This is because they cannot work structurally in our system, which is not parliamentary or first-past-the-post.
Third parties are small businesses - their revenues are donations and the product they sell in exchange for those donations is the illusion of being part of something important.
The GOP was founded as a Third Party. Like any other venture, its success relies on the hard work and focus of its participants.
This is because they cannot work structurally in our system, which is not parliamentary or first-past-the-post.
Bingo. Without the ability to create coalitions, 3rd party's can't function. Once in a very great while a new party may replace an existing party, but then that new party would just become the 2nd leg of the 2 party system. Structurally, our system is build for 2 major party's and all the bluster and anger in the world isn't going to change that.
The Republican party is a broad coalition, and unfortunately solid conservatives like we are on FR are only one part of it. The only option is to continue taking the party over from within. The model for nominating a real conservative exists. Ronald Reagan and movement conservatives did it once before. Unfortunately, there are just no real compelling conservatives like that in the race most election cycles. When this situation exists, primary voters will default to the next in line or the safest option.