As Republicans and Democrats have done each and every one of the last 17 times the government was shut down.

Paying the non-essential federal employees for their non-scheduled vacations is a bipartisan issue. This time the Republicans got to it first. It is a PR move to show they are not holding the individual employees responsible for the failures of Congress and the President.

This is not about the shutdown or who will fix the country. This is about control. Either the President can lead and the Congress will follow, or someone else will step up and lead and the Congress will follow. I don't know about you, but I have never been impressed by President Obama's leadership ability.