FYI, this latest Pat Tillman report is the most important political story today

[WilliamPitt]

Yes, yes, we junkies geek out on fired US Attorneys and taking the fifth and subpoenas and all the nifty nuanced stuff that comes from staying on top of things in a TV news realm that delivers "Duh" like the morning milkman bringing the cream. Most folks aren't doing what we do, and don't revel in all the details like a hungry cat at a mouse party. No insult, it is what it is.

But everyone knows about Tillman, especially the sixyy-seven zillion football fans in America who are constantly reminded of his sacrifice whenever the networks dovetail the gridiron game with warmaking (i.e. fighters over the stadium, etc.). Tillman was handsome, talented and golden: a Zinn reader who called the Iraq war illegal, a mind at work who was still courageous/patriotic and trusting enough to put on that beret and serve the idea behind the flag because he could distinguish that from the assholes wrapped in the flag.

And damn, was he a handsome man. As a heterosexual, I must confess that the contours of his visage knock me back a step or two. One could not carve from oak a more impressive example, simply by dint of that face and the look in the eye, of what every soldier and wanna-be soldier would like to see staring back from the mirror.



Egads.

ESPN did much of the most important, serious and no-punch-pulled reporting on what went down after his death, and must be therefore credited for making sure this story didn't evaporate into the ether. The Pentagon "report" exonerating pretty much everyone for everything on this deal has gotten ESPN back into reporting the story, going so far as to compare and contrast videoclips of that Pentagon presser with statements of rage and disgust from Tillman's anti-Iraq mother (on their Sportscenter program, which is watched by pretty much everyone everywhere at least once a day).

A lot of football fans will be talking about this story, a story that is being covered as much on the sports programs as it is on the news programs. This one has reach, and maybe won't get anywhere (i.e. subpoenas and taking the Fifth), but damn if this story of administration lies and another wasted life doesn't have that "crossover" cachet. It's filling time on news air and sports air, and the basics of it are so obnoxious and insipid that even the most practiced on-air issue-avoiders can't stay away from the rub.

Bring up Tillman to your GOP/conservo/Bush friends and co-workers. Remind them of his opinions on Iraq. Watch the discomfort unspool before you.

The TV news guys are yelling about Gonzo and the US attorneys. The Tillman story, however, whispers in a far louder voice. His face, his story, his sacrifice and the way he was used - along with the fact that he was an NFL football player - are slinging weight out there. It whispers.

[annabanana]

1. You're probably right.. . .

I just vibrate with the political implications of the USA-type stories and I forget that the other gals in the grocery line would just stare blankly and say "huh?" if I brought it up.

Anything that gets the attention of people who think politics is boring is a good thing.

[malaise]

2. Yes this disgraceful act does have weight

but so does the fall of Bonzo. Bushco cannot escape the convergence of lies, corruption, scandals and the criminality of the Iraq invasion and occupation.

[B Calm]

3. I remember right wingers talking about Tillman's patriotism as

though he had to be one of them. Like millionaires drop what they do all the time to join up and go fight in wars based on lies.

[cali]

4. No, I don't think so.

It's important all right, but they aren't pressing criminal charges, so this story won't get much play. And usagate is beginning to catch fire with the public. Just as Watergate took a while to catch on, so too with usagate, but it's started and a new poll indicates that the public supports the issuing of subpoenas by a 3 to 1 margin. I don't watch TV but one indicator would be how much time the morning shows relegate to each, and how much space Gannett and the others devote to Tillman v usagate.

[rosesaylavee]

18. And I think an important product of USAgate that's catching on with the public

is that *co is doing all that it can to keep their activities behind closed doors. *'s rant last week where he stated in his signature petulant way that he doesn't want his people to be questioned in public, take oaths or have transcripts has pissed off most who watch the evening news. Snowjob's assertion later in the week that Congress doesn't have oversight of the WH under the constitution sealed it for those still holding back.

It was in the news everywhere - and the question begging to be asked is 'what are they hiding'?

*'s only supporters in this now are out-and-out traitors who don't support the US Constitution and still stand to gain $$ from this administration. Fortunately, we are the majority still over that group.

Tillman will be another big nail in the coffin of this outfit - but USAgate, the threat to our 'rule of law', potentially touches more people personally than any other scandal to date.

[bklyncowgirl]

5. It is an incredibly disgraceful episode in a disasterous war.

A fine young man's tragic death exploited to promote a war he did not believe in only to turn to farce when it turns out he was killed by his own comrades.

