The Week

Barney Frank, defending same-sex marriage, notes that it would not be “mandatory.” Sure—that’s what they always say, at first.

Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism expert for Presidents Clinton and Bush, began his testimony before the 9/11 commission with an apology: “Your government failed you. Those entrusted with protecting you failed you. And I failed you. We tried hard. But that doesn’t matter, because we failed. And for that failure, I would ask, once all the facts are out, for your understanding and for your forgiveness.” Moralists warn against the spurious sorrow that afflicts the first-person plural of so many collective apologies: We erred, says the penitent, though he clearly intends to shift blame and odium to his fellows. Clarke has now developed a first-person singular that apes this dubious plural: I ask for understanding and forgiveness for our misdeeds—meaning that Bush, Rice, and the other bums don’t deserve it. Clarke’s supposed honesty was moral preening. Did we mention he has a book out?

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Barney Frank, defending same-sex marriage, notes that it would not be “mandatory.” Sure—that’s what they always say, at first.

Richard Clarke, former counterterrorism expert for Presidents Clinton and Bush, began his testimony before the 9/11 commission with an apology: “Your government failed you. Those entrusted with protecting you failed you. And I failed you. We tried hard. But that doesn’t matter, because we failed. And for that failure, I would ask, once all the facts are out, for your understanding and for your forgiveness.” Moralists warn against the spurious sorrow that afflicts the first-person plural of so many collective apologies: We erred, says the penitent, though he clearly intends to shift blame and odium to his fellows. Clarke has now developed a first-person singular that apes this dubious plural: I ask for understanding and forgiveness for our misdeeds—meaning that Bush, Rice, and the other bums don’t deserve it. Clarke’s supposed honesty was moral preening. Did we mention he has a book out?