I’ve never heard a republican say they’re staying home on Election Day because their candidate doesn’t tick every single box on their list. They vote for bible thumpers or rapists without thinking twice.

I have. You forget that they *like* Bible thumpers and rapists. I have seen them decide not to vote because a politician was (their words) "too queer" or for not signing off on an oil pipeline. Just because their opinions are wrong doesn't mean they can't be motivated by them.

seems like you hear all the time from elected republicans that they take the positions they do because they fear their base won’t vote for them or will primary them. dems elected quite often hear their base and scold them for being unrealistic in wanting bare minimum social democratic programs

Oh, when I voted R I'd sometimes toss a vote to Libertarians when the R didn't match up with what I wanted.