Guess who won’t be at the GOP convention?
In Tampa, Much of the Drama Will Stay Offstage
By Alex Roarty
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The idea is to portray a competent, forward-looking party—and that has translated into leaving out a recent president and vice president, some tea party stars, and most of the Republicans who only months ago were fighting Romney for the nomination. The absent former rivals include Rep. Michele Bachmann, who won the Iowa straw poll in 2011; former pizza magnate Herman Cain, who once led national polls during the primary race; Texas Gov. Rick Perry, viewed as a juggernaut before he ran; and retiring Rep. Ron Paul, who is getting a video tribute but no live address.
Also missing from the podium, and the convention as well: Former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney. Bush and Cheney represent a decade of GOP dominance that voters don’t remember fondly. Even Republicans have been highly critical of deficit spending and bailouts during the Bush-Cheney years.
The two decided separately not to attend. They probably realized the ramifications of showing up, said Al Cardenas, chairman of the American Conservative Union. “The leaders of the party from the last decade agree it’s in the party’s best interest to move forward,” he said.
Almost all of these no-shows have national favorability ratings in the 20s and 30s. That includes former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who made an electric convention debut four years ago as the GOP vice presidential pick but won’t be onstage this year. Her absence, along with that of Cain, Bachmann, Donald Trump, and other tea party favorites, has not gone unnoticed. The conservative group TheTeaParty.net has asked conservatives to sign a petition condemning convention organizers for what they call a blatant and outrageous attempt “to silence TEA PARTY voices and ignore the historic success of the Tea Party since 2009.”
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http://www.nationaljournal.com/daily/big-names-of-gop-left-offstage-and-not-by-accident-20120826
= new reply since forum marked as read
but today's events are cancelled and Trump has not been rescheduled.
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