Republicans are watching the new Obama administration unfold before their eyes. Others have ideas about what they should and shouldn’t do. But the key thing to remember is that it is not the Republicans’ show. They have no real power, at least in the initial stages, to block nominees and push through their own agenda. So what should they do?

First, Republicans–as they have done with the rumors of the Hillary Clinton selection for Secretary of State–can certainly encourage and support appointments. None of these will be “their” picks — that’s the price of losing. But assuring the President Elect which people will engender more support and bipartisan praise is one way to have influence, however mild. Second, they can be firm about opposing horrid ideas — such as the auto bailout — and forcing Democrats to carry the vote for poorly conceived and unpopular measures. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is already taking this approach:

Senator Reid has not yet provided us with the text of his proposed spending bill, or the cost to the taxpayer, or its impact on the deficit. So it would be a real challenge to promise any level of support or opposition sight unseen. And while Sen. Reid’s public comments referenced our private conversation on the level of support for his yet unwritten bill, we don’t yet know if there is even sufficient support from within his own ranks. It would be helpful to know if a majority of his caucus even supports what he will propose. The silence from the Democrat rank and file on this matter has been deafening.

And finally, to the extent they are able within the rules of each body, Republicans in the House and Senate should be offering alternatives to the Democrats’ initiatives. If Republicans don’t like the bailouts, then put up a GOP plan for tax cuts and eliminations (e.g. a corporate tax moratorium). These measures will have no hope of passing, but at least voters may hear that there is another approach.

What Republicans can’t do is delay for the sake of delaying. The voters already think poorly of them, and that would only make matters worse. None of this amounts to much. But that’s what comes from losing consecutive elections.