In a Dangerous World, Experience Matters

I suppose that the most serious international crisis in my lifetime was the coup d'état of Mikhail Gorbachev and the fall of the Soviet Union; picture Gorbachev caged up like a bird, surrounded by rebellious generals and tanks, and no one knowing where the nuclear football was.

Regardless of one's personal view of George H.W. Bush, the world had at the American helm in this extremely volatile time someone with these credentials:

• Eight years as Vice President
• Several years as the U.N. ambassador, 
• Two terms in congress, 
• Head of the C.I.A., 
• Special envoy to China that prepared the momentous opening of that country for President Nixon
• World War II hero as well.

The world is a dangerous place. President Obama ran for president with less than four years in office as a Senator. Senators Cruz, Paul, and Rubio are no different. If they are elected, we will again be offering on-the-job training to them.

I understand the appeal of supporting candidates who hold conservative positions, but in this case, the differences between Santorum and these other conservatives do not outweigh the experience factor. Consider Santorum's credentials:

• Two terms in Congress (in freshman term exposed the House Bank Scandal--Gang of Seven)
• Two terms in Senate
• Third highest ranking Republican at age 43 (one and two years younger than Cruz and Rubio at present)
• Chair of the Armed Services Committee in an era of military modernization
• CEO of Film Production Company EchoLight Studio
• Fellow at Ethics for Public Policy Center where he authored over 200 articles on the Middle East and Radical Islam (The Gathering Storm)

Conservatives might disagree with a policy or two, or a decision or two in Santorum's storied career. But all in all, the combination of the right positions, and level of experience, and record of accomplishment easily makes Santorum a top pick for the Republican nomination.

Turning the Herd: Someone Has to Get in Front and Lead

We’ve all seen the movie scene when the herd of cattle is stampeding toward the edge of the cliff. Someone must race to the front of the herd and turn it before the he

rd topples over to disaster. Most constitutional conservatives think that America is the cattle herd, and that disaster is imminent. To mix metaphors, it is as if Barack Obama and his heir apparent Hillary are pressing the pedal to the metal, and are driving the herd over the cliff side. Conservatives are desperately looking for someone to turn the herd.

I have no doubt that establishment Republicans can put forward a candidate who will competently manage the herd over the cliff’s edge. A McCain, a Romney, or a Bush would make sure that every bovine would keep in step as it races toward death. The establishment Republican might even slow down the pace, but the herd would meet its destined disaster, nonetheless.

Based upon their ineffectiveness in the Senate to stop the Obama agenda, we should envision Republican leaders such as Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, and Marco Rubio as those cowboys who race to the front

of the herd and promptly get run over and stomped into the ground. Republicans elected constitutional conservatives and gave them majorities in both House and Senate, but none of them have mounted effective opposition against the Obama agenda. They followed the establishment leadership of Boehner, McConnell, and Ryan, and they gave Obama everything he asked. They will not be able to turn the herd. They are unable to forge alliances necessary for effective leadership, and they will be trampled into the dirt.

We’re looking for the kind of leader who not only holds the right positions, but also knows how to lead—someone who is courageous enough to take a stand in front of all opposition, and who knows how to work the system to tur

n the herd.

In his time in public office, Santorum stormed Congress, exposed the bank scandal and changed congressional practice. Against a presidential veto, he pressed through Welfare Reform. With cultural winds against him and the Supreme Court as well, he effectively won the ban against Partial Birth Abortion. When Senate Republican Mark Hatfield decisively voted against the Balanced Budget Amendment, Santorum had his head; despite Jesse Helms’ surprising attempt to protect Hatfield, Santorum’s opposition to Hatfield culminated in Hatfield’s retirement from the Senate. These were all herd-turning moments for American life.

The only objection that constitutional conservatives have to Santorum is the assertion that he has no chance of winning. Yet, the Santorum campaign is well ahead of its 2012 game when he won the Iowa Caucuses after being down at 2% in the polls two weeks prior. The fact that the number two candidate in the 2012 election gets so little recognition from the Republican establishment is noteworthy. The Republican establishment seems to have little fear of Cruz or Rubio or Paul, but is deathly afraid of a Santorum presidency. They have seen him turn the herd before, and they know that his election would mean that their party is over.