The GOP’s coronation of a charlatan

[FSogol]

Years from now, bright-eyed children will look up at Grandma or Grandpa and ask, “Where were you when they nominated Donald Trump?” Far too many prominent Republicans will have to hang their heads in shame.

As the garish imperial coronation in Cleveland reaches its climax, there will be much commentary — some, no doubt, from me — about fleeting events. Did So-and-So’s speech help Trump or hurt him? Did one line of attack against Hillary Clinton seem more or less promising than another? All of this is news, but we must not lose sight of the big picture: The “party of Lincoln” is about to nominate for president a man who is dangerously unfit for the office.

Trump is a brilliant showman, no question about that. His life’s work has been self-aggrandizement, not real estate, and all those years of practice served him well when he turned to politics. He knows how to work a crowd. He understands television and social media. He dominated and vanquished a field of experienced campaigners as if they were mere apprentices.

But he lacks the knowledge, curiosity, temperament, wisdom, compassion and resolve to be president. The GOP is about to formally endorse a charlatan for the most important job in the world.

Rest of the Eugene Robinson piece here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-coronation-of-a-charlatan/2016/07/18/b6d9e254-4d12-11e6-a7d8-13d06b37f256_story.html

[Chemisse]

1. And this is why so few Republicans are attending the convention.

Supporting Trump will someday be seen as a worse indictment on their political careers than the Iraq war vote has been for Dems.

[Botany]

2. Don is a con man

Trump U
Trump Institute
Trump Network
Trump Ocean View Condos
Trump Mortgages

[wiggs]

3. This meme will stick because it is more than a little true. Ginsberg's comment. Melania's

cheating. Ghost writer of his most famous book. Fake campaign. No qualms about lying.

Deception is part of his business strategy...one of the tools he uses to get over on everybody. These comments are going to add up

[Raster]

4. "Trump is a brilliant showman..."

Really? "Brilliant showman"??? I can think of many descriptions for the tRump, and most of those don't contain the word "brilliant." Case-in-point: his entrance last night to introduce Melania, accompanied by "We are the champions" (SUE Freddie, sue!), with disco fog and eerie blue light as sauntered onstage was about as cheesy as it gets. What? No lasers or flashpots?

[Her Sister]

5. Charles Manson & Adolph Hitler are/were brilliant showmen too!

[Raster]

6. Speaking of Hitler, I cannot wait for this "convention" to hit...

...it's Nuremberg moment... it definitely showed signs last night that it could be in the general vicinity. It could be filmed!... Lena, Lana, Loni... I know "Triumph of the Shill."

[Her Sister]

7. The way the Trumpers called "Trump trump trump trump" like some kind of violent chant!?

[Raster]

8. Oh yes... just waitin' for the arms upraised in nazi salute fashion...

...speakers goosesteppin' up to the stage... This is beginning to look and sound like a Salvador Dali rendition of "The Producers."

[Her Sister]

9. At one point I saw people with straight arm & fist raised!

Was not a salute, because they used a fist instead, but very tight arm and very tight tight fist. Like a weapon.

[Raster]

10. And that was just Night One...