The way the system works, either Harry Reid or Obama are going to be the last one holding the ball when the government shutdown/debt default decision is made.
Boehner’s strategy is very low risk, because most Americans don’t want Obamacare. Obama has said that defaulting on the debt would be catastrophic, and he is going to be the one making that decision. He will be faced with a choice of ego vs. default. Either way he loses catastrophically, like what happened to him in Syria and with Snowden.
He thinks he can continue bullying, but has burned so many bridges with the American people that it is getting much harder for him. Bitter flat earthers who cling to guns and religion (his words) are sick and tired of this abusive tyrant.
2012 election map by county. Blue is Obama’s party.

Interesting that most of New York, Pennsylvania, California, Oregon and Washington voted against Obama.