“What’s the alternative to the GOP? No third party has any realistic chance of having significant power for the foreseeable future.”
Conservatives knew they didn’t have a good choice by 2004. GWB got their support because of the war but that’s been 12 years ago. Had a 3rd party been started then it would possibly be established enough by now to at least influence 2016. As it is the conservative position just seems to be getting weaker and every 4 years it’s the same ole lesser of two evils and this is the most important election in history.
I expect next year conservatives will be in the same position they always are with no candidate that really supports their issues.
It’s probably too late for 2016 so start planning for 2024.
That’s why liberals win. They take a decades long view of the thing,.
And yet the Democrats haven't won at the state level, on the whole. The GOP now has historic levels of control over state legislatures and governorships. The same is true of the House of Representatives, and the GOP has a majority in the Senate.
As for 2024, I frankly don't see any third party gaining traction for the next half century. At least.