People in any job will tend to do nothing if their employer is ok with it.
GOP reps have two employers: the people who give them money and those who give them votes. There is some overlap, but the big donors are fewer in number but bigger in individual contributions and demand specific deliverables in return for their patronage while the votes are mostly static and reliable and will usually be there no matter what based on the alternative.
Doing nothing, meaning blocking left wing legislation, is important, costs them nothing, it’s easy to do and pleases both of their employers. Passing conservative legislation on the other hand only matters if it mollifies their monied supporters who will abandon them if they don’t deliver. Everyone else gets the shaft because they’ll vote for them anyway even if they don’t deliver. It’s a shi—y situation.
Enjoyed reading your reply. Very astute post.
They dance to the tune of the big donors, no question about that. What is particularly troublesome IMO is the Republican penchant for deceiving their voters. They always over promise and under deliver. Most people would not continue to purchase any product that repeatedly failed to meet expectations. But as you say, they vote for them anyway. Go figure.
One notable GOP scam is to tell their voters — every cycle — that they need bigger majorities to get anything done. If only you’ll elect more Republicans then we can get things done. Amazing how effective that disingenuous ploy works for them.