Interesting times indeed: The Republican National Convention kicks off in Cleveland on Monday and the chief of the city's largest police union feels that the situation is so volatile that gun rights should be temporarily rolled back. Steve Loomis, president of the Cleveland Police Patrolmen's Association, tells CNN that after the shooting of three officers in Baton Rouge on Sunday, he thinks openly carrying firearms during the convention would be "irresponsible" and he wants open carry to be banned in the whole county until the RNC is over. Loomis says he wants Gov. John Kasich to issue an order, and "I don't care if it's constitutional or not at this point." Kasich, however, says Ohio governors "do not have the power to arbitrarily suspend federal and state constitutional rights or state laws."
- Two men with long guns briefly turned up at a protest Sunday, apparently to demonstrate their open carry rights, Cleveland.com reports. Other demonstrators including 100 nude women in an art installation, assorted anti-Donald Trump groups that held marches and rallies, and a gathering of thousands of people on the Hope Memorial Bridge with a message of love. Some 11,000 attended a GOP event at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with entertainment including Three Dog Night.
- The GOP released its convention program Sunday and it looks like it will be one big Trumpfest at the Quicken Loans Arena: With daily themes like "Make America Safe Again" and "Make America First Again," there will be a Trump speaking each day, starting with Melania on Monday and finishing with both Ivanka and Donald on Thursday. Other speakers include Rick Perry, Scott Baio, Duck Dynasty's Willie Robertson, and Ted Cruz.
- There will be around 50,000 people attending, the AP reports in its convention preview, but prominent Republicans including the party's last two presidents and last two nominees will not be among them. Kasich is also skipping the convention.
- Marco Rubio will also be appearing, but only via video, Roll Call notes.
- In a look at what to expect on Day 1, the New York Times predicts that the Baton Rouge police shooting will lead to even stronger Republican calls for law and order. In the evening, Melania Trump's speech may mark the start of a Trump effort to improve his dismal ratings among women voters.
- This promises to be a memorable convention, but it will have a long way to go to rank among the wildest in US history, Politico finds in a look at convention craziness in years past, including 1924, when Democrats exchanged taunts of "Ku Klux McAdoo" and "Booze, booze, booze!"
(Trump is expected to officially become the GOP nominee Thursday, but the Never Trump movement
hasn't given up yet.)
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