During the government shutdowns of 1995 & 1996 all paid, non-essential Government employees weren’t allowed to go to work.
However, unpaid interns did go to work. That gave unprecedented presidential access to a plucky young intern named Monica.
Fingers-cross, maybe we will get another national soap opera and legal circus to distract us from important issues!
The Geek Whisperer 
This is also fun D:
Why is Government Shutdown Dumb? Because David Stockman approves it, says Dee Dee Myers.
http://www.vanityfair.com/online/daily/2011/04/hey-republicans-heres-one-reason-to-avoid-a-government-shutdown.html#entry-more