the reality is that they have already won & they do not want to change anything. they want a strong republican party, as they say often. the only time they put any work in is to sabotage candidates running to the left of them, otherwise they just sit around doing insider trading

This is a classic divide and conquer strategy. Highlight and elevate contrarian views, claim there's a divide, and then relentlessly try to manufacture one so that they can roll back the rights of the entire group. This was the entire purpose of the LGB Alliance in the UK.

for them, the deal is that in exchange for aid, they're owed a proper performance of poverty and humility that reinforces their superior position in the social hierarchy, and anything as small a preferring a condiment above one's station is an unacceptable act of defiance

Democrats have this idea that you can carve out razor-thin positions on the ideological spectrum and that will come through to voters. No!

The right is going to call you pro-trans if you oppose bathroom bills. The left is going to call you anti-trans if you say trans women are men.