It's about political power, the likelihood of reelection, ..

and the ability to be part of "the majority" even if the crazy tail is wagging the dog. Like it or not, every GOP candidate who wins an election, and I'm talking as far down the ballot as dog catcher, encourages those who might be sincere public servants to cower before the power of MAGA. If they cross MAGA, they may be primaried or subjected to threats of physical violence. If they do as told, the general public is still willing to put them back in office.

Lindsey Graham put it pretty plainly: "we can't win without them" and "them" by extension is their cult leader. It's about winning and the key is to show Lindsey and the rest that "you can't win with them, either."

There is only one issue before the GOP: are they willing to tell the truth and put the nation ahead of their career and party? The GOP is simply discarding truth tellers, such as Cheney, while elevating Stefanik. Remember that they could have rid themselves of Trump in 2021 had they the courage to vote what they knew to be true. Instead, they all fell in line because they feared MAGA but not the general public.

To put the question another way, did Gallagher vote for the current GOP leadership, including Stefanik and Johnson? If he did, he is putting career and party ahead of the Constitution and telling Stefanik, who knows better, and Johnson, who may not, that what they are doing in service to their cult leader is ok because it is working.