Republicans decided not to mess with success at this week’s convention by putting President Donald Trump front and center four nights running.
Typically, a party’s nominee keeps a low profile until the final evening of the convention to deliver his acceptance speech.
Trump’s not having it.
Of the keynote speakers scheduled, half are family members.
Republicans are also bucking tradition by forgoing a party platform stating their goals or policies. In 2016, the GOP platform was 54 pages.
Perhaps party leaders realized there was no point. Ever since he became president, Mr. Trump has bent the party to his will.
That one individual has been allowed to wield such authority speaks of an enormous leadership vacuum among Republicans.
Another detour for this convention is that the president’s speech Thursday evening will be conducted at the White House, which traditionally is not used as a campaign prop and which some perceive as unethical.
But as we all know by now, the rules do not apply to Mr. Trump, much to the delight of his supporters.
In the 2016 campaign, Mr. Trump said that “Only I can make America great again.”
With nary a pause, Republicans Monday voted to give Mr. Trump another chance to make good on his word.
And that’s the Republican Party of today
— Susan Lynn
