Odds and ends post-Republican convention and pre-Democratic convention:
Trump speech: In hindsight, should we have expected less than a way-too-long speech from a narcissist who had all the networks attention for an hour plus? How could he pass that up?
Trump VP pick: I predicted Newt Gingrich would be his running mate. And, I have a feeling if it were left up to him, it would have been Newt or Christie. But he seems to have listened to advisors (whoever they might be) and went with the more “traditional” for a Republican pick of Mike Pence. Pence looked to be shifting back and forth and smiling awkwardly as Trump took on Ted Cruz, for some unknown reason the other day. Pence knows better. Cruz is history, no need to waste time on him – or his wife or his father.
Trump the day after. In hindsight, should we have expected less than a tirade against a primary opponent who he defeated but couldn’t stop talking about? Friend, you’re up against Hillary Clinton now. She ain’t no Ted Cruz and will be as diabolical as you, in a different style. You ought to focus because your “Lyin’ Ted/Crooked Hillary” routine won’t be as effective in a general election against the Clintons.
Trumps “kids”. Clearly his children are impressive looking men and women and well spoken. Clearly they demonstrated more class than their father. Clearly, too, they are as comfortable lying as their father. Sorry, I’m not buying into the “if he could raise such impressive kids he can’t be so bad” line being peddled. They stood there and described basically the opposite of what Daddy Trump has been peddling for a year. Not only that, right after daughter Ivanka introduced him as a guy who supported many more traditionally Democratic stances, Trump took the podium and never
mentioned those positions. Thus, they’ve learned salesmanship from their father. And Donald Trump gives car salesmen a bad name. Based on what they said and what he said – his positions are all over the map, as they have been for a year.
Donald in the Middle. It’s amazing to me that some are saying that Trump is speaking for the middle class. More like giving the middle class the middle finger.
David Duke is back. He was put in his little box 25 years ago when I was at the Republican National Committee and Lee Atwater put him in his place. Thanks to Donald Trump, he is slithering his way back into elective politics. I guess he feels his stint in prison adds a resume point to why he should be elected a U.S. Senator. Wriggle back, Mr. Duke, you are slime and only a Donald Trump candidacy could open a door for you to try again.
Kaine Hillary do it? Well, we’ll see. But Kaine was a solid pick for a few reasons. He’d be a good number two if they win. He’s steady with no skeletons we’ve seen other than maybe accepting some gifts when he was governor – but he disclosed each one, which was the bar set by the law back then in Virginia. Importantly, his place on the ticket may help her secure a win in Virginia, and that would make a Trump win nationally very difficult. She probably could win Virginia on her own but a statewide office holder can add one or two percentage points to your total and that could ensure the win.
What to expect next week? I imagine we will see Trump trying to insert himself into the coverage of the Democratic convention. The classy and traditional thing would be to lay low for a week. But that’s not Trump’s style. I can even see him trying to be interviewed live on cable news networks during her the convention. And I can see Wolf and others playing along because it would mean good ratings which, as you’ve seen, is more important to them than good news judgement.
What to expect in the Fall? Trump isn’t about to abandon the tactics he’s used so far so I imagine we’ll see his “insurgent” campaign continue and Mrs. Clinton try to run a more traditional campaign but be prepared to go “postal” if she has to at times. I don’t see Trump’s act playing to the general voting public which is not the constituency he appealed to for the last year. But, I’ve been wrong at most every step along this way so who knows?
Convention ratings. While everyone predicted a big boon to ratings thanks to the controversy of Trump’s candidacy and his seeming allure from his reality TV days, that boon didn’t materialize. About 32 million Americans watch his acceptance speech which was 1.9 million more than watched Mitt Romney’s four years ago. Haven't seen the overall ratings yet but it will be interesting to see. The speaking lineup, which featured reality stars, Class C celebrities and others. Bigger name pols were relegated to lesser time slots. As Stuart Stevens, who ran Romney’s convention said, “The underwear model (Antonio Sabato Jr.) had a better speaking slot than (U.S. Sen.) Jodi Ernst.”
