Republican National Convention Promises to Be at Best a Joke: Part I – Here’s the List of Speakers

Calling This the ‘B List’ Would Be Kind

Next week’s Republican National Convention should be a star-studded event with luminaries from the worlds of politics and entertainment, given the presumptive nominee, Donald Trump, is an internationally-known reality TV star and billionaire businessman with real estate developments across the globe.

But it will not be.

For weeks the media has been asking for details on the convention, which are usually made public a few weeks early to generate excitement and momentum. Among those details, the list of guest speakers and performers.

Only after repeated hounding by the mainstream media has the list been released, minutes ago, and just a few days before the convention will begin on Monday. And it’s at best a “B list.” The vast majority of names will not be recognizable by most people, and the names that should be on the list but aren’t is embarrassingly devastating. 

Among the names many will recognize: Sen. Tom Cotton, former Gov. Mike Huckabee, former Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Melania Trump, Sen. Jeff Sessions, Speaker Paul Ryan, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, Dr. Ben Carson, Sen. Ted Cruz, former Speaker Newt Gingrich, Gov. Rick Scott, Gov. Chris Christie.

Missing are the big stars from the worlds of business and entertainment, which is where Trump lives. For instance, why isn’t Trump surrogate and former vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin on the list? Or Don King or Tom Brady, whom Trump personally said were invited and would be speaking.

Weeks ago the Bush family, including the two former presidents, announced they would not attend. Also not attending are scores of sitting GOP Senators and Congressmen, who have made clear they want nothing to do with the man who will that week become their party’s nominee.

By comparison, the Democratic National Committee has not released the full list of speakers and performers for events for its upcoming convention, but among those confirmed are Lady Gaga, Bryan Cranston, former Rep. Gabby Giffords, Idina Menzel, Tony Goldwyn, Sen. Chris Murphy, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, Demi Lovato, Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, Elizabeth Banks, George Takei,  and Lenny Kravitz.

Here’s the list of GOP speakers:

And a few responses via Twitter: