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.

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.

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 …

Dems plan discharge petition to force vote on ending shutdown  —  House Democratic leaders will begin circulating a discharge petition Friday in hopes of forcing a vote on a “clean” spending bill.  —  GOP leaders have so far refused to stage a vote on the Senate-passed continuing resolution …