In return for that federal pay freeze, Republicans will sit down at the White House tomorrow and compromise demand further capitulation. Here’s John Boehner and Mitch McConnell in a just-published Washington Post op-ed:

When congressional leaders of both parties meet at the White House today, all of us will have an opportunity to show the American people that we got the message of the elections earlier this month. Republicans heard the voters loud and clear. They want us to focus on preventing a tax hike on every taxpayer, reining in Washington spending and making it easier for employers to start hiring again. Today, Republican leaders renew our offer to work with anyone, from either party, who is ready to focus on the priorities of the American people.

Emphasis mine. All the polling data and expert opinion in the world won’t change the fact that, under most circumstances, Republicans act as if they’ve been given an overwhelming mandate from voters and Democrats do not.