It's been about a year and a half now since Trey Parker and Matt Stone unleashed their puppet movie Team America into theaters a few weeks before Bush's re-election, while I was busy running for US Senate in Indiana. It was a modest hit at the time, as such things go. I'm not real sure what category of "such things" it would classify as, however. I liked it a lot, as per this contemporary review, but we were all a bit busy at the time, and it got filed away.

A couple of seasons later, Team America seems to me now like one of the top classic American patriotic movies ever. Parker and Stone are clearly representing for America, in fact defending the US to the world in a compelling and entertaining manner that is hard to deny.

The brilliance of Team America comes in the cheerful and detailed examination of our faults, an acknowledgement of our weaknesses that buys credibility for the whole defense. When Gary Johnston speaks on behalf of Parker and Stone for America, they're including themselves when they say that "we're reckless, arrogant dicks." They specifically acknowledge slavery. ("f&^* yeah!")

There's just no way you could mistake this for chauvinistic propaganda. Geez, we accidentally blew up the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower before the opening credits.

Think it through though, and you'll note that Team America is pretty much morally pure, straight and true. They may look foolish with silly personal soap opera talk right during battle — the variations on "I treasure your friendship" strike me funnier every viewing. But they are absolutely wearing the white hats.

Also, the dilemma for America is presented quite sympathetically. Gary Johnston doesn't WANT the power nor especially the responsibility. Yes, there are obviously comic layers, but the country song "Freedom Isn't Free" is essentially a sincere statement from the creators. Neither Gary nor the rest of the team crave authority or even acclaim.