Democrats look to the future.
For Republicans, the future is now. Whatever negative thing that might happen in the future from their course of action, they do not worry about. They will cross that bridge when they get there.
That is why they, unlike the Democrats, would have gone for filibuster reform, if in the same predicament as the Democrats in trying to get laws passed.
That is why they passed the Bush tax cuts, even though they knew they were not permanent. That was no concern to them. That was way in the future and they would cross that bridge when they got to it.
This is a difference in the Parties. Republicans disregard everything if they can gain power right now. Democrats are cautious. They worry that they might lose the Senate in a couple of years and they would be under the same laws as the minority if they were to pass laws that appear to be necessary for a functioning government. The Republicans believe they can change the reality as it comes before them. They don't worry about such trivialities.
= new reply since forum marked as read
They've been keeping that powder dry for so long, it should be ready to go...just when they really need it... 
