Rest In Peace: Geraldine Ferraro dies at 75

The Hill: Geraldine Ferraro, who made history in 1984 as the first woman nominated on the ticket of a major national party, died on Saturday. She was 75 years old.

According to a statement from her family, Ferraro passed away at Massachusetts General Hospital due to complications from multiple myeloma, a blood cancer she battled for twelve years.

“Geraldine Anne Ferraro Zaccaro was widely known as a leader, a fighter for justice, and a tireless advocate for those without a voice," said her family in a statement. 

"To us, she was a wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, a woman devoted to and deeply loved by her family. Her courage and generosity of spirit throughout her life waging battles big and small, public and personal, will never be forgotten and will be sorely missed.” [MORE]

I remember when Geraldine was chosen.  It was so controversial for the times.  I recall the discussions of the day.  Today, so many of those discussions would be easily termed sexist and primitive.  Surprisingly, despite the advance of women in politics it would be 24 years until other women would be on major party ticket at the top level.

I do have to say that they don't make Democrats like Ferraro anymore.  I remember how despite ideological differences, Ferraro's treatment of Palin in 2008 was nothing but pure class.  Where have Democrats like that gone?

Palin has left a note of condolence on her Facebook page today.

My family and I would like to express our sincere condolences to the family of Geraldine Ferraro. When I had the honor of working alongside Geraldine on election night last year, we both discussed the role of women in politics and our excited expectation that someday that final glass ceiling would be shattered by the election of a woman president. She was an amazing woman who dedicated her life to public service as a teacher, prosecutor, Congresswoman, and Vice Presidential candidate. She broke one huge barrier and then went on to break many more. The world will miss her. May she rest in peace and may her example of hard work and dedication to America continue to inspire all women.

- Sarah Palin

The feminists of NOW can learn a lot from the relationship between Ferraro and Palin.  They truly understand what it means to support all women and not just the ones that share an ideological dogma.

Rest in peace Geraldine and thank you for your service.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Hill

Via: Sarah Palin's Facebook page

Via: Newsbusters

Rest In Peace: Senator Ted Stevens killed in Dillingham plane crash

After several hours of unconfirmed reports, it is now official that former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens was killed in the Dillingham plane crash.

KTUU: ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- Mitch Rose, spokesperson for the Stevens family, has confirmed that Sen. Ted Stevens was killed in a plane crash near Dillingham Monday night.

Nine people were on board, including former NASA Chief Sean O'Keefe. Five people were killed in the crash, but other identities were not known. […]

The Stevens family released a statement Tuesday afternoon: "The Ted Stevens family offers their prayers for all those on board and for their families. We thank the brave men and women who are are working to reach the site. We continue to work with the Alaska National Guard, the US Coast Guard and the Alaska State Troopers. We thank everyone for their support and prayers." 

Despite the cloud of corruption that ended Steven’s long years in the Senate, Alaskans will remember him as a “Bring Home The Bacon Champ". That role will make him an icon of a Washington D.C. that is rapidly becoming obsolete,.

Rest in peace.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: KTUU

Via: CNN

Via: The Swamp

Via: Memorandum 

Rest In Peace: George Steinbrenner dies of heart attack at 80

NY Daily News: George Steinbrenner, a towering and intimidating figure who dominated the New York sports scene for 35 years, winning 11 American League pennants and seven world championships as owner of the Yankees, died Tuesday morning in Tampa after suffering a massive heart attack. He was 80.

"The Boss" - as he was so aptly named by his longtime antagonist, Daily News columnist Mike Lupica - died at around 6:30 a.m., barely a week after his Fourth of July birthday.

He had been suffering from failing health, the result of a series of strokes, for the past few years.

"It is with profound sadness that the family of George M. Steinbrenner III announces his passing," said a statement released by the Yankees.

"He was a visionary and a giant in the world of sports. He took a great but struggling franchise and turned it into a champion again."

Flags at City Hall were to be lowered in tribute. [MORE]

The sports world has lost a giant. The brash and controversial Steinbrenner helped to make the New York Yankees the super successful franchise it is today. Love him or hate him, New York and the Yankees owes him a lot.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The New York Daily News  

Rest In Peace: Gary Coleman dies at age 42

USA Today: Gary Coleman, the child star of the TV sitcomDiff'rent Strokes, died Friday after suffering an intercranial hemorrhage. He was 42.

Utah Valley Regional Medical Center spokeswoman Janet Frank says life support was terminated and Coleman died at 12:05 p.m.

Coleman was hospitalized Wednesday after falling and suffering a head injury at his home south of Salt Lake City, according to family members.

For a while, it seemed that Gary Coleman's cherubic face was everywhere, from TV to T-shirts to lunchboxes. [MORE]

I really feel sorry for the way Gary Coleman’s life turned out. No one help the young star prepare for the fate dished out by our disposable culture. Stars who are hot today and yesterday’s news by tomorrow. Unless you are a master of reinventing yourself, obscurity awaits. Coleman’s parents and managers clearly let him down in this regard. Given Coleman’s success during the 1980’s he should have been set for life.  Instead, poor Coleman’s adult life turned out to be a long list of woes.

