Joe Bageant, 1946-2011

[douglas9]

After a vibrant life, Joe Bageant died yesterday following a four-month struggle with cancer. He was 64. Joe is survived by his wife, Barbara, his three children, Timothy, Patrick and Elizabeth, and thousands of friends and admirers. He is also survived by his work and ideas.

According to Joe's wishes, he will be cremated. His family will hold a private memorial service.

n/t

http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2011/03/joe-bageant-1946-2011.html

[villager]

1. Goddamnit. It's always the wrong ones going early....

n/t

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Mira]

2. DEvastating. A huge loss to us K&R

[Starry Messenger]

3. Oh no!

RIP Joe. That really sucks.

[Thunderstruck]

4. Goodbye, Joe. Thanks for sharing your wisdom. Rest well, sir.

[sabrina 1]

5. Very sad news, I had just discovered him recently

R.I.P. :cry:

[Catherina]

6. Fuck! Fuck no!

He was coming to visit me this summer. I can't believe this :cry: :cry:

Fuck no Joe, it wasn't your time yet :cry:

[nashville_brook]

7. goddammit.

[felix_numinous]

8. I really enjoyed his blog,

and will miss him so much.

[hfojvt]

9. unrec

Probably I am supposed to know, but this OP really tells me nothing about Joe Bageant. Was he a plumber? Was he a member of the infamous St. Louis Blacksocks? Was he a Senator from Wisconsin presiding over the UnAmerican Activities Inquisition? Was he the current Vice President of the United States? Who is Joe Bageant that all his swains commend him?

I clicked on this thread to learn more about Joe Bageant other than just the fact that he died. With only that fact, why should I care? Lots of people die every day. Sure, maybe I can get more facts if I click on the link, but there is not even enough in the OP to make me WANT to click a link.

An OP should involve at least as much effort as this reply did. At the very least tell me what Joe Bageant means to you.

[Yavapai]

12. try Google, it is amazing!

[proud2BlibKansan]

35. The OP should be the one doing the Googling

[Paka]

66. Good suggestion.

That's what I chose to do and it was sufficiently informative. Sorry to hear of his passing. We don't need to lose articulate thinkers in this time of great need. :cry:

[kentauros]

94. This is one of the biggest problems with the Internet.

We all look to it as a means of sharing our knowledge with others, yet in instances like this, suddenly all we seem to "know" is "Try googling it!" instead of being a nice fellow-poster. The thread (or subthread) then looks more like the exclusive club and those of us without the shared knowledge of "those in the know" are left out in the cold not knowing the secret handshake. Basically, this is a snub, plain and simple. However, I do acknowledge that there are those online that have absolutely no clue of how to instruct, even for the simplest things ;)

If you know the answer, share it and be the good guy! :D

[hfojvt]

105. it's not even about me, that's what people do not seem to understand

First, that I am not the only person in the world, or even on DU who does not know that much about Joe Bageant.

Second, people who see a thread with 60+ votes might expect an interesting post, something that is a "good read". But instead, those who don't already know who he is, will learn almost nothing. Only that he has died. There's nothing there to motivate them to click the link. I think Joe Average (another Joe) is just gonna think "what a dumb thread, they don't even tell you who he is" and move on. Why should he/she even be motivated to click the link, much less do a google search?

This example, does not have that problem

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/28/960806/-Joe-Bageant-has-dieda-huge-loss

See how much better that is? To me, THAT is what a great thread should look like. That is worthy of 100+ votes.

I think this would be a better discussion board if people put more effort into their posts, especially their OPs. Try to actually communicate with a fellow DUer, try to understand their point of view, even if you strongly disagree with it. Instead of making that effort, too many of this group are only seemingly motivated to post when they can weigh in with the oh so profound and edifying "your (sic) a kneebiter"

[hatrack]

13. This was Joe . . .

As William Edwards Deming famously demonstrated, no system can understand itself, and why it does what it does, including the American social system. Not knowing shit about why your society does what it makes for a pretty nasty case of existential unease. So we create institutions whose function is to pretend to know, which makes everyone feel better. Unfortunately, it also makes the savviest among us -- those elites who run the institutions -- very rich, or safe from the vicissitudes that buffet the rest of us.

