should be limited to direct threats to our national security.'" Conservative policies Rathbun (2008) compares three separate themes in conservative policies since the 1980s: conservatism, neoconservatism, and isolationism. These approaches are similar in that they all invoked the mantle of "realism" and pursued foreign policy goals designed to promote national interests. Conservatives were the only group that was "realist" in the academic sense in that they defined the national interest narrowly, strove for balances of power internationally, viewed international relations as amoral, and especially valued sovereignty. By contrast, neoconservatives based their foreign policy on nationalism, and isolationists sought to minimize any involvement in foreign affairs and raise new barriers to immigration. Former Republican Congressman Ron Paul favored a return to the non-interventionist policies of Thomas Jefferson and frequently opposed military intervention in countries like Iran and Iraq. Supporters of non-interventionism Politicians Justin Amash, former U.S. Representative from Michigan, 2020 Libertarian presidential candidate Eric Brakey, former U.S. State Senator from Maine, 2018 Republican U.S. Senate candidate Howard Buffett, U.S. Representative from Nebraska Calvin Coolidge, 30th U.S. President, 29th U.S. Vice President, 48th U.S. Governor of Massachusetts, 46th U.S. Lt. Governor of Massachusetts Tulsi Gabbard, former U.S. Representative from Hawaii (2013–2021) Mike Gravel, former US senator from Alaska (1969-1981), Entered the Pentagon Papers into Public Record in 1971, Democratic Presidential Candidate in 2008 and 2020. Founder of the Gravel Institute think tank Gary Johnson, 29th Governor of New Mexico (1995-2003), 2012 and 2016 Libertarian Presidential Nominee Thomas Massie, U.S. Representative from Kentucky Ron Paul, former U.S. Representative from Texas, 1988, 2008, & 2012 Republican presidential candidate; Paul's stance on foreign policy is one of consistent non-intervention, opposing wars of aggression and entangling alliances with other nations. Rand Paul, U.S. Senator from Kentucky, 2016 Republican presidential candidate, the son of Ron Paul Bernie Sanders, U.S. Senator from Vermont, 2016 and 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Henrik Shipstead, U.S. Senator from Minnesota, also a member of the America First Committee Robert A. Taft, U.S. Senator from Ohio, Senate Majority Leader, 1940, 1948 & 1952 Republican presidential candidate Government officials Michael Scheuer, former CIA intelligence officer & former chief of the Bin Laden Issue Station, professor at Georgetown University, blogger, political commentator Public figures Karen Kwiatkowski, retired Lt. Col. of the United States Air Force, 2012 Republican U.S. Representative candidate from Virginia, whistleblower from the Pentagon Criticism In his World Policy Journal review of Bill Kauffman's