*updated at bottom of post*
The list of speakers for the Donald Trump Convention and Pre-Armageddon Bonanza is in, and it’s significant not just because of who is on it, but who is not. Who is are a lot – a LOT – of not politicians. Who is not is … we’ll get to that.
The New York Times published the list of speakers last night and, just for the record, here is their sourcing:
The roster of speakers obtained by The Times, and confirmed by two people with direct knowledge of the convention planning, reveals a lineup lacking many of the party’s rising stars. Instead, it features some of Mr. Trump’s eclectic collection of friends, celebrities and relatives, from his Slovenian supermodel wife to professional golfer Natalie Gulbis.
First, the boring old politicians who will be there. These include Senator Mitch McConnell, Mayor Rudy Giuliani, and Sen. Tom Cotton. Well … Rudy is a good speaker anyway. Michael Mukasey is speaking, Gov. Rick Scott, and of course Reince Priebus. There are others (see full list below.)
Las Vegas casino owner Phil Ruffin will be there. Wonder if the issue of online gambling will come up? Actor and former underwear model Antonio Sabàto Jr. is speaking. I don’t know who that is or why he is speaking. Search Google if you dare.
Former Navy SEAL Marcus Luttrell, author of “Lone Survivor,” will appear, as will Benghazi survivors Mark Geist and John Tiegen.
In light of the recent police shootings and shootings of police, Trump will have Wisconsin Sheriff David Clarke, a big critic of Black Lives Matter. There will be border patrol agents, too.
One of the non-political names making big news online is former Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. So be prepared for a cornucopia of worn-out and tired “Tebowing” jokes on your social media timelines for the next week or so. Also from the sports world, UFC president Dana White and as mentioned above, LPGA golfer Natalie Gulbis will be speaking. Don King and Tom Brady did not make the cut.
There are more ladies, though. From the New York Times.
There are several notable women speaking. They include Pam Bondi, the Florida attorney general, who tangled on television with the CNN anchor Anderson Cooper after the Orlando, Fla., nightclub massacre; Eileen Collins, the first woman to command a space shuttle mission; Gov. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma; Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa and Mr. Trump’s wife, Melania.
Also his daughters Tiffany and Ivanka. But you know who is not among the women listed? Sarah Palin. That’s right, she’s nowhere to be found. You know, there is a special speaking slot for the VP, as usual. That wouldn’t be listed before he announces. She’s not listed. SPECULATION FUELED.
Also Pence is not on the list. SPECULATION COMPOUNDED!!! (Update: Yep, looks like Pence.)
The AP points out some other big names that not only aren’t speaking, but simple won’t even be there:
The GOP’s two living presidents, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, and its two most recent presidential nominees, John McCain and Mitt Romney, all plan to avoid the Cleveland affair – as does Ohio’s Republican Gov. John Kasich. Shrugging off the high-profile absences, Trump’s team suggested the convention lineup would help highlight Trump’s outsider appeal.
Here is the summary of the days from the New York Times:
Night 1: A Benghazi focus, followed by border patrol agents and Mr. Shaw, whose son was killed by an undocumented immigrant. Senator Cotton, Mr. Giuliani, Melania Trump, Ms. Ernst and others.
Night 2: A focus on the economy: Mr. White, president of the U.F.C.; Asa Hutchinson, the governor of Arkansas; Michael Mukasey, the former United States attorney general; Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, a vice-presidential possibility; Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the majority leader; Tiffany Trump; Donald Trump Jr. and Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin.
Night 3: Ms. Bondi; Ms. Collins; Newt Gingrich, a former House speaker; Senator Ted Cruz of Texas; Eric Trump; Ms. Gulbis; and the nominee for vice president.
Night 4: Mr. Tebow; Representative Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee; Gov. Mary Fallin of Oklahoma; Reince Priebus, the Republican National Committee chairman; Gov. Rick Scott of Florida; Mr. Thiel; Mr. Barrack; Ivanka Trump; Donald J. Trump.
There’s a lot more worth reading at the Times, here.
So the bottom line? It’s going to be a show, that’s for sure. And that doesn’t even count the delegate revolution OR the spectacle that will take place outside. It’ll be some kind of week, and RedState will be there in person. Wish us luck. And pray.
UPDATED: Here is the official, full list from the RNC.
Pastor Mark Burns
Phil Ruffin
Congressman Ryan Zinke
Pat Smith
Mark Geist
John Tiegen
Congressman Michael McCaul
Sheriff David Clarke
Congressman Sean Duffy
Darryl Glenn
Senator Tom Cotton
Karen Vaughn
Governor Mike Huckabee
Mayor Rudy Giuliani
Melania Trump
Senator Joni Ernst
Kathryn Gates-Skipper
Marcus Luttrell
Dana White
Governor Asa Hutchinson
Attorney General Leslie Rutledge
Michael Mukasey
Andy Wist
Senator Jeff Sessions
Retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn
Alex Smith
Speaker Paul Ryan
Congressman Kevin McCarthy
Kerry Woolard .
Senator Shelley Moore Capito
Dr. Ben Carson
Co-Chair Sharon Day
Natalie Gulbis
Kimberlin Brown
Antonio Sabato, Jr.
Peter Thiel
Eileen Collins
Senator Ted Cruz
Newt Gingrich
Michelle Van Etten
Lynne Patton
Eric Trump
Harold Hamm
Congressman Chris Collins
Brock Mealer
Congresswoman Marsha Blackburn
Governor Mary Fallin
Darrell Scott
Lisa Shin
Governor Rick Scott
Chairman Reince Priebus
Tom Barrack
Ivanka Trump
Attorney General Pam Bondi
Jerry Falwell Jr.
Rabbi Haskel Lookstein
Chris Cox
Senator Mitch McConnell
Tiffany Trump
Governor Chris Christie
Donald J. Trump Jr.
Governor Scott Walker
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