gain  —  By Jason Stein, Laurel Walker and Bill Glauber of the Journal Sentinel  —  In one explosive stroke Thursday, the clerk in a Republican stronghold tilted the tight Supreme Court race in favor of Justice David Prosser …

Reading Romney's Mind  —  This has been my best week in politics since John McCain lost to Barack Obama.  —  I face two huge problems: getting nominated and getting elected.  —  To get nominated, I need to discredit the Tea Party before it can veto me.  —  To get elected, I need a double dip recession in 2012.

Dissents Of The Day  —  The in-tray is still bulging with fury over Paul Ryan.  I find the arguments bracing - and in themselves evidence that Ryan's proposal has already helped move the debate to more earnest grounds.  A reader writes: … Anything that even hints at sacrifices from the elderly …