If the leadership of the Republican Party does not know what the base is all about, they need to resign, immediately. It does not take a stellar intellect to recognize there is little party discipline or political strategy based on a long view of history. If you want power, you do whatever it takes to secure it. If you want power, you eliminate the opposition. If you want power, you make it impossible for anyone to dislodge you from your position.
Well, maybe they don't want power then.