When you tell a child 'don't touch the cookie" and the kid sticks his hand in the jar anyway, do you let him have the cookie?
No. You take it away to not reward his behavior. Likewise, the GOP was told NO by conservatives and they nominated a liberal anyway. Conservatives are not going to reward their behavior by giving them what they want.
The child learns from a slap on the hand, the Trumpist GOP will learn eventually that when conservatives tell you no, that we will not be there to give you what you want. If that pain is great, so be it.
Here's the trouble I have with that reasoning. The GOP was told, in no uncertain terms, that Romney was a terrible candidate and as a result he lost. The cookie was withheld. Yet, the GOP decided Romney wasn't terrible enough and we got Trump.
The GOP didn't learn the lesson, even though it was given twice in a row! They always learn the wrong lesson because it would mean they have to give up some of their splendor, maybe even their sinecures. Now, I don't proclaim to know how tomorrow is going to turn out, but if Trump loses I'll bet you a hundred bucks right here the GOP will learn the wrong lesson from it. The trouble is, you would never touch that bet. Probably nobody here would.