Government Shutdown: CBS Poll

"CBS News' brand new national survey has four major take-aways" on the federal government shutdown, writes Guy Benson @ Townhall.com.

(1) Obamacare remains unpopular.  
(2) Government shutdown is even more unpopular, with 72 percent of the country opposed.
(3) Americans narrowly blame Republicans more than President Obama (44R/35O/17both), though the split is far less lopsided than it was in 1995 (2-to-1 blaming the GOP).
(4) The public overwhelmingly supports a compromise solution to resolve the impasse:

Most Americans want compromise. Majorities think the President and the Democrats in Congress (76 percent) and the Republicans in Congress (78 percent) should compromise in order to come to an agreement on the budget. But there are some party stalwarts who don't think compromise is the way to go. Thirty-eight percent of Republicans say members of their party in Congress should stick to their positions even if it means not coming to an agreement, while 36 percent of Democrats say that about their party.

James Taranto @ the Wall Street Journal asks, "Could Republicans be Winning?"

...we've been surprised this week at the Democrats' tactical maladroitness. As Josh Jordan quipped yesterday on Twitter: "Since the shutdown began, Obama and [Senate Majority Leader Harry] Reid have taken tough stands against the two most villainous groups: WWII veterans and kids with cancer."

[snip]

Even diehard partisans in the press are on the defensive. "Come On, No. Harry Reid Doesn't Hate Kids With Cancer," reads a headline on The Atlantic's website. When you feel compelled to answer a question like that, it's a sign you aren't winning the argument.

As Benson points out, government shutdowns are common occurrences in recent history.

Democrats controlled at least one house of Congress throughout Reagan's two terms, during which time there were eight separate shutdowns. Here's the liberal Wonkblog's timeline of the 17 shutdowns since the late 1970s.

What may not be so common is that government shutdowns may no longer be an automatic public relations win for liberals.