Republican National Convention **live commentary thread**

[Fargobison]

Heidi Cruz had to be escorted out by security, with delegates yelling that she was a Goldman Sachs whore up in her face.

As opposed to Trump, who has a Goldman Sachs partner running financing for his campaign?

Republican convention-goers are too stupid for words. I'm starting to come around to the point of view than wants to see Hillary go Cersi Lannister on the RNC.

He is more then that, rumors are Trump wants to make him the Treasury Secretary.

[Xing]

So are there people who think there will still be a convention bounce? There's no way sane people watching at home will actually like what's going on here.

Unfortunately, the sane vote alone isn't going to be enough to elect Hillary. She needs at least 15% of the insane vote to stand a change of winning.

[DINGO Joe]

Just a random detail, but the astronaut who spoke early tonite was supposed to end her speech with:

“We need leadership that will make America first again. That leader is Donald Trump.”

For whatever reason she didn't say the last five words

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/onpolitics/2016/07/20/republican-convention-wednesday-live-blog/87355134/

[NOVA Green]

So not sure if any of y'all have been to Texas, let alone lived in Texas, but Ted Cruz definitely represented  the state and gave a giant "FU" at the RNC,

Not a huge fan of Teddie, but spent four years living in the Great State of Texas, and although I have many issues with the Senator, he basically flipped the bird to the presumptive nominee, and represented the voters of his state.

Here is a song that represents how the vast majority of the citizens think (Dem, Rep, Lib, etc) think about the political system and popular attitudes towards the Federal political system.....

"Screw You we're from Texas" song by a legendary singer-songwriter with a total R&B Riff...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-cFtSPIF4Q

[dspNY]

So not sure if any of y'all have been to Texas, let alone lived in Texas, but Ted Cruz definitely represented  the state and gave a giant "FU" at the RNC,

Not a huge fan of Teddie, but spent four years living in the Great State of Texas, and although I have many issues with the Senator, he basically flipped the bird to the presumptive nominee, and represented the voters of his state.

Here is a song that represents how the vast majority of the citizens think (Dem, Rep, Lib, etc) think about the political system and popular attitudes towards the Federal political system.....

"Screw You we're from Texas" song by a legendary singer-songwriter with a total R&B Riff...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-cFtSPIF4Q

I wonder whether Texas tells Trump "screw you, we're from Texas" in November after the delegation from NEW YORK of all states booed him. Texan enmity of Yankee attitude runs deeper than any political party divide, at least that's what I encountered there...

[HisGrace]

So are there people who think there will still be a convention bounce? There's no way sane people watching at home will actually like what's going on here.

The thing with his wife's speech and Cruz not endorsing him don't help, but it really depends on how is speech is received tomorrow. That's usually what determines the convention bounce.

I really have no idea what he'll do. He could just be his usual self, he could seize the big stage and be an even bigger doofus than usual, or he could use it to "reset" his campaign to an extent and try and come across as more reasonable.

[136or142]

So not sure if any of y'all have been to Texas, let alone lived in Texas, but Ted Cruz definitely represented  the state and gave a giant "FU" at the RNC,

Not a huge fan of Teddie, but spent four years living in the Great State of Texas, and although I have many issues with the Senator, he basically flipped the bird to the presumptive nominee, and represented the voters of his state.

Here is a song that represents how the vast majority of the citizens think (Dem, Rep, Lib, etc) think about the political system and popular attitudes towards the Federal political system.....

"Screw You we're from Texas" song by a legendary singer-songwriter with a total R&B Riff...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-cFtSPIF4Q

#IMWITHGOVERNORJOHNSON

[NOVA Green]

So not sure if any of y'all have been to Texas, let alone lived in Texas, but Ted Cruz definitely represented  the state and gave a giant "FU" at the RNC,

Not a huge fan of Teddie, but spent four years living in the Great State of Texas, and although I have many issues with the Senator, he basically flipped the bird to the presumptive nominee, and represented the voters of his state.

Here is a song that represents how the vast majority of the citizens think (Dem, Rep, Lib, etc) think about the political system and popular attitudes towards the Federal political system.....

"Screw You we're from Texas" song by a legendary singer-songwriter with a total R&B Riff...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-cFtSPIF4Q

I wonder whether Texas tells Trump "screw you, we're from Texas" in November after the delegation from NEW YORK of all states booed him. Texan enmity of Yankee attitude runs deeper than any political party divide, at least that's what I encountered there...

Actually a very real possibility...

East Tex will vote reliably Republican, much like Anglos in Miss, LA, and 'Bama.

Evangelicals in suburbs of Houston, DFW, and Austin/S.A. will generally vote reliably Republican, as always, but voter turnout and margins might be significantly lower than normal.

