Unbelievably depressing

Not just terrorists, note, but "terror suspects." Almost half the population of America believes that torturing innocents — which is what the torture of suspects must necessarily entail — is acceptable. The fact that the numbers so closely map the partisan divide is the only kind light I can think of to shed on this. Left to their own devices, most Americans are surely not in favour of the state inflicting pain on powerless and potentially innocent individuals. Rather: they've heard their party tortured some folks, were told it helped make them safe, and now they're simply being loyal to their party. That's my hope, anyway.