I haven't posted in years. But had to Say Happy Birthday to WRP

[Kevin Spidel]

Last edited Sun Nov 9, 2014, 01:27 PM - Edit history (1)

Tomorrow is William Rivers Pitt's birthday.

This guy I knew nothing about in 2003. All of the sudden I was swept up into a private plane with a Presidential candidate and flying to Ohio. Last minute flight plans changed mid air. I was landing in Iowa as the new National Field Director within 48 hours of the caucus. As soon as I land (to this day have no idea what city) we got into a van with the candidate, our staff, a celeb or two to speak at rallies... and then planned on picking up this journalist at a hotel. What a ride. That night at 3am we gathered at the hotel bar collectively trying to figure out wtf happened.

Since then... he and I helped tonshape the truth of the American progressive movement. He and I have been through many private Congessional negotiations, protests, and powerful hearings.

I am no longer in politics and thankful for that.

But I remember. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5626020498&id=558965498&set=a.4839555498.1832.558965498&source=43&ref=bookmark

Will was there with me as our generations HST documenting the story through it all.

He and I even worked on killer articles that never have seen the light of day because of the honesty.

He and I started a book we never finished.

He is now a husband and father of which I too am the same. Then we didn't have that.

Now we do. And we love it.

Love you distant friend. Happy Birthday.

[Electric Monk]

1. As I first read your title, I read it as WKRP for some reason

Happy Birthday William. Since I brought it up already, I think (in that context) of you as an odd mix of Les Nessman and Johny Fever. In a good way

[Rex]

9. Saw that too.

I miss that show.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

2. I'm sure Will will see this, and appreciate it.

It's beautifully written!

Thank you for remembering...

[Kevin Spidel]

7. thank you

been a while since I posted in here #jaded.

[Kevin Spidel]

3. This is the photo of DK and WRP in the van withing 15 minutes of meeting the brother

[link:http://d.pr/i/XdNY|

[Suich]

4. What a great tribute!

btw, your Facebook link doesn't work.

[Kevin Spidel]

6. see the link I posted

should work. Or here: http://d.pr/i/XdNY

Also this:http://www.truth-out.org/archive/item/46940-william-rivers-pitt--dennis-kucinich-and-the-question

This: http://www.truth-out.org/archive/item/51992:william-rivers-pitt--interview-with-an-ordinary-hero

And this: http://truth-out.org/archive/component/k2/item/61614:william-rivers-pitt-the-mouse-that-roared

[Kevin Spidel]

5. He put his name on the line and became press secretary for a while, because I pushed him. (sorry)

http://www.truth-out.org/archive/item/46940-william-rivers-pitt--dennis-kucinich-and-the-question

[Electric Monk]

8. In hindsight, that might not have been the smartest tactic.

It seems he made more adversaries than allies.

The 'copter seems to circling the parking area now. I guess it's looking for a place to land. No! Something just came out of the back of a helicopter. It's a dark object, perhaps a skydiver plummeting to the earth from only two thousand feet in the air... There's a third... No parachutes yet... Those can't be skydivers. I can't tell just yet what they are but... Oh my God! They're turkeys! Oh no! Johnny can you get this? Oh, they're crashing to the earth right in front of our eyes! One just went through the windshield of a parked car! This is terrible! Everyone's running around pushing each other. Oh my goodness! Oh, the humanity! People are running about. The turkeys are hitting the ground like sacks of wet cement! Folks, I don't know how much longer... The crowd is running for their lives. I think I'm going to step inside. I can't stand here and watch this anymore. No, I can't go in there. Children are searching for their mothers and oh, not since the Hindenberg tragedy has there been anything like this. I don't know how much longer I can hold my position here, Johnny. The crowd...

I do believe he really believed in the 24 hours thing that so many people have given him shit about since. Jason whatsisname just wasn't reliable.

[madfloridian]

10. Hi there, Kevin.

Seems like old times around here. Good to see you.

[Kevin Spidel]

11. Oh hai!!!

How have you been? We are old hahahaha

[madfloridian]

13. lol

You, too?

[Kevin Spidel]

12. Kill the Buddha

&list=UUg0ECuocnYKmilSfxOYALxg

[Rhiannon12866]

14. What a lovely tribute! Happy Birthday, Will!

Wishing you a great day and many, many, many more!

[Helen Borg]

15. A shame that all that was not published...

They might have inspired others...

[malaise]

16. Happy Birthday William Pitt

[WilliamPitt]

17. Thank you, brother.

From my heart.