I think a case could be made, as well, for the liars among us; they have earned their chops, fighting their way through a long maze of bright and obvious truth, defending the cause of obfuscation and alteration at every turn. It has been a long and sometimes lonely road, and a draining, demanding effort. Starting with "what happened to your mittens?" and working your way up through "the dog ate my homework" and "I'll pay you back" to larger and more adventurous lies, like "Let's just hold hands and talk" and "No, officer, I don't drink and I was doing 45...".

But the real heros among the many wannabe liars of the world are those who trudge on, their eyes on a higher goal. Marital infidelity is common fare, and anyone can lie about whether they remembered to mail that letter or why they didn't come to thebridge party. We should remember and revere those who scaled the heights -- those whose bold visions of untruth and distortion of reality have touched the lives of millions. "I did not have sex with..." is paltry stuff compared to the real greats in this field. Lebensraum!! Weapons of Mass Destruction!!   Caring about Children!! Homeland Security!! Promising to Defend the Constitution!!

Now we are talking about the big time, where lying is concerned. These are the falsehoods that built a nation. A moment of silence, if you will, ladies and gentlemen, to honor those, who having seen the truth, did not flinch, but who carried on in their quest for the Bigger Lie, the Better Smokescreen, the Irresistible Spin. Let us pray.


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