It has gone chronologically something like this: “It’s not true. It’s not true. It may be true but it’s not torture. Okay, it’s torture, but isn’t official policy. It may be true and official policy, but we changed the policy and we uncovered the abuses ourselves. It may be true, it may have been widespread, but we’ve punished the culprits. It may be true, it may have been widespread, it may still be happening, but all these reports are old news.” Well, give these guys points for effort. How about: it is true; it should never have happened; the people responsible for the policy as well as the criminals should be punished. Ah, but that would mean taking responsibility, wouldn’t it? And we don’t do that in this administration, do we? Even at the expense of hurting the war effort and staining the reputation of countless great soldiers in a noble cause.
GIULIANI AND THE CARDINALS: One of the most interesting and revealing upcoming political events will be Rudy Giuliani’s attempt to run for president as a Republican. He’d be a great candidate in many ways – he has impeccable terror-fighting credentials, good executive skills, and so on. I have no idea whether he’d survive the scandals that might dog him, and the Bernie Kerik kerfuffle wasn’t too encouraging in that respect. But he probably won’t stand a chance because of his moderate positions on abortion, gay rights, stem cell research, etc. The Catholic hierarchy will also, i think, be far tougher on Catholic candidates than in the past, demanding adherence to all of Benedict XVI’s views on matters of public importance. With Giuliani, it’s just beginning. Cardinal Keeler has unleashed the first warning shot. It will be the first, I think, of many. The Catholic pillar of Karl Rove’s coalition, cemented in Rome last month, will be stronger in the U.S. than ever – and the politicization of Catholicism will become as intense as that of evangelical Protestantism. Welcome to the new popular front.
The Dish 