I honestly do NOT see the GOP getting better anytime soon. It is fundimentally fractured between conservatives and moderates and no one will give any ground.
I would lay money down on a permanent fracture occuring. The culture war has spread to within the GOP itself.
There are more hard core conservatives in Congress now, as a percentage of total Republicans, than ever before.
The Republican Party IS becoming more conservative.
At the same time, the grass roots are becoming less patient.