2. The GOP-e's job is easier because conservative beat the crap out of each other in circular firing squads. GOP-e doesn't need to do anything. The circular firing squad does it on their own.
3. Too many conservatives trash all the other candidates trying to clear the field for their favorites. Sometimes the favorites aren't even running (Sarah Palin 2012). Then they accuse the favorite of betraying them.
What are conservative contenders and their supporters supposed to do in a presidential primary - sign a non-compete agreement?
It's a contest. People are going to compete. Call it a "circular firing squad" if you want, but it's the natural order of things.
Where conservatives lose, is by splitting their votes amongst a slew of conservative candidates, while the establishment GOP maneuvers just ONE chosen candidate into the primary, thereby assuring that their chosen candidate wins a plurality of the votes.
It's a stunningly simple trick. One that we've been falling for, for decades now.