Without cooperation from the Democrats the GOP would have been blamed not credited for reform and for hating minorities. The media would still be going on today about how much the right hates black people if you had taken away those subprimes back in the day when we had the majority.
I understand your point.
But the GOP was faced with two choices:
a. Do the right thing for the country...and be pilloried by the press and the Democrats.
b. Or do nothing...only to have the economy collapse...and be pilloried by the press and the Democrats.
What, exactly, did McCain, Bush & Company gain by not rocking the boat?
Being passive and non-confrontational has failed to gain the party any credit. And, at the same time, the entire country has had to pay a terrible price.
Perhaps, it's time to try something else -- in the hope of arriving at a different result: To stand firmly on principle and fight for what's best.