Instead, most seemed to enjoy their time alone, away from the prying reporters asking awkward questions about matters they were desperate not to talk about. “When I was walking into conference yesterday, there were only one or two cameras there and we are used to having 30 cameras,” said Rep. Mike Flood (R-Neb.). “It’s just freeing actually. It’s like being liberated.”

One Senate GOP aide marveled at how little the media was interested in talking to Republicans at all. “I could self-immolate in front of the Senate subway and people would still walk past me to chase [New Mexico Democratic Sen.] Martin Heinrich.”

It wasn’t just a feeling of relief. It was almost a sense of glee that their Democratic colleagues seemed under siege, finally getting the treatment from the media that has long been a staple of Republican gripes.