Save the GOP translated means “to prevent a conservative from getting the nomination at all costs!”
Reagan 1980, unabashed conservative, 44 state landslide
Reagan 1984, unabashed conservative, 49 state landslide
Bush, 1988 (Reagan’s coattails), 40 state landslide
Bush, 1992 “save the GOP type”, loser
Dole, 1996 “save the GOP” type, loser
Bush, 2000 “save the GOP” type, bare winner
Bush, 2004 “save the GOP” type, bare winner
McCain, 2008 “save the GOP” type, loser
Romney, 2012 “save the GOP” type, loser
I think if we picked one person at random to be president we would be better off.
Heck, why not make the entire FEDGOV like jury duty or the military. You get called up, you have to serve two years then go back to civilian life.