Folks who think that Party should trump "sacred principles" simply don't understand conservatives, IMO. The Party will succeed by embracing those principles and representing the people, not by shoving the same liberal agenda down everyone's throat because they want to be the next one sitting in the throne ruling over country.
You have that exactly right. Mainstream is asleep, they will accept what is thrown at them, then gripe at those who let the worst happen while exonerating themselves of any responsibility. Problem is, by the time they realize it, it is too late to go back. And so the story goes, yet here we are. People are still waiting for someone else to do something about it.
Well, we are trying.
That is the problem with the US, my opinion.