Republicans have the right—and perhaps even good reason—to oppose the president’s policies. But they can’t honestly reject a person who hasn’t been nominated, a budget that hasn’t been submitted, or a prison plan that hasn’t been read.

Could there be one or two Obama nominees before the Banking Committee who don’t deserve a hearing? Perhaps—but not every single one of them. When asked about the blockage, committee chairman Senator Richard Shelby of Alabama told the New York Times, “My primary is Tuesday! We can talk about this later!”

At least voters will know where his priorities lie.

Here’s the irony: This level of obstinacy makes it impossible to hold Obama and other Democrats accountable for their own role in Washington’s dysfunction. I haven’t shied away from criticizing the president’s leadership or the unyielding liberal front presented by congressional Democrats. There are no white hats in Congress.

But what the GOP is doing now is so obvious and destructive that the party’s record-low approval rating will dip farther. The public will lose more faith in Congress, which is already less popular than lice. And congressional Democrats, held in just slightly higher regard than their GOP counterparts, will no doubt return the favor and obstruct the next Republican president.

Then again, if Republicans in Congress aren’t even willing to fake it, there may not be a GOP president anytime soon.