GOP Unveils Its Convention Stars

From AP:

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani will give the keynote address at the Republican National Convention next month and Democrat-turned-independent Sen. Joe Lieberman also will take center stage at the GOP gathering.

John McCain's vanquished Republican primary rivals -- and a slew of potential McCain running mates -- also have speaking roles at the four-day gathering in St. Paul, Minn.

President Bush, Vice President Dick Cheney, first lady Laura Bush, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lieberman, who was the Democratic vice presidential nominee in 2000 and is said to be under consideration for the same role with McCain, will open the convention on Monday, Sept. 1, with speeches that focus on service.

When asked about the RNC lineup, McCain's campaign manager Rick Davis said:

'the senator wanted the list of speakers to showcase the "diversity" of the Republican Party.

"I think one of the things that is important, especially for John McCain, as unique a politician as he is, is to demonstrate the diversity and differences of ideology I would say of our party," Davis said. "I think one of the things that people forget about is we are not a very monolithic as a party. We really want to show some of that."'

Comments

[american2008]

Gouliani's Keynote speech - 9/11,9/11, 9/11,9/11,9/11,9/11,9/11,9/11,9/11,9/11. Oh, and finally before I leave tonight- 9/11!

[gr8abz]

Question. Pardon my ignorance but it seems to me the Republicans always get to have THEIR convention last -- AFTER the Democrats have theirs. So that the Republicans get the final bounce. How do they determine which party hold their convention first and who goes last during each election cycle? Anybody know?
The answer I got (from one considerate person and I thank you) Is that "Each party makes their own decision?" If that is so why do the Democrats always choose to allow the Republicans the last word? A chance to win the closing rounds and have the final bounce by holding their convention last? A chance to bilk 9-11 by putting the GOP convention in early September? I know the Democrats are morons when it comes to campaigning but isn't it about time the Democrats held their convention in early September?

[maxwellinformed]

The GOP convention is going to look like a joke this year compared to the Democratic convention, which ends with Obama's speech in Bronco stadium. Plan to see a week of actual idea's and John McCain bashing.

By the looks of GOP lineup, you are going to get a bunch of fear mongering, saber rattling, old men yelling at clouds. With far less press and far less actual attendees.

"My friend" you will see the long awaited bounce. Add to that the upcoming debates where McCain will no longer have a "cone of silence" to hide behind.

[gr8abz]

Good answer. "Fear mongering old men." So true and so typically Republican.

[Pyrrhus]

Gr8-

Whichever party wins the previous election has their convention last

[gr8abz]

Pyrrhus,
Thank-you. While appreciate the supportive and very intelligent responses of my other colleagues, thanks for the technical explanation. I knew their had to be one.

[notthistime]

no one will be watching it. At least 30% of Repubs are not attending so . . . not sure how much of a bounce this will get especially with McCain being the candidate.

[gr8abz]

Thanks. I hope you're right.

[Cynth]

That's diverse? They're way more out of touch than I thought.

[And I had to double check that this isn't a 23/6 piece.]

[LGrace]

The aging, balding, warmongering white male is no longer the voice of America, if it ever was. GOP=get over (it), people.

[naschkatze]

In 34 years it is going the way of the dodo bird.

[AmericaninProtest]

Cheney, CEO of the corporization of the military and the government. Bush the whipping boy. Guiliani the court jester. McCain and Lieberman puppets. Very diverse indeed!

[shultzie]

Oh I can't wait to see which person of "color" they'll decide to feature on their "NIght of Inclusive People of Color" Any guesses?

[Pyrrhus]

Young Piyush Jindal of course.

He's gonna try to exorcise a demon from a random member of the audience.

[Jessegirl]

I guess there will be a lot of vomit everywhere.

[Bitsko]

They mistook Jindal for M. Night Shyamalan and after watching The Village withdrew their invitation.

[mijumom]

Joe Lieberman is such an a**h*le!

[Agentlady007]

He's a nice man. I remember when he was campaigning with Al Gore. He's very intelligent. If anything he is protecting us by working with a man who may be very dangerous to the United States if he is elected. McClone is not someone I would trust without someone like Lieberman by his side. The balance of power will at least be lifted and closer to a normal state for America to live under in these condidtions, where without someone like Joe, we might as well expect a third world war. Joe Lieberman is against war and feels diplomacy is a solution to war. I remember this.
Although I am not a Republican, and I doubt he is an independent, my theory is he is a man who will give up his party to protect the best interests of our country.

[naschkatze]

Oh sure.

[stepintothelight]

GOT ZIONIST???

[ashabot]

Gimme a break. The GOP is neither diverse nor compassionate!

[ses190e]

Whadaya mean not diverse? They got 3 or 4 kinds of old white people

[notthistime]

They look like all the members on the US dollar bills.

[dijo]

Republican Diversity...as Cobert said...from eggshell to pastey white.

[abigail1]

:)

[Agent420]

They all have huge foreheads leading the ignorant to believe that it cover a lot of brain. Nothing could be farther from the truth. It is because they have time tunnels that lead back to their actual brains in the 18th century. There is just an illusion that there is high vacuum in there.

[belmontdevil]

Isn't this the same lineup from the GOP 2004 Convention...except for Joe"FlipFlop"Lieberman ?

Yup...Sen McCain is nothing like Bush...same policies, same staffers and same convention. You couldn't swipe one of your "over-the-limit / canceled" credit cards between the two of them.

Heck, If Pres. Bush had the guts to call Laura a c###, he and McCain could be twins.

PS...notice the Iraq news today? US agreeing to withdrawal time frame with Iraq Government.
(Obama's Plan)
-How will the McCain camp spin this...if the media even bothers to ask him about it.

[Oklad]

'the senator wanted the list of speakers to showcase the "diversity" of the Republican Party."

Best laugh I've had all week..

Can't wait for an evening of speeches full of..."My Friends..9/11...P.O.W....Extremists...9/11...Hero...9/11...P.O.W."

Better stock up on Red Bull if you're gonna stay awake..
.
.

[notthistime]

Don't forget SURGE SURGE SURGE SURGE SURGE SURGE SURGE SURGE SURGE SURGE SURGE SURGE

[breezi]

BOMB, BOMB, BOMB IRAN.

[megacephalus]

What a sad bunch of angry, nasty, small-minded OLD MEN [and in my case this is coming from a 73 year old! "takes one to know one" ;-) ]

[rosal]

LOL! What a funny comment!

[bbbbmer]

The four lily white old farts of the apocalypse...

[Sloopydrew]

"Diversity?" Really? Whether Republican or "Independent," there seems to be one constant -- they're all poo-poo heads (my original post used a harsher word and it was deleted, so I am now using baby words to keep in line with what is apparently a new "no cussing" policy at Huffpo). This convention takes place less than 10 miles from my home. I can only imagine the awful stink in the air that will be carried in by the Rethugs.