While I agree in general that the Repugnants have become more and more obstreporous in their behaviour, I think at least attempting to create a dialogue and negotiations has the virtue of pointing out just how ridiculous and entrenched their side has become, something that I think most reasonable people (and, despite media reports, the majority of Americans are still reasonable and moderate people) come to see as entirely untenable. So that their political base gets more and more radicalized and marginalized, and in the meantime the Dems can honestly point and say, "look, we tried to work with them on (name your issue), but see how they reacted," thus in essence showing themselves to be the more reasonable grown-up in the argument. And that is a useful thing in general, because it makes those Republicans who are not mad-as-rabid-dogs realize what those who are are doing to what is supposedly their party too, while at the same time it makes Dems look good.