Another thing about the Kass non-controversy controversy: The U.N. ban on human cloning (which is simply a statement, but, I think, an oddly strong one coming from a body frequently bereft of any moral conscience, never mind authority–it has the effect–or should: Geez, EVEN THEY see it) reminded us that there is no ban at home, of course. The Washington Post’s piece that caused this series of articles on Kass outlined a supposed rift among conservatives on strategy. I actually am not convinced there is an actual strategy at the moment–the Senate’s surely not itching to act on a ban, complete (on both research and reproductive cloning) or otherwise. But at least one source close to the strategy sessions (which in reality are a lot less shadowy than they sound–they’re the usual D.C. wonky brainstorming from what I gather) tell me that key players–including some of those mentioned in the piece are not in the mood to back down, to give up on “research cloning” and only focus on reproductive cloning. A green light on any cloning would be opening the barn door to it all, eventually, which is something the players involved realize. Anyway, just based on my quick scan of the issue, that Post piece was much ado about nothing in the first place. Although if it nudges the GOP in Congress (any talk of splits, along with the U.N. vote), I won’t complain. It sounds like, however, it’s just distracting people.