What’s been missing from the Republican National Convention? On Tuesday, nine hours worth of speechifying brought hardly a mention of the primary responsibility of any president: foreign policy. That was corrected on Wednesday night with a brief bout of isolationist sentiment from Kentucky Senator Rand Paul who gave a skim milk version of his father Ron’s extremist philosophy. That was quickly followed by an address by 2008 GOP nominee John McCain who gave an impassioned defense of the importance of American leadership in the world. That McCain spoke for the overwhelming majority of Republicans was not in doubt but other than a brief film after that which highlighted Mitt Romney’s visit to Israel (which had to drive the Israel-hating Paulbots present crazy), that was it for foreign policy. The next speakers returned to familiar themes bashing ObamaCare and we heard no more about defense spending or the president’s abandonment of America’s freedom agenda and our allies. No doubt, Condoleezza Rice will say more about it later but the low priority accorded the topic is not in question.
There’s no doubt that fiscal issues will decide the 2012 election. Given the dismal state of the economy that’s understandable. But no matter what they say before they are elected, all presidents soon learn that their ability to deal with domestic issues largely depends on their ability to manage Congress. Foreign policy is the president’s prime responsibility. And despite the claims of some of his apologists, it is a topic on which the incumbent has done very poorly. Other than killing Osama bin Laden, President Obama has presided over a record of failure abroad in which he has alienated our allies like Israel and unsuccessful sought to appease foes like Russia and Iran.
The Republicans may be just following the polls in ignoring foreign policy, but the nation will be ill served by a campaign where this crucial category is pushed to the margins.
You're both right and wrong. n nAs Haas notes, the present time calls for domestic restoration that can't be separated from reasonable FP goals. n nPresident Obama may not have the attachment to Israel that you would like him to have, but Netanyahu didn't seem too thrilled with being yoked to Perry's kind of attachment. n nDomestic restoration, Jonathan, or bust! n nIf Mitt Romney can't get that message across to the Nation, Republicans will lose. n nWhat Ann did not accomplish last night, he must. n nHe doesn't have to sell competency he has to sell competency for more than just the elect. n nThis is a man who can probably easily count the number of days he has lived for himself. And he's hampered by cranks, variant of patriot and haters. n nIf you think he can sell an America that chases liberty abroad while America's own sons and daughters, children of some lesser god, keep slipping and slipping you're wrong.
Here's what most non-partisans fear from Republicans: you have an ideology but no governing philosophy because you don't actually like to govern. n nFew will believe you want to save Medicare when you've never before referred to it as a good. n nRand Paul's speech was a nothing speech by a man not fit to shine Justice Roberts wingtips.
Maybe, but Republican governors are leading the charge. Furthermore, all the young Republican talent is drowning out the tired Republican establishment and constructing a new republican coalition to be proud of and with leaders like Christie, Ryan, Haley, Martinez, et al, a successful governing philosophy.