A day at the circus

For the first time in 28 years, Gallup finds 36% of those who saw/read about the GOP Convention are more likely to vote for Trump, but 51% are less likely to do so.

Those who saw/read about the Democratic Convention 45% more likely to vote for Clinton, v. 41% who are less likely to do so.

So, naturally:

At a Monday campaign event in Columbus, Ohio, Donald Trump teed up for a potential challenge to the integrity of the fall general election, an escalation of his rhetoric about the "rigged" primary system.

"I'm afraid the election's gonna be rigged, I have to be honest," Trump told the crowd.

Which is not exactly a new line:

It was a line of attack that longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone pushed on a podcast with Breitbart's Milo Yiannopoulos that was posted online Friday. Stone suggested voter fraud is "widespread" and said if Hillary Clinton wins a state like Florida after polls show Trump in the lead, the election would be "illegitimate."

"If there’s voter fraud, this election will be illegitimate, the election of the winner will be illegitimate, we will have a constitutional crisis, widespread civil disobedience, and the government will no longer be the government," Stone said. He also promised a "bloodbath" if the Democrats attempt to "steal" the election.

Sure there will.....

Mayor:  What do you mean, "biblical"?
Dr Ray Stantz: What he means is Old Testament, Mr. Mayor, real wrath of God type stuff.
Dr. Peter Venkman: Exactly.
Dr Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
Dr. Egon Spengler: Forty years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes...
Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!
Dr. Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together... mass hysteria!

Although I'm tempted to say:  "Thanks, Bernie Bros!  Once the narrative is accepted, everybody gets to use it!"  If only because "polls" there, to Stone, could well mean "exit polls."

Whoo boy.*

*and yes, this could get very ugly.   This is actually scary.  I expect Trump to push this line for all it's worth.

But if our elections become wholly untrustworthy, where do we go?  This isn't "treason" like Trump berating the father of a dead soldier, or making a stupid off the cuff remark about Russia and espionage.  This goes to the heart of the democratic process.

This is perilously close to shouting "FIRE" in a crowded theater.  It is certainly wholly contrary to the oath of office Trump says he wants to take.  How can you "preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America" if you throw around loose accusations as potentially harmful as this?

Unless you argue you have to destroy the village in order to save it.....