Politics these last few weeks have been a game of distraction. President Barack Obama gives a State of the Union-like speech, and we subsequently fixate on the first lady daring to bare her well-toned arms in February. A young, rising-star Republican gives a response to Obama's address, and we focus on the way his suit billows off his shoulders. Conservatives and Republicans meet in a Washington summit, and we discuss former presidential speechwriter and presidential candidate Pat Buchanan's thoughts on the weight (and he wasn't talking gravitas) of Rush Limbaugh.

During economic chaos and war -- the latter of which seems to be a secondary concern, judging by Obama's speech to Congress -- this furor over fluff isn't particularly helpful. Instead of embroiling ourselves in shrill, personal attacks and grinding minutiae, let's try moving on to fight the real policy battles, the ones in front of us as well as the conflicts to come.

Lost in the mix of idiocy and gossip have been practical solutions to the plight of the right. Limbaugh tends to explore a few each day on his radio show, as he has for decades now. Republican National Committee chair Michael Steele (who has done his share of senseless sniping lately,) claims he wants get on the solution train, too. But Rush isn't running for office and Steele has gotten off to a bad start. Meanwhile, way outside the limelight, some conservatives quietly toil away, crafting solutions to actual problems.

Sure, every now and again, someone like House Minority Whip Eric Cantor spooks the left enough to make a front-page profile in the New York Times. But generally speaking, a Paul Ryan or Mitt Romney holds forth without much notice from the chattering classes.

Along with Limbaugh, Romney, the former governor and candidate for the Republican presidential nomination, spoke at a Conservative Political Action Committee conference held in the capital at the end of February. For all Romney's disadvantages -- some real, some grossly unfair (his religion, for one) -- he may just be what America will be looking for in four years. At the very least, if you read his speech you'll get a sense of some legitimate options for the right. Continued...