# 2020 Virtual convention thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 17, 2020, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353 "2020-08-17T23:18:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![Pleonast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pleonast/32/1183_2.png) [@Pleonast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pleonast)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/242 "2020-08-22T00:02:22Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > Here’s where you lose me. This implies that the convention was NOTHING BUT non-whites and elites, when this is demonstrably not the case. Just last night there was a panel of Joe talking to white, midwestern union workers. Joe’s role is saving the auto industry was highlighted _multiple times_ over the course of the convention - an explicit appeal to midwestern factory workers. I feel like you glided right over these and many other examples of similar appeals to the exact voters you are talking about. The problem is that many Trumpists are in denial about what Americans looks like. They think that it’s still like 1950 (87% Non-Hispanic White, 10% Black, 2% Hispanic, \<1% American Indian, \<1% Asian) instead of 2010 (64% Non-Hispanic White, 16% Hispanic, 13% Black, 5% Asian, 1% American Indian) [[Wikipedia cite](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historical_racial_and_ethnic_demographics_of_the_United_States)]. They don’t realize that those other groups represent America too and every time they see someone who’s not exactly like them they think that they themselves are being ignored. ---
**Author:** ![Boycott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boycott/32/6741_2.png) [@Boycott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boycott)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/243 "2020-08-22T00:03:03Z")
While I think Biden gave a great speech and deserves the good reviews … I believe the most hard hitting speech still came from Barack Obama. Only in the sense with Biden and a lot of the others there still was the _feel-good turn a crisis into a great opportunity for progress_ etc language. Obama on the other hand who was the ultimate feel good optimism president during his time however spoke a message that felt more a warning out of fear. Not a message of happiness or reassurance. _Democracy is on the line_. ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/244 "2020-08-22T00:06:48Z")
I’m not sure if it’s best put as which groups need to be explicitly paid respect or which most need to be patronized to, and in which ways. The explicit shout outs to a wide variety of the diverse membership of this country, from immigrants to disaffected Republicans, and all points in between and orthogonal, were warranted. And some additional explicit and shameless patronizing of less educated whites, mainly rural, would have served well. That’s Trump’s remaining strength and you want to undercut it. ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/245 "2020-08-22T04:26:10Z")
It’s also undeniable that Biden is far more popular among working class whites than Hillary Clinton was. You saw that in the primaries - where Biden swept states that Hillary struggled or lost to Bernie Sanders. And Biden brought out the auto workers, talked about his working class upbringing. I think people forget that working class white people are Biden’s strength as well. That’s why the polls are showing whites basically split between Biden & Trump. One the reasons Obama picked Biden for VP is because Biden was well liked among working class white people. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/246 "2020-08-22T17:08:15Z")
I’m surprised there hasn’t been any pushback, fury, objection, or other reaction to Joe saying that he would institute a national mask mandate. Did that just fly past people’s heads? Surely the Pubbies can make something out of it. ---
**Author:** ![E-DUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/e-dub/32/403_2.png) [@E-DUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-DUB)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/247 "2020-08-22T17:21:35Z")
I think that ratings are an obsolete measurement given how many people will end up watching things on youtube and various other such formats. Yes, the Dems ratings were down, but if I were a Republican I wouldn’t crow about that just yet. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [August 22, 2020, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/248 "2020-08-22T18:43:52Z")
All the people who are up in arms about having to wear masks are Trump voters anyway, and even there, the majority still support it [https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/510317-poll-82-percent-of-voters-support-a-national-mask-mandate](https://thehill.com/hilltv/what-americas-thinking/510317-poll-82-percent-of-voters-support-a-national-mask-mandate) > “Two-thirds of Republicans and over eight in 10 independents and nine in 10 Democrats are in favor of it,” ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/249 "2020-08-23T02:46:53Z")
