Debatable in the sense that failure is a win for them a lot of the time. Competence isn't the main goal. The irony of the Democrats threatening to shut down the government over The Wall is that shutting down the government is like 95% of what the 'Baggers hope to accomplish. The whole idea of competent government is anathema to the ideals of these people.In the US, the Tea Party came from behind to put a bunch of neophytes into office... who then totally failed...
A lot of people are pretty happy to see government "Shut Down". The truth is much isnt actually shutdown but its good PR, and people think waste is slowed down during that time. I think it would be different if food stamps stop coming out, government pensions stopped, social security stops or wars get put on hold. Instead we shutdown parks and pause research which just inconveniences people and is rather annoying.