Inside Trump's Desperate Attempt to Outshine Biden's Slick Convention

[Nevilledog]

https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-wanted-a-wild-republican-convention-now-hes-fighting-joe-biden-for-tv-ratings/

Donald Trump really wanted to go big for his re-nominating convention.

Long before the coronavirus pandemic utterly destroyed his vision of a great American “revival” this summer—to be packed with his signature mega-rallies, economic renewal, and an extravagant 2020 Republican National Convention that would show up Joe Biden—the president was planning for yet another evening of being treated as a Republican rock-star while anointed the party standard-bearer.

Going back to last year, Trump was getting personally involved in pitching ideas and soliciting pitches for the four-day convention’s garish moments and granular details, according to three people who’ve discussed RNC planning with him. Since last year, he’s made specific recommendations for walk-on music, including Rolling Stones songs he typically doesn’t get to use. He’s riffed on possible guest stars, MAGA musical performances, and celebrity surrogates, lamenting how he couldn’t get every speaker he wanted during the 2016 convention. (That year, Trump had wanted Don King to speak on-stage, but top GOP officials, such as then-chairman Reince Priebus, ultimately convinced Trump not to feature the famous boxing promoter as a primetime guest due to the fact that King had been convicted of manslaughter for stomping someone to death.)

“It was supposed to be his big party,” one of the sources said. “Now, everyone’s just trying to make the best out of the situation.”

*snip*

[soothsayer]

1. Let's see

Won’t have past presidents

Can’t possibly have people remembering his long history of kindness and honor

[flibbitygiblets]

2. "First Amendment" rallies at the WH and Lafayette square

I'm liking this idea!