Repubs need to get through the lame duck session before jumping ahead .... my guess is that Harry/Obola will be looking to maximize their damage during that time .... AG confirmation of the most obnoxious, far left radical they can cram through, for starters.
They have to be very careful not to alienate voters more than they've already been alienated by giving the GOP potent ammo to use against them in 2016.
I don't think they will be openly defiant, but instead take a passive aggressive approach.