...which is project the lunacy of the crazy fringe onto the much larger group that's just deeply conservative.

I actively try not to do that. But then I see posts from reasonably affluent people (as most here are) defending some of the crazy (though not the pizza parlor guy).

Looking at the larger statistic, according to Forbes, the Felon has an 80% approval rate among Reps. Though his "strong approval" has dropped below 50% (but the drop corresponds to an increase in "somewhat approve", so it's not like they're abandoning him). The self-identified MAGA are at about 90%, depending on whose polling you believe.

I get the different priorities. That's all fine. But they deny and/or excuse his clearly illegal actions, heinous statements, lies, and various other actions. I don't think that's really projecting that much on the larger group. They're doing it, as a larger group. The few politicians whom didn't go along are all out (e.g. Flake), and were largely driven out by the ravening masses on the right.

I used to be Republican. I was for 20 years. This isn't even a shadow of the party that I ended up leaving...it's much much worse. I left because of -among other things- trying to inject religion into everything, and realizing that some of their policies simply wouldn't work. Now the party tolerates (or even embraces) gestapo-like tactics from federal law enforcement, reduction in oversight, blatant corruption (at least back in the day they tried to hide it), incredible deficit spending (when they claim to be "fiscal conservatives"), and so much more.

No, I don't believe I'm painting them with their lunatic fringe. The pizza guy was, but was also the most easily accessible example. A lot more brevity than this post to make the same point.