Trump speech: In hindsight, should we have expected less than a way-too-long speech from a narcissist who had all the networks attention for an hour plus? How could he pass that up?
Trump VP pick: I predicted Newt Gingrich would be his running mate. And, I have a feeling if it were left up to him, it would have been Newt or Christie. But he seems to have listened to advisors (whoever they might be) and went with the more “traditional” for a Republican pick of Mike Pence. Pence looked to be shifting back and forth and smiling awkwardly as Trump took on Ted Cruz, for some unknown reason the other day. Pence knows better. Cruz is history, no need to waste time on him – or his wife or his father.
Trump the day after. In hindsight, should we have expected less than a tirade against a primary opponent who he defeated but couldn’t stop talking about? Friend, you’re up against Hillary Clinton now. She ain’t no Ted Cruz and will be as diabolical as you, in a different style. You ought to focus because your “Lyin’ Ted/Crooked Hillary” routine won’t be as effective in a general election against the Clintons.
Trumps “kids”. Clearly his children are impressive looking men and women and well spoken. Clearly they demonstrated more class than their father. Clearly, too, they are as comfortable lying as their father. Sorry, I’m not buying into the “if he could raise such impressive kids he can’t be so bad” line being peddled. They stood there and described basically the opposite of what Daddy Trump has been peddling for a year. Not only that, right after daughter Ivanka introduced him as a guy who supported many more traditionally Democratic stances, Trump took the podium and never
mentioned those positions. Thus, they’ve learned salesmanship from their father. And Donald Trump gives car salesmen a bad name. Based on what they said and what he said – his positions are all over the map, as they have been for a year.
Donald in the Middle. It’s amazing to me that some are saying that Trump is speaking for the middle class. More like giving the middle class the middle finger.
David Duke is back. He was put in his little box 25 years ago when I was at the Republican National Committee and Lee Atwater put him in his place. Thanks to Donald Trump, he is slithering his way back into elective politics. I guess he feels his stint in prison adds a resume point to why he should be elected a U.S. Senator. Wriggle back, Mr. Duke, you are slime and only a Donald Trump candidacy could open a door for you to try again.
Kaine Hillary do it? Well, we’ll see. But Kaine was a solid pick for a few reasons. He’d be a good number two if they win. He’s steady with no skeletons we’ve seen other than maybe accepting some gifts when he was governor – but he disclosed each one, which was the bar set by the law back then in Virginia. Importantly, his place on the ticket may help her secure a win in Virginia, and that would make a Trump win nationally very difficult. She probably could win Virginia on her own but a statewide office holder can add one or two percentage points to your total and that could ensure the win.
What to expect next week? I imagine we will see Trump trying to insert himself into the coverage of the Democratic convention. The classy and traditional thing would be to lay low for a week. But that’s not Trump’s style. I can even see him trying to be interviewed live on cable news networks during her the convention. And I can see Wolf and others playing along because it would mean good ratings which, as you’ve seen, is more important to them than good news judgement.
What to expect in the Fall? Trump isn’t about to abandon the tactics he’s used so far so I imagine we’ll see his “insurgent” campaign continue and Mrs. Clinton try to run a more traditional campaign but be prepared to go “postal” if she has to at times. I don’t see Trump’s act playing to the general voting public which is not the constituency he appealed to for the last year. But, I’ve been wrong at most every step along this way so who knows?
Convention ratings. While everyone predicted a big boon to ratings thanks to the controversy of Trump’s candidacy and his seeming allure from his reality TV days, that boon didn’t materialize. About 32 million Americans watch his acceptance speech which was 1.9 million more than watched Mitt Romney’s four years ago. Haven't seen the overall ratings yet but it will be interesting to see. The speaking lineup, which featured reality stars, Class C celebrities and others. Bigger name pols were relegated to lesser time slots. As Stuart Stevens, who ran Romney’s convention said, “The underwear model (Antonio Sabato Jr.) had a better speaking slot than (U.S. Sen.) Jodi Ernst.”
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