There is nothing presumptive about Donald Trump anymore. After yesterday’s roll call vote of delegates, the political novice and self-described multi-billionaire IS the Republican Party’s 2016 presidential candidate.

What began as a joke to many political observers, is now the standard bearer of a major political party. The man who launched his run for the presidency by riding down an escalator with his beautiful wife, now carries the GOP’s hope of regaining the White House. The man who on the day he announced his candidacy claimed Mexico was sending us “their criminals, drug dealers and rapists” is the Republicans’ pick to unify a divided country.

In case political amnesia sets in, here is a list of how some Republicans have described their 2016 presidential candidate:

Rick Perry: Trump is a “cancer on conservatism.”

Marco Rubio: “We’re on the verge of having someone take over the conservative movement who is a con artist.”

Ted Cruz: “This man is a pathological liar. He doesn’t know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth.”

Chris Christie: “Showtime is over. We are not electing an entertainer-in-chief. Showmanship is fun, but it is not the kind of leadership that will truly change America.”

Lindsey Graham: “He’s a race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot. He doesn’t represent my party. He doesn’t represent the values that the men and women who wear the uniform are fighting for. … He’s the ISIL man of the year.”

Carly Fiorina: “Donald Trump reminds me of the Kim Kardashian of politics.”

Mitt Romney: “Here’s what I know: Donald Trump is a phony, a fraud,”

Jeb Bush: Trump is “not a stupid guy, so I don’t assume he thinks that every Mexican crossing the border is a rapist. He’s doing this to inflame and incite and to draw attention, which seems to be the organizing principle of his campaign.”

Yes, politicians say all sorts of things during political campaigns. But do you notice a common theme here?

Out of a primary field of 17 candidates, Republicans have decided to go with their most divisive, disliked, least experienced, double-talking candidate of the bunch.

Word of warning to the many Republican politicians who have bought their tickets on the USS Titanic – there is a limited number of life boats.

Photo | chicagonow.com

For a party that has a problem accepting immigrants, Slovenian-born Melania Trump delivered the speech of the evening at last night’s opening day ceremonies in Cleveland, Ohio.

After what turned out to be a chaotic first day at the Republican National Convention, Melania Trump offered a refreshing change of pace from the partisan, vitriolic speeches that preceded her.

The mother of one of the four Americans killed in the Benghazi attack, Patricia Smith, blamed Hillary Clinton, “personally for the death of my son.” Also keeping with the Benghazi theme, a hopped-up Rudy Giuliani alleged Hillary Clinton has “an arrogant disregard for American lives lost unnecessarily because of her.”

Yes, Melania Trump, in an elegant white dress, was what the night, and primetime, needed.

Speaking of her husband, Melania said, “He is tough when he has to be, but he’s also kind and fair and caring. This kindness is not always noted, but it is there for all to see. That is one reason I fell in love with him to begin with.”

She received a rousing applause by mentioning that Donald “intends to represent all of the people…that includes Christians and Jews and Muslims and Hispanics and Asians He will never, ever, give up. And most importantly, he will never, ever, let you down.”

Some, no doubt, will take issue with her husband’s plan to be an inclusive, unifying president. But the convention crowd bought it, giving Melania a standing ovation.

From the look of the crowd as she spoke, one could sense the audience was paying close attention to her words. They were pulling for her. Her Slovenian accent did not betray her or get in the way of a speech well written and delivered – a speech some described as “composed, self-aware,” and providing a rare glimpse into the personality of America’s potential next first lady.

Melania Trump even tried her hand at humor.

“It would not be a Trump campaign without excitement and drama,” she joked.

Last night, Melania Trump, undoubtedly delivered the biggest speech of her life and of the presidential campaign so far. To her credit, the former fashion model that learned English as a second language, nailed it.

Photo | J. Scott Applewhite/AP

What do you do when you are your state’s Attorney General being investigated for an ethics violation over soliciting a $25,000 campaign contribution from the presumptive Republican presidential nominee? Well, if you’re Florida’s Pam Bondi, you accept a primetime speaking slot at your party’s nominating convention, which begins tomorrow.

Pat Bondi is scheduled to speak this coming Wednesday along with:

• Eileen Collins, astronaut and first female commander of a space shuttle mission
• Newt Gingrich, Former Speaker of the House
• Senator Ted Cruz
• Eric Trump
• Natalie Gulbis, professional golfer
• Mike Pence, Vice Presidential nominee

Some pretty heady company! (well, except for Gulbis and Eric Trump)

That Bondi would put herself on such public display is nothing short of blind ambition lathered over by some good, old-fashioned Florida chutzpah.

Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi’s political troubles involve three complaints accusing her of unethical conduct for soliciting campaign donations from Donald Trump while her office was reviewing consumer complaints against Trump University.

Trump’s $25,000 donation came just days before Bondi’s office dropped the probe, choosing not to join an investigation into complaints against Trump U.

