The GOP does not stand for anything other than governing. Therefore the elites have no loyalty. Lugar and Warner are really no different than other turncoats - Jeffords, Chaffee, and Specter. They do what is expedient.
If the Republicans win the Senate it would not surprise me if we have a repeat of 2001 when Jim Jeffords switched to independent and began caucusing with the Democrats to break the 50/50 tie in the Senate. If the Republicans end up with a 51 seat majority after the 2014 elections, Reid and Obama will be promising the wobbliest RINO’s all sorts of perks to come to their side or minimally switch to independent and caucus with the Dems. McCain would probably switch in a heartbeat if the media insiders quietly whispered to him he would no longer be on the Sunday talk show circuit unless he did the right thing and switched parties. Graham would likely follow his master. Susan Collins is another Republican, from a Democrat state, who could switch.
Until the party has an ideology and vision all of its members subscribe to it will be vulnerable to defection. Contrast today’s wobbly GOP with the Democrats. The elite power structure in the Dem party is 100% committed to the socialist state. Its members vote in lock step on every issue. They are true believers with a passion for forcing their vision on the country.
Most of today’s GOP leaders are a bunch of country clabbers who just want to get along. They have no vision, no passion, and no desire for a fight. For them, it is enough to enjoy the perks and not make waves. Notice the last GOP president had no stomach for a fight against his opposition. Better to get along and lose than to fight and save the country. He and his family continue to be silent while the country goes to hell.
We are living through the consequences of the behavior.
You told it like it is, but the American people won’t listen.