The Common Good: “What a Split-Screen for Americans This Week”

Originally published on The Common Good

Republicans nominated former President Trump in Milwaukee just days after the attempted assassination as Trump named his Vice Presidential candidate Ohio Senator J. D. Vance. The event was themed to show a unified party as former challengers rallied behind the former president. A kinder, gentler Trump was on display calling for national unity as the speakers depicted Trump as a sympathetic father, grandfather, and brave survivor of an assassination attempt. However, Trump has reconfigured the Party in tone and policy from its historic conservative roots. Media coverage and social media buzz highlighted both the enthusiasm of the party base and sharp criticisms from opponents, illustrating the deep divisions in public opinion.

•  Republicans leave convention unified after Trump returns to combative tone. The party’s embrace of Donald J. Trump comes as President Biden’s campaign is in turmoil. (NYTimes)
• “The “Republican Party is Trump’s now. Critics wary his quest for power will go unchecked. Five days after narrowly escaping assassination, Donald Trump [accepts] his presidential nomination on Thursday before an adoring crowd of supporters, the final act in his transformation of the Republican Party into the party of Trump.” (Reid, Layne, Oliphant, Reuters)
• Opinion: PAST TCG SPEAKER: Bret Stephens: “The secret of Trump’s Resurrection: “The G.O.P. ceased to be a normal political party in 2016 and became a cult of personality, less interested in winning elections than in burnishing the savior-victim myth of its charismatic leader”(NY Times)

Meanwhile, Democrats are at loggerheads about Biden continuing to pursue a second term as president.  

• Democrats at impasse as Biden digs in amid mounting calls to drop out. Campaign chair says Biden is “absolutely” staying in the race as more Democrats urge him to withdraw, setting up major clash next week. (Olorunnipa, Caldwell Sotomayor, WashPo)
• “Top Democrats including PAST TCG SPEAKERS U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have increased pressure on President Joe Biden to withdraw from his reelection campaign over concerns he cannot defeat Republican challenger Donald Trump.” (Reuters)
• Despite calls for President Biden to bow out of the race, he noted: “I look forward to getting back on the campaign trail”. Among calls for President Biden to step down, Democrats are still unsure what the best course of action is: (AP)