EDIT

The fatal assumption was that Americans would choose to think and learn, instead of cherry picking the blogs and TV channels to reinforce their particular branded choice cultural ignorance, consumer, scientific or political, but especially political. Tom and Ben could never have guessed we would chase prepackaged spectacle, junk science, and titillating rumor such as death panels, Obama as a socialist Muslim and Biblical proof that Adam and Eve rode dinosaurs around Eden. In a nation that equates democracy with everyman's right to an opinion, no matter how ridiculous, this was probably inevitable. After all, dumb people choose dumb stuff. That's why they are called dumb.

But throw in sixty years of television's mind puddling effects, and you end up with 24 million Americans watching Bristol Palin thrashing around on Dancing with the Stars, then watch her being interviewed with all seriousness on the networks as major news. The inescapable conclusion of half of heartland America is that her mama must certainly be presidential material, even if Bristol cannot dance. It ain't a pretty picture out there in Chattanooga and Keokuk.

The other half, the liberal half, concludes that Bristol's bad dancing is part of her spawn-of-the-Devil mama's plan to take over the country, and make millions in the process, not to mention make Tina Fey and Jon Stewart richer than they already are. That's a tall order for a squirrel brained woman who recently asked a black president to "refutiate" the NAACP (though I kinda like refutiate, myself). Cultural stupidity accounts for virtually every aspect of Sarah Palin, both as a person and a political icon. Which, come to think of it, may be a pretty good reason not to "misunderstimate" her. After all, we're still talking about her in both political camps. And the woman OWNS the Huffington Post, fer Christsake. Not to mention a franchise on cultural ignorance.

EDIT

http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2010/12/america-y-ur-peeps-b-so-dum.html#more

[hfojvt]

31. see, it woulda been nice to have something like that in the OP

Thanks

[Vinnie From Indy]

93. Is our little princess happy now?

Would you like some grapes and someone to fan while you read your highness?

[tom_paine]

15. Perhaps true, yet inappropriate in a memorial thread, maybe?

Perhaps such admonishment, even rightfully, would have been better stated in a private message to the original poster?

Would you bull your way into a wake and complain of the quality of the eulogy to the assembled mourners?

Just something to ponder in the Age of the Internets...

Oh, and by the way, if you are genuinely interested in Joe Bageant's life and work (he often spoke of and visited DU, though I have no idea if he ever posted here, he definitely read DU), then try here:

www.joebageant.com

[hfojvt]

24. I might if I thought the deceased deserved a better memorial

This isn't a wake. It is a thread on a discussion board. One which seems likely to reach the front page of DU, where many others might read it and go "huh? Who the fuck is Joe Bageant?"

But at least you put some effort into scolding me, even if you told me next to nothing about Joe Bageant.

Is it so hard to type something like "Joe Bageant was a blogger who cut through the crap of all the lies and all the attitudes that are screwing up our society."

If I just give you a link to a blog, are YOU likely to click on it and start reading its posts? http://journals.democraticunderground.com/hfojvt

Maybe, but I doubt it.

[hobbit709]

32. De mortuis nil nisi bonum

[blogslut]

20. The OP provided a link to Mr. Bageant's blog

All you had to do was click it. Instead you choose to...

Oh, what's the point?

[hfojvt]

41. people have said

that they want to know why their thread was unrecced.

The response I got may explain why people do not bother to do so. I would have been better off just unreccing and moving on.

Turns out the real reason people wanna hear from those who unrec is so they can get the address to the hitman.

When I read a thread, I don't like to read three or four words and then click a link. I think many people do not bother to click links. I think we would have a better discussion board if people put more effort into their posts rather than just a couple of lines to insult somebody.

If I was to write an OP that said "Robert McIntyre has died" and then just had a link http://www.ctj.org/

would people click on that link? If I wanted people to care, why not include a little background?

Say "he was the director of Citizens for Tax Justice" Their website is here - http://www.ctj.org/

He and his organization did research into tax issues at the state level

"The Iowa Fiscal Partnership has issued a policy brief about the destructive tax cuts that are being proposed in the state legislature. The cuts being debated carry a hefty price tag, $1.6 billion, most of which is from a proposal to cut income tax rates by 20 percent across the board.

