Apart from the whole dictator thing, they had the presedential power for 4 years and managed to lock up exactly nobody.... Not saying they're not dangerous but why would their base believe them this time, action should really speak louder than words with those simpletons and Trump has been all words.
Last time they didn't expect to win and their base wasn't nearly as far down the fascism rabbithole. Now the mask is off, and the GOP knows that magats are more than willing to turn and eat them alive if they try to tap the brakes on the Trump Train. He who rides the tiger can never dismount.