The GOP is going to face a more intensified version of their problems in 2012. To wit:
In order to secure the nomination, the candidate needs to swing hard to the right during the primary. To win the election, the candidate has to snap back to the center.
After Romney's failure -- and how the right joined him in a bubble where his victory was assured, when in reality he was beaten by nearly 5 million popular votes and 126 electoral votes -- I don't think the right will tolerate the "snap to center." And in an era where any conversation by a candidate can be recorded and reported, it's unlikely that the independent voters will buy it either.
Plus, the Republicans are wrecking their chances with the Hispanic community. The far right will not tolerate a candidate who supports any sort of immigration reform, i.e. Rubio is already dead in the water.
Of course, anything can happen. But right after the election, the Republicans had a brief moment to reflect. Should they modify the platform and move to the center, or swing even harder to the right? So far, despite the attempts of the "establishment" Republicans, they seem to be doubling down on conservatism. It's very likely to cost them the presidency... yet again.