As we’ve previously noted, these income tax cuts are very regressive. ITEP found that the wealthiest 1 percent of Iowans would receive an average of $6,822, while those in the bottom quintile would enjoy a break of just $18 on average."

http://ctj.org/taxjusticedigest/archive/2011/03/tax_cutting_mania_iowa_and_kan.php

and he did modelling showing the distribution effects of the Bush tax cuts

"A new report from CTJ finds that the compromise tax plan agreed to by President Obama and congressional Republicans would provide more than a quarter of its tax cuts to the best-off one percent of all Americans. That’s almost double the share of the tax cut that the President proposed to give the highest earners.

At the same time, the new tax plan would reduce taxes, and increase the budget deficit, by $424 billion in 2011 alone. That’s 40 percent more in tax cuts than the $301 billion tax cut the President had earlier proposed."

http://www.ctj.org/taxjusticedigest/archive/2010/12/report_from_ctj_compromise_tax.php

Then it might be more than just preaching to the choir. People might be motivated to learn something new.

[blogslut]

48. I clicked the link

I'm sorry this thread doesn't meet your standards but I hardly think you're going to gain many converts to your cause by criticizing the OP's posting style in a thread marking the death of someone who is admired by many people here.

[Ken Burch]

65. You could JUST have said "please, tell me more about this guy"

That's all you had to say. No need for the shit-stirring.

[Fly by night]

98. Someone should find something better to do with his/her time.

And, no, it isn't me.

If you don't know who Joe is (and can't be bothered to find out), I'm sure there's someone in the DU Lounge you could harass with your 'net nannyisms.

Here, it is nothing but bad taste (and coffee table dancing) to keep on keepin' on.

But hey, don't let me (or the others calling you out) stop you.

"It is better to remain silent and thought a fool than speak and remove all doubt."

Abe Lincoln (Google that name if you don't know who he was.)

[hfojvt]

104. Lincoln may not be the author of that quote, FWIW

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080222182838AABluIO

[Lorien]

46. Seriously. Petty beyond words

Most on DU are very familiar with Bageant's work. Much of it has been posted here over the years.

[Tansy_Gold]

21. Would that be the "infamous" St. Louis Black Sox of the

Men's Senior Baseball League?

Or, when you referred to the "infamous St. Louis Blacksocks(sic)" did you really mean the Baltimore Black Sox of the Eastern Colored League and later the American Negro League and Negro National League?


Actually, I'd assume, with all the risks attendant on assumptions, that you were referring to the 1919 Chicago White Sox team that allegedly lost the World Series on purpose -- immortalized in "Eight Men Out" as well as "Field of Dreams" -- and were thus nicknamed the "Black Sox," since there doesn't seem to be anything "infamous" about a senior men's league in St. Louis today or the Negro Leagues of almost a century ago.

Therefore, maybe you should be a little less ready to criticize when you leave yourself open to same. You know, that thing about glass houses and all?



Tansy Gold

[hfojvt]

29. see, all of those people were named Joe

Joe the Plumber
Shoeless Joe Jackson (who I deliberately put in St. Louis instead of Chicago)
Senator Joseph McCarthy
Vice President Joe Biden

A point, which I attempted to make humorously, that I don't know Joe Bageant from any other Joe. Maybe Bageant was the guy who did the Mr. Coffee commercials?

[ScreamingMeemie]

59. Extremely, over the top, needlessly rude.

Respect. Learn how to show it.

[hfojvt]

61. Sorry ma'am

Rude is perhaps a matter of taste. I personally thought it would be MORE respectful to Mr. Bageant if some information and some of his works were shared with people who clicked on what is supposedly a really great thread. If I had meant to be rude or disrespectful, I could have said some of the things that were said about me, I could have said those about Joe. Those replies were certainly meant to be rude and disrespectful. Of course, those people are quite sure that I DESERVE the disrespect, but I felt the same way about the OP.

My reply essentially said, "you have told me nothing about Joe Bageant, and I find that kinda annoying" and then people felt moved to say "eff you, click the link or use google you jerkwad." From now on though, when people use google, this thread may be one of the top results - and be almost useless as a direct link. (okay, maybe not, it is not even on the first four pages now, but this diary from DKos is and it provides a nice example of what I would have liked to see on DU, what might have been worthy both of DU's front page, where this OP now sits, and also worthy of Joe Bageant. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/28/960806/-Joe-Bageant-has-dieda-huge-loss

Amazingly enough, I still don't know very much about Joe Bageant, except that apparently some of his fans aren't very nice people.

But I have learned my lesson. From now on I will just unrec and move on instead of going to the trouble to explain why.

