The objective, even fetishizing, of the GOP for a government shutdown has been palpable since the 2010 election. But the reality is, it's the economic recovery--tepid as it is--that is what they really want to shut down.
The GOP has not made a single, meaningful, proposal to improve either the jobs picture or the overall economic climate since their assumption of the House majority. Indeed, they have made every effort to focus on anything but these big priorities that are shared by the broad electorate, with the exception of a few crazy zealots.
However, it is also clear that the fervor that drove republicans to the polls in November is already waning. Independents are moving back to the left, while the far right is becoming disillusioned with the lack of really big spending cuts. The only chance for the GOP is to hope that the economy does not sufficiently recover before the 2012 election cycle.
Unfortunately for them it is. So unfortunately for us, rather than HOPING the economy doesn't recover adequately, they are doing everything possible to derail. Including a government shutdown.
While the GOP is likely to take the blame for the shutdown, they are probably gambling that if they can make it last long enough, the economy will stall again, and by election day, the economy, not the shutdown will be foremost in people's minds. And since they have proven that they care nothing about the welfare of the average American family, they have nothing to lose, as the economy probably is on track to sufficiently recover by Nov. 2012 that it won't sweep more of the GOP into power.
They have everything to gain, and nothing to lose, with a government shutdown and an induced slowdown to the recovery. Dems must make this clear in their communication to the public to generate pressure that even the average GOP rep can't ignore.