Part 1: Scott Braddock, Editor of Quorum Report
Discussion of the approach and possible effects of Hurricane Laura. It has many similarities to other large storms: Rita, Katrina, Harvey. Expected effects and problems will likely be from the storm surge.
The RNC so far has not mentioned of the fires in California, even though a lot of damage has been done, and humans had been injured
Conversations around other events, now being treated as political props for Trump.
Crenshaw, a ‘rising star’ in the Republican party in a heavily gerrymandered district had a good speech, but was careful to not even mention Trump’s name. It appears that he is distancing himself from Trump. New voters are moving to Texas, and he needs to court them.
Part 2: Bill Curry, writer for Salon.com.
Discussion and evaluation of the RNC so far, specifically Melania Trump’s speech, which could be interpreted as ‘code’, with many ambiguities.
It was remarkable that the speakers praising Trump is a relatively small number, and the choices are odd. His wife, and children, and their spouses, WITHOUT Jared Kushner, for some reason, though he has been the ‘solution to all’ character in the White House. Trumps circle appears to be very small. No former Republican presidents.
We discussed a strategy that should be used to counter this kind of programming: expose, counter all untruths, present the facts. Repeatedly. Require specificity for all claims. The important issues should be the pandemics that we face: disease, racism, climate change. These should be repeatedly be stressed.
