Last week, during an aside in his speech at the Values Voters Summit, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) shared an insight into the timid appeasers comprising GOP congressional leadership. When he first entered the House in 2006 the talk was of the big things the Republican majority was going to accomplish.
Then he attended a GOP House conference meeting and found leadership worried. They explained that yes, the plan was to do big things. But there was "a small chance" Republicans might lose the majority. So to play it safe, the leadership wants to do small things, win the election and keep the majority.
Then, they'll do great things.