In a just world heads would roll over this. In Bush's America, the officers involved with hiding the true facts of his death were following orders. Telling the truth about how Pat Tillman died would have doomed their careers to Shinseckiland.

It's a revealing glimpse of our Government at work.

[radfringe]

6. it also goes to the bushie propaganda machine

exploitation of Tillman, and others to "prop" up the war, by turning them into a symbol of a "tragic hero" designed to fire up the patriot emotions.

Extensive exageration or just out right lying for publicity and photo op purposes. Remember to big splash regarding Jessica Lynch? It turned out about 90% of the "story" was bogus.

[tiptoe]

7. "Remind them of his opinions on Iraq" -- because the networks don't, while they "honor" his service.

Self-serving accomplices in lies about the "war" and "administration," exploiting an "All-American Image" in death without the common decency of revealing Tilman's human, personal, anti-"war" sentiments -- all handled thru mindless, uncritical "katie-cute-skirt journalism" as front for the asshats RWer propagandists running the shows behind the scenes.

Whom do they think they are impressing?

Historical Bush Approval, 2004-2007 Updated periodically

[guruoo]

8. Kevin Tillman: After Pat's Birthday

After Pat’s Birthday
Posted on Oct 19, 2006

By Kevin Tillman

Editor’s note: Kevin Tillman joined the Army with his brother Pat in 2002, and they served together in Iraq and Afghanistan. Pat was killed in Afghanistan on April 22, 2004. Kevin, who was discharged in 2005, has written a powerful, must-read document.

It is Pat’s birthday on November 6, and elections are the day after. It gets me thinking about a conversation I had with Pat before we joined the military. He spoke about the risks with signing the papers. How once we committed, we were at the mercy of the American leadership and the American people. How we could be thrown in a direction not of our volition. How fighting as a soldier would leave us without a voice… until we got out.
Much has happened since we handed over our voice:

Somehow we were sent to invade a nation because it was a direct threat to the American people, or to the world, or harbored terrorists, or was involved in the September 11 attacks, or received weapons-grade uranium from Niger, or had mobile weapons labs, or WMD, or had a need to be liberated, or we needed to establish a democracy, or stop an insurgency, or stop a civil war we created that can’t be called a civil war even though it is. Something like that.
Somehow America has become a country that projects everything that it is not and condemns everything that it is.

Somehow our elected leaders were subverting international law and humanity by setting up secret prisons around the world, secretly kidnapping people, secretly holding them indefinitely, secretly not charging them with anything, secretly torturing them. Somehow that overt policy of torture became the fault of a few “bad apples” in the military.

Somehow back at home, support for the soldiers meant having a five-year-old kindergartener scribble a picture with crayons and send it overseas, or slapping stickers on cars, or lobbying Congress for an extra pad in a helmet. It’s interesting that a soldier on his third or fourth tour should care about a drawing from a five-year-old; or a faded sticker on a car as his friends die around him; or an extra pad in a helmet, as if it will protect him when an IED throws his vehicle 50 feet into the air as his body comes apart and his skin melts to the seat.
Somehow the more soldiers that die, the more legitimate the illegal invasion becomes.

More: http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/200601019_after_pats_birthday/

[trumad]

9. "whispers in a far louder voice"

Hence the reason for the cover-up....

Nail on the head Pitt---Nail on the head....

Good post.

[youngdem]

10. I respectfully disagree Mr. Pitt

This story came up now for ONE reason only - to distract from the US Atty scandal. EVERYONE already knew this was the case, that Tillman was killed and the death was covered up for propaganda purposes. OLD NEWS. The Bush administration is throwing flares as they attempt to get away(like so many Apaches over Baghdad), and some of us are watching the pretty colors.

However, it is clear as day to me that all of the suddenly recycled mea culpa stories (KSM's 9/11 confession and the Tillman blame game) are all attempts to distract from the MUCH larger story in the US Atty scandal, which is that Carol Lam's firing was designed to cover up White House involvement in soliciting and accepting bribes facilitated through fake contracts. Waxman's on it.

Nah, I ain't gonna take the bait. I've got my target locked, and no pretty flares are gonna take this focus off.

[ProudToBeBlueInRhody]

28. Bush must be in real trouble

If they need to use one negative story to bury another........

