Today is July 21, 2024 and I am writing down my thoughts on the RNC Convention. I will not share these thoughts today as I will wait until after the DNC Convention is complete for them to be made public as I will share my thoughts on that as well.

The RNC was held Sunday July 14, 2024 to Thursday July 18, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I chose to listen to the various parts of the convention via C-SPAN and PBS NewsHour rather than the conventional news media. I then read various online articles with feedback on views as well as listened to various viewpoints via video discussions (think podcasts and snippets / segments).

I feel that the agenda being pushed was to be of unification and coming together BUT upon listening to the words coming from the speeches and viewing the crowd in attendance I feel that unification was strictly for those that are for the party rather than those that disagrees with the party. I do not agree with many of the policies being pushed.

I did find it interesting the wide variety of speakers and the tone at which they spoke from. America is a melting pot that has made progress towards being a better country but in listening to the arguments FOR the republican ticket I found disappointment in the politics at play.

The one thing I found perplexing as I watched the RNC unfold was that a Venture Capitalist has been elevated to be the VP candidate. The P candidate is a wealthy con-artist that has for decades did everything possible to take advantage of tax codes and any contractors for his business. Also the P candidate has a notorious history of racial issues along with misogynistic problems, plus a thirty-four time convicted felon.

People that follow this person (P candidate for the Republicans) tend to demonstrate cult like behavior in following him. They also believe in one way or another that he could, has and will not do no wrong. From the mugshot being used as a prop to ‘show solidarity’ to the latest incident with the attempt on his life and people wearing items over their ears mimicking him. It is all disturbing in one way or another.

I find it mostly insulting that a party can profess to be the party of the ‘working class American’ yet does not appear to have a coalition that looks like the working class Americans they claim to represent. The crowd all looked and behaved in a similar manner and the speeches all sound and read with a similar tone. The America I live in is not rooted in unity and agreement but instead choices and disagreement.

As I walked away from the RNC I felt dejected and frustrated, because I have hope for a coming together of our country yet that hope was not found in anything I have seen before, so I foolishly hoped that change can come.

It has not.

Words about the DNC are shared here.

Now, with both parties being done with their conventions the run to November 5, 2024 is off and running. There are 67 days until election day. Please make sure that you are registered to vote now, today, so that you can participate in the election. Your vote does matter, once your vote is cast your next step is to engage with WHOEVER is elected and let your voice be heard. Mail them letters, call their offices, and such. Silence is what they desire from the public and that is how they take our individual power away from us.

Stay safe out there!

-Cal

_{As I am writing this post word came down from Joe Biden that he was stepping down from 2024 campaign and endorsing Kamala Harris for nomination.}