After all, they are still looking to celebrate Obamacare’s demise.

They’ve tried to defund, delay and eliminate portions of the president’s health care law, and they’re still not wavering. Instead, they are demanding that Senate Democrats and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) come to the negotiating table.

But at the first post-shutdown meeting of House Republicans on Tuesday, conservatives ignored questions about a realistic way out of the current standoff. They didn’t answer the question of whether they continue to seek — as a condition of the government re-opening — the defunding of Obamacare, delaying of the individual mandate or elimination of subsidies for Hill lawmakers and staff.

( POLITICO’s full government shutdown coverage)

All but 12 House Republicans voted for the last resolution before midnight on Tuesday to keep the government funded with changes to Obamacare.

At least one Republican — fiery Iowa Rep. Steve King — said the stalemate would help clarify things for voters.

“We passed the witching hour at midnight last night and the sky didn’t fall, and the roof didn’t cave in,” King on Tuesday afternoon. “We’re closer now to getting an agreement. But we’re closer also to the American people knowing what’s going on. This will be decided in the hearts and minds of the American people, who say hold your ground — we don’t want Obamacare — save us from that. Then we can hold our ground and get that done.”

“Why is it us [that has] to give up the fight? How about we actually negotiate?” asked Oklahoma GOP Rep. Markwayne Mullin, summing up the feelings of his colleagues.

( PHOTOS: D.C. closes up shop)

On shutdown Day One, conservatives — many of whom were elected in the 2010 tea party wave — didn’t see an endgame the defunds Obamacare, nor a way to delay the individual mandate. They ignored questions about what victory really meant at this point.

“It’s not about us or them — this is about America,” insisted Georgia Rep. Austin Scott (R), when the question was put to him. Asked again, Scott repeated the exact same answer. Asked a third time, Scott lowered his voice, “It’s not about Obamacare, it’s about America.”

He wasn’t alone in expressing that the pathway forward isn’t up for discussion.

Georgia GOP Rep. Phil Gingrey, also from Georgia, simply read talking points, including boiling the path forward down to three Twitter hashtags. The first criticized the Senate for failing to negotiate the government funding bill, the second attacked Obamacare and the third slammed lawmakers for not signing onto a measure that eliminates health care contributions for members, their staffs and other political appointees.

( WATCH - Man on the street: Shutdown reactions)

But as for what those negotiations should accomplish, Gingrey wouldn’t say.

“We want [the Senate] to come to the table,” said Gingrey, a 2014 Senate candidate.

Conservatives most common refrain was to lay blame on the Senate.

“We’ve got to have [the Senate] come to the table,” Rep. John Mica (R-Fla.) said. “You’ve a situation where they didn’t show up to work on Sunday, didn’t come to work until Monday after 2 [p.m.] and then rejected even our most modest proposals.”

“Democrats have been unwilling to compromise,” Michigan GOP Rep. Justin Amash aid. “We offered four proposals — we didn’t a single counterproposal of any note and here we are.”

( WATCH: Obama defends health care glitches)

And many took to just criticizing the law instead of saying what, at this point, they think can be done to change it.

“The whole issue is about fairness and treating the American people the same way,” Rep. Charles Boustany (R-La.) said. “Bottom line is, we want the American people to be treated fairly and we want the Senate to act.”

The first shutdown in nearly 20 years holds distinct political risks for House Republicans with the 2014 midterms approaching. But conservatives are not worried. Instead, there was a chorus of criticism for Democrats and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

“There is a risk for Democrats — they’re the ones who have appeared to the public as being totally unwilling to compromise,” said Amash said. “We’re not wanting to shut down the government. What we want is for government to be funded but for there to be a compromise.”

( PHOTOS: 25 unforgettable Obamacare quotes)

“I cannot explain why Harry Reid is so mean-spirited and so determined to keep the government shut down that he won’t even appoint conferees,” Rep. Louie Gohmert of (R-Texas) said when asked what could be accomplished by conservatives. “All he’s got to do is appoint conferees and then we have an agreement.”

“We’ve been as reasonable as we can possibly be,” Rep. Jim Jordan of (R-Ohio) said.

Oklahoma GOP Rep. Jim Bridenstine, a big supporter of attaching defund Obamacare provision to the government funding bill, said he is unconcerned about being blamed for the shutdown.

“The Senate should be willing to talk to us — it appears they’re not,” he said. “When the American people realize the Senate doesn’t want to talk to us, they’re going to make up their minds.”

( Also on POLITICO: Collision course: CR and debt ceiling)

Added Idaho GOP Rep. Raul Labrador: “I think that if we continue to hold strong, and we continue to take reasonable steps. … …I think the American people will understand that all we’re trying to do is to get to the table.”

“When the Democrats won’t even deal with conference on this issue, I think it’s telling you what their position is these proposals.”

No one, except maybe King, would say says they think the shutdown is a good thing.

“They would like for us to get the government going again, and I think the best way to do that is for the Democrats to sit down with Republicans and think of the best way forward,” Texas GOP Rep. Lamar Smith said. “We’re happy to continue to represent the American people and say members of Congress should not get special treatment.”

( Also on POLITICO: Understanding Obamacare guide)

But specifically, what can be gained? “I don’t know what’s going to come out of it, I just know people expect Republicans and Democrats to sit down and talk and right now the Democrats are not doing that,” Smith said.

Seung Min Kim contributed to this report.