Something from Nate Silverman the makes sense to me when talking about Spector.
“The Republican death Spiral “
Thus the Republicans are in something of a death spiral. The more conservative their message becomes, the more they alienate non-base Republicans. But the more they alienate non-base Republicans, the fewer of them are left to worry about appeasing. Thus, their message becomes continually more appealing to the base — but more conservative, partisan, and strident to the rest of us. And the process loops back upon itself.
link…