Then you were too busy playing X-Box and not actually paying attention to the world around you then buddy.
GOP driven government shutdowns did hurt the GOP big time during the Clinton and Obama years. Newt completely fucked up the shutdown optics (making it seem like he shut down the government because Clinton wouldn't give him a decent seat on Air Force One) in 1995 and allowed Clinton and the media to paint the GOP as petty shits. Bob Dole in particular, NEVER forgave Newt Gingrich for the shutdown. Dole believes the GOP had a decent shot to beat Bill in 1996 after the trouncing Democrats received losing control over both branches of Congress. But then Newt came along and shut down the government over petty seating arrangement issues and the public turned back to the Democrats as "the adults in the room.
Similarly, the shutdown during the Obama administration had even WORSE optics as the GOP didn't even hide the fact that they were doing it for spite and malice to punish people for the sin of voting in Obama. If you want to know WHY Ted Cruz is such a bette noir for the left and why moderates and undecided folk actively CHEERED Donald Trump buck breaking Cruz to his will? The shutdown is why.
Government shutdowns are like invading Russia in the winter. You never fucking do it if you are a conservative minded person.