Copyright: Reuters
This was a “big tent” event for conservatives of all stripes. These days, it's more or less a Trump convention.
One ad plays repeatedly on a giant plasma between speeches asking people to vote — not on who Republicans should run for election — but simply: “Who should be President Trump's vice president!”
I was watching speeches in the stateroom and talking with delegates next to the Trump bus in the expo halls.
Two big themes constantly emerge: deep suspicion of global multilateral institutions that are seen as trying to destroy national sovereignty; And so-called “wedge” issues now form a dominant part of political campaigns – opposition to gender identity, transgender rights, or abortion, for example.
Much of this was clearly demonstrated in a speech by former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss who said: “The foundation of Western civilization has been undermined.”
But when I watched the theater I was struck by the lack of encouragement for debate or challenge at committee events. All political agreements are tribal, but this conference was never more than a platform for debate.
