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This summer economists and market strategists were divided: would or would not the U.S. slip into a double-dip recession? Economic growth in the first half of 2011 grew at an annual rate of just 0.9 percent and the nation's unemployment remained stuck near nine percent. The weekly economic data released by the government showed conflicting portraits of the nation's health; one week it looked like the U.S. would eek past a recession, while the following week's news supported the doom and gloom recession forecasts.

The bounce-back in third quarter GDP and November's small - but noticeable - drop in the unemployment rate seemed to allay recession worriers and conversations in the financial media shifted to an upbeat, positive tone. The U.S. was resilient! We're growing and next year will be even better! Really?

"We are ending the year on a strong note....but the impetus for further gains I think is just lacking," Michelle Girard, a

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The clock keeps ticking as Democrats and Republicans wrangle over a spending bill that will keep the government functioning though 2012. If no solution can be agreed to by midnight Friday, parts of the government will be forced to shut down. The Republicans released a 1,200 page, $1 trillion omnibus spending bill late Wednesday night which Democrats have vowed to defeat. In a press conference Thursday morning, House Speaker John Boehner said he felt "confident" the Republican measure would be approved; however, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi rejected the bill, warning that Democrats would not cooperate with Republicans.

"Politicians have taken it to the brink," says The Daily Ticker's Aaron Task in the attached clip. "Both sides are equally guilty of playing politics."

Washington has come this close to shutting down several times this year. Republicans and Democrats have given up little ground on policy and budgetary matters and partisan bickering this time not only impacts government workers and agencies, but could lead to a tax increase on all Americans.