Lessons have been learned by both sides. I'm not trashing the Dems.

and the media will give them a pass and treat them with kid gloves
and by next summer this will be long lost in the fog of whatever bullshit they are manufacturing then.

To refresh memories.

One estimate is the shutdown cost = $24 B. What is the number of taxpayers? I don't know, but let's say that it is 0.15 B persons.

Then the GOP shutdown cost the average taxpayer = $24 B / 0.15 B persons = $160 per person. If you pay more than average taxes, you will pay more than $160. And, you will get nothing for that.

Anyone have a better estimate for the number of taxpayers?

it wasn't lost government revenue though. It was lost economic production. Not the same thing.

The math you are doing doesn't really apply.

...that effect won't last long enough with the annoyingly short memories and short attention spans of too many voters, not long enough to ensure any great effect in November 2014.

I hope that this episode has produced enough statements and quotes from the GOP to use during campaigns.

There are a lot of federal employees out there that I don't think will forget. However, I'm not sure they all have placed the blame squarely where it belongs.

...are the same guys that think the shutdown was a rousing GOP success and a great idea. Those guys we don't have a chance with - but there's a bigger percentage of independent voters, and young voters signing up every year.

I'm looking forward to 2014 now much more than I was a month ago.

We'll move on to the next crisis, and this will be forgotten. It might do some damage to those not in heavily gerrymandered areas, but otherwise I think (sadly) there will be little change.

I really, REALLY hope I'm wrong on this.

The base cant elect them, they need independents that's where they hurt themselves the worst and it was a deep wound.

They wont be going away but if you think this didnt hurt them because the base still supports them you ignore the political realities that they need to get elected.

They scared the bejeezus out of Wall Street - the debt default would have been a Biblical-level catastrophe, and unlike the last recession and the Lehman Brothers thing, there would be no bailout for the Wall Streeters - even the rich billionaires would be bleeding green.

They crossed the Money people and that means the long knives are coming out. It's like two wrongs are about to make a right!

The trend is clearly down.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Birds are territorial creatures.
The lyrics to the songbird's melodious trill go something like this:
"Stay out of my territory or I'll PECK YOUR GODDAMNED EYES OUT!"[/center][/font][hr]

Everyone knows at this point. There are entrenched viewpoints, of course, but those are subject to influences like social media, comedians, etc.

I think you underestimate the importance of this historical event! 144 Reps and 18 Senators voted to burn down the USA!