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Top takeaways from night 1 of #RNCinCLE

Luke Skywalker

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Did you miss the first day of the Republican National Convention? If so, here are the moments you should catch up on.



CLEVELAND —<span style="color: Red;">*</span>A Republican convention we're unlikely to soon forget kicked off Monday, and within hours, it was clear this would not simply be a four-day Donald Trump love fest.
Top takeaways from night one:
USA TODAY
Analysis: Turbulence inside the hall, around the globe




[h=2]The Trumps steal the stage ... and maybe a speech[/h]
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Donald Trump greets his wife, Melania Trump, on stage during the 2016 Republican National Convention at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland on July 18, 2016.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)

Melania Trump came, she saw, she did just fine (or so we thought), and then walked off arm in arm<span style="color: Red;">*</span>with her husband to thunderous applause and the power chords of Queen's We Are The Champions.
The candidate's young, glamorous wife has been a bit of a mystery this campaign season; she hasn't made many public statements and has been overshadowed on the campaign trail by the Trump children, who have taken active, public roles.
USA TODAY
Trump introduces wife Melania to national audience, predicts victory




Her speech was a kind of introduction to a national audience, and initially at least, she<span style="color: Red;">*</span>made a perfectly good impression. It was a very vanilla speech — no major attack lines, no surprises, just praise of her husband and a bit of her life story as an immigrant to the United States.
However, it was noted shortly after the night ended that a section<span style="color: Red;">*</span>of Melania Trump's remarks was strikingly similar to a portion<span style="color: Red;">*</span>of Michelle Obama's 2008 Democratic National Convention speech.
USA TODAY
Was Melania Trump's speech plagiarized from Michelle Obama?




Before long, it became clear on social media that the conversation the next morning about her appearance would be focused not on whether she effectively softened her husband's image and boosted his appeal among female voters, but instead on whether<span style="color: Red;">*</span>the would-be first lady<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(or her speechwriters) plagiarized the current first lady. It's the last thing the Trump campaign needs after a bumpy running mate rollout and amid an ongoing struggle to unify the Republican Party (see below).
“It would not be a Trump contest without excitement and drama," Melania Trump remarked Monday, in perhaps the understatement of the night.
[h=2]'Never Trump' going down swinging[/h]
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Members of the Virginia delegation vote on adoption of the rules during the Republican convention in Cleveland on July 18, 2016.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)

The Republicans determined to deny the real estate mogul the party's nomination came to Cleveland facing incredibly daunting odds. Those slim hopes became almost non-existent late last week when the Rules Committee decisively shot down an effort to free up delegates to vote for any candidate they choose. Trump himself reveled in the repudiation of his opponents, saying during the introduction of running mate Mike Pence Saturday: "They got crushed."
On Monday afternoon, though, the Never Trump forces mounted what may be truly their final bid to challenge the real estate mogul's nomination, calling for a roll call vote on adoption of the rules, which had been deemed approved via voice vote. Seemingly out of nowhere, the floor of the Quicken Loans Arena transformed into a convention scene from another time in American politics, as anti-Trump forces chanted "roll call vote!" while pro-Trump delegates countered "we want Trump!"
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, a leader of the rules challenge, summed up what many were likely thinking at home:<span style="color: Red;">*</span>"This is surreal." Ultimately, Trump won again, denying his opposition within the party even a symbolic victory, given that he was certain to win the vote on the floor anyway.
[h=2]Goodbye, “Hello, Cleveland!”[/h]
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Long lines form as people enter a security entrance at Quicken Loans Arena on July 18, 2016.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)

This is the first convention in Cleveland since This is Spinal Tap<span style="color: Red;">*</span>was released in 1984, so none of the speakers have ever had a chance to shout “Hello, Cleveland!” from the convention stage. It’s an homage to one of the iconic moments of that mockumentary, as the band navigates the backstage corridors searching for the stage door. And yes, all of us have at some point stepped off an airplane at Hopkins airport and hollered, “Hello, Cleveland!”
But after the third of fourth convention speaker began their remarks with “Hello, Cleveland!” we were ready for the joke to be over. And this was the first couple hours of Monday night. There are three more days of this.
Let’s move on to “Cleveland rocks!” please.
[h=2]Anti-Clinton red meat[/h]
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Pat Smith, the mother of Sean Smith, who was killed during the Sept. 11, 2012, embassy attack on U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya, speaks during the GOP convention.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY)

A large portion of any convention is spent excoriating the other side<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— and that will likely be especially true in Cleveland. Part of that is because few political figures are more anathema to the GOP base than Hillary Clinton<span style="color: Red;">*</span>— so much so that anti-Clinton fervor among the delegates may be the one thing that can unite a still divided Republican Party (see above).
Those sentiments were on full display Monday night, both in the rhetoric and the selection of speakers.
Just a few of the many examples:
"I blame Hillary Clinton personally for the death of my son," said Pat Smith, whose son, Sean, was one of four Americans killed during the 2012 Benghazi attacks when Clinton was secretary of State.
"We cannot afford Hillary in the White House<span style="color: Red;">*</span>again," said Rep.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Michael McCaul, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee.
"If I did a tenth of what she did, I would be in jail," said retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn, who was considered by Trump as running mate. "Crooked Hillary Clinton — leave this race now!"
By the way, Trump himself missed some of this<span style="color: Red;">*</span>—<span style="color: Red;">*</span>he was doing a telephone interview on Fox News, counter-programming against his own convention. Most nominees go out of their way to avoid trampling on the carefully scripted narrative of a convention. But this candidate? Nah.
[h=2]Charles in charge of our days and our ... homeland?[/h]
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Scott Baio speaks at the Monday evening session during the Republican National Convention.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Robert Deutsch, USA TODAY)

The theme of Monday was "Make America Safe Again," and the lineup of speakers for the first night of the Republican convention was, well, a bit unconventional. To be sure, there were some familiar GOP faces: former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani, former Texas governor Rick Perry and Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, among others. Then<span style="color: Red;">*</span>there were the lesser-known speakers, some elected officials, who enjoyed somewhat surprising starring roles. Ever hear of Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke? Probably not, but you have now after he closed out Monday night's proceedings (assuming you were still tuned in after the Trumps left the stage).
And that brings us to our final category: the "showbiz" speakers, which is arguably a generous description. How will a President Trump make America stronger? Let's hear from former<span style="color: Red;">*</span>General Hospital<span style="color: Red;">*</span>star Antonio Sabato Jr. Want someone to bear witness to Trump's commitment to law enforcement and the military? How's<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Duck Dynasty's<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Willie Robertson, who assured voters repeatedly "Donald Trump will have your back!"
Lastly, who best to calm an anxious nation that Trump will keep Americans safe? Perhaps someone who knows a thing or two about safeguarding a household: Scott Baio of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Charles in Charge<span style="color: Red;">*</span>fame (to say nothing of<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Happy Days<span style="color: Red;">*</span>and<span style="color: Red;">*</span>Joanie Loves Chachi).
"Let's make America,<span style="color: Red;">*</span>America again," he said toward the end of his remarks, a line we have to imagine we'll hear again if Baio ever stars as the president in a made-for-television movie.
[h=2]More convention coverage from USA TODAY:[/h]USA TODAY
In Cleveland, discomfort with idea of John Kasich 2020 run




USA TODAY
Amid GOP, Cleveland's loneliest historian




USA TODAY
Young singer's National Anthem moves GOP convention-goers




USA TODAY
'Patriotic Millionaire' protests against rich political donors




USA TODAY
2004 political conventions explain Trump, Obama, Clinton and 2016




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