Not sure this is as far-fetched as Jeff Greenfield seems to think, alas:

If party elders were to meet behind closed doors and deliver the nomination to, say, House Speaker Paul Ryan, that would qualify as a “brokered” outcome …

1) Ryan’s running a self-promotional Speakership not unlike a national campaign; 2) Given his perceived betrayals of the Party’s base, he might not be looking at such long tenure as Speaker anyway; 3) Politics moves fast these days; 4) Ryan has plenty of seemingly infatuated cheerleaders in the press; 5) What if none of the establishment non-Trumps catches on — or one (e.g. Rubio) does catch on but is caught up in scandal (e.g. zip)? 6) Maybe there are no more party elders around to manipulate Republicans in back rooms in order to achieve their preferred outcome. But that sure seemed to be how Ryan became Speaker two months ago. … Bonus factor for Kf Premium customers: 7) It might be the only way for the GOP/K Street Establishment to get its precious immigration amnesty. …