but even this is not a firm, hard, ideological belief of theirs, that the best strategy, or only strategy available, is to just knuckle down, keep your head down, avoid picking fights. they will enthusiastically support picking a fight when their leaders choose to do so.

"we can't do anything because AIPAC will attack us, it is what it is, it sucks, but what can we do" would turn, overnight, into "hell yeah it's time to finally ditch AIPAC who cares what they think" from this crowd the moment dem leadership decide to go on the attack with them.