Are Republicans now politically invested in economic failure?

In 2006-2007 when the Iraq war was grim and being used by Democrats as a political football, Republicans cried "foul" saying that the Democratic Party was politically invested in the failure of the war and John McCain said that they were "cheering for defeat," and "celebrating surrender." Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid's comments that the "war is lost" inflamed The Bush Administration and bitterly divided congress over funding for the war. The Democrats saw this opportunity as a useful tool to impress on the public their ideas against "wasteful spending," which the war was equated to at the time. The ill fortunes of the war, and the declining popularity of both the war and President Bush, created a friendly political climate for the Democrats, who gained considerable seats in the house and senate in 2006 and 2008 mainly on this declining popularity.

What a difference two years makes.

The universal Republican rejection of yesterday's house bill on the stimulus was seen as a victory by both parties. Democrats were able to get their bill passed, even with 11 defectors, and Republican house leadership retained control over their caucus, despite heavy courting by President Obama in the days leading up to the vote.
If the Republicans accused the Democrats of using the war to political advantage and "cheering on surrender," then they may find themselves in tricky territory now as their rejection of the bill is total, if the economic news grows worse and worse over the coming months then their reserve will harden and it will be the democrats navigating tricky territory.
Former Clinton aide Phil singer had this to say, which sums it up perfectly. "Many will see that the GOP can't be seen as rooting for failure - presumably Republicans won't be dumb enough to be overt about it. But rest assured, there won't be too many profiles in courage emerging from the red side of the aisle to work with Obama if the economic news continues."
You could've said the same thing about Democrats two years ago, although conditions drastically improved in Iraq, it wasn't enough to soften the views of the general public against the incumbent party's control of the white house, and the democrats may be on that same road this time around.
No one ever said Washington was fair, although it is a city known for it's ironic sense of humor.