I think most of the "party hack" type Republicans realize that and are scared by it. It explains some of the viciousness in how they attack the discontented.
I keep thinking back to the rift over Harriet Miers, and how quickly it closed, once a more obviously qualified candidate was nominated. Did it shake some people up, because the Miers nomination seemed to lend credence to certain doubts? I think it did, but there would have been no lasting consequence.
I think something similar can still happen with this illegal alien situation. We're getting high-profile ICE action now, token though it may well be. So, there's still hope.