ob Herbert is the conscience of the op-ed page of The New York Times， and his work is characterized by a strong moral vision and a deep understanding of the human costs of political decisions. From partisan politics to popular culture， from race relations to criminal justice， few journalists bring to life so movingly the stories of ordinary people caught between the American dream and American realities. Whether it is the inherent injustice of the death penalty or the demagoguery of the war on terrorism， Herbert questions whether we are truly upholding our ideals or merely giving them lip service.