Noted conservative Gary Bauer has teamed with Tom Rose to write an article - which assumes Barack Obama to be the likely Democratic Nominee - urging Sen. John McCain to challenge Obama to a substantive debate on the great issues facing the nation. Bauer believes such a series of debates will clearly reveal Obama to be the radical liberal that he is, and help Americans to embrace McCain and the conservative GOP ideals of strong national defense and limited government he runs on. Here is part of their outstanding article:

Herein is our chance. For the first time since Ronald Reagan, Republicans' best option is to focus on presenting the American people with our vision for the future. Not even Mr. McCain's status as perhaps America's greatest living war hero can be relied upon to win the election by itself. It is a powerful distinction, but ask Bob Dole if it's is enough to win.

Mr. McCain should challenge Mr. Obama's "unity" and "post-partisan" campaign rhetoric by inviting Mr. Obama to join him on a joint national campaign. Together, they could travel the country, appearing together at rallies and events, taking turns, a la Stephen Douglas and Abraham Lincoln, sharing their visions for our country's future and engaging each other about practical answers to America"s problems.

What better way for Republicans to help Americans redirect their attention to the central questions of American politics, such as: What is government's proper role in the life of our Republic? Where does individual responsibility end and collective responsibility begin?

Consider the central challenge of our day: the fight against Jihadism. Liberals, led by Mr. Obama himself, always want to expand the authority of government — unless it means protecting Americans lives. There alone do liberals want to limit government. Conservatives, lead by Mr. McCain, don't want to weaken our government's ability to fight its enemies and defend our nation. Mr. McCain advocates giving government more authority to protect our families rather than providing constitutional protection to homicidal enemies who wish us dead.

In opposing the Patriot Act, rejecting domestic surveillance of terrorist suspects and support for expanding the legal rights of terrorist detainees, Mr. Obama wants to take away powers essential to a strong national security. In the years to come, vigilant surveillance of terrorists will be a matter of life and death.

Win or lose, such a campaign of ideas would remind the world of the unique genius of the American political system. Our political institutions developed long ago still provide the framework for the constructive and spirited debate so necessary to the political stability, prosperity and individual liberty Americans have always enjoyed.

Republicans don't need new principles. We need a new political program built upon the genius of great ideas. We need to show Americans that our principles are as valid and relevant today as they were when Ronald Reagan brought them to Washington a quarter-century ago. And we"re going to have to take on Barack Obama's ideas to do it. Let the games begin.