Day One Naturally Full of Discord and Controversy

The Republican National Convention opened Monday the way only a political coronation of Donald Trump could have. The goal for the day -- styled as "Make America Safe Again" -- was to aggressively attack Hillary Clinton's foreign policy and made the argument that the Obama Administration had failed in protecting Americans, especially police officers and those in the military. And while several speakers made forceful remarks to accomplish that, they were overshadowed by a last ditch attempt to thwart Trump via parliamentary procedure and accusations of plagiarism. The convention has not derailed by any means, but it certainly is not the coordinated celebration that the party had planned.

From the Wikimedia Commons

When the time came for adoption of the rules governing the convention, the "Never Trump" faction seized the opportunity to humiliate the campaign. The Utah Delegation motioned for a roll call vote, a lengthy process that would have processed into the night, possibly delaying the program. However, a few states withdrew their support for the move after pressure on the floor from the Trump campaign. Although their efforts were stymied, they succeeded in disrupting a typically highly coordinated affair.

The controversy didn't stop there. Melania Trump, the headliner, was accused of plagiarizing Michelle Obama's 2008 DNC speech. Indeed, a few sections match nearly word for word. The Trump campaign has vigorously denied copying the speech. 

If the tone of the Trump campaign thus far has been an acutely mesmerizing, hyperbolic yet sinister and disjointed affair, the opening night of the convention reflected that in spades. Anyone expecting anything different should remember to always expect the unexpected.