Last week, Americans witnessed inspiring speeches from countless Democrats & a few Republicans at the Democratic National Convention. The prevailing themes seemed to be kindness & inclusion: “our better angels” & the nation they would create. #velshi
I’m not that into the party conventions, even under normal circumstances. They tend to be insider events that are notoriously light on policy. But I acknowledge these gatherings are an opportunity for the party to put its best foot forward. #velshi
Tomorrow, the Republican National Convention begins. I’m legitimately curious as to how this is going to play out. Never mind putting their best foot forward, but does the Republican Party have anything left that even resembles a foot? #velshi
Donald Trump has completely subsumed the party of Lincoln, John McCain & millions of fiscal conservatives. He has replaced the honor of Republican heritage with racism, science denialism, lawlessness & a cavalier approach to governing. #velshi
Republicans are complicit in Trump’s takeover of the GOP. Trump brought us the Muslim Ban & Republicans supported him. His family separation policy caged migrant children at the border & Republicans supported him. #velshi
Trump squandered the 10-year effort that gave us the Iran Nuclear Deal, yet Republicans supported him. The U.S. was leading the way on climate change until Trump withdrew from the Paris Climate Agreement with Republican backing. #velshi
He's threatened NATO, the greatest political & military alliance the world has ever known. That’s in spite of the U.S. having been the ONLY beneficiary of the mutual defense treaty’s Article 5, when it was invoked by all member nations after the 9/11 attacks. #velshi
Trump has embraced conspiracy theorists & white nationalists, some of whom have jobs in the White House as we speak. He’s told more lies from the bully pulpit than even the most diligent political reporters can count. Republicans have not chastised him for this. #velshi
Not to mention the Russian election interference on Trump’s behalf, his impeachment, the criminal indictments of 8 people with whom he worked closely, or his pardons for crooks who didn't deserve them…I’m looking at you, Roger Stone. #velshi
Donald Trump has been a blight on America & an indelible stain on the GOP. That’s the only logical theme of a 4-day event memorializing the last 4 years. As Trump says, “It is what it is.” At the end of the day, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it’s still a pig. #velshi