How Democrats Got a Spine  —  The Republican Party taught them how to be uncompromising.  —  It's easy to forget, but this year began with a nick-of-time congressional compromise.  At the 11th hour, with Washington's supply of clichés nearly depleted, the House and Senate approved a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff.

GOP finds its shutdown message  —  Republicans are seeking to paint Democrats as the “party of no” to help dig themselves out of a hole on the government shutdown.  —  The effort is aimed at softening the political blow of the shutdown while buying Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) time to figure out an end game.

Parties Race to Use Shutdown for 2014 Leverage  —  Republicans and Democrats have wasted little time trying to use the first federal government shutdown in a generation for political advantage ahead of next year's midterm elections, seizing on the plight of furloughed workers …

The Seinfeld shutdown  —  Quick: What do Republicans want in exchange for ending the government shutdown?  If you know the answer, congratulations — because Republicans sure don't.  —  When this saga began, it was about defunding Obamacare.  House Republicans passed legislation to keep …