GOP strategist Ford O’Connell agreed with much of Corker’s assessment, adding that the “realities of governing don’t always comport with principle.”

“Especially in Bush’s case, and in Trump’s case and even in Obama’s case, to a great extent, when you have slim majorities in one or both chambers of Congress,” O’Connell said. “And you realize that there is principle but you have to show that you can govern, and if you can’t govern, well you’re going to go back to screaming to the wall and talking about principle. It’s a vicious cycle of what happens when you’re in and out of power.”