http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/01/1348568/-Public-would-blame-Republicans-for-a-shutdown-again

snip:

As Republican congressional leadership struggles with a rabid caucus, as usual, bent on forcing a government shutdown, as usual, polling shows that the public would blame Republicans if government grinds to a halt, as usual.

I disagree. I think Teahaddists learned they can can shut down the government and then win control of Congress. I am not saying it's logical, but it's probably what they learned.