Early in Garrison Keillor's latest Salon.com column, he displays the gentle yet prodding humanism that is his trademark:
You hear young people talk about America as if it's all over, and you trust that this is only them talking tough. And then you read the paper and realize the country is led by a man who isn't paying attention, and you hope that somebody will poke him. Or put a sign on his desk that says, "Try Much Harder."
This has been the hallmark of his criticism of Bush -- evincing a disappointment in the man without engaging in overt partisanship. This approach is consistent with Mr. Keillor's innate empathy and folksy appeal -- his is usually a voice of encouragement and patience, even for a character as vexing and unsympathetic as Mr. Bush.
Not today, though:
But torture is something else. When Americans start pulling people's fingernails out with pliers and poking lighted cigarettes into their palms, then we need to come back to basic values. Most people agree with this, and in a democracy that puts the torturers in a delicate position.
Comparisons of Mr. Keillor to Mark Twain have always seemed off the mark -- while they both identify (for profit, natch) with ordinary folk, Mr. Keillor's forays into political criticism have seemed, to me, mostly half-hearted and writerly. Twain never spared the rod with his pointed commentary, though he often attacked his targets obliquely. Mr. Keillor is far more earnest, and today he leaves no doubt about where he stands:
it is impossible to keep torture secret. It goes against the American grain and it eats at the conscience of even the most disciplined, and in the end the truth will come out. It is coming out now....The U.S. Constitution provides a simple ultimate way to hold him to account for war crimes and the failure to attend to the country's defense. Impeach him and let the Senate hear the evidence.
Here it is in it's entirety -- subscription required. **UPDATE** It may be possible to view the column without a subscription by watching an ad first -- give it a try, it's worth your while.