The AP has a story about the RNC schedule: > **[Trump's vision of American greatness at center of convention](https://apnews.com/trumps-vision-of-american-greatness-at-center-of-convention-c9f91ff4110ce2d0b98cc11cde0ac99f)** > > The Republican National Convention is aiming to recast the story of Donald Trump's presidency over its four nights of events this coming week. > [@](#): > > The four-day event is themed “Honoring the Great American Story,” according to four Trump campaign officials involved with the planning process but not authorized to discuss it by name. The convention will feature prominently a number of well-known Trump supporters, including members of the Trump family, but also those whom the GOP say are members of the “silent majority” of Americans who have been aided by Trump’s policies. Some have been “silenced” by a “cancel culture” pushed by Democrats, the campaign officials said. > > Where Democrats highlighted Republicans who crossed party lines to back Biden as an indictment of Trump’s leadership, the GOP lineup will primarily feature figures on the conservative media circuit with the hope that they can deliver red meat for the president’s loyal supporters — though planners say they will feature some people who did not vote for Trump in 2016. > > Planners insist they will put forward a more “positive” convention than Democrats’ roasting of Trump. Yet the president also appears intent on trying to seize on the nation’s cultural divides, particularly around issues of racial injustice and policing, drawing on grievances to motivate his base. > > The officials outlined the campaign plans to The Associates Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss the emerging schedule. Individual daily schedule overviews follow the quote. ---
**Author:** ![Catamount](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/catamount/32/2840_2.png) [@Catamount](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Catamount)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/250 "2020-08-23T13:26:43Z")
Scraping the bottom of the barrel as per usual. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll be putting a ring of salt around my house to keep the evil out. CFSG will be eight miles from where I live tomorrow and I have to make sure the spray tan doesn’t settle on the garden and choke it to death. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/251 "2020-08-23T13:35:26Z")
Shall we have a separate thread for the RNC or, since the title of this thread doesn’t say it was specifically for the DNC, just continue this one for the Sham in Charlotte '20? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/252 "2020-08-23T13:37:53Z")
The thread is meant to be for both. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/253 "2020-08-23T14:01:33Z")
Righto! ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/254 "2020-08-23T14:42:48Z")
In that case, let the games begin! > **[Hundreds Of GOP Delegates Journey To Charlotte Semi-Bubble For Scaled-Down...](https://www.npr.org/2020/08/23/904949939/hundreds-of-gop-delegates-journey-to-charlotte-semi-bubble-for-scaled-down-conve?utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=news)** > > Republicans kept a small part of their convention in Charlotte there to satisfy contractual obligations. The smaller event includes measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. > Delegates arriving in Charlotte for the scaled down, in-person portion of the Republican National Convention aren’t being greeted by the Charlotte mayor or even business leaders. > > Instead, they are ushered into a purple tent outside the downtown Westin hotel. That’s where they are given a coronavirus test — even though they already had to take a self-swab COVID test at home before getting on a plane. _"Self-swab COVID test? Anyone else ever heard of these?_ > Delegate Steve Scheffler, 72, is from West Des Moines and has been to eight other GOP conventions. He wants the 2020 convention to be safe, but he said the rules are all a bit much. > > “I mean I’ll follow the rules because it’s what we’re here to do to get the president renominated – and the vice president,” he said. “But I don’t like where this might be going down the road. Maybe mandatory masks today, maybe mandatory vaccines tomorrow.” _And the next logical step is Bill Gates implanting chips in your brain… oh, wait…_ > But there’s more. > > Every delegate’s badge has a fob that uses Bluetooth technology to track who they come in contact with, said the RNC’s health consultant, Dr. Jeffrey Runge. > > Runge said that data will only be used if someone gets infected with COVID, and it’s meant to make contract tracing easier. > > “It’s completely private,” Runge said. “The badges have a number, and we will know what numbers are in contact with other numbers. But they won’t be identified with a person unless there is someone who is positive for COVID.” _This is actually pretty clever. 