Exactly so. Bush has been morally bankrupt, along with many of the neocons, from the outset; amorality is almost a tenet of their political philosophy. This is just the final working out in public of the approach they have taken since before Bush’s first day in office. At least I hope it’s the final appearance.

I regret that I can no longer even consider giving Bush & Co. the benefit of a doubt. Their execrable behavior is premeditated, not the result of good intentions gone wrong. Bush personally is a man who enjoys seeing people hurt or killed; I witnessed that when he was governor of Texas… the last office to which he was unquestionably legitimately elected. I regret that the voters of Texas have some part in having inflicted this morally wayward man on America. Believe me, many of his supporters here would not condone torture… but many of his supporters here and elsewhere were deliberately deceived in this as in so many other matters.

At times like this, I wish I believed in a Hell. Some people belong there.