Seventy percent of Americans disapprove of the way congressional Republicans are handling the crisis, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll released on Tueday. What’s more, 51 percent of those said they disapproved “strongly” of the GOP’s actions. Congressional Democrats didn’t fare much better: 61 percent disapprove of their actions. President Obama’s approval rating, meanwhile, ticked up slightly, with 45 approving of the way he has handled the negotiations, up from 41 percent last week. He still has an overall 51 percent disapproval rating, with 39 disapproving “strongly.”

Also, in an Associated Press-GfK survey released Wednesday, expectations are affirmed that the GOP may end up taking the biggest hit in public opinion; 62 percent placed blame on Republicans for the shutdown.

"Somebody needs to jerk those guys together to get a solution, instead of just saying 'no,'" said Blair, an independent. "It's just so frustrating." It's also costly: She's paid to fly with a group to four national parks in Arizona and California next month and says she can't get her money back or reschedule if the parks remain closed.

Fame is fleeting, and Ted Cruz's 15 minutes have run out; "Much of the country draws a blank on Republican Ted Cruz of Texas despite his 21-hour Senate speech before the shutdown. Only half in the poll were familiar enough with him to register an opinion. Among those who did, 32 percent viewed him unfavorably, 16 percent favorably.