I think they did realize it. They also realized they're getting old and the younger generations aren't buying into the "trickle down" bullshit because they can't buy a house if they wanted to. Gone are the days of the man working at a factory and supporting a family with a house and two new cars. I think the current GOP is going for broke, they know if they don't win now, they are absolutely fucked. The more boomers die off, the more boomers go into nursing homes, the more fucked it all gets. The planet is in deep shit, they know it, they don't care because they'll be long gone before it effects them. Younger people and even older are beginning to realize that religion is a sham, and that too hurts the GOP. This is pretty much it for them with what they've been working on since Reagan. My hope is the brainwashed suckers snap out of it and we can actually get some republicans in office that will work with the democrats and start working on making lives better for everyone, not just the rich as fuck.