That being said, what are the margins going to look like in Harris and Fort Bend County, as well as overwhelmingly Republican places liked Montgomery County (Woodlands), not to mention places like Plano Texas and Round Rock Texas....

The problem with the Texas Republican Party has always been a gap between the "country club" Republican types versus the "God Belt" reps from East-Tex, Waco, and the "Cotton Belt". George W. was able to appeal to both segments of the party, but I do have a suspicion that West Tex, and Latino voters in Harris County and suburbs of Houston, are going to create a much closer Republican victory margin in Texas than what we are used to seeing.

IF Texas Cruz voters can't swallow the poison Trump pill, then there could be major issues in Cruz country Texas.... Not a huge fan of the dude, but he did win the Rep Sen Primary by stumping every county in the state, and working local Rep officials to overturn an existing incumbent Senator.

Cruz has always been underestimated as not only a statewide, but also a national political figure, and yes reality is that Texas will likely be much closer in the GE than expected (With a decent Lib voting %) and yes if Texans feel dissed and overrun by the Trump train, they will say a resounding "Screw You we're from Texas".

[Erich Maria Remarque]

But Trump knew, it was coming, didn't he? Prepared remarks... Hm. When did RNC-staff/journalists receive those remarks?

I just don't buy, that Trump just hoped, that Cruz'd change his mind and endorse him despite the remarks. Might it be Trumps plan all along? Too complicated in that case  /:

[Interlocutor is just not there yet]

So far, the Republicans this morning on TV look like dead men walking. Between Cruz, "party unity", disorganization within the campaign, Christie's mock trial, Carson's Lucifer comments and Trump's NATO comments just in time for breakfast, no one knows what the hell to say anymore. It really looks bleak

EDIT: It is 5:41 am pacific and CNN brought Gary Johnson on live in Cleveland. It's already unreal and the morning is young

[SWE]

As a New Yorker, let me apologize for being from the state that unleashed the fools known as Donald Trump and Chris Collins to a national political audience

At least you don't live in Collins' district

[CanadianObserver]

I must say, this has to be the strangest convention I have seen in my thirty + years of following American Presidential elections. Should be interesting to see how it unfolds tonight, when Trump accepts the nomination and gives his speech.

[Gass3268]

Boehner on Cruz: 'Lucifer is back’

[Likely Voter]

Today's programming...

(Start time    7:10PM EDT)

    Reverend Steve Bailey, Pastor
    Fran Tarkenton, Former NFL Quarterback
    Brock Mealer, Motivational Speaker
    Representative Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee)
    Governor Mary Fallin (Oklahoma)
    Lisa Shin, National Diversity Coalition for Trump
    RNC Chair Reince Priebus
    Jerry Falwell Jr., Liberty Univeristy
    Peter Thiel, Entrepreneur
    Tom Barrack, CEO Colony Capital
    Ivanka Trump, Daughter of Donald Trump and EVP of The Trump Organization
    Presidential Nominee Donald Trump
    Bishop Emeritus Roger W. Gries, Diocese of Cleveland

[The Other Castro]

Wow, I'm not interested in any of those except the Trumps.

[Ronnie]

Wow, I'm not interested in any of those except the Trumps.

I'm looking forward to Peter Thiel's speech because I have no idea how someone can square being a Trump supporter with being one of the most notable Silicon Valley entrepreneurs and an anarcho-capitalist.

His politics are just very strange.

[cinyc]

Wow, I'm not interested in any of those except the Trumps.

That's been Trump's strategy for the convention from day 1.  It's no coincidence that his family's speeches have been in the 10pm hour, when the broadcast networks join in.

[I Will Not Be Wrong]

I hope Falwell goes all out.

[Illiniwek]

I'll tune into watch Bishop Gries, so I can help pray for what is happening to our country.

[PeteB]

....  Representative Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee)
    Governor Mary Fallin (Oklahoma)...

The female VP also-rans in action

[ElectionsGuy]

Boehner on Cruz: 'Lucifer is back’

Oh wait, Boehner is relevant?

[psychprofessor]

Multiple twitter accounts, such as Chris Hayes, state Trump's speech draft is full 1992 Buchanan without the religion.

[Devout Centrist]

Multiple twitter accounts, such as Chris Hayes, state Trump's speech draft is full 1992 Buchanan without the religion.

Beautiful.

[Classic Conservative]

CNN is reporting that Tony Perkins and Sheriff Joe Arapio are speaking tonight.

[Dr. Arch]

CNN is reporting that Tony Perkins and Sheriff Joe Arapio are speaking tonight.

Oh my goodness