I agree. They think they won this battle. But they destroyed themselves. They see their selves as the heirs to the Trump voter. But they have no idea how badly they have damaged their party by stabbing Trump in the back.
Huge numbers of those Trump voters won’t return to support the Romney/Turtle/Rubio/Cornyn/Haley/Jeb/Graham party. They think they won, but they killed the party.
I think most of these guys only care about getting re-elected. They don't actually want to lead or pass any legislation, or do anything for the country. They just want to be part of the club.
I actually think the best job in Washington is to be a Senator for the minority party. You don't have to do anything except collect a fat paycheck for six years. Once in a while, draft some legislation that will never get passed and complain about the party in charge (but in truth, you're all friends and you all hang out with each other).
Eat at the finest restaurants in town and work on your graft game. Get really, really rich.
That's why none of these people liked Trump. He was mucking up the system. He didn't belong there.
[[[They see their selves as the heirs to the Trump voter.]]]
The GOPe does not want the Trump voter. They are also perfectly content to be in the minority as they have had decades of experience with it in the past. Its all a game for lobbyist checks.