‘Are you having fun?’

The headline reflects one of the most-asked questions during the four-day political soiree that was the Republican National Convention in Cleveland.

As a working journalist, this writer affected an attitude of nonchalance that is one of the main pillars of objectivity.

But as an opinion writer, the answer to the question was on the tip of the tongue.

So now that the convention is history – literally and figuratively – the answer to it can be shared:

“No, I was not having fun.”

How much fun could it be when hatred (mostly for Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, but also for President Barack Obama) was the fuel that ignited the passions of the Republican Party faithful?

How much fun could it be when the outcome of the convention was known before the first session of the four-day event was called to order Monday?

How much fun could it be when intelligent political discourse that has historically been the hallmark of party conventions gave way to obsequiousness and just plain old fawning over one man?

And how much fun could it be when the presidential nominee of the Republican Party gives truth to the idea that you can fool a lot of people a lot of the time?

New York City business tycoon Donald Trump, hardly the epitome of American conservatism, is now leading his Republican Party into the general election.

Trump’s opponent, Hillary Clinton, former U.S. secretary of state and former U.S. senator from New York, will formally accept the Democratic Party’s nomination Thursday. The Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia will be watched closely.

TRUMP MUST BE DROOLING

Trump, who honed his skills as a below-the-belt puncher during the highly contentious Republican primary that saw him vanquish 16 opponents, is drooling at the prospect of crossing paths with Clinton on the campaign trail.

Not only is this Trump’s first bid for elected office, his candidacy represents the redefinition of the Republican Party. (Thus the historical reference above.) It is politically significant that someone without deep roots in the GOP now leads it. Indeed, Trump took on the party establishment during the primaries and caucuses and was able to attract disaffected Republicans, angry blue-collar workers (mostly Democratic white males) and independents.

While state party leaders and even the national GOP chairman attempted last week to spin Trump’s victory as a resurgence of the Republican Party, the reality is quite different. Trump’s support from the 14 million voters was a reflection of his personal appeal and the effectiveness of his campaign theme “Make America Great Again”.

Thus, while the GOP convention lacked the necessary ingredients for a journalist to have fun, there was a moment of true political intrigue.

The protagonist was Ohio Gov. John Kasich, whose quest for the party nomination for president came to a screeching halt after he was able to win only his state’s primary.

Kasich, who ran a campaign that many objective observers said was head and shoulders above the rest in terms of the basic issue of governance, was repulsed by Trump’s style of politics. The New Yorker’s personal attacks on the other candidates, his disrespectful comments about women, his mocking of an individual with a physical disability, and his failure to provide thoughtful solutions to the pressing issues of the day contributed to Kasich’s rejection of him.

And so, as Republicans gathered in Cleveland for Trump’s ascension, the question that loomed was this: Will Kasich stick to his public comments that he would not endorse Trump and would not attend Thursday night’s nomination acceptance speech?

Yes, it was fun watching the Kasich-Trump saga unfold. The nominee’s surrogates fired a volley of criticism at the ever-popular governor of Ohio. It didn’t faze him. Indeed, when the chairman of Trump’s campaign charged that Kasich was “embarrassing” himself by refusing to climb aboard the Trump wagon, hundreds of the governor’s supporters jammed The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum to show their support for him.

Now, that was fun. The Trump folks should have known – but didn’t – that Kasich becomes an immovable object when attempts are made to push him.

In fact, in two appearances before members of the Ohio delegation – all 66 delegates were pledged to him – and other Ohioans, Kasich made no mention of the GOP presidential nominee. He did offer statements that served to illustrate the extent of his disdain for Trump’s politics.

“I have no regrets for what I’ve done in my political career,” the governor said at Thursday’s breakfast of the state delegation. He has been in the public sector for 30 years.

He recalled the advice he received from his mother: “Tell it like it is” and “Stand on the principles you believe in.”

Kasich also talked about the need to unify the country. “We don’t need to divide it,” he said, in a clear reference to Trump’s divisive campaign.

So, did this writer have fun at the convention? The answer: Only when the governor of Ohio was standing up to the bully of New York City.