PHILADELPHIA — Before boarding an evening cruise on the Delaware River, Massachusetts Democrats praised their party chairwoman's decision to step aside, hoping the move would calm the faction of the party loyal to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz had been a target of Sanders throughout the campaign, as the candidate claimed the party was tipping the scales toward establishment favorite Hillary Clinton.
If there has been any constant in the Republican worldview over decades, it's that American strength, resolve and credibility are essential in foreign affairs, and weakness and uncertainty lead straight to disaster. The GOP legions regard Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton as failures because they have been insufficiently willing to challenge our adversaries and stand with our friends.
"Our allies don't trust us, and our enemies don't fear us" is a claim made by one Republican after another. But the Cleveland convention was a study in dissonance between the bedrock convictions of just about every loyal Republican and the opinions of the presidential nominee.
