Michael Steele was chosen to run the RNC because of two things.
1) Republicans had a wide range of talented people. Steele is talented, strong willed, super conservative, and black.
2) He's a complete jackass. I mean this in a nice way.
Basically, he's thinking long term. In 8-12 years when the next recession/disaster hits, the Republicans will be able to say, "look, it's all the failed ideology of the other party."
In committee, in person, the two parties are being very civil to each other under Steele, McCain, McConnell and Obama. The Republicans had a lot to do with the shaping of the bill in committee - these things don't leave committee on a simple majority (usually).
I personally think Obama has been pretty open to Republican input, he's prob
ably spent more time with Senate and House Republicans in the last two months than Bush or Clinton ever spent with the opposition in a year (minus post-9/11).
Steele has basically said that he's happy that they are opposing him just for the sake of it.
It's normal.
For the next 4-12 years, Obama and dems will keep trying (knowing full well that it takes two to tango) and I think that strategy will work until the next elction changing disaster.
I would cite regulation, but I know you will simply ignore it.
