THE REPUBLICANS are looking forward to "our country's return to the moon" according to the party platform. But the rest of the 41 page document is firmly on the ground.
While putting it together is a long drawn out process and the row over the anti abortion section made headlines for weeks, everyone forgets about the platform after the convention - except your political opponents. Yet it is the policy statement for November's election and is the best indication of the Republican philosophy on every issue.
The row over the strong anti abortion stance was defused when the pro choice minority were allowed to set out their amendments on "tolerance" for dissent in an appendix. Suddenly the row that was supposed to erupt on the floor of convention vanished, but it was a near thing, as Mr Dole had shown poor judgment in antagonising both sides.
There are some radical proposals buried in the lengthy platform with its recurrent theme of reducing the role of government in the everyday lives of voters. Thus Mr Dole promises the "elimination of four government departments (Commerce, Housing and Urban Development, Education and Energy).
Ironically, his choice of running mate, Mr Jack Kemp, was an activist Secretary for Housing and Urban Development under President Bush. But the platform was wrapped up before Mr Kemp was brought on board.
There are other strong aims in the platform on immigration and treatment of minorities which Mr Kemp has also opposed in the recent past. This will give good ammunition to the Democrats when the campaign gets into full swing.
While the platform boasts that Republicans are the "party of Lincoln" and of the "open door one of the toughest sections is on controlling immigration and dealing harshly with the estimated four million "illegals" who often do the dirty jobs no one else will. It would take a constitutional amendment to deprive children born of illegals of US citizenship but Republicans favour it. Illegals would qualify for no public benefits other than emergency aid.
English should be the only official language. But the native Americans are told that the party will respect their "tribal sovereignty" while encouraging "a probusiness and prodevelopment climate on the reservations".
Foreign policy would be tougher under Dole than Clinton. The Republicans are for the "periodic testing" as well as maintenance of nuclear weapons, and oppose the present Administration endorsement of a Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty.
Russia's "intimidation and economic blackmail" against former Soviet Union members will not be tolerated and it will be "encouraged" to respect the sovereignty and independence of its neighbours.
The paragraph on Ireland predictably supports the peace process but gives more space to the MacBride principles on non discrimination in employment, where President Clinton is seen to have offended some Irish Americans by a recent veto.
The United Nations is low in Republican priorities. There is a pledge to eliminate "waste, mismanagement and fraud" at the UN. No US forces will be deployed on peacekeeping missions "under foreign commanders".
The issue of a $5 trillion debt is said to be "no laughing matter" for the taxpayer who is promised a 15 per cent cut in taxes. But the necessary cuts to stop the debt expanding are not quantified.
But who reads the small print at a convention where everyone is supposed to be having a good time?