👍🏼 And a surprisingly robust tactic to use against a HOAX._ > The GOP created a semi-bubble to satisfy the state’s Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, who has been cautious during re-opening. > > It slashed the number of people coming, to just 336 delegates. A traditional convention has nearly 2,500. _The Dems are such a buzz-kill._ > The RNC is requiring masks and temperature checks. And it says delegates can’t even move their chairs inside meeting rooms. That rule is to make sure everyone stays six feet apart. > > Chris Ager is a delegate from New Hampshire. > > His state doesn’t have many coronavirus cases – 7,000 to date – and he doesn’t usually wear a mask. > > “There’s very, very low risk up there, but to me if you join and organization and you attend there event then you follow their rules,” he said. “And so the rules of wearing a mask … it’s fine.” _7,000 cases?? That’s practically nothing! Well, compared to California. 🙄 But nobody wants to be compared to California, amirite?_ > Earlier this summer, Republicans wanted Cooper to give them assurances that they could fill the city’s downtown arena with delegates and other guests. The governor refused. _It’s amazing (and encouraging) that they heeded him. What’s up with that? Big tough Republicans afraid of a piss-ant Democrat [sic] governor? I like it._ ---
**Author:** ![DSeid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dseid/32/20194_2.png) [@DSeid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSeid)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/255 "2020-08-23T15:36:47Z")
> [@ThelmaLou](#): > > … _"Self-swab COVID test? Anyone else ever heard of these?_ … Yes. Some colleges, my daughter’s for example, is doing the same thing. Spit test. Taken and sent 5 days before arrival. Another on arrival and … ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2020, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/256 "2020-08-23T23:14:07Z")
> **[All In The Family: Half Of RNC's Planned 'Key Speakers' Are Trumps. Twitter...](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/rnc-key-speakers-6-trumps-fox_n_5f41ea15c5b697824f99a038)** > > Only 50% Trumps is the president's idea of "diversity," snorted one critic. > Half of the 12 “key speakers” planned for the Republican National Convention will be Trumps, [Fox News](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/fox-news) revealed Saturday. > > Twitter critics went bonkers. > > [Donald Trump](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/donald-trump), [Donald Trump Jr.](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/donald-trump-jr), [Melania](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/melania-trump), [Ivanka](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/ivanka-trump), [Eric](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/eric-trump) and [Tiffany](https://www.huffpost.com/topic/tiffany-trump) Trump were all listed as [main speakers](https://www.vogue.com/article/who-will-be-speaking-at-republican-national-convention-2020) at the big event that begins Monday, other media reported as well ― though the schedule was still being finalized over the weekend. > > [In addition to the family ranks](https://www.npr.org/2020/08/22/904886750/the-republican-national-convention-starts-monday-heres-what-you-need-to-know) will be Vice President [Mike Pence](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/mike-pence), House Minority Leader [Kevin McCarthy,](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/kevin-mccarthy) former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations [Nikki Haley](https://www.huffpost.com/news/topic/nikki-haley), South Dakota Gov. [Kristi Noem](https://www.huffpost.com/topic/kristi-noem), Iowa Sen. [Joni Ernst](https://www.huffpost.com/topic/joni-ernst) and South Carolina Sen. [Tim Scott](https://www.huffpost.com/topic/tim-scott). > … Well, it’s not the WHOLE trump family, just the ones who don’t think he’s a horse’s ass. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/257 "2020-08-24T14:41:40Z")
Judging by his sister’s recently-revealed comments, they might very well _think_ he is, they just won’t say it publicly. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/258 "2020-08-24T15:00:59Z")
I guess they want to stay in the will. If there are any net assets, that is. Which I’ve doubted all along. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/259 "2020-08-24T16:50:41Z")
Trump is “addressing” the RNC right now, live, with an audience in Charlotte. His “address” is his normal rambling unscripted rally bullshit – you’d think he’d save some material for tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/260 "2020-08-24T17:03:45Z")
AP-NORC poll: Trump faces pessimism as GOP convention opens: [AP-NORC poll: Trump faces pessimism as GOP convention opens](https://www.aol.com/article/news/2020/08/24/ap-norc-poll-trump-faces-pessimism-as-gop-convention-opens/24598352/) ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2020, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353/261 "2020-08-24T17:05:43Z")
I’m impressed they remembered Tiffany. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2020-virtual-convention-thread/918353.md?page=14)