At the National Review Institute’s “Future of Conservatism” Summit last month, conservative thinkers and Republican rising stars delivered enlightenment and encouragement for Party of Lincoln in the Age of Obama. Yet, while the conservative movement’s flagship publication sought to cover the bases with a dazzle of panelists and topics, the event failed to elevate the discussion in GOP circles beyond what their itching ears wanted to hear.

Missing from the 13 panel sessions — whose topics ranged from the fiscal crisis and immigration policy to state-based solutions and the Constitution — was any discussion of how to create private-sector jobs. While several speakers mentioned “economic growth,” no session focused on the jobs crisis or explored proactive policies that would actually generate millions of high-paying middle-class jobs.