Andrew Sullivan embraces the paradox

It came as a surprise to exactly no one, but columnist/blogger Andrew Sullivan endorsed John Kerry today in the New Republic. Sullivan runs through a long list of complaints about President Bush (some of which I share) and essentially falls ass-backward into the conclusion that Bush has disqualified himself for a second term.

The quandary here is that, based on Sullivan’s (and Michael Moore’s) logic, anybody who’s not Bush could be President. Hey, why not Eric Lindholm? He’s over 35, was born in the United States, is gainfully employed, and would promptly roll back the expensive prescription drug benefit. (There’s your fiscal discipline, Sully!). Why not Glenn Reynolds? How about Betsy Newmark?

News flash: we’re not voting for student council treasurer, dog catcher, or even a U.S. Senator. America is making a choice on the most powerful position on Earth. Andrew Sullivan throws caution to the wind and, with a cavalier toss of the head, says we should put our chips on Kerry because...well, I’m not sure why. We know that Kerry isn’t Bush, but he’s not much beyond that:

I know few people enthused about John Kerry. His record is undistinguished, and where it stands out, mainly regrettable. He intuitively believes that if a problem exists, it is the government's job to fix it. He has far too much faith in international institutions, like the corrupt and feckless United Nations, in the tasks of global management. He got the Cold War wrong. He got the first Gulf War wrong. His campaign's constant and excruciating repositioning on the war against Saddam have been disconcerting, to say the least. I completely understand those who look at this man's record and deduce that he is simply unfit to fight a war for our survival. They have an important point--about what we know historically of his character and his judgment when this country has faced dire enemies. His scars from the Vietnam War lasted too long and have gone too deep to believe that he has clearly overcome the syndrome that fears American power rather than understands how to wield it for good.

There you have it: we can’t really trust Kerry in the fight for our very survival, but what the hell? As Westley said to Vizzini: “Truly, you have a dizzying intellect.”

Extra: Subbing for Glenn Reynolds at Instapundit, check out Megan McArdle and Ann Althouse’s comments on Sullivan’s ill-reasoned and illogical endorsement. (And I’m sure there’s much more out there in the blogosphere).

[Cross-posted on Blogs for Bush]