This has nothing to do with being “intellectually derelict.” Voters are angry because their representatives are ignoring the wishes of the majority of their constituents. The only way to hold them accountable is to vote them out of office.
For the most part, you are talking about Democrats. I'm impatient with these attempts to siphon off only Republican support with 'anti-incumbent' rhetoric. This broad brush anti-incumbent sales pitch would have much more credibility in my book if it was also peddled in Democrat forums, but it isn't.