For all the laughs and good cheer Gary Coleman gave us in his early years, I hope he get his rewards in heaven. Rest in peace Gary.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: USA Today 

Rest In Peace: Lena Horne dead at age 92

Ouch, Miss Lena is gone!  The magnificent Lena Horne has passed away today at age 92. Despite the oppressive racism of the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s that held back so much of her career, Lena Horne became a major star. Her life will stand as testaments that true talent and the will of the black spirit simply cannot be extinguish.

Rest in peace Lean Horne, the world is feeling some Stormy Weather without you.

Via: The New York Times

Rest In Peace: Dorothy Height civil rights icon passes away at age 98

The Washington Post: Dorothy I. Height, 98, a founding matriarch of the American civil rights movement whose crusade for racial justice and gender equality spanned more than six decades, died Tuesday at Howard University Hospital. The cause of death was not disclosed.

Ms. Height was among the coalition of African American leaders who pushed civil rights to the center of the American political stage after World War II, and she was a key figure in the struggles for school desegregation, voting rights, employment opportunities and public accommodations in the 1950s and 1960s.

As president of the National Council of Negro Women for 40 years, Ms. Height was arguably the most influential woman at the top levels of civil rights leadership. [MORE]

Dorothy Height was more of a behind the scene figure in the Civil Rights movement when compared to King or Malcolm X.  Nonetheless, the woman moved mountains with her quiet dignity and firm resolve. From a very young age Height she spoke out against lynching and fought rural poverty. She was one of the planners of the March on Washington, she maintained a lifelong commitment to the advancement of black women and even advised several presidents throughout her years.

Unlike many of today’s civil rights leaders, Height never came off as sharply partisan or political. I believe this is why she retained so much of her authority well past the height of the civil rights movement. It is also why despite some ideological differences, I hold her in high regard.

Rest in peace Dorothy Height, I thank you for your service, your sacrifice and for your role in making America live up to it ideals for all.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The Washington Post

Polish President, First Lady and dozens of Polish leadership die in plane crash

This must be absolutely devastating to the Polish people, especially since President Kaczynski was traveling to commemorate the Katyn Forrest Massacre. Now the Polish people must endure a double tragedy on this date. God help them. 

New York Times: WARSAW — A plane carrying the Polish president and dozens of the country’s top political and military leaders to the site of the Soviet massacre of Polish officers in World War II crashed in western Russia on Saturday, killing everyone on board.

President Lech Kaczynski’s plane tried to land in a thick fog, missing the runway and snagging treetops about half a mile from the airport in Smolensk, scattering chunks of flaming fuselage across a bare forest.

The crash came as a stunning blow to Poland, wiping out a large portion of the country’s leadership in one fiery explosion. It came at the moment that Russia and Poland were beginning to come to terms with the killing of more than 20,000 members of Poland’s elite officer corps in the same place 70 years ago. [More]

Right now it seems there is some conflict about the cause. Legal Insurrection points to a weather related incident and Theblogprof points to pilot error (with KGB undertones).  Let’s hope for the weather cause, the other option is just too messy to consider.

CNN video from Freedoms’s Lighthouse

Via: Memeorandum

Via: The New York Times

Via: Legal Insurrection

Via: The Blog Prof

Rest In Peace: Peter Graves

Peter Graves, the famous Jim Phelps from the original Mission Impossible died today at the age of 83.  He died at his Pacific Palisades home shortly after returning from brunch with his family.

I a young boy, I remember watching Mission Impossible. It was one of the few “grown up” shows we were all allowed to watch. My siblings and I use to get a big kick out of those self-destructing messages and nobody will ever forget the show’s theme song.

Rest in peace Peter Graves, the world will miss you.

Via: The New York Times

Via: The Huffington Post

Rest In Peace: Alexander Haig dead at age 85

From Associated Press:

Haig died at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, where he was surrounded by his family, according to two of his children, Alexander and Barbara. A hospital spokesman, Gary Stephenson, said Haig died at about 1:30 a.m. 

Haig died of complications from an infection he was fighting. Most people will remember Haig for is statement that he was in control at the White House, following the assassination attempt on President Reagan. However, Haig had a very long career spanning three administrations.

Flopping Aces, gives a nice run down of Haig’s history in Washington that helps to put this four star general’s life in perspective.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Associated Press

Via: Flopping Aces

UPDATED: John Murtha dead at age 77

John Murtha has died today after suffering from complications due to his gall bladder surgery. Murtha’s death leaves yet another House seat for Democrats to fill in the 2010 elections. This might actually work to their advantage considering that Murtha’s special interest earmarks were sure to be an issue this time around.


UPDATE: Special Election for Murtha's seat to be held in 60 days.


