Three weeks ago, E.J. Dionne (or “Baghdad Bob,” as James Taranto has called him) saw nothing but doom in the GOP’s future, as “the Republican establishment … is essentially powerless,” having surrendered its soul to the evil Tea Party, which has driven the country to hell. Events since have proved this judgment mistaken: The establishment lives, and is doing its duty; part of the Tea Party has been merging with it; and the “system” is working as planned.