The Republican Party since 1994 has been an ideological party. That's unusual in American politics, and it accounts for the dysfunction of today's politics.
The irony is that the Republican ideology is that of a modified form of anarchism, which is to say a negation of the state. The GOP simply doesn't believe the state should do more than maintain public order, defend the country and maximize corporate profits. Outside of that, the state should not really do anything.
But their abdication from participation in the processes of governance - call it McConnellism - has simply meant that the federal government gets to do more without their input.
Obama - being a centrist creature - wants a "Grand Bargain" that will likely involve giving away many of his party's important positions. But rather than engage that, the GOP has decided to walk away from table. Meanwhile, the size of the government is shrinking, ACA is going into effect with some success at lowering overall health care costs and more decisions about the exchanges will be made in Washington, which one has to think could be a precursor to Medicare For All at some point.
It is mystifying why the GOP can't realize its goals, because they are too intent on the purity of their victories.
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