Shut it down, then.
Call them on it and hold them accountable for a change.

It just gives them more time to celebrate their Christmas Christianity excessive personal spending. Gotta get in that last minute shopping for gifts bribes. 

I'm with oskar on this one. Sometimes it seems it has to become painfully clear that the repubs are complete screw-ups.

Dems will probably roll over again.

I too think the Dems will proably roll over again if they haven't already.  I haven't heard or read any news yet this morning.  I think the Dems needs to put on their big boy/big girl pants and call their bluff.  The Repubs know how well it worked the first time they shut down he government.  All they need to do is ask Newtie.

They already have: http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/15/politics/congress-payroll-tax-cut/index.html

"A Democratic source told CNN on Wednesday that Senate Democrats now plan to drop the so-called "millionaires tax" and will offer a new proposal instead."

No surprise, eh, Sid?

Nope...

Keep the government running by presidential order and tell the Repugs to get stuffed.

I doubt he can do that, but regardless of how the Dems appear to be playing lap puppy - the strategy appears to be working because it's the repugs who are looking bad.

I suppose there could be legal challenges but would the Repugs be dumb enough to go to court to shut down the government?

Obama wouldn't try that because he's smart.  He knows it would be challenged immediately by both Democrats and Republicans, and would be struck down in court immediately.  It's a clear violation of the Constitution, and something that could open him up to impeachment if he were to pursue it.  If he followed oskar's advice and persisted, he would very possibly end up as the first President to be removed from office.

Instead, the Democrats and Republicans reached a compromise and have settled on a funding bill.  It's a compromise Democrats are much happier with than the most conservative elements of the Republicans.

Whatever... another roll-over by the Dems.