John's Blog

Watching a bewildered President Bush declare "We do not torture" last week, responding to a reporter's question with a squinty, surreal harangue, made me think of an old Three Stooges routine.

Curly steps into a boxing ring to fight a guy twice his size. The referee gets both fighters together and says something like: "Now, I want you guys to play be the rules. There'll be none of this (He stomps on Curly's toes.) or this (pokes him the eyes), or this (punches him in the stomach, causing him to double over) and especially none of this (slams a fist into the back of his head). Now go out there and give me a clean fight!" By this time, Curly doesn't know whether he's coming or going and the referee is beginning to resemble Donald Rumsfeld...