If self-government is now a mere romantic notion, the republic truly is dead.
Funny thing is, if that is so, once again the only way to revive it is by the rise once again of principled self-government.
How about a dose of reality? A desire to return to the traditional American concept of self-government is not enough — you have to win elections. If conservatives cannot win GOP primaries, then it is delusional to think that we can win by the far harder course of leaving the GOP and establishing a third party. We are far better off and more powerful in the GOP than out of it.