RS/BS: Notes from the RNC in Cleveland

·         Here are some notes that were jotted down in the heat of the moment:

      The gap narrows; Trump should take heart from the polling that it isn’t a blow-out. Is Donald Trump vs the Establishment the real theme of this year’s Convention?

·         Controversy at the RNC abound from the Alaska delegation asking for a floor vote, the Colorado delegation walk-out and the Plagiarism controversy.

·         It’s official: He’s it! Wasn’t sure if they would get there, but after a couple of false starts, they actually did it. Donald J Trump, late of the hit TV show, The Apprentice and WWE, is now the Republican Nominee for President of the United States in 2016…OMG!

·         The theme of the week is…Bash Hillary

·         Fear leads the way, with Guiliani out front waving his arms wildly

·         It’s been pointed out that some of the most vulnerable Republican Senators are running far away from the nominee.

·         Meanwhile, back at the ranch: Is Roger Ailes on the way out at Fox News?

·         And then there was one….Hillary is set to pick her VP this Friday…

·         Back at the Podium: An NRA Lobbyist is speaking on behalf of Trump

·         Paul Ryan as the Great White Hope for the Grand Old Party: Ryan says The Dems are too PC; but one of my favorites is: the lobbyists are in the pocket of the Democratic Party; Look in the mirror Sir, before you take aim at the lobbyists (See above bullet about NRA Lobbyist!)

·         The Pitch Men: Making the case without mentioning the man… It’s been commented on more than once by the media that the speakers are not enthusiastically endorsing their man Trump.

·         The Lack of Joy; the lack of a plan; the idea that we are all in this together-meaning Trump is in this-“I’m discussing it with myself”.

·         The plans overheard include: De-funding Planned Parenthood; The Poverty plan is jobs for all.

·         Ryan’s Song: Building a 21^st Century Military; Reforming the health care system and finding a better way to deal with poverty. All that’s missing are those pesky details.

·         That old song comes to mind: It’s the right place, and the right time, although your face is charming it’s the wrong face! The thing is…how many are going to speak without actually mentioning the party’s nominee?

·         The Black GOP: they are looking out at a sea of white people, heavy on lectures and sermons.

·         Trump pulls out the “D-List!” Lots of soap opera stars abound at the podium with some Duck Dynasty thrown in for good measure.

·         Hillary and Lucifer? No one saw that coming from the resident GOP Kook: Dr. Ben Carson.

·         In Republican world: The Sky is Falling is the only mantra to run on…According to FBI statistics, violent crime in US has fallen steadily since 1992. Unemployment is lowest since Nov 2007, & the economy has grown under Obama’s tenure.

·         Yes, the middle class is hurting. Higher pay is seen for only the richest 10% of US households. We are still outperforming most advanced economies. China has grown faster, but the US is still the richest advanced nation by far.

·         In comparison, Economic output per person was $56,000 per person compared to $7,900 a person in China.

·         BUT: The bad news from around the world has taken its toll. People are anxious and worried the country is going in the wrong direction. Trump has a mixed message: Make America Great Again with the undertone that we have lost our way and have not been great for a long time. It’s not an optimistic message, it’s one of fear and anxiety.

·         Did Speaker Paul Ryan actually criticize the Democratic Party about lobbyists? His wife Janna is a well-known lobbyist and he has a longtime corporate lobbyist on his staff as a top aide.

·         Site of the DNC: Philadelphia. Did you know it’s the 5^th most populated city in US? The population of  Philadelphia is 1.5 million. There is method in their madness…