Imo you left out the point, at which RINOs started their zombie-like groupthink turn to the dumb side:
When the establishment as one, shunned patriot, pro-American trade, rock ribbed conservative Duncan Hunter.
It’s been downhill since that day.
It wasn’t just the Establishment that shunned Hunter, he got no traction at all. But you’re right, he was a true conservative option (besides the wackadoodle Keyes).