… For the Republican Party writ large, the shutdown is a political disaster. The only debate within the party is whether it amounts to a short-term political dip or a long-term collapse that could jeopardize its hold on the House and its chances to retake the Senate next November. For Cruz, the Texas Republican senator who has become the face of the uncompromising opposition in Congress, the last fortnight has been broadly successful as he looks toward a potential 2016 presidential bid.
In short, what the government shutdown has proved is that what’s good for Cruz is not good for the Republican Party nationally. [cont.]
Chris Cillizza, Washington Post