[Tansy_Gold]

75. Funny thing that. I didn't really know who Joe Bageant was either

But instead of being rude about and flaunting my own ignorance, I did a little reading, did a little research. You could have done the same, you know.

Instead, you seem to have decided to put your ignorance on display, like some kind of badge of honor or something. You know, kinda like the other "know-nothing" side does, if you get my drift.

I don't usually go out of my way to, as they say, teach someone a lesson. Oh, I pick on spelling and grammar flubs once in a while, but not really very often. But rudeness, especially when it's excused as somehow necessary or justified, and yes, even on a message board like DU, will generally spur me to spout.

And to take the attitude that you will simply "unrec" every thread you are ignorant about suggests there will be a lot of spiteful and unjustified unrecs. That alone should justify eliminating the feature.

Rather than brag about my ignorance, I went to the dear google and up popped Mr. Bageant's recent (Dec 7, 2010) essay "America: y ur peeps b so dum?" (Ironic, non?)

http://www.joebageant.com/joe/2010/12/america-y-ur-peeps-b-so-dum.html

And I remembered having it read it at the time and thinking how spot on Bageant was. Maybe you should read it now too. I've given you the link so you won't actually have to go find it yourself. And of course I run the risk that you're so comfortable in your not knowing who Joe Bageant was that you don't even care to learn anything. But as I often say here on DU, I write for the lurkers, too, not just the folks I directly address.

Here's a quote from Mr. Bageant's essay, perhaps to whet your appetite: Like the old song says, "Them that don't know don't know they don't know." I venture to say that even if they did, they would not know why.

Pale Blue Dot uses a Don McLean variation on that theme as his sig line. :hi: PBD. See ya in a few.


RIP, Mr. Bageant. You done good, and you'll be missed. Maybe even by some of the dum peeps.



Tansy Gold

[ScreamingMeemie]

91. This is, oddly enough, one of those times when it would be awesome

to be able to recommend a response.

[Name removed]

103. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hfojvt]

102. I am kinda curious

did you click the link I put in my post?

Because, if so, you may have noticed that I, myself, found something using the google.


And also, just to clear up the language, kicking a thread brings it to the front page of GD. When a thread is on the front page of GD it gets more views, and perhaps the recs that will put it on the front page of DU.

[TBF]

82. Well you've certainly announced your ignorance to everyone,

and proceeded to disrupt a thread devoted to someone who worked very hard for workers' rights in this country. I hope you are pleased with yourself.

[hfojvt]

106. Disrupt, hell. I kept the damn thing alive

There was no need for so many others to chime in with insults towards me. As for ignorance, not knowing who somebody is can also be a testimony to their obscurity. Do you know who said this?

"Everybody can be great. Because everybody can serve.

You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve.

You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love."

The same guy who said the two quotes in my signature line.

No, I actually regret just no unreccing and moving on. The things I have had directed at me in replies have been hurtful and I have lost somebody that I considered a friend.

[Vinnie From Indy]

92. What a joy you must be to those that know you!

As long as we are "humorously" discussing exactly who this Joe fella is, it might be good to add a few more in the spirit of fun and all.

Maybe Joe was the guy that came by your house and banged your mom when daddy was at work. MAybe Joe was the guy that held your head in the toilet and gave you wedgies and made you into the ray of sunshine you are today. My mind runs wild thinking of all the "Joes" that this could possibly be referring to.

Cheers!

[QC]

100. +1

[Name removed]

22. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Name removed]

Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[hobbit709]

25. What an amazing amount of empathy.

Need I add the sarcasm thingie?

[ixion]

26. stay classy

:eyes:

[hfojvt]

38. that phrase should not be used by the left

It smacks of the upper class looking down on the canaille. It fits right in to the Republican meme "Liberal elites think they are better than you."

"If there is a lower class, I am in it..." EVD

[Starbucks Anarchist]

28. A Google search would take less time than it took you to post this tripe.

[hfojvt]

39. true enough

but for some reason this thread is now on the greatest page, and it is fairly empty of information. It's not a great read. Many people will read it, and not bother to google or click the link. Does Joe deserve better?

I would think some people might think he does.

[proud2BlibKansan]

34. +1

My thoughts exactly. Sorry he died but WHO WAS HE?

[ixion]

37. A great writer, and posted regularly on this board

how you could miss that is pretty curious to me.