[Morgana LaFey]

35. But they've actually done that before

I wish I could cite some examples, but I've noticed the phenomenon. It was largely -- like this -- negative stories that were already pretty much vetted, weren't going much further, etc. Seems to me they did it to the Libby conviction, tho I don't remember what they dredged up as the cover. Seems to me it was the 2nd or 3rd day after the conviction.

[Kagemusha]

11. Not only did the report exonerate everyone but...

the leak prior to the release of the report raised expectations that people would actually be held to account over the matter. Like, 9 people, 4 of them generals, at fault... but apparently not for anything deliberate, criminal, or all that really darn bad. Therefore, the leak that established that the matter was taken with seriousness, only reinforced how the exoneration is all that much more genuine and taken after deliberate reflection (at least in the minds of SOME people out there). The leak was delivered before the Tillman family got its briefing. This is really ugly, cynical stuff! Shameful stuff.

And yet, the line I'm sure I'll be hearing (and reading) today is, everyone's exonerated, the matter's closed, it's time for the nation and the Tillman family to move on.

[trumad]

12. I don't think it's over....

Let's see what happens in 30 days.... I personally think some heads are going to roll.

Army and Defense Department investigators said officers looking into Tillman's death passed along misleading and inaccurate information and delayed reporting their belief that Tillman was killed by fellow Rangers.

The investigators recommended that the Army take action against the officers, but suggested no specific punishments and left it to the Army to decide what to do. Possible steps could include demotions, dishonorable discharges, jail or letters of reprimand.

Acting Army Secretary Peter Geren has asked Gen. William Wallace, who oversees training for the Army, to review the actions of the officers and to provide a progress report in 30 days. The Army will take corrective action and hold people accountable, said Geren, who also issued an apology.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/football/nfl/03/26/tillman.ap/index.html

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

14. 30 days no doubt in hope that everyone will forget the story by then.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

13. It is very similar, IMHO, to the Jessica Lynch situation, where the DoD (presumably guided by the

Bush administration) saw her capture as nothing more than an opportunity to pimp a "Rambette" tale of heroism that was spun out of whole cloth, and then subsequent revelations showed the whole "official tale" of her capture and recovery to be completely bogus.

[mmonk]

15. I have no problem with this being a top story at all.

I too think it will make the war apologists uncomfortable. He was picked for exploitation by the military brass and it sure didn't turn out like they envisioned.

[EFerrari]

16. You're right. Last week when I talked to my cabbie about the war

he brought up Tillman. This story was the way he understood that BushCo is insane.

[babylonsister]

17. The fact that the cover-up isn't deemed criminal is disgusting to me.

So, all the other cover-ups we are sure to find out about will be handled the same way? The culprits who did the covering up get away scott free? They are guilt-free for doing so?
I hope his folks file civil suits, do something to emphasize how wrong the military was on this. :mad:

[tibbiit]

19. That guy was fragged

it is obvious to us.
tib

[trumad]

21. It's not obvious to me...

[flyarm]

20. the only way i see this gaining steam as an old story is "NAME THE GENERALS"

and put them in a hearing in front of congress..under oath and ask the when , where and who told them to cover up this story!!

Minute by minute ..the details..other wise it is another story to cover up the real probs this administration is hiding!!

The Tilman family has done press conferences that have been allllll but ignored by MSM ...so why now the attention to this story?? When the Tillman family was begging for national coverage of this story many times before?!!

read this and tell me what the real story of the day is!!

and remember this is a pretty reich wing rag...

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54...


YOUR GOVERNMENT AT WORK
Embattled AG now accused in teen sex scandal 'cover-up'
Attorney General Gonzales among officials who allegedly ignored abuse of minor boys

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted: March 25, 2007
9:49 p.m. Eastern




fly

[Jacobin]

22. There was an interview of his mother on NPR this morning

She is very eloquent and is hopping mad. She was most upset that each time some army brass came out to talk to her, they lied to her again and again about what happened about the different cover stories. She said at the last meeting with brass, the brass told her she was being 'abusive' (and she admitted she was verbally rude to them) and told them that 'being lied to is also a form of abuse'. She is beyond mad and isn't going to stop.

This latest cover story is still a cover story.

She is upset they used her son 'to sell the war'

[blondeatlast]

25. As I mention below, we need to keep the media interested in the Tillmans.

To a one, they are eloquent, photogenic, and comfortable with the press. The Republican Noise Machine likes to portray those opposed to the occupation of Iraq as cowardly, radical traitors. The Tillmans are clearly anything but.

[blondeatlast]

23. Here in Phoenix, it isn't on the airwaves--but it is being talked about a LOT.

And of course, this is a red (but in a Goldwater tint--as in small gov't) area. It's touched an awful lot of formerly unreachable nerves here--people who couldn't tell you who the players are are furious.

That's what will bring change.

We need to keep the conversation going. The Tillman family are smart, well-spoken, and photogenic--and they are not shy when it comes to the media. Keep talking about this, America--and let's get that family front and center.

I wonder if Pat Tillman will rest easier knowing his death changed the perception of the Iraq occupation and perhaps saved thousands of lives as such.

It's a sad day when the biggest stories in this country are the unnecessary death and subsequent cover-up of a hero and corruption and scandal in the bowels of the government. Such is my great country after W. :cry:

[KittyWampus]

24. I agree after seeing the story on at the gym yesterday. Tillman's death won't be in vain

he used his celebrity status for the good of his country.

Admirable man.

[Horse with no Name]

26. He was a beautiful man

I have to confess, part of the story last night I could not take my eyes off of him. Not in lust, just in looking at such a remarkably beautiful creature.

[suffragette]

27. and it shows the same M.O. in action in a context that's easy to see

1) Do something wrong/illegal
2) Try to cover up the action
3) Use the person/situation to sell bad policies
4) When caught in lies or when attention has died down, shift stories and cover up some more
5) Issue a (non)apology and say you've dealt with it

Rinse & Repeat

[lizbitchwitchy]

29. I agree

There are so many aspects to this story that does the GOP and this war no justice on top of the no justice it already serves.

The fact that the troops are trigger happy and at the back fire of a car they began shooting. Without really knowing what they were shooting at.

The fact that he was killed by friendly fire - when there was no enemy at all around - shows the incompetance and the lack of proper training.

The fact that their own embarrassment caused them to lie and misrepresent this situation - means that we can't trust anything they say is the truth. If they lie about this, then they lie about how they treat prisoners and if they shoot innocent civillians and how well equipped our soldiers are.

The fact that they believe that Americans will buy the heroic story about their loved one usually and be satisfied with it rather than as Mrs. Tillman is proving that some Americans prefer the truth no matter where it leads. She didn't need anyone making her son into a hero - at the expense of others lives - other soldiers and the many many innocent iraqi civillians who suffer at the hands of this war.

There is a lot there to look at. I think the Tillmans should be a good example for those people whose loved ones have served or are serving who buy the war to justify their loved ones' loss of life.

[Scriptor Ignotus]

30. He was supposed to be their War poster boy

and in sad, twisted way, he now is.

Tillman was supposed to be everything that is right about America, our soldiers and the war in Iraq. He was a made-for-TV movie, a propagandist's wet dream, and a powerful tool for recruiting. Even after his death he still carried on this "mission".

Then came the cover-up and the awful truth about his death.

Today Tillman has become a symbol for all this war has become. Look at his death and the incompetence that led to it. The lying, the delaying of information to his family, the unaccountability, the misrepresentations of his beliefs. It all betrays the sacrifice this young man made. The sacrifice he made with pride and with the best of intentions. Likewise, all fallen soldiers in Iraq have been betrayed in this way, although perhaps not as blatantly or as publicly. The soldier and the soldiers' family suffer immensely, while the politicians play golf and attend fundraiser BBQs in Hilton Head.

Oh, he's the poster boy for this war alright, just not in the way the Bush Administration wanted.

[malaise]

31. I'm watching ESPN with Mary Tillman

You're right Will. This sure is getting coverage. This is great.

[Missy Vixen]

32. Our former neighbor once told me that only Republicans served in the military

>Watch the discomfort unspool before you.<

Imagine his shock to learn that my husband's Democratic husband, father, grandfather served in the military, so did my Democratic father.

Pat Tillman was a hero whose death did not need to happen. He was courageous enough to speak out, and I believe it cost him his life.

Good for ESPN for bringing this story to the forefront yet again.

Julie

[malaise]

33. KO has an interview with Mary Tillman

coming up.

[dsc]

34. He was amazingly handsome

He was also the antithesis of the current chicken hawks we have in the White House. If it takes this scandal to bring him down, then so be it. It isn't the worst thing he did but it is by no means the most trivial.