Not a single Republican of substance will be speaking at the Republican convention this week in Cleveland. One TEA Party member who will speak is a bit of a surprise. Although they engaged in an ugly battle during the primaries, Ted Cruz will stand before the Republican faithful and lie.
“Why,” is the only word I can use. The only answer can be his ambitions for 2020. Immediately after he took office in 2013 he has been desperate to remain in the public eye.
Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe their ‘bromance’ has been renewed. Early in the campaign season they appeared inseparable; that was until the Republican establishment attempted to unite Behind Cruz and defeat Trump.
Maybe this is the truth. In Cleveland a billboard has been erected depicting a kiss between the two most hated men in politics. We must ask if they posed for the artist, or is it merely a figment of his imagination?
Of course I’m being facetious. The truth is that the billboard is in protest of a growing homophobia within the Republican Party. The selection of Mike Pence as Trump’s running mate openly states that the LGBT community is under attack by the GOP.
Pence led the nation by signing into law the first anti-gay measure. He claimed that he was supporting religious freedom, specifically Christianity, by allowing businesses to refuse service to same-sex couples if they believed it violated their homophobic views. Threats which would have harmed Indiana’s economy forced Pence to revoke the legislation.
I cannot ‘candy cote’ the fact that I expect Cruz’ speech to be pure bullshit. There are multiple reasons as to why he is known as the most hated man in Washington. His frequent use of falsehoods is legendary.
The truth is that Trump is desperate for any nationally known ‘celebrity’ to speak on his behalf. More have declined than accepted.
One question continues to haunt me; why has Sarah Palin not been asked to speak? Could it be that it is the result of her making a fool of herself when she endorsed Trump? Trump’s facial expression indicated that even he was embarrassed by her rambling and incoherent gibberish. Maybe she’s too busy killing baby seals in Alaska to attend. Who knows?
The circus begins tomorrow. The truth is that conventions have become so scripted that they are of little interest to anyone other than people such as myself who closely follow all political events. But this one in Cleveland offers many opportunities to become a great reality show.
Anti-Trump forces are unlikely to bow to the wishes of Reince Priebus and fully support ‘the Donald.’ Outside of the arena thousands will be protesting loudly; possibly loud enough to be heard inside.
Without a single influential member of the GOP speaking at Trump’s convention, Cruz may be the star. Now, isn’t that a sad thought?
Op-Ed
By James Turnage
The Truth With No Restrictions 