I think you are talking about exactly a year ago January 2012. The hopes were running high back then that Newt could win a few states from Romney so it was best just to tone it down here on him for about a month till that hope ran its course, which happened fast.
But even long before that I would get a few who would swear to me that Newt won a huge victory back then and was a role model for all other Speakers,
but I still remember those days and after Newt lost that fight Fed gubment employees I knew here who got paid for all three shutdown weeks off, and another whole free week for the late 1995 blizzard too, all on top of their regular generous leave. Yes, the shutdowns cost more money in the end. This made Republicans look like fools at the time.
Newt had a problem that he would open his mouth and say stuff that would give weapons to Dems to beat him in these fights,
Newt was always doing that.
If you are going to win a shutdown fight you must convince voters that its the Dem who is doing it, he is being unreasonable, petty, etc, you are being responsible, doing the best for the country, willing to go halfway. Its a stage,
Now in this case some of the taxes going up is an advantage House Republicans have in this fight that they didn't have in 2011.
“You got your way on taxes Mr President now its time to cut spending, You have taxed this country enough. tax and tax and tax, that is the only thing Dems know. ”,
see??? It works much better if Obama actually raised some taxes DUHHH!
2011 and 2012 were the misread delusional years for many Republicans :
“Americans will come out in mass and demand more tax cuts for 'job creators' (ie Mitt, Buffet, Forbes) , together with increased military spending while all other spending like entitlements are cut (except those right NOW >55) , and Dems wont come out and vote especially that 47%, and Obama probably wont run, and 2013 this country will be a conservative Mecca”
Well it didn't happen, that was never going happen.