Control of the House was critical. For the force of practical legislating power has always rested there. When Republicans took control, they had to become the intense object of those who needed new things done or who needed protection from others who earlier had written the laws. Of necessity, the GOP has become a new establishment. While the conservative leaders lack the votes, they represent the only intellectual and moral leadership within the GOP orbit.
Power needs moral support or it shrivels.
Conservative leaders may be weak, obnoxious or even weird but the liberal media is just not available for the new Republican establishment. Conservative intellectuals are weak compared to the liberal groups linked to the Democratic Party, but they are all the GOP has. Every public figure needs moral support when things get rough and, sooner or later, they will. President Reagan understood this. When he got in trouble, they rallied those who paid attention to them and his public support never went below 40 percent.