Conservative Analysis of the 2012 Republican National Convention

            Although the Republican National Convention this year nominated a candidate for President of the United States who was the most moderate of the field in the primary elections, Mitt Romney, the former successful businessman, savior of the 2002 Winter Olympics and Governor of Massachusetts, is campaigning as a conservative and selected a conservative as his running mate, seven-term Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, who was nominated for Vice President. 

Ryan, whose career I have followed since his first successful election campaign in 1998, is a protégé of the late Rep. Jack Kemp (R-NY), author of the tax cuts of President Ronald Reagan that helped spark a 25-year period of economic prosperity – the most stable in American history.  He is the leading Republican expert on fiscal and economic matters in the House of Representatives. 

The installation of a national debt clock and a clock displaying the debt increase during the convention was politically shrewd.  It was appropriate to acknowledge Hurricane Isaac and the passing of Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.  The speeches focused mostly on fiscal and economic matters, although defense, foreign policy, trade, immigration, energy, abortion, gay marriage, labor, education, and threats to liberty were among the issues raised repeatedly.  A common theme ran through the speeches: the humble origins of the speakers or their parents or grandparents.  Although the speeches focused on the challenges facing the U.S., such as the debt, the poor economy, and Iran’s efforts to acquire nuclear weapons, the speakers demonstrated a Reaganesque optimism based upon their faith in America.  Many of the speakers are rising conservative stars.  

Not only were the speeches generally conservative, but the remarkable platform approved by the GOP Convention reflected conservative principles (http://www.gop.com/2012-republican-platform_home/).  The platform was much more comprehensive than the speeches, yet relatively succinct. 

The Republican Party appeared largely united behind the Romney-Ryan ticket and increasingly enthusiastic about it and its chances of victory.  It is also determined to defeat President Barak Obama and elect more conservative Republicans to Congress before it is too late and the U.S. goes off the “fiscal cliff” like Greece and other European countries.