For the record, if and when the Republican nomination is decided in the expected fashion, John McCain has my full, unequivocal, unhesitating support. His many crimes against movement conservatism, and various constituent parts of it, are hereby pardoned. We cannot take the risk that American foreign policy (especially vis a vis Iraq) will substantially change in the coming months. Questioning the decision now is fruitless, and bringing the opposing policy to bear on the people of Iraq is immoral and stupid. We owe them at least a fair shot at a free country; to do anything less would be to ensure that the enormous cost in blood and treasure will have been in vain. This policy represents the very heart of liberal internationalism, and how terribly ironic that the opposition now pretends to disavow it. The numerous errors in execution and strategy do not change the mission from worthy to unworthy. The hardships on our soldiers and their families (and us) break our hearts, but they should not break our will. We do not decide policy based upon what is popular or easy. Senator Obama, look the people of Iraq in the eyes as you tell them that they’re not worth it. Look at their progress, look at the fragile freedom and scorn it; look at our past mistakes in that country and say our sins against it make us unfit to correct the mistake. Is this your vision? Is this your new direction? You have said you will stop genocide; is Iraq’s genocidal history unworthy of your attention? Have you failed to notice that its chief perpetrator was duly convicted and punished, aided by the American military power you claim should never have been used? This is not about George Bush, Dick Cheney, or anyone else the Democrats despise; it’s about whether our word means anything, it’s about whether we understand the gravity of war. That question ought not only be asked at the outset, but throughout. We are required to ask ourselves what obligations the unleashing of power has laid upon us, and to accept them. McCain understands this; his Democratic opponents do not. For chiefly this reason, I support John McCain for President of the United States.
Update: I read the whole thing. I’m sorry, but what a weirdo. I thought you [Tom Darrow, of Denver, CO] made a trenchant case for why lockdowns are bad, and I definitely appreciated it. But a graduation speech is *not* the place for that. Secondly, this is an august event. It always is. I would never address the President of the United States in this manner. Never. Even the previous president, though he deserves it, if anyone does. Thirdly, the affirmations of Catholic identity should be more general. He has no authority to propound with specificity on all matters of great consequence. It has all the hallmarks of a culture war broadside, and again, a layman shouldn’t speak like this. The respect and reverence due the clergy is *always due,* even if they are weak, and outright wrong. We just don’t brush them aside like corrupt Mafia dons, to make a point. Fourthly, I don’t know where anyone gets the idea that the TLM is how God demands to be worshipped. The Church doesn’t teach that. ...
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