The argument is that the GOP pretty much lost control of the situation several months ago and are now attempting to staunch the bleeding. Whereas before it was a "maybe we'll lose the Senate but the House is secure for a decade or more" it's now "Oh fuck protect the Senate and divert resources so that we don't lose a lot of the House". So yeah - "any Republican nominee" but the Republicans wanted Bush, Rubio, Fiorina or one of the other safe choices and what they ended up with "a suicide bomber for their nominee". Whatever policies and party planks the GOP wanted to run this year, they didn't really get a say. In order to keep the tail from wagging the dog in 2020 they're going to have to exercise some soul-searching followed by some fresh thinking followed by some discipline.