Who Really Wants a Shutdown?  —  President Obama does, but the GOP's strategy is a lot less clear.  —  For people who keep saying they don't want a government shutdown, Washington's warring parties are sure acting like they can't wait for it to happen.  Since the policy stakes …

EPA riders axed, lawmakers say  —  An evolving deal to avoid a government shutdown would include a study of the economic effect of environmental regulations rather than Republican riders to block EPA rules on climate change and mountaintop mining, senior Senate Democrats and a key House Republican say.

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.

Muted Abortion Response Speaks Volumes  —  The GOP reaction, or lack thereof, instead suggested a shrugging acceptance of one more round of talking points before the final brokering.  —  For Speaker John Boehner, seen here at a January mock swearing-in of the 112th Congress, the budget battle's bottom line is spending cuts.

The Brave and Serious Mr. Ryan  —  I mentioned earlier that if asked to choose an adjective to describe the budget plan presented by Rep. Paul Ryan, I would suggest “partisan” or “gimmicky,” as opposed to “serious” or “brave.”  Most budget proposals are both partisan and gimmicky, so this is no particular knock against Rep. Ryan.

Ludicrous and Cruel  —  Many commentators swooned earlier this week after House Republicans, led by the Budget Committee chairman, Paul Ryan, unveiled their budget proposals.  They lavished praise on Mr. Ryan, asserting that his plan set a new standard of fiscal seriousness.