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When it comes to
the media’s
reporting of
political
conventions, a
favorite
storyline has
emerged in
recent years.
It goes
something like
this:
“Political
conventions used
to be occasions
of high drama,
where candidates
were considered
and reconsidered
and a nominee
eventually
emerged. Today,
conventions are
highly scripted
events, where
nothing is left
for chance and
the outcome is
preordained.”
No doubt most of
this storyline
is true. But
missing from the
media’s lament
is one
indisputable
fact – political
conventions are
also about
ideas, and for
as predictable
as the
quadrennial
party gatherings
have become, the
issues and ideas
that animate
them are
anything but.
Who would have
predicted a
month ago that
gas prices would
have fallen
twenty cents in
two weeks? Or
that Russia
would have
invaded
Georgia? Or
that Brett Favre
would be playing
for the Jets?
Uncertainty in
politics – like
uncertainty in
sports – catches
us all off
guard. Which is
why the most
important story
of the upcoming
conventions are
not their
predictable
outcomes, but
the issues and
ideas the
candidates will
have to contend
with once the
conventions
conclude.
In this Special
Commemorative
Edition of the
Ripon Forum,
we take a look
at one of the
most important
challenges our
Nation faces
with the
presumptive
Republican
nominee for
President. John
McCain is one of
America’s
foremost experts
in the area of
foreign
affairs. We are
honored to
feature his
insights in this
area and learn
more about his
vision for U.S.
policy and
America’s place
in the world.
In addition to
establishing a
reputation as a
global leader,
Senator McCain
also has a
well-established
reputation as a
political
maverick.
Strategist Reed
Galen writes
about this
reputation in
our cover story,
finding that the
true hallmark of
McCain’s career
is not his
rebellious
streak, but the
larger cause for
which it serves
– the safety and
security of the
American people.
In its 40-plus
year history,
the
Forum has
featured
exceptional
essays by some
of the Nation’s
leading thinkers
in politics,
business, and
academia. We
thought this
would be a good
occasion to
reprint some of
the more recent
ones. The
essays and
interviews in
this “Best of
the
Forum” collection address fiscal restraint, tax reform,
health care, and
other issues our
party – and our
next President –
will have to
deal with in the
coming year.
Finally, we
profile the host
of the 2008
Republican
Convention and
one of the
brightest voices
in politics
today, Minnesota
Governor Tim
Pawlenty, who
shares with us
not only his
thoughts on the
issue facing
America no one
is talking
about, but the
historical
figure he would
most like to
meet.
We hope you
enjoy this
Special
Commemorative
Edition of the
Ripon Forum, and
encourage you to
write us at
editor@riponsociety.org
with any
questions or
comments you
might have.
Bill Frenzel
Chairman
Emeritus
Ripon Society
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