Four years ago the Republican convention was a bizarre spectacle, a cross between a Napoleonic fantasy and a Leni Riefenstahl movie.
The dominant image was of an imperial dynasty laying claim to forever rule.
As for the shooting, it had been instantly mythologized as a miracle of survival: Speaker after speaker, including Trump himself, credited the Almighty with saving the former president so he could save America.
There was no reference to the speculation, multiplying across the internet, that the deep state was behind the assassination attempt.
Even Donald Trump was, by his standards, cogent and calm.
Persons:
Leni Riefenstahl, Sean O’Brien, Donald Trump, Trump, Biden
Organizations:
Republican, Teamsters ’, Democratic