11 Wild Scenarios That Could Happen At The GOP Convention

As the lacy cherry blossoms bloomed along the majestic Tidal Basin in Washington, marking the renewing rites of spring, the capital's political class turned its attention to ... CLEVELAND.

Yes, though four months away, the Republican convention dominates the turbid thinking of candidates, handlers and reporters alike. You know something is up when Karl Rove is writing columns about what happened at the GOP confab in Chicago in 1860.

That gathering was multi-ballot, and ended up nominating Abraham Lincoln. Not a bad outcome. But if Donald Trump is to be denied in Cleveland, where is the 21st century Honest Abe to stop him? The mere mention of the Great Emancipator is enough to discredit the party he helped establish.

Even so, Cleveland is going to be one hell of a show. Here is our initial effort to list the Mistake By the Lake scenarios. There will be more between now and the fall of the gavel.