COUNT ANOTHER ONE IN FOR 2012 - AT 10:17 P.M. ET:  Mitt Romney, who often appeared stiff and uninspiring during his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination last year, has emerged since as a thoughtful, articulate spokesman for the party.  Clearly, his hat is in the ring, if only informally, for 2012.

As the president wings toward those great Mideast democracies he's about to visit, Romney reminds us of Obama's fairly appalling style while overseas:

"It’s not because America hasn’t made mistakes -- we have -- but because America’s mistakes are overwhelmed by what America has meant to the hopes and aspirations of people throughout the world," he said, adding: "Britain’s Guardian newspaper noted that Mr. Obama has been more critical of his own country, while on foreign soil, than any other president in American history. That would be a most unfortunate distinction at any time."

Seeking to bolster his national security credentials, especially if he makes another White House bid, the one-term Massachusetts devoted much of his speech to calling for more defense spending. "We cannot allow the economic crisis to conceal the very real threats to our nation’s security," Romney said. "We cannot ignore the intentions of competitors who would replace America’s leadership with their own, and set back the cause of freedom."

And...

"I fear ... that he will look to the military budget to find the biggest cuts and finance his domestic priorities.”

The potential 2012 presidential candidate detailed a litany of other criticisms of the Obama administration -- including its handling of North Korea. “Arrogant, delusional tyrants can not be stopped by earnest words and furrowed brows. Action, strong bold action coming from a position of strength and determination, is the only effective deterrent.”

COMMENT:  Romney on target.  Polls are showing that, while President Obama is personally popular, his policies are less so.  While that was also true of Ronald Reagan, Reagan had a strong, effective foreign policy.  Obama's foreign policy is foundering, and he often seems naive, even uninformed.  Carteresque is the word.

If the economy improves, it will probably blind Americans to Obama's foreign inadequacies.  But if the economy continues to drag, as it apparently will, foreign weakness can do to Obama what it did to Carter.

Then The New York Times can call Obama the best ex-president in history...and we won't care.

June 2, 2009