"The general strategy of just not allowing government to function if you know you’re going to lose is a bad precedent."

Agreed. I really think the two-party system will lead to long-term strategic paralysis of the US government. I'd say it's already undermining our ability to implement infrastructure re-capitalization programs or maintain consistent international relations/foreign policy with anyone other than the UK, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Israel (the last two spend a TON of money bribing our politicians from both parties).

If we get into a shooting war with China this century (which I fully expect), only then will we see the folly of these bi-partisan obstructionist tactics.