Too many people are willing to accept things the way they are. They will hold their nose, and vote for the asshole Republicans just to keep the seat Republican. That's why the GOP will never be reformed. When you mention third party, they whine that a third party would have no chance. The Republican Party was organized out of other parties when it was started back in 1854. If they hadn't taken a chance in 1854, despite losing with their Presidential Candidate John C. Fremont, Abe Lincoln never would have become President. If you don't even try, you have no right to say it will fail. I'd rather try and fail, than never to have tried at all.
There was also that Slavery\Civil War thing on the horizon. Not a valid comparison!