Strength in numbers

One of the things we saw in the debate was the contrast between Bush's unilateralism and Kerry's multilateralism.

What is it about liberals that makes them so fixated on consensus? And why does Bush not share their fixation?

One suggestion I have is the difference between humanism and evangelicalism. Bush has a moral certitude that comes of his Christian conviction. In addition, Bush knows the meaning of repentance, remission, and restoration.

Kerry, by contrast, is a nominal Catholic and closet secularist. This leaves him morally insecure and vulnerable. His solution is to spread the blame around. If everyone is wrong, then no one is guilty.

That's one reason, probably the main reason, he wants the UN on board. That way, if things go badly, he cannot be blamed, for his critics would be complicit as well. If you voted with me, then you cannot fault me except on pain of self-crimination.

So the whole exercise is a form of circular blackmail and corporate absolution. The UN is like a police unit in which every cop is a dirty cop, every cop is on the take--from top to bottom. So no one plays the fall guy.

By contrast, a Christian can afford to stand alone--for he is never alone. And he can afford to be mistaken, for he doesn't feel the incessant need to justify himself. If he's wrong, he's wrong. He can admit it.

Strength in numbers, or strength in the Lord. That's the difference.