Republican Offensive - Democratic Response (Sept 19, 2012)

Presidential candidate Mitt Romney chastised the Barack Obama administration for failing to live up to his promises especially on improving the economy and reducing the alleged 23 million unemployed Americans. Romney attributed part of the problem to Obama's lack of business experience and accused  President Obama of promoting divisiveness and recriminations, while failing to admit to orchestrated Congressional Republican obstructionism. Without elaborating, Romney said he'd cut the budget, reduce the deficit and taxes on small business and the middle class.

On foreign policy, Romney called for active trade agreements, claimed the Obama administration had "thrown Israel under the bus", disappointed Poland on a strategic shield, exhibited too much flexibility with Russian president Vladimir Putin instead of showing more US "backbone, been too tentative in dealing with Iran's nuclear capability, and blamed the administration  for the US trillion-dollar debt to China.

 A hard look at the array of speakers at the Republican Convention revealed a GOP patina intended to convey inclusiveness, comprehensive platform, and visionary policy in the face of the party's underbelly driven by traditional and reactionary impulses of the Tea Party, "birthers", and ideological anti-government advocates. But it's questionable whether the organizers attained the symmetry they sought.  Disharmony in this fractured party was perceptible at the convention. This state of affairs could lessen the chances of unified party support behind Romney in the run-up to the elections.  At the same time the mettle of the Obama strategists will be tested as they try to exploit this apparent disarray

 Granular New Jersey Governor Chris Christie spearheaded the Republican offensive on behalf of urban and rural blue collar voters in a state with many problems. Secretary Condoleezza Rice, steering unsuccessfully away from politics, exhorted the US to lead rather than follow in world affairs, an implicit jab at the Obama administration, similar to ex-presidential candidate Senator John McCain's views on national security. And combative Vice Presidential Candidate Paul Ryan focused on the nettlesome issues of Medicare, Obamacare, and the budget. They were intertwined with the Reaganesque folksy and gripping personal anecdotes of New Mexico governor Susana Martinez, and the captivating Ann Romney's publicly humanizing her spouse.

As expected, the convention was somewhat theatre but not only that. There were some revelations:  the GOP's  "critical election of our lifetime" as Speaker Newt Gingrich stated bluntly -- an apparent fear there will be no foreseeable chance of the GOP restoring the status quo ante; and a forecast that Latino voters will become more active in politics under the banner of  "todos juntos (all together) which the GOP  may use in the future to rally support from that heterogeneous community.

Generally well respected former governor of Florida Jeb Bush zeroed on the quality of primary and secondary education in that state along the lines articulated by Secretary Rice. All children should be given a chance to blossom and flourish regardless of race, ethnicity and family income, they pronounced.  Obviously union busting is an untold part of the story.

 So there is a general consensus that both political parties see "education as the civil rights of the future". Secretary of Education Arne Duncan of the Obama administration is on top of his game, according to education experts. But will the cuts envisaged by the Republicans threaten student opportunities and the needed infrastructure to accompany the rational educational reform needed to widen the universe of dedicated teachers and for students to compete in the national and global work force?

But beyond the state of the economy and unemployment the speakers misrepresented and  omitted many facts. For example, Secretary Rice uttered an elliptical swirl over Bush's misguided invasion of Iraq, refused to give the Obama administration credit for killing Bin Laden, denied the value of coalition-building in Afghanistan and Libya , and alleged the administration is solely responsible for the trade imbalances we have with rising China.  Similarly, there was a discrepancy between Ryan's voting record on critical issues dear to his heart such as taxes, debt, equity, and healthcare and his rhetorical claims at the convention.

No doubt the Democratic Convention will also have its share of theatre. The numerous accomplishments of the Obama administration, which its opponents have chosen to ignore, will be on full display.  But the task will be bigger. The Democrats will have to exhibit solidarity and resolve. They have an array of compelling speakers, among then President Bill Clinton and President Obama himself. However, their oratorical prowess must be matched by full command of the issues. They and others have the mettle and are waxed.

The post-convention competition for swing states is already the main order of business.  Both parties have skilled strategists and their mettle will be put to the test. Meanwhile in the vice presidential and presidential debates all four candidates will have the opportunity to demonstrate full command of multiple subjects across the swath of voters.

 In that context, Congressman Ryan's penchant for specifics and his brash style will be pitted against Vice President Biden's sagacity. Even with his forensic skills, Governor Romney will be hard put to parry President Obama's ripostes and his full command of the issues.

The dire state of the economy will be difficult for President Obama to handle.  But if Romney makes it his singular issue it may be insufficient to unseat the President. The debates and the hustings afford ample opportunity to examine others.