The extensive television coverage of the 2024 Republican National Convention, starting on Monday, July 15th, saw the traditional meeting of “electors” from each state, gathered to choose their candidates for President and Vice President. As expected, Donald J. Trump was almost unanimously chosen as the Presidential candidate of the Republican Party – obviously no surprise to anyone attending or watching the convention. The absence of actual unanimity was a product of several electors legally committed to follow their local state rules of procedure, but didn’t detract from those electors enthusiastically casting the majority of their ballots to the Trump-Vance ticket. Most people paying attention to the news media, appear to be aware that Donald Trump has been the popular choice of a very large segment of the American voting public for several years. This year, JD Vance of Ohio, was selected by Trump to be his “running mate.” Judging by the reception of the convention crowd, it appears to have been a very popular choice.
While the Friday, July 13th events surrounding the attempted assassination of Trump dominated and colored early proceedings of the convention, and on and off in commentary for the remaining three days, the palpable relief that the attempt failed was largely felt but obviously individually suppressed throughout most of the rest of the convention. Instead, vibrant positive expectations of the enormous crowd were predominantly expressed continuously.
The first three days of the four-day convention were reserved for heavy-hitting presentations of political notables, including Trump family members, and a collection of touching stories from “the common herd,” relating personal moving reasons why Donald Trump should be selected as their candidate for President. Trump’s family also made moving and thoughtful presentations that painted Trump as a concerned, compassionate but strong advocate for America and all Americans. It included JD Vance’s formal acceptance of the nomination for Vice President – so the Republican Ticket is declared – clearly with the very enthusiastic approval of the attendees.
The final session on Thursday featured a moving presentation by Donald Trump, preceded by stirring music and several very well known supporters. The Trump-Vance ticket will compete against the Democrat Party’s offering, which, presumably excluding a surprise with-drawl of Joe Biden, will be Joe Biden & Kamala Harris, though that possibility is apparently coming into more and more vocal opposition by significant members and financial supporters of the Democratic Party. At this point, who would be their likely replacements is anybody’s guess.
Owen Brovont – Livermore