[sspadowsky]

I think Bush and his cronies have a better understanding of the cowboy mentality than we give them credit for. Here's what I mean: They know the things that make us outraged or get us excited are what we'll pay attention to. Our attention spans have grown far too short for the truth. By the time we discover we've been lied to, we're too focused on the lie that's currently in front of us.

In other words, they understand that legend trumps truth. We're a nation of people descended from outlaws, and we like our myths and legends. They know how to exploit it.

And it's stupid pride that keeps us all from admitting how badly we've been fucked, it's stupid pride that makes the newspapers print retractions somewhere toward the back, rather than smack in the middle of the front page, and it's stupid pride that keeps the assholes at Fox News (and every other news outlet) from saying, "Hey, everyone, we'd like to apologize for lying our asses off to you. We'll try to do a better job in the future."