I have to admit, I love the news story of Dick Cheney doubling-down on torture and saying how he'd do it again in a second. Providing us all with the evidence (not that we needed it) of why he left office with a 16% approval rating. I mean, we get it, we understand that he helped develop a torture program and so of course he thought it was just the coolest thing. What did anyone expect, that he'd say, "Oh, wait, that was torture??? Ohmygod, I had no idea. Yes, that was awful, I would never, ever do that again, you have my word on it." I mean, this was a guy who shot his friend in the face. And got his friend to basically apologize. A close second might have been Nicole Wallace having a freak-out melt down about people who were against torture, and how great this all was, and that it got oh-so-much information out of terrorists -- despite the FBI agents involved repeatedly saying, er, no, we got all the information first, with normal, legal means, and then they started torturing him, and he shut up. But there was Ms. Wallace, going full-crazy on the air. I know we should never think that any of these people will be convinced that torture is not a good thing, for countless reasons. At some point, though, I'd love to have an interview at least say -- "Okay, we know you think that torture is fine and swell because it's to defend America, and that we got all this great information from torturing despite...well, despite the FBI agents there saying it's not the case, but you do, so fine, we know that. But the one thing I want to know is -- accepting all that and how great you think it is -- are you at least aware that torture is not only against the law in the United States, but is considered a crime against humanity throughout the world?" I suspect Mr. Cheney or Ms. Wallace or whoever is defending torture would go on another rant about how it's to defend America, but the interviewer would then interrupt and say, "Again, yes, we know that, and right, you think it's great. So, yes, great, got it. But I'm just asking if you know that it's illegal and a crime against humanity? It's a yes or no question." Hey, a guy can dream. But of course the most bizarre story to come out of the Senate torture report (gad, can you imagine that such a thing even exists...?!) is about the two psychologists who got $80 million to put together a torture program. And who would imagine that you could get such a hilariously funny sketch from that? If you didn't seen Saturday Night Live this past weekend, that's what they did for their cold opening. And funny as it was, a nod too to Taran Killam for doing a pretty good Charlie Rose.
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AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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