Perhaps there is no better example of the choice Capitol Hill Republicans face, as they consider how to play their weak hand in the 111th Congress, than their initial reactions to Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) being named President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff.

Within minutes, House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio), evidently unimpressed with Emanuel’s ability to extend the olive branch, called the selection “an ironic choice for a president-elect who has promised to change Washington, make politics more civil and govern from the center.”

But, within minutes of that terse statement, Boehner’s fellow Republican, Rep. Ray LaHood (Ill.), who is retiring this year, called Emanuel a “terrific” choice.

“The position requires someone who is in sync with the philosophy, principles and values of the president, and Rahm certainly fits the bill. At the same time, the chief of staff must act as the president’s gatekeeper, as well as someone who can challenge the president. Rahm also fits the bill in those areas,” LaHood wrote.

LaHood, who served as then-Minority Leader Bob Michel’s (R-Ill.) chief of staff when Emanuel worked in the Clinton White House, says Emanuel has demonstrated his ability to reach across the aisle. LaHood has actually co-hosted intimate bipartisan dinners for members with the Chicago firebrand, who he says shares the belief that working across the aisle is essential to a functional Congress.

“Yes, Rahm certainly can be as partisan as anyone, just the same as many Republicans, but he has proven that he will put partisanship aside to work with all sides,” LaHood says.

So, as incoming President Barack Obama works to staff his White House and assemble his Cabinet, and later, when the 111th Congress convenes in January, Hill Republicans have one of two strategic decisions to make.

One: Spend gobs and gobs of time and energy conducting opposition research so they are ready to pounce immediately on any and all high-level Obama staff appointments and Cabinet selections as they are announced — just because they can.

Then, when the 111th convenes, reach into the tested and tried toolbox of minority tricks and procedurally obstruct at every turn — just because they can.

Or — Two: Conserve all that energy and ammo being readied for all the process fights that don’t add up to a hill of beans, and to which nobody in the real world struggling to make mortgage payments or hold onto a job is paying attention anyway.

Instead, hold fire and be as gracious as possible toward the new president as he puts his team in place.

Then, at the proper time, pick the good fight to fight. Assume the honored mantle of loyal opposition and fight like holy hell on one or two matters of principle that the American people recognize as just that — a matter of principle.

If voters come to see Capitol Hill Republicans as merely whining, “We lost power, we hate you, we hate everybody and we don’t know what else to do,” then the next two years are going to be worse than the GOP could ever imagine.

Republicans are already marginalized. But if they seek comfort and solace in the easy, quick, knee-jerky, personality-based attacks on the Obama Cabinet picks as they come in, they will quickly find themselves totally marginalized on the ideas front as well.

Then, tragedy of tragedies, when a real fight with real implications comes along, no one will listen.

I suspect we will get a pretty good glimpse of how Republicans plan to play their cards if President-elect Obama happens to name Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) as the next secretary of State. If Boehner comes out with an anti-Hillary press release about six seconds after the announcement, I think we have our answer about the next two years.

You can reach Jim Mills at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it