Old Blue, I have been willing to give Senator Obama the benefit of a good deal of patience. But it is he who persists in framing the contest in terms of judgment, not an inconsequential consideration in that the office he seeks will be all about decisions made going forward. The judgment employed then is all that will matter.

Was he right initially about Iraq? Maybe. Was he right about opposing the Surge? No, but conveniently he leaves that failure of judgment off the resume. Is he right now in as much pledging to abandon the country and all the gains made at such cost and endangering our efforts elsewhere? Not by my reckoning. And if he’s too ideologically blinded or immature to change his mind on an issue so critical to us and so many others, then I submit he isn’t ready to be President.

On the other hand, Obama can do himself and the country a big favor by going to Iraq with an open mind and actually listening to people who actually know a thing or two more than he does.

Or he can pretend and act as though he already knows better. But if he persists in doing so and expects me to applaud his good judgment then he’s got another thing coming.