The GOP was like this for decades. Reagan was actually the exception.
I remember, it tormented and confused me as a teen and young man, I could not figure out why they were like they were, they would get into office and wouldn't stop anything or erase anything.
Nothing has changed in my lifetime except for seeing individual bright lights like Reagan, Helms, Gingrich when he made history in 94, Palin, Cruz today.
I do get the feeling that Palin was the start of something new, she came along at the right time, and since her we have the tea party and lots of conservatives sprinkled around in state and federal offices, and now a Cruz. Today we are in a real and open war with the GOPe, and we stand a fighting chance.
Like Kutuzov in War and Peace, I look at the players we have in the GOP right now, and while I see the GOPe declaring victory and seeming to be correct on the surface, I look at the players expressions and confidence and the conservatives seem to have the glow of success on them, while the GOPe leaders seem stressed and uneasy, as though they are off stride and have internal doubts.