That could be an example of what can be done in answer to your questions.
I think you’re right. The Republican party started this way and came to power rather rapidly. As far as I’m concerned, the GOP is dead. I’m just waiting to figure out which new political party deserves my money.
Yes, but wasn’t the real reason Lincoln won in 1860 was because it was a bizarre four-way election?
Any credible biography of Lincoln would tell you that he only won in 1860 because the Democrat party split into two parties with the Democrats running Stephen Douglas and the Southern Democrats running John Breckinridge.
Lincoln won with less than 40% of the vote. The two Democrat parties combined had 47.6% of the vote.
If the Republican party were to split today, the Democrats would enjoy the same advantage that the Republicans in 1860 held when it was the Democrat party that splintered. It would be a disaster for conservatives.