It was Donald Trump who chose Charlotte, North Carolina to host his year's Republican convention where his presidential nomination will be rubber stamped.
Now he's warning the state governor he'll take his convention elsewhere unless the state exempts the event from social distancing requirements.
"I love the Great State of North Carolina, so much so that I insisted on having the Republican National Convention in Charlotte at the end of August," Trump said in a series of tweets. "Unfortunately, Democrat Governor, @RoyCooperNC is still in Shutdown mood & unable to guarantee that by August we will be allowed full attendance in the Arena. In other words, we would be spending millions of dollars building the Arena to a very high standard without even knowing if the Democrat Governor would allow the Republican Party to fully occupy the space."
The President's calls for a "guarantee" from North Carolina officials overlooks the uncertainty surrounding the summertime levels of the coronavirus and the challenges of hosting a political convention -- or any large event -- in the middle of an ongoing public health crisis.
In an interview last week, Cooper said that data and science will guide his decisions on whether the state can hold large gatherings like the convention. He said the Republican convention, which he supported bringing to Charlotte, will be treated like any other event.As for me, I'm with Trump on this one. What could be more fitting than to see so many prominent Republicans packed like sardines in a convention center with some of them shedding virus as they cheer and whistle in support of the Mango Mussolini?
Yes, seems like a good reason to exempt the convention from the fire code's capacity restrictions as well. We all know that Trump events get record turnouts, way more than Obama did.
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I understood that rules are made to be broken, bounds to be stretched, numbers to be fudged. I think Trump should be granted his waiver - on condition that the convention floor be absolutely packed with the party faithful, every square foot of it.
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ReplyDeleteSpam in a Can ..
Sal, that's a terrible thing to say about Spam.
ReplyDeleteBut - they will have to provide all of the stadium staff, Front of house, stage technicians, hospitality, ushers, security. Why put the citizens of North Carolina at danger - the Republican Party will need to provide all staff.
ReplyDeleteAnd how about the hotels for 50,000 people - staffed by GOP - and the restaurants, and transit or taxis.
It's not just the attendees at risk, it's all the staff required.
What a crazy and self-centered world this is.
Trump's likely looking for an excuse to move the convention to one of his properties. The grift must go on - think of the $$$ he's leaving on the table by holding his coronation in Charlotte.
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ReplyDeleteI've been fighting a losing battle to not have to believe Republicans have gone mad. I so want to believe that this lunacy is a veneer beneath which sanity reigns. What's next, a November banzai charge? Seppuku for the survivors?
Both the presidential and senate races are close in NC. Trump can't afford to piss people there off.
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ReplyDeleteThere you go again, Rumley, assuming Trump is a rational man.