To the editor: Jonah Goldberg’s comparison of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence – Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s running mate – and Sansa Stark from “Game of Thrones” conveyed the reality of a codependent person who suffers abuse while continuing to name his abuser as not only “normal” but also desirable.
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And the transcriptions make the resemblances even clearer. All 17 Republicans candidates took a pledge to support the eventual nominee, but did Cruz live up to that promise? And then, after leading into what had to be an endorsement, he urged the assembled delegates to “vote your conscience.” Wow.
“To those listening, please don’t stay home in November”, he said. “We will defend freedom and defend and be faithful to the constitution”, Cruz said. Shifting attention away from Cruz, a smiling Trump appeared to greet and shake hands. Many delegates, including loud exhortations from the NY delegation, began chanting, “Endorse Trump!” When he did, he at first repeated: “Wow”. But Wednesday night, Cruz refused and instead said, “vote your conscience”. “And quite frankly friends, vote for the one candidate that does not need this job”. His answer, only if it got so bad that I had no choice. “Well, ladies and gentlemen, that day has come”.
Peter Thiel, the co-founder of PayPal, will become one of the first openly gay people to speak at a GOP convention when he addresses delegates. “Because we want our children, and all children in this nation, to know that the only limit to the height of your achievement is the reach of your dreams and your willingness to work for them”. “Never have I been more proud to be a Trump…Never have I been more proud to be my father’s son”. But it didn’t go down as well as she might have hoped when commentators were quick to make comparisons between that of Michelle Obama’s 2008 convention speech. Up until that point, the campaign had praised her speech, with only Donald Trump Jr. Trump is “a man known for a large personality, a colorful style, and lots of charisma”, Pence said, “so I guess he was looking for some balance on the ticket”. The similarities are undeniable when you look at the speeches side-by-side.
He said it’s crucial to elect Trump to protect the Second Amendment, “the sanctity of life” and other liberties.
Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich spoke after Cruz and tried to give him some cover. This year, they sounded bland and uninspiring to the base he was brought in to rally and which had been whipped into such frenzy earlier by speakers like Gingrich and Governor Chris Christie, Pence’s erstwhile rivals for the vice presidential nomination. “[She] is the ultimate liberal Washington insider”, he said. “It’s time to win in November”, Rubio said. While Trump has energized many Republican voters, others remain deeply skeptical of his unorthodox candidacy and divisive policy proposals.
Cruz threw the entire convention into chaos as he wrapped up his speech, refusing to throw a hard endorsement Trump’s way. “Ted Cruz have all responded to Donald comes generosity”.
The statement was reportedly not included in his prepared remarks sent to press.
“On issue by issue – he and I will take our case to the voters, pointing out the failures of the Obama-Clinton agenda and showing a better way”. See those and other highlights from Day 2 here.
It was undeniably the most controversial – and exciting – moment of the GOP convention so far, the Republican presidential nominee publicly snubbed by his former rival in front of a crowd of more than 20,000.
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Several arrests were also made Wednesday afternoon right outside the convention.
