There definitely seems to be a subtle (and perhaps not so subtle) undercurrent of quiet desperation in their words and actions, lately.
I'd like to believe that on some level, they're starting to feel backed into a corner, but - like all True Believers - they're doubling down on their position and crossing their fingers that the Big A will come and bail them out before things turn really ugly.
Which would suggest that they are entering the "nightmare" stage of the Wishful Thinking process.