A lot has been written about the Bush Doctrine (whatever your idea of it is) and Sarah Palin’s response during last week’s interview. I’ve done a little writing myself. And I think I can now crystallize my view: I care more about what Palin thinks about the Bush Doctrine than that she knows that a particular idea is characterized as “the Bush Doctrine.” I imagine most people feel the same — not that majorities are always right (believe me).

And, by the way, I feel the same way about other candidates, officeholders, etc. (of course). It doesn’t matter whether Dennis Kucinich knows what the Bush Doctrine is; same with whoever the Dennis Kucinich of the hawks is. It matters — or matters more — what they think. No?

You may not know that a particular idea is characterized as the Bush Doctrine — but, once you’re told, you do. Takes about two seconds. Big deal. What’s important is: “How do you view the world, what would guide your thinking, and how would you act?”

I wonder whether any of the four candidates (Obama, Biden, McCain, and Palin) could define the Carter Doctrine. I wonder how many of Palin’s critics could. But they have a view on the Persian Gulf, and what this country’s interest is there. Yes?

Look, George Ball knew the lingo as well as anyone — he was the one Carter really wanted for secretary of state. (He couldn’t follow his heart, however, because Ball was simply too anti-Israel for the country to accept.) And would you want Ball at the levers of American foreign policy? If you’re a devotee of NRO, probably not.

Anyway, you get my drift . . .