I didn’t say the GOP did, and wouldn’t. But the fact is that the GOPEs have had to deal with the TEA Party influence in many ways, and it has been beneficial. And I agree that Trump is where he is partially because of the TEA Party movement.
The fact remains, going 3rd party remains foolish. I attended the early national TEA Party convention in Nashville, and one thing we were almost all in agreement on, among folks I spoke with, was the need to work within GOP structures. Most were old enough to remember Perot, and none wanted to wind up on the 3rd party road again. It just doesn’t work in the US system from a game theory perspective.
I appreciate your points about the difficulties inherent in a third party movement. Granted, its problematic in many respects.
However, I disagree that it cannot work. Many things that seem exceedingly difficult can be accomplished under the right kind of leadership. People said Trump could not be elected, but he was. Even Obama’s first election looked highly improbably at one point given who he was running against in the primary. Brexit seemed unlikely. Perhaps Marine Le Pen will win the French presidency in 2017. So much for prevailing wisdom and theory.
As someone once said: “The difficult may take a little while; the impossible slightly longer”. ;)
But seriously, the point is, all it takes is exceptional leadership and it could become a reality. Of course, its effectiveness is another matter but again, it would depend on leadership with vision, principles, and courage. I wouldn’t close the door on the possibility of a third party at some point down the road, especially if the GOPe fails us yet again.