Yes, that was a significant mistake, although I'd characterize that as foreign policy inexperience. What about with regard to your claim that he's unable to navigate the task of making government work?
Here is my gripe: He is dismissive of the details when he speaks, and in government, especially Federal government, there are so many layers of details, authorizations, and mandates in layer after layer of legislation, some going back to the ‘60s that the solution is politically arduous, but he doesn’t accept it.
If he had coattails, like we know Palin will have, perhaps broad legislation may be possible, but it would take a lot.