WEDENSDAY, JUNE 28, 2006

DOG EAT DOGSHIFT HAPPENS: More American than you

One of the more terrifying scenes in the Exorcist took place in Iraq. Father Merrin; the image of the statue of Pazuzu burned into his mind, is confronted with two Iraqi dogs fighting to the death as he retreats from an encounter he is not yet ready for. Friedkin's point may be that the ancient Demon has such power that he can control the behavior around him. Behavior that may go back to the dawn of Evil itself.

Evil waiting for the slightest excuse to tear into our reality.

Perhaps more unsettling still was the network premiere last night of the remade "Texas Chainsaw Massacre". Not just that there IS a remake, but that after realizing that the post-Red State movie itself was cut into ever smaller pieces by commercial breaks, one was threatened by snarling, "fangs out" contributors and "guests" with R- in front of their names; threatening not only their rivals but the Americans that support same, up and down the double-digit dial.

The house that the kids from "That Other '70's Show" always end up in, may be in walking distance of the Crawford Ranch -- putting a certain neighbor in the White House -- but more horrible yet is the slavering attack; not on enemy combatants in a War On Terror, but on the minds of Americans who can't even afford the gas for a road trip in the summer of 2006.

All week long, those who believe that the death of Al-Zarqawi is the turning point in the pointless fog of war, have been unleashed and loosed upon an unsuspecting public that still thinks SOME of the news is still fair and balanced.

I don't know why no one made "BACK TO BAGHDAD"; the capstone to the Exorcist franchise that could have dealt with the reality of the true demon behind the Iraq War. Maybe it's because one newscaster who need not be feared signed off tonight with: "On this, the 1,154th day since MISSION ACCOMPLISHED was declared in Iraq".... and THAT is frightening enough.