Watching Romney’s speech earlier, I was reminded of why I didn’t like this guy when he ran for president; his basic hypocrisy and robotic stiffness remain intact. It was kind of fun to watch this super-rich heir to the GOP’s fortunes attack another super-rich Republican trying to run for president, and certainly unprecedented.

But if any Republican establishment leader thinks this speech is going to stop the rampaging Trumpenstein, they’re dreaming. Donald Trump is popular with the right wing base precisely because of the attributes Romney decries — his egomania, his vicious attacks on foes, his dishonesty, his racism and xenophobia, his misogyny, his belligerent and stupid ideas on foreign policy. I don’t know if there’s any way for the GOP fat cats to stop Trump at this point, but this definitely wasn’t it.

But the real target of Romney’s speech wasn’t Donald Trump; it was Hillary Clinton. The GOP establishment is terrified that nominating Trump will hand her the presidency.