Grasping Reality on TypePad, by Brad DeLong

Mark Sanford is still sure it’s all about the exciting story of Mark Sanford and God: "COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, still clinging to office after admitting to an extramarital affair, wrote in an opinion piece released Sunday that God will change him so he can emerge from the scandal a more humble and effective leader..."

[T[he use of the Bible as a means for reflecting on one’s personal situation in life.... The problem with such use of Biblical imagination is that it simply has no controlling story. Nothing tells us which story to use other than our own imagination (which is generally a deluded part of our mind). A governor gets to play King David, and, surprise, he should be forgiven and not resign his office. A group of white settlers get to play conquering Israelites and feel no compunction about murdering men, women and children. A priest, likely in need of therapy, plays the role of Jonah before a crowd who has no idea they are in a play. The gospel is not preached... the Bible is simply brought into ridicule... There are no special circumstances that, as Bible characters, exempt us from... repentance and responsibility.... The words of Christ... are... “Repent! For the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.” If such repentance should cost us a political office or even a continent – so be it.

I don't envy President Obama's predicament in Afghanistan.  It's hard to think of a region that has been less hospitable to foreign interlopers... And yet despite this foreboding track record, it is unclear that President Obama is willing to deviate from that familiar, if tragic, path.... Not that Obama's options are all that attractive.  Bush left him with a mismanaged and directionless occupation.... The exact nature of the hoped-for success via a continued military occupation is hard enough to define, let alone achieve, yet withdrawal has its downsides as well - including the potential for an intense civil war and the return of repressive elements such as the Taliban.... So it is that Obama seems to be trading Bush's muddled vision of Afghanistan for his own, with a vague yet grandiose (if often contradictory) recitation of implausible goals and exaggerated fears, all buttressed by a refusal to acknowledge the costs of continuing our occupation....