[proud2BlibKansan]

40. I have never heard of him before

Thanks for the explanation.

[scarletwoman]

55. Extremely petty and rude. If you don't know who someone is when it's self-evident that plenty

of other people do, why would you unrec their memorial thread? You could have simply passed it by and let it be for those who felt effected by this man's death instead of trying to drag it down.

The OP provided a link, if you wanted to know who Joe Bageant was you could have clicked on it. If you didn't care to find out who Joe Bageant was, you could have moved on to a different topic and let this thread be, instead of unreccing it in a selfish fit of pique.

sw

[hfojvt]

62. a selfish fit of pique eh?

How dare I expect a thread with 60+ votes to look more like this http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/03/28/960806/-Joe-Bageant-has-dieda-huge-loss

If you didn't like my post, you could have simply passed it by instead of taking the time to tell me that you think I am a bad person.

As for my bad behaviour, as it turns out, I have kicked this thread about 20 times, and caused another twenty or so people to kick it as well as they jumped in to throw some insults at me. That actually helps a thread get more views as it is kicked to the top of GD. I'd love it if somebody would do that to one of my threads, because I put a fair amount of effort into an OP and then, for one example, watch it get only five replies http://journals.democraticunderground.com/hfojvt/140 or six replies http://journals.democraticunderground.com/hfojvt/135

But there's no need to thank me.

[Tansy_Gold]

77. Just in case you remain ignorant about how DU works

Kicking a thread doesn't get it to the front page -- recs get it to the front page. And since each DUer only has one rec per page, and since there aren't very many people supporting you, I suspect it's people who want the rest of DU to know about Bageant's passing that are reccing and putting this thread on the front page.

Furthermore, I suspect the whole subthread you started will end up deleted, and in a way that's a shame. There's some good discussion here, and I'm sure you've enjoyed being the center of attention on a thread that's supposed to be about someone else -- SOMEONE YOU DON'T EVEN KNOW.

In fact, I think I'll recommend to the mods that all replies to your initial post about your ignorance be deleted. After all, this thread is about Joe Bageant not. . . .whoever YOU are.



I am only



Tansy Gold

[Dappleganger]

56. Thanks, Debbie!

[Ken Burch]

64. You could have said that without the "unrec".

Way inappropriate of you to take this tone. The writer of the OP may well have been in a deep state of grief.

Get over yourself.

[sybylla]

67. Agreed. Came here to learn more. Found nothing useful.

Seems a shame to squander such an opportunity to share the "greatness" of Joe with the rest of the world.

[TBF]

72. If you don't know who Joe is by now I doubt you'd

appreciate the important work he was doing. No one is here to spoon feed you, your lordship. Do your own damned google search.

God, I hate the DLC.

[NBachers]

78. Yes Yes Yes I agree- who is Joe Bageant and why is his death more notable than any other?

Good for you hfojvt

[Javaman]

81. Yeah, it's so hard to click on the link provided by the OP.

:eyes:

[Javaman]

80. Meh, my rec canceled out yours. nt

[Vinnie From Indy]

89. "this OP really tells me nothing about Joe Bageant."

No, but your reply tells me a great deal about you.

Lighten up Francis!

Cheers!

[BobbyBoring]

90. The fact that people don't know who Joe was speaks volumes

about the state of the left. Joe was an important voice against the PTB and his writings told the truth in really funny ways. A gift few have.

I was unfortunate enough to be raised in the same small redneck Virgina town as Joe. He held the honor and distinction of being the first person busted for pot there. I think I was the 3rd. Growing up there gives one a very slanted view of the world.

I will miss Joe and his humor. Maybe Earl G will start up the top 10 again to fill the void for those of us that have to laugh at how fucked things really are!

RIP Joe:fistbump:

[Hissyspit]

99. He's been posted here for years.

[tom_paine]

10. A tragic loss, a light snuffed out early.

Condolences to his family and friends.

[hatrack]

11. Damnit! I LOVE Joe Bageant's stuff!

RIP.

[KG]

14. oh damn! a clear and cogent voice stilled.

:(

[Yavapai]

16. R.I.P. Joe. You lit many candles to help us find our way in the darkness.

I will long remember your kindness and wisdom and your unique wit.

[road2000]

17. Good man, good writer.

We will miss you. Hope you're hobnobbing with Molly. RIP.

[blm]

18. He'll be sorely missed. Peace to his family and all who loved him.

.

