IF, and the way the GOP is going this maybe a BIG IF, but if the GOP wins the WH anytime soon I think the Dems are capable of returning the favor of shutting down the government to get what they want,,
Once something works in DC both sides are capable of acting like children.. A good example of why Obama needs to break this current GOP extortion is what happens now with presidential nominations... Nominations now are routinely blocked for reasons that have nothing to do with the qualifications of the nominee. Politicians now know they can make the nominee a hostage in order to send a message or get the admin to change a regulation. Years ago that was unheard of.. Now it's routine.. The GOP has recently done this a few times..
Same thing with this government shut-down extortion.. If it is successful it will become routine.. That's why IMO many on the GOP side secretly don't want this tactic by Cruz and his fellow extremists to work any more then the Dems do..