WASHINGTON - The nation's divided Congress battled down to the wire this week over its budget for the rest of this fiscal year -- hoping to avoid a government shutdown. The $1.01 trillion spending bill must be passed before midnight Thursday, though at this writing few were placing any big bets on meeting that deadline. Still, Congress has dodged budget deadlines before and may do so again. If for no other reason than to drive a stake through the heart of a bitterly divided, unpopular legislature that can't seem to agree on anything except going home for the holidays. This...