How did that shutdown strategy work out for Republicans? From USA Today:

The impasse that shut down much of the federal government for 16 days has left Americans in the sort of throw-the-bums-out mood that presaged two recent tumultuous elections in which control of the House of Representatives shifted from one party to the other.

In a nationwide USA TODAY/Princeton Survey Research Poll, just 4% of those surveyed — equal to the margin of error — say Congress would be changed for the worse if nearly every member was replaced next year. Nearly half say it would work better. About four in 10 say a wholesale overhaul wouldn’t make much difference.

Those findings are similar to the public’s views in previous years when voter dismay cost one side or the other control of the House. In 1994, when Democrats lost their majority, 40% said Congress would be better off if most members were replaced. In 2006, when Republicans lost control, 42% held that view.

Now 47% say Congress would work better if nearly every seat changed hands next year. (The question wasn’t asked in 2010, when Republicans regained control.)

More, about swing districts, or at least the creation of new swing districts:

One more sign of trouble for the GOP: By nine points, Americans who live in districts they say are represented by a Republican say the deadlock has made them less likely to vote for the incumbent. Those who say they are represented by a Democrat are by one point more likely to support him or her.

Ah. So what’s Rush telling the base? Let’s listen:

We learned that one guy standing up can stop the status quo in its tracks.  Can you imagine in this last five years, if we would’ve had five or ten Ted Cruzes? Can you imagine the difference?  Can you imagine? If we had five or ten Ted Cruzes, we’d win a lot of debates.  If we had 45 Ted Cruzes in the Senate, we’d come close to winning every vote…

A Republican House member, burned by this thing, suggests that compromise “to come to a solution” might be the way forward. RINO Alert! Here’s Rush:

Look, that’s just… You’ve heard it all before.  What does that mean, “working with others to come to a solution”?  That means caving in to the Democrats, in real life.