That only works when the governing party cares about governing. The Republican Party has made it painfully clear over the past decade that they care more about

That only works when the governing party cares about governing. The Republican Party has made it painfully clear over the past decade that they care more about winning than governing. The initial stages of this were when they vowed not to let any of Obama's priorities pass, to "make him a one-term president" (in their own words). They have to win, and they have to punish the loser.