As James observes, it’s good to be back in business. And while he appropriately thanks Jody and Joe for bringing us aboard the First Things mothership, I want to thank him for doing what I am far to lazy to do: set up and maintain a blog. It was a pleasure to contribute to PoMoCo at Culture11. It will be a pleasure to continue here.

But enough pleasantries. I’d like to kick-off by answering the call of my old friend Spencer Ackerman for a roll-call of conservatives who were appalled by the latest round of torture memos. I rather doubt that proposal is serious. If it were, however, I would be honored to be counted in. 

These documents contained few revelations. For my part, I have nothing substantive to add to what I wrote a few months ago. And I have no expectation of changing anyone’s mind. But intellectual probity demands that both opponents and defenders of torture be willing to name and be named, unlike the “former top official in the administration of George W. Bush” quoted in this piece. Stand up and be counted.  Comments are now open.