Republican National Convention, Cleveland: Worst organized convention in recent memory

A Republican convention that sees the host Republican governor boycotting it is doomed to failure. And that is exactly the case in Cleveland, where, as of 5:00 pm on opening day a schedule with times allotted to various speakers has still not been produced. This has confused not only the schedule-driven TV and radio media but also delegates. One Trump delegate from Tennessee confided he had never seen a convention without a fixed schedule.

During the primaries, Republican nominee Donald Trump continuosly trash-talked the press and in Cleveland the fruits of that bombast are very apparent. The media was forced to clear security in the same lines reserved for delegates, alternates, and guests, resulting in many television and radio journalists being late for broadcasts. There are not enough desks assigned for media inside the Quicken Loans Arena. That has resulted in a number of reporters finding a place on the floor on the concourse near an electrical outlet.

At the media filing center, which is “sponsored” by AT&T, a Wi-Fi connection requires a pre-payment to AT&T. The 2016 Republican National Convention is as much as scam as Trump University and Trump Steaks.

WMR can report from Cleveland that this convention has been a bust. The people and city of Cleveland have done their very best to welcome the delegates, alternates, guests, and press, but when a governor like John Kasich avoids his own state’s convention as if there has been an outbreak of the bubonic plague on the floor, things can rapidly deteriorate.

Add to that the fact that delegates from Colorado walked out of the convention hall when their attempt to have a roll call vote for the presidential nominee failed, the GOP convention in Cleveland has all the markings of a disunited political party headed for defeat in November.

There is a rumor that Ted Cruz delegates will stage a walk-out after he speaks. Cruz is currently scheduled to speak during the evening of Wednesday, July 20.

The only kudos here in Cleveland go to Google, which has provided a free Starbucks-like kiosk for tired and thirsty reporters, courtesy of Tree City Coffee shop of Kent, Ohio. Google also provides the best WiFi signal anywhere at the convention location.

Overall, RNC 2016 in Cleveland is, paraphrasing Trump, “just horrible.”

Previously published in the Wayne Madsen Report.

Copyright © 2016 WayneMadenReport.com

Wayne Madsen is a Washington, DC-based investigative journalist and nationally-distributed columnist. He is the editor and publisher of the Wayne Madsen Report (subscription required).

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