Trumped Up Wars

[JayhawkSD]

3. You realize, don't you, that makes it worse?

It means he voted against his beliefs. Why? Presumably for political reasons; to assure his reelection; to maintian his and/or/ his partie's hold on power. He knew it was wrong, but he voted for it anyway because it was expedient, so we will excuse him for doing it.

I am on the opposite side of that. I would excuse him for the wrong vote if he said, "Well, it turned out badly but I really beklieved it was the right thing to do."

You excuse him because he says, "Well, I knew it was the wrong thing, but I would have lost votes if I didn't."