BUT he has been more powerful and popular within the party - vs a Bush or an Abbot or A Rubio or a Kemp or whomever.

Yup. Based on his "market research" (snuggling with the Birthers), he came out of the gate with a blatantly racist campaign. Unless, or until, he is deemed "soft" on non-whites, or non-straights, or non-Christians, the bigot vote is his.

...and he also punishes GOP'ers who rise up

Typical "JC" behavior, crush anyone who says anything he doesn't want to hear. Abbot is going off the reservation, by not backing the Federal government taking over elections. I hope he has a plan for life after Governor.

After MidTerms --they might decide they've used him all they can....

As long as they can jack him up enough to spout more racist garbage, he will be useful, to keep the base on board, no matter how much actual policy screws them over. If God on Earth Trump falls off his perch, there is always Sean Hannity, some 15 years younger, with a 20+ year record of building an audience of millions, with the same racist garbage that Trump the God spews.

If Club 401K doesn't sabotage it --- AGAIN -

Remember the words of Will Rogers: "I don't belong to any organized political party. I'm a Democrat"

Steve