Tim Carpenter, co-founder of Progressive Democrats of America, passed away last night.

[WilliamPitt]

Last edited Tue Apr 29, 2014, 12:57 PM - Edit history (2)

http://www.pdaillinois.org/site/content/though-battling-terminal-illness-tim-carpenter-still-busy-moving-congress-left

PDA was founded after the '04 Kucinich campaign. Tim had been fighting cancer since the day I met him ten years ago, but he never slowed down, never let his illness keep him from the activism he devoted himself to because he loved this country so much.

As I sit here in my sorrow, it strikes me that no one I've ever known was so perfectly named as he was. Tim Builder. Tim Crafter. Tim Maker. Tim Carpenter.

Take your rest, old friend. You have more than earned it.



On edit: David Swanson on the passing of Tim Carpenter: http://warisacrime.org/content/tim-carpenter-will-be-badly-missed#.U1_Uc84MxAA.facebook

[rurallib]

1. Saw him on the Hartmann show many times

He was truly dedicated.
He will be missed.

[hlthe2b]

2. I hate to lose someone like that. May he RIP (and may others pick up the cause)..

[Ichingcarpenter]

3. I talked with him once or twice in California on the phone

on a candidate
I was working with for a county seat
I still saved his e mails in our correspondence.


This is sad news
RIP

[Jefferson23]

4. Thank you for letting us know. RIP, dear man. n/t

[mtasselin]

5. Thank You

Thank you for all you have done and may you rest in peace. You were one of those special people that did so much for the love of country and most people will never know how you helped change the course. Thank you.

[red dog 1]

17. + 1

[mountain grammy]

6. Someone I've listened to many times and admired and respected..

thank you for the notice... Rest in peace, Tim. You will be missed.

[SamKnause]

7. RIP

[mopinko]

8. you can walk on to a better place now, friend.

that's a big hole to fill right there.

[MynameisBlarney]

9. Aw man...

RIP Tim carpenter, you will be missed.

[alp227]

10. 3/19: Tim's last appearance on Thom Hartmann's show, on Bernie Sanders for president

More Carpenter interviews: https://www.youtube.com/user/thomhartmann/search?query=tim+carpenter

[joeybee12]

11. Good thoughts to his family and friends...knr

RIP

[navarth]

12. That's a terrible loss

He will be missed. Thank goodness we can watch re-broadcasts of Thom's show.

[rhett o rick]

13. This is a loss. May he RIP.

[The Blue Flower]

14. Worked with him in the beginning

I was editor of the PDA online newsletter after the Kucinich campaign and had the pleasure of working with Tim through that time. So sorry to lose such a dedicated, good person. Condolences to his family.

[calimary]

15. Damn. We still need him.

Rest in Peace, Tim. Thank you for what you started - on all our behalf.

[WilliamPitt]

16. David Swanson on the passing of Tim Carpenter

http://warisacrime.org/content/tim-carpenter-will-be-badly-missed#.U1_Uc84MxAA.facebook

[Blue State Bandit]

18. Tim may be gone, but his legacy lives on.

Met him at the infamous "Basement Hearings" in the summer of '05. Helluva guy.

[merrily]

24. Nice, positive thought to have on a sad thread. Thank you for that.

[red dog 1]

19. R.I.P. Tim

http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/23396-activism-started-with-tim-carpenter-now-its-your-turn#13988118488221&action=collapse-w

[elzenmahn]

20. Rest in Peace, Mr. Carpenter...

...you were truly doing the Lord's work.

[swilton]

21. RIP

[dreamnightwind]

22. Ah, we lost a good one

Rest in peace Tim.

[Journeyman]

23. Very sorry to hear this. I met Tim in the mid-'70s, when he was a teen. . .

He'd been involved in some tussle over campaign signs or the like, and the guy who introduced us referred to him as "the fighting young Democrat" of the neighborhood. We shared a laugh about it, but I perceived he was someone special, someone who wasn't going to rest easy in this world.

We met again a few years later. We shared a friend. We never grew close ourselves, but rather kept in contact through our close association with our mutual friend. And when this friend left California, and travelled to Oregon to attend school, Tim and I saw one another each summer, when our friend returned from university to visit. We took to jokingly calling our friend "Dill," in laughing homage to the youngster who returned to visit Scout and Jem each summer.

It was a tremendously painful time for us both when our friend passed away, and Tim and I stayed in touch for a short time until he moved East, away from California. I wrote him a few times, usually when I ran across an article about his latest doings, but we never saw each other again.

I will miss him. I wish I'd known him better as an adult. But I'll cherish the memories of our youth, mine somewhat misspent, his richly rewarding.

[merrily]

25. Thank you for your service, Mr. Carpenter. Rest well.

Condolences to us all, but especially to Mr. Swanson and others who had a personal relationship of any kind with Mr. Carpenter.

[hootinholler]

26. I had no clue

Even after meeting him once or twice. The dude seemingly had energy to spare.

This is surprising and shocking sad news.

RIP Tim.

[mstinamotorcity2]

27. .....

[eridani]

28. Email for condolences to family--

Condolences can be sent to his wife and daughters at [e-mail].

Its been sightly over a year since Tim was given 3 to 4 months to live. He continued full steam ahead until about the last week or so. He couldn't make our national leadership gathering in Winslow, AZ in February. His doctors wouldn't let him fly. But he joined us via live feed. As Arizona activist Pamela described it:

"Tim couldn’t join the Winslow Group this year because of his health. We all knew he was dying, and as you can expect, there was much talk about PDA after Tim. We discussed strategy, issues, and new directions that weekend, but no one talked about quitting. PDA will continue and grow, thanks to Tim’s hard work and the tireless support of staff, progressive politicians, and 1000s of grassroots activists who believe in our country’s New Progressive Era."

Thanks to Tim there is a growing progressive coalition. Not just on the coasts but increasingly in the flyover states. Some of PDA's fastest growth has been in the south- North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama.It convenes monthly for a Progressive Roundtable in the House Cannon Office Building and we're working on Senate accommodations too. It is testament to Tim's work that a radical activist was given a video tribute by sitting members of Congress.

[pat_k]

29. "...He was a man fueled by the highest values of society..." Sen. Markey on the Passing

Senator Markey Statement on the Passing of Tim Carpenter

http://www.markey.senate.gov/news/press-releases/senator-markey-statement-on-the-passing-of-tim-carpenter

“Tim Carpenter was the embodiment of the progressive movement – compassionate, energetic and fiercely committed to the progressive cause. His commitment to a more just and fair society was unyielding and his belief in the power of the grassroots was unwavering. He spent every day working to put power back in the hands of the people, and in doing so built an unprecedented coalition of labor, women’s groups, communities of color, LGBT and students that is transforming how government works at all levels. He was a man fueled by the highest values of society, and his work will live on in leaders for generations to come. He was my longtime friend and a supporter, and I will miss him dearly. My deepest condolences to his family, his daughters and all those whose lives he touched and bettered.”