The most powerful three words in the English language are “No I Won’t”. Especially when backed by the conviction to accept the consequences. The GOP has finally realized that they will be pilloried in the press no matter what they do. At that point inflexibility is what will eventually bring the other side either to reason or defeat.
The next two years are going to be ugly. I have serious doubts if the GOP leadership has the convictions to make this stick. But in a very real way they have little left to lose through defiance, and nothing to gain by negotiation. They are like the marines on Guadalcanal. There is no place to run, and the other side has made it clear they aren’t taking prisoners, so you may as well dig in and make a fight out of it.
I saw something along these lines on a youtube video showing someone resisting intrusive questions at a federal “checkpoint” on the highway.
“Sir, I need you to pull over to secondary inspection.”
“No, thank you. Am I free to go or are you detaining me?”