He is(edit: terrified, not smart). For sure. But the way you strip their power is by ripping the band-aid off and stop kowtowing to their non sense. That’s what actual leadership is. Saying “we need to do it this way because it’s the right thing to do” even if it’s hard or unpopular.
The Republican moderates, if any actually still exist, could take back control of their party if they really had the balls to. It would require them to call a spade a spade, and then start working with Democrats.