This is where we are up to: Shutdown Day 17: White House, Dems disagree on definition of ‘negotiating’.

The White House went on the offensive Monday in what likely will be a prolonged battle with congressional Democrats, arguing the party refuses to seriously negotiate an end to a partial government shutdown and readying a presidential public relations blitz.

This is a modern Battle of Stalingrad. Neither side is likely to surrender till they are freeing to death and eating rats.