A good week for conservatives

Conservatives — including center-right members of the Democratic Party — won some significant victories this week.

They pushed through gun rules that allow people to carry loaded firearms in national parks; they scuttled President Obama’s quick-closure plan for Gitmo.

They threw Nancy Pelosi on the defensive about the CIA.

Obama himself sided with conservatives on several issues, including the decision not to release new torture photos and maintaining military tribunals.

There were also growing signs that the White House has little interest in challenging the Don’t-Ask-Don’t-Tell policy that bans openly homosexual Americans from serving in the military.

Two interesting points here:

First, a lot of these debates are now happening within the Democratic Party.

The Dems have elected so many members from conservative states and “red” congressional districts that fault lines on culture issues and national defense are more visible within their ranks.

Second, we’re getting a first chance to see the President in a news cycle where he’s not controlling the message.

He’ll speak about foreign policy and the terror fight this evening, followed by former Vice President Dick Cheney.

This match-up represents a key moment for conservatives.

To keep the week’s momentum going, they desperately need Cheney to look like a reasoned and mature alternative to a popular, progressive but still untested President.

For all his many blunders over the last decade, and his abysmal popularity numbers, Cheney plays this role well.

We’ll see if Americans have an appetite for more of his brand of foreign policy — or if Obama can offer a new doctrine for his first term.