I would be a little more specific than using the word "traditional."
"Traditional" is the party of Lincoln. The party of true civil rights. The party of liberty enshrined in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.
Murkowski is a country club tag-along who will do anything to push true "traditional" Republicans out of the party.
People like Murkowski are the ones who throw the hissyfits when the GOP does not offer up candidates to their liking.
And yet when they force compromisers like Dole on us, they can't figure out why they lose elections.
Country-clubbers don't rule the party anymore, which probably explains Rove's recent meltdown.
I believe you’re dead on the mark.