Republicans have given up traditional ground
One startling result to emerge from the Democratic National Convention is with what ease Democrats picked up traditional ground Republicans left lying around. Anti-MAGA Republican Adam Kinzinger brought the disparity into sharp focus. Suddenly, Kinzinger observed, Democrats are the party of family values, law and order and patriotism. Democrats stand firmly against the evil empire of Russia. If it’s border security you’re looking for, look to Democrats. In the House, Democrats sponsored a doozy of a bi-partisan bill to ensure border security, and Donald Trump and his MAGA minions killed it.
What’s more, every Democratic former president except Jimmy Carter — who was too frail to attend — spoke at the DNC. Carter was there in spirit. Barack Obama and Bill Clinton gave rousing speeches. George W Bush was nowhere to be found at the RNC. Bush wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. He didn’t want his legacy tainted by MAGA.
One important subtext of the DNC was how much Democrats love America and how Kamala will be president for ALL Americans. The subtext of the RNC was how much Donald Trump hates America, how much he hates most Americans. To hear Trump tell it, America has become a “shithole country.”
Democrats embraced and praised Chicago, the city of the DNC’s venue. Trump characterised Milwaukee, the RNC host city, as “horrible.” The message from Trump, JD Vance and the MAGA cult is relentlessly negative. The message from Kamala, Tim Walz and the Democrats is one of hope, hope that is joyful and all-embracing.
Republicans, who have become the party of blame, have no one to blame but themselves. Trump willingly ceded the ground of opportunity and vision to the Democrats with his constant whining and focus on a halcyon mirage of the past that hardly anyone believes in. It’s all a cynical manipulation, underscored by RFK Jr’s recent defection to MAGA. The praise RFK disingenuously heaped on Trump was Kamala’s for the taking just two weeks ago. She didn’t want it. Now everyone knows: the Trump MAGA party is the party of political whores.
The look Republicans have embraced is pathetic, and its pitiful look is underscored by its pitiful c-list celebrity attendees. The RNC got Kid Rock and Hulk Hogan. The DNC got Steve Kerr, Jason Isbell, Mickey Guyton, Tony Goldwyn, Common, Patti LaBelle, Maren Morris, Lil John, Sean Astin, Mindy Kaling, Stevie Wonder, John Legend, Wendell Pierce, Spike Lee, Kenan Thompson, Kerry Washington, Eva Longoria, DL Hughley, The Chicks, Pink and, let’s see. Did I leave anyone out? Oh yeah, Oprah. James Taylor was supposed to perform but they ran out of time.
Republicans have LOSERS written all over them. Can you feel it? We are not just going to win, we are going to descend on the MAGA cult like the biggest blue tsunami in history. And, as ever, ladies and gentlemen, brothers and sisters, comrades and friends, stay safe.
Robert Harrington is an American expat living in Britain. He is a portrait painter.