From Hot Air:

Update: A special election will be called within 60 days to fill Murtha’s seat for the rest of the year. The winner, obviously, will enjoy an incumbency advantage in November. It’s a jump ball:

With Murtha gone, however, the special election will be seriously contested. Murtha’s district is the only one in the country won by Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) in 2004 and by Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in 2008, according to Republican sources, and that trend line coupled with the volatile national environment for Democrats ensures Republicans will heavily target the contest.

Via: Memeorandum

Via: Hot Air

Via: The Washington Post

Rest In Peace: JD Salinger

JD Salinger, author of the famous book “A Catcher in the Rye” died today at 91 years old of natural causes. I remember having to read "A Catcher in the Rye" twice during my school years, once in Junior High and again in my freshman year of high school. While I enjoyed Salinger’s slang filled writing style, both times reading the book I was left with the feeling of “eh”.  I guess teenage angst of the 50’s was no match for teenage angst of the 80’s.

At any rate, Salinger will be remembered as one of America’s great authors. Rest in Peace JD.

Rest In Peace: Roy Disney

From The Washington Post:

LOS ANGELES -- Roy E. Disney, the nephew of Walt Disney whose powerful behind-the-scenes influence on The Walt Disney Co. led to the departure of former chief Michael Eisner, has died. He was 79.

The company announced that Disney died Wednesday in Newport Beach, Calif., after a yearlong bout with stomach cancer.

Company president and chief executive Bob Iger said Disney was much more than a valued 56-year company veteran.

"Roy's commitment to the art of animation was unparalleled and will always remain his personal legacy and one of his greatest contributions to Disney's past, present and future," Iger said in a statement.

Although he generally stayed out of the spotlight, Roy Disney didn't hesitate to lead a successful campaign in 1984 to oust Walt Disney's son-in-law after concluding he was leading the company in the wrong direction.

Nearly 20 years later, he launched another successful shareholders revolt, this time against Eisner, the man he'd helped bring in after the previous ouster.

I admired Roy Disney for sticking to his vision. Even when he made a mistake with Eisner, he stuck to his vision and corrected the problem. So many people today are unwilling to admit their mistakes and sadly so few seem to hold true to their visions. Rest in peace, Roy.

Rest In Peace: William Safire

Williams Safire died today from his bout with pancreatic cancer at the age of 79.

I considered Safire to have been one of the precious good things to come from the New York Times. Sadly because that newspaper is so intellectually dishonest and bias, I missed much of Safire's writings, because I had to catch his stuff here and there from other sources.

May he rest peace.

Rest In Peace: Patrick Swayze

I must confess, I did not know much about Patrick Swayze. I do a terrible job following celebrities, unless they wonder off the ranch into politics.

However, as someone who has lost many dear friends to cancer, I admire and appreciate the way Swayze fought against his cancer.

Rest In Peace, Mr. Swayze.

Ted Kennedy dead at age 77

Senator Ted Kennedy died today in his Hyannis home succumbing to his brain cancer. Kennedy’s death will be a huge new story for days to come. Look for him to have a send off that will rival Reagan’s. The media will spare no superlatives for Kennedy’s life. Mary Jo Kopechne will get the short shift, if she is mentioned at all. Also, look for all that messy news about Obama totally misjudging the deficit and Holder going after the CIA all to be swept aside, as we stop and pay tribute to Ted.

Look for tremendous DNC pressure to be brought to the Mass. Legislature to change its laws, so that Deval Patrick can appoint someone to Ted’s senate seat. Paging Caroline, here is your second change at a senate seat.

Sadly the worse part of Kennedy’s death will be how Democrats will shamelessly use it to push ObamaCare. If you thought the way Democrats used Paul Wellstone’s funeral for political gain was tasteless, you ain’t seen nothing yet. No doubt we will be told that we should honor Ted Kennedy’s life by writing ObamaCare into law. Never mind the fact that Old Teddy would never have been caught dead on the Public Option.

Via Breitbart

Via Memeorandum

Rest In Peace: Robert Novak

“Always love your country — but never trust your government!"

“That should not be misunderstood. I certainly am not advocating civil disobedience, must less insurrection or rebellion. What I am advocating is to not expect too much from government and be wary of it power, even the power of a democratic government in a free country.

“Ours is one of the mildest, most benevolent governments in the world. But it too has the power to take your wealth and forfeit your life. ... A government that can give you everything can take everything away.” – Robert Novak

I am going to miss Robert Novak. When it comes to political opinion there are two voices I consistently trust, Novak’s and Karuthammer’s and always in that order. Rest in peace old friend, rest in peace.

Rest In Peace

With the passing of both Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett today, I feel like a little bit of my youth passed too. I can clearly remember ogling Charlie’s Angles and hanging the iconic Farrah poster on my bedroom wall as a young teen. Michael Jackson’s music was there throughout my entire childhood. From the early Jackson Five Motown hits, right up to Thriller on MTV, I cannot think of a point in my childhood where there wasn’t a Michael Jackson hit.

Godspeed to both, may they forever rest in peace.