Republicans and the media have tried shifting some blame of the shutdown to the Dems. When it is clear as the light of day that Republicans are the ones who want this to happen and are doing everything in their power to make sure it does happen.
In fact this whole shutdown was premeditated long ago by Republicans even before the 2010 elections when any sort of preliminary negotiations has even started yet:
In a fascinating interview with the National Review, Alaska Senate candidate Joe Miller said that in a private conversation with Mitch McConnell, the Senate Minority Leader expressed openness to the idea of a government shutdown.
"There was a comment made at breakfast this morning about shutting down the government, and he reacted in a positive way," Miller told the Review's Robert Costa. "I'm not going to quote him, but I think that he recognizes that that's on the table."
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/...
Republican pollster Dick Morris told conservative political activists that newly elected Republicans should shut down the government next year. Morris said the party must elect lawmakers who will stand up and say "No" to President Obama's requests for more government spending and predicted a repeat of how Republicans forced a shutdown under President Clinton after they won control of Congress.
"There's going to be a government shutdown, just like in '95 and '96 but we're going to win it this time and I'll be fightin' on your side," Morris said at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation Conference on Friday in Washington.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/...
Westmoreland said his caucus — presuming it takes control of the House come November — aims to pass spending bills that Obama is likely to veto. He predicted Republicans would not be able to override such a veto, creating a standoff that could cause Congress to grind to a halt.
“If the government shuts down, we want you with us,” he said.
The congressman recalled a similar shutdown that took place in 1995, when Newt Gingrich — also a speaker at the conference — was serving as House speaker. A future standstill could temporarily close national parks or delay payments from the government, Westmoreland speculated.
“We have put Band-Aids on some things that need to be cleaned out,” he said. "That is going to take some pain. There’s going to have to be some pain for us to do some things that we’ve got to do to right the ship."
As a vice chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, Westmoreland has helped with candidate recruitment for congressional races. He said the group has tried to enlist candidates who are more interested in tackling the country’s problems than getting reelected in 2012.
http://www.politico.com/...
The evidence is clear. Unfortunately the media and others will ignore the facts so they can push their predetermined narrative that Democrats must have some blame in the matter. When in fact this is what Republicans had planned all along. But you know it is not in good taste to point out that one side is to blame and not the other. The media must be balanced by drawing false equivalencies... Facts be damned!