We all know that zombie movies are all political allegories, but it’s also true that some politicians are actually zombies:
In virtually any other Presidency, Alberto Gonzales—a clumsy prevaricator, a talentless hack and a dangerously indifferent advocate of the rule of law—would be a dead man walking. In the Bush White House, though, he is the walking dead—a curiously lifeless drone who seems to draw strength from the leadership vacuum surrounding him.
Also, he eats brains.
Full disclosure: I am married to the author of this piece.
UPDATE: Fuller disclosure: Chris is not the same person as Christopher Lehmann-Haupt. I’m sure they’re both grateful for that. My Chris (“The Good Chris”?) is also a book critic, though; he’ll be writing about the new Gore book in the Observer next week.