The problem with defaulting is that it may or may not have been so bad by itself but it's going to be a huge bitch now that one party has realized that their popularity next year is directly tied to how badly the middle class gets fucked over by it.
Assuming you're referring to the Democrats, well, that still gives them quite a lot of motivation to pass something that un-fucks the middle class.
As for the Republicans, we'll see. There's a contingent of the party now that seriously will not budge no matter WHAT happens, and that's why we're here now.
Some of the Tea Partiers will probably change their stance after a default (assuming one happens and we don't just slap a McConnell Band-Aid on it, which seems like the likeliest outcome at this point but which itself depends on House Republicans budging), either motivated by reelection or just because some of them are not entirely insane. Scott Brown, for example, has proven willing to cross the aisle in the past (though again, he's a Senator and the problem is the House). The question is will ENOUGH of them change sides?
I don't think anything's going to pass the House without pressure from the GOP leadership, and pressure from the leadership hasn't helped so far -- and they're only going to exert so much pressure if they can't get at least 50% of the caucus to go along with them.
(Also, while I think Boehner would play ball if the rest of his party would go along with it, Cantor has made it pretty clear he won't.)