Florida State Sen., Dwight Bullard, has called on U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch to begin a federal investigation.

“It’s not a one-time act or a one-time occurrence. Rather, it’s the latest in a pattern of questionable behavior exhibited by Ms. Bondi involving deep-pocketed interests and an unwillingness to legally pursue certain business entities following their intercession,” Bullard stated in his letter to Lynch.

There is little doubt that any news outlet covering the convention, and Bondi’s speech, will ignore the looming scandal. Many will be learning, for the first time, of this confluence of campaign money, Trump University, Bondi and Trump.

It is obvious why Donald Trump would invite Bondi to speak at his coming out party.

While a more circumspect political figure might have chosen to lay low and not stir up the proverbial hornet’s nest, Bondi is Trump’s kind of woman. Major cojones!

Photo| legalschnauzer.blogspot.com

David Duke, former grand wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, is flirting with the idea of running for Congress. He expects to make his decision within a “few days.”

Duke has seen the success of Republican presidential candidate, Donald Trump, who he has endorsed, and wants in on the action.

“I’ve said everything that Donald Trump is saying and more,” said Duke. “I think Trump is riding a wave of anti-establishment feeling that I’ve been nurturing for 25 years.”

No doubt Trump has made racism fashionable again. What many Americans had kept hidden for fear of being ridiculed and ostracized is now being proudly displayed. Thanks to Trump, racism is on the rise in America. (Thanks To Trump, Racism Has Gone From Concealed To “Open Carry”)

David Duke also suggested he would be a great pick as Trump’s running mate.

Comparing himself to Newt Gingrich, a man at the top of Trump’s VP list, Duke said, “I would be a better pick. I had a perfect Republican voting record. If he had me as a VP he would have a life insurance policy. But again, I don’t see him doing that. That’s just a fantasy.”

If Duke decides to seek office, he would be running against Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 3 Republican in the House. Undaunted, Duke sees 2016 as his year to win against the man he calls “sellout Steve Scalise.”

Ironically, Scalise got into hot water a few years ago for having spoken at a meeting of the European-American Unity and Rights Organization, an group founded by Duke.

Of course Scalise feigned ignorance of the Duke organization’s message.

“I didn’t know who all of these groups were and I detest any kind of hate group,” Scalise said. “For anyone to suggest that I was involved with a group like that is insulting and ludicrous.”

Yes, Scalise was so unaware of the racist message Duke’s organization as putting out that he jokingly referred to himself as, “David Duke without the baggage.”

Because of Trump’s success in appealing to racists everywhere, Duke sees an opening for himself.

“There are millions of people across the country who would like to have me in the Congress. I’d be the only person in Congress openly defending the rights and the heritage of European Americans,” said Duke. “We are on the offensive today. There’s no more defenses.”

If Duke decides to run, it is interesting to wonder if the folks of Louisiana would go for the real McCoy racist, Duke, or stick with the imitation brand, Scalise.

Photo | bossip.com

It seems more and more Republicans are finding reasons not to attend this year’s Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio. Some of those not attending, at least, are honest about it, like the former Republican nominee, Mitt Romney.

Romney has made it clear he does not like Trump very much. Mitt Romney has called Trump a “phony” and a “fraud,” whose promises are “worthless.” His plan is to stay as far away from Cleveland as possible.

Then there are those weak-kneed Republicans who instead have come up with a variety of excuses: They’re too busy running their own campaigns, they’d rather watch on television, or they have previous engagements scheduled.

But hardly any GOP member has dared mention the 800-pound gorilla in the room: the real potential for violence.

As the convention approaches (July 18-21), several security experts, convention attendees and even the prospective protesters fear the convention site, Quicken Loans Arena, could erupt into violence reminiscent of the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, where an estimated 10,000 protesters showed up to oppose the Vietnam War. Confrontations between police and protesters broke out that left hundreds injured and resulted in nearly 600 arrests.

What none of these security experts want to admit, however, is if violence were to break out in Cleveland, look for the results to be much worse than those of 1968.

Ohio is an open carry state. While guns will be prohibited inside the convention hall, they will be perfectly legal outside the arena.

Trump has talked about “Second Amendment” rights at his rallies.

“We’re going to win with our Second Amendment!” said Trump at a Phoenix, Arizona rally in March. “We’re gonna win big league with our Second Amendment!”

With the recent fatal police shootings of two African-Americans and the ensuing ambush by a sniper in Dallas, Texas that left five police officers killed and another seven wounded, emotions are raw on all sides.

John Born, Ohio’s public safety director, said federal, state and local authorities have been working together on thorough preparations. “I will tell you that we try to do everything we possibly can to prepare for any potential action that can occur.”

One wonders how prepared security personnel will be if a bunch of gun-toting, angry protesters start resorting to their “Second Amendment” remedies?

Mowing the lawn, Sen. Jeff Flake, sounds like a great idea!

Photo | thehollywoodinterview.blogspot.com