Actually I can see why they would do this. This way they look like they are willing to work with him and if there is a breakdown in him getting what he wants from them then they can say that they were playing nice with him and it was HE who screwed things up by not being nice back.
They may have taken it a bit far, but I bet they know better than we do how to fool him into believing that he has them around his finger.
Now, if they start giving in to him then they are dead to me as well.
Start?
Fool him into thinking he has them wrapped?
Dear God.
*shakes head*