'Grifters, liars and half-wits': The DNC is exposing the GOP's 'empty bench' beyond 2024
According to longtime political observer Michael Tomasky, the Democratic National Convention is not only staking back key platform issues like patriotism, freedom and family from the Republican Party, it is also showing off its best and brightest up-and-comers and contrasting it with a GOP that is tired and spent.
In his column, the New Republic editor lauded the Democrats for putting on a riveting DNC and praised the producers of the 4-night spectacle that is swamping the viewership numbers of Donald Trump's Milwaukee convention that came to a close just weeks ago.
More to the point, he wrote, "... it’s an amazing and even historic thing to watch unfold here in Chicago."
Citing Gov. Tim Walz's star turn on Wednesday night, which was highlighted by an emotional moment between the Minnesota Democrat and his crying son, Tomasky took a not-so-subtle jab at Donald Trump's running mate, Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH) by writing, "It’s often said that a presidential candidate’s choice of vice president represents her or his first presidential-level decision. If that’s true, then Harris passed with bright flying colors. And Donald Trump? He should be held back."
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With that in mind, he highlighted the other stars of Wednesday night's proceedings, by name-checking the next generation of Democratic leaders who gave major speeches.
"There was a lot to like Wednesday night," he suggested. "The party’s bench is just so deep with smart and talented and serious people—[Pennsylvania Gov. Josh] Shapiro, Maryland Governor Wes Moore, Senator Cory Booker, Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, who delivered what may be the convention’s most out-of-nowhere brilliant single line so far (to the GOP and the Supreme Court, she said, 'You can pry this wedding ring from my cold, dead, gay hand')."
The New Republic editor then contrasted that with the rogue's gallery of GOP lawmakers who manage to keep their names in the news more for bold pronouncements than tangible results.
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"Compare these people to the grifters and liars and half-wits who are rising 'stars' in the GOP," he wrote. "Jim Jordan. Marjorie Taylor Greene. James Comer. How is that guy not embarrassed to be alive? Two years of epic fails on trying to pin some nonsense on Biden, and now he just casually turns around and starts saying that because Tim Walz has visited China a lot, he’s an agent of the regime? He is out of his tree. But he’s a 'leader' of a party that is completely intellectually bankrupt."
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