Eric Trump: “My father is running for you!”

RNC HIGHLIGHT:

Donald Trump’s 32-year-old son Eric, took his turn at the podium at the Republican National Convention Wednesday night and gave this moving speech, which he wrote himself, about his father.

If you missed this marvelous speech, watch it here. If you saw this speech last night, watch it again. It will make you proud of our Republican nominee, who is not only a successful entrepreneur but has also raised an extraordinary family.

RNC LOWLIGHT:

 Ted Cruz humiliates himself and likely dooms any future political plans with his petulant refusal to endorse the Republican Party nominee Donald Trump after accepting an invitation to speak to the convention. Cruz, sounding a lot like a candidate gearing up for  2020, addressed the delegates with these words: “To those listening, please, don’t stay home in November, stand, and speak, and vote your conscience, vote for candidates up and down the ticket who you trust to defend our freedom and to be faithful to the Constitution.”

 Ted and Heidi Cruz were escorted out of the area to boos and calls of “Goldman Sachs!” a reference to Heidi Cruz’ longtime employment as an investment banker with a major player in what Cruz derided as the “Washington cartel” of bankers, lobbyists and major corporations. According to this March 24, 2015, USA Today article, Heidi Cruz joined Goldman in 2005 and ran its Houston wealth-management unit, which, according to the report, “handles portfolios for clients with an average net worth of $40 million.”

Cruz’ aspirations should be a lonely date with history. The remarkable rise of non-politician Donald Trump has not been without some bumps in the road. Yet he surged to the forefront in a crowed field of 17 GOP candidates, defying the negative predictions of political pundits.  He is the Republican nominee and his choice of Indiana Gov. Mike Pence as his Vice Presidential running mate has served to enhance the ticket.

AS IT SHOULD BE:

Ronald Reagan’s inherent elegance in joining with Gerald Ford in 1976 after his own defeat should have set a standard for Ted Cruz. Reagan, turned to Gerald Ford in unity, and stated, “Mr. President, there is no substitute for victory.” (video) What a shame Ted Cruz didn’t get the message.

Standing to the left side of the screen beginning at 7:39 were House Minority Leader John Jacob Rhodes II and his wife Elizabeth. Rhodes, a conservative, Harvard educated lawyer and respected member of congress representing Arizona’s then-First Congressional District,  was part of a select group who met with Richard Nixon and encouraged him to resign the presidency in the wake of Watergate. In a then unforeseen set of circumstances Rhodes’ retirement set the stage for the political career of John McCain, who served one term in the U.S. House before being elected to the senate seat he is unable to graciously retire from after decades of veering further and further left.