If you want to see how much trouble republicans are in, scan any of these current articles in the conservative Weekly Standard:

• What Mitt Must Learn from South Carolina
• Newt Gingrich and the Politics of Frustration
• Florida Poll: Gingrich 34, Romney 26

Conservative “thought leaders” don’t want to look like they’re panicking, but they already see their 2012 electoral dreams slipping away.

They knew Romney couldn’t excite the base, but now they can see that he lacks the dexterity to perform on the big stage.

If he survives the primaries, he’ll be too bloodied by Gingrich to position himself as a moderate alternative to Obama.

And if the severely-flawed Newt were to get the nomination, he would boost the campaign’s entertainment value, arouse republican libido and then – likely – go down in flames.

That’s why there’s still talk among republican insiders of an alternative.

The latest fantasy:

Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels.