At the end of his show, Real Sports, Bryant Gumble today did a story about Pat Tillman. He talked about Tillman's family calling the government to task. According to Gumble, the government had "lead an all-out effort to lionize [Tillman]. Problem is, since then we've learned it was all a well-crafted lie. Tillman was killed by his own men, and Washington knew it." I had to shake my head to clear my ears. I wasn't sure I'd heard right, but then he continued. "Ever anxious to wrap itself in the flag whenever possible the NFL, of course, bought the government's lie without question." There was that word again, "LIE." Now twice today in the corporate media I've heard unlikely sources call Bush and his propaganda machine to task--The Minneapolis Star Tribune, and now, Real Sports. I'd have never guessed. Are we waking up?
Is it possible that we have reached our bullshit quotient and we're now sick and tired of the deceit and distortion that has marked this misadministration from day one? Could it be that Democrats, with their new-found fighting spirit well call Bush and the Republican war machine to task when they train their sights on Syria or Iran? One can only hope.
Americans are long suffering, in general, but we have our limits. We will, of course, rally around the flag when called to do so, but you damned sure better not be crying wolf. If we find that you have been wrapping yourself in the flag simply to deceive us and manipulate us and play us for fools, we will turn on you with all the vengeance heretofore reserved for our most dangerous enemies. If we discover that in our name you started an unjust war that killed untold thousands we will cut you off at the knees. You have not seen shock and awe until you've seen the wrath of the American people turned against a leader who betrays us.
Gumble ended his comment with this.
"That we were all played for suckers is as instructive as it is disgusting."
Yes, indeed.
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