What happens when a police officer shoots someone? He or she is suspended, and a thorough investigation is held to make sure the shooting was justified. If the shooting wasn’t justified, the officer is disciplined, possibly even discharged.

But, you might ask, didn’t we give the officer a gun? Didn’t we authorize the use of force?

Of course, but we demand that deadly force only be used when absolutely necessary.

Now imagine the George Bush is your friendly town cop — Barney Fife, if you will — and John Kerry gives him a gun — that is, authorizes the use of force. Imagine further that the town bully has been placed under house arrest. Now suppose Bush barges into the bully’s home and shoots him dead. I think we could expect Kerry to condemn Bush’s action.

Would we say that Kerry voted for the use of force, and then against it? Or would we say that Kerry authorized the use of force and expected it to be used with good judgment, and only if absolutely necessary?

Not even Barney Fife shot anyone. Bush has the blood of tens of thousands on his hands. I’ll be voting to have him discharged.