Okay.  I watched every televised moment of the republican National Convention, from Monday’s delegate roll call to the final fireworks.  I likely need counseling now, given how different the version of reality they depicted was to the world outside.  Final thoughts:

• Trump’s acceptance speech, from an oratory standpoint, was subpar.  It was a cobbled-together mess of self-congratulatory flotsam mixed with a jetsam of lies–with a bunch of trite historical references mixed in.
• From a political standpoint, Trump’s speech was scary.  I honestly never thought, in my more than half-century of life, I would see political banners on the White House lawn like it was Ryongsong Residence or the Reichstag.  Trump’s “We’re here and they’re not” statement was worthy of a dictator, not a US President.
• Ivanka’s going to run for office in 2024.  She made the first speech for her campaign tonight.

• Having no party platform is a point of pride for Trump.  He relishes ignorance, and he encourages it in his followers.
• The word “Russia” was never mentioned by any speaker that I recall.  Not in speeches about national security.  Not even with someone saying “Russian hoax.”
• Only one white person mentioned the name of a Black victim of police violence.  That was Rudy Giuliani, who mentioned George Floyd.  The RNC had Black speakers mention some of the other victims, but no one else offered condolences to the families or condemnations for actions of the officers.
• The RNC was outclassed by the Democrats.  The DNC convention was well-produced; the RNC was a series of essays read by awkward students.  There was no entertainment, nothing fun and enjoyable.
• I was *really* hoping someone would’ve organized a full “Oompah” band–scores of tubas, trombones, sousaphones, etc.–to play and march up and down the street as Trump spoke.
• On January 21, 2021, legislation will be introduced to strengthen the Hatch Act to bar the use of the White House and the Capitol for political rallies.
• I’m honestly slightly shocked that republicans didn’t focus more vitriol on Nancy Pelosi.  I take that as a sign that they recognize they’re not going to win the House.
• Likewise with Chuck Schumer:  republicans must feel confident that they’re going to hold onto the majority in the Senate.
• The only references to bipartisanship were brought up by Sen. Tim Scott (who actually didn’t act in bipartisanship) and outgoing White House advisor Kellyanne Conway (relating to Trump prison reform).
• There’s no way I can pinpoint the single most outrageous lie spoken in tonight’s speech, but what seems obvious is that Trump believes that if says something enough, it must be true.  A good example:  his lie that he, not Obama, passed Veterans Choice.
• Note that unlike 2016, there were no major corporate leaders speaking on Trump’s behalf.  Is this a sign that their support for him is fading, despite rising stocks?
• Some things that were not brought up at anytime throughout the RNC:  the skyrocketing federal debt; recognition that schools and colleges are re-closing due to coronavirus; professional sports protesting Jacob Blake’s shooting.