They weren’t silencing the base, they were silencing the Paulers. You can rationalize this all you want, but it worked out just the way the Paulers planned. They have the two sides of the Republican Party at each other’s throats and the Paulers are standing there giggling as usual. Yeah, giggling, that’s what they do.
Again the “Paulers” did not take the actions to change the rules. The elites have had it on their agenda to silence the conservative and tea party movements since they began. The types of actions they are taking have long term consequences. If you think they did not understand the ramifications to their actions then you are not looking at the situation objectively.
Think Reichstag Fire...The Paulites are being used as an excuse to consolidate power and destory opposition.