Trump's prime-time convention plan: A D.C. ballroom and government backdrops

[brooklynite]

Source: Politico

The Republican National Convention is coming to D.C. — and to government property.

The Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium, a grand historic federal building located close to the Trump International Hotel, will serve as a “central hub” for speeches, according to two people familiar with the plans. Over the years, the building’s column-lined ballroom has been the location for a variety of notable moments — from the signing ceremony for the North American Treaty Organization to scenes for the walk-and-talk political drama “The West Wing.” And now it will serve as a key site for a pandemic-upended 2020 RNC.

The convention will spread out across federal properties in, and possibly, around Washington. President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence are expected to deliver their acceptance speeches on federal property — including even the White House — as the Republicans scramble to rework the event following a resurgence of the coronavirus.

The unusual arrangement is already drawing ethical concerns that federal resources will be used for campaign events and that administration officials will violate the law by campaigning for the president on government property. And it’s not lost on Trump critics that the president’s flagship hotel, already a gathering spot for Republicans, will be conveniently located a short walk from the Mellon Auditorium.



Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2020/08/13/trump-rnc-washington-394669

[efhmc]

1. "Ethical concerns"! What a hoot.

[Laelth]

5. Exactly. This goes far beyond "ethical concerns."

It’s flat-out, blatantly illegal.

But when did that ever stop Trump?

-Laelth

[Zoonart]

2. So the pResident will exploit the power of his office....

the seat of his power to electioneer. One wonders if he will wear the ermine or just have a throne room constructed?
As my husband has asked almost every day since this nightmare began... who will stop him?

[Crowman2009]

3. Something tells me this is going to look gaudy as f***.

[brooklynite]

4. More to the point...

...without an audience to create noise and all Trump to riff, I think his speech is going to come off a leaden and weak.

[Mopar151]

8. Depends on his dosing schedule

They'll have him as jacked as his heart will stand! Nasty Women will not dare come near!

[robbob]

12. They'll line up EA Sports to provide digital cheering

Like they are doing for the NHL games...

[wishstar]

6. and his speech will be as grotesque as his WH speech after he was left off hook on impeachment

where he gave his truly nasty speech to his audience of sycophants-Barr, Meadows and the "Freedom Caucus" nuts

[Iliyah]

7. They should not be tested since . .

they believe in herd immunity. Survival of the fittest.

[rickyhall]

9. There is an answer...

But the Secret Service would be on my ass if I suggested it.

[tanyev]

10. The one time when using his hotel would have been preferable to using federal buildings.

He's got quite a knack for always making the wrong choice.

[AllaN01Bear]

11. their leader and most of these people dont care about laws unless it applies to dems and others .

[jmowreader]

13. So...I take it the DC hotel he illegally owns has no ballroom

That would make sense because he has no balls, but you’d think someone he listens to would tell him, “Dad, between the video game where someone gets to play you karate kicking Biden, the ad contrasting you as a hero with Biden as a tiny masked wimp, and holding your convention on federal property when we could very easily hold it at Mar-a-Lago...this looks worse than some of your makeup failures. At least let us try to find a donor who owns a good hotel we could do this in.”