I agree with you on this basic point, but the GOP has repeatedly blown opportunities at critical moments. They're throwing the fight. It's deliberate, and to describe their actions as "stupid" just camouflages what is actually happening, so I wish people would stop giving them that fig leaf.
Of course the nice thing about 'throwing the fight' is that you can still get fat at the public trough but don't have to make good on anything you promise.