[Raksha]

19. I'm one of those thousands of admirers.

I love Joe's biting, outspoken essays and his unique Southern perspective. He had a gift for explaining the rural South to us lefties who haven't lived in that environment, don't understand it and don't especially sympathize with it in a way that makes it comprehensible. How sad that such a unique progressive voice has been silenced so early.

[lib2DaBone]

23. No No NO.. this can't be... I loved Joe..along with Mollie Ivins....

..Only the good die young... God Speed Joe......

[lib2DaBone]

27. Joe.. I will be there at the Royal Lunch Cafe....

I will have a shot and a beer... and hope that mankind will survive.... Miss you Joe....

[Quantess]

33. He was an amazing writer.

I loved his sense of humor.

[ReggieVeggie]

36. awww fuck!

His was a powerful and important voice :-(

[dixiegrrrrl]

42. Shit.

:cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:

[bemildred]

43. RIP Joe.

A short, brave fight, maybe the best anyone can hope for these days.

[orwell]

44. Goodbye...

...to a wonderful soul.

RIP Joe :(

[riverbendviewgal]

45. He will be missed by many

I bought his book DEER HUNTING WITH JESUS and found myself laughing and shaking my head, Yes!
When I wrote to him on his blog, he wrote back to me. It was quite nice of him.

His new book RAINBOW PIE is on order and I should be getting it soon.

He was so honest and funny.

RIP Joe.

[lib2DaBone]

47. I am crying.. sorry to be a blathering sentimental fool....

Joe.. you were so "right on".. why did you have to go?

[SayitAintSo]

49. RIP my friend. We loved your work...

You WILL be sorely missed. God Speed.

[femrap]

50. Damn it....

Why is it the good guys die? I just got 'Deer Hunting w/ Jesus' from the library for my uncle to read.

Joe was so cool....he answered one of my emails once. A good soul.....a gentleman.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

51. Very sorry to hear this news -- what a giant of an essayist.

RIP Joe. Here's a memorable one he penned in the wake of the '04 stolen presidential election:

. . . .War is hell, Bageant. People get killed and wounded. That's the way it is and always has been. Thing is, the US and its allies are GOING OUT OF THEIR WAY to try to prevent killing civilians . . . to the level that they are in some cases putting their own people at risk. Also, the cowardly terrorists hide behind ladies' skirts and kids because they know the Americans will not kill civilians. Personally, I could give a rat's ass about civilians being killed. It's a part of war. So take your bullshit somewhere else, like Iraq, and see how you like it. Go F-U-C-K yourself up your a-s-s, dry, with a big fat donkey dick, and I'll sit back and watch you bleed to death laughing while you take your last breath, piss ant.

Admittedly, there may have been some cheap gin involved. But you get the picture. These remarks are from an allegedly sane American, an ordinary taxpaying, working citizen. I can show you thousands around here with the same opinion, if not the same flair for expletives. Something is wrong in this country. Terribly wrong. . . .

Source: http://karlandkinggeorge.com/Bageant_piece.html

[bertman]

52. Very sad indeed. Joe was a strong voice for sanity in a fucked up world. REC

[glinda]

53. RIP

[scarletwoman]

54. Oh NO! What awful news! Damn, damn, damn, damn!

Aw geeze. He was one of the best. This is horrible news. :cry:

[Dappleganger]

57. Dammit, we are losing the good ones.

RIP :(

[avaistheone1]

58. Too young to go...

RIP Joe. A good man and vet.

[The Magistrate]

60. A Damned Shame, Sir: The Man Was Onto Something, And a Treat To Read

[DeSwiss]

63. RIP Joe. K&R n/t

[ellenrr]

68. I also discovered him accidently recently

He is unusual in writing about class, and I really enjoyed what I read on his blog, so got on his list, and then shortly he was sick, and now dead.
So sorry.

[Pooka Fey]

69. I will miss his writing tremendously.

RIP Mr. Bageant.

[TBF]

70. Safe passage, friend, we will continue the fight. nt

[raccoon]

71. Sorry to hear that...he sure did tell it like it is. nt

[myrna minx]

73. Rest in peace.

:-(

[Nickigrace]

74. I just finished reading Deer Hunting With Jesus

last week. I'll be forever grateful to him because his book helped my friend get a reality check.

[Blue_Tires]

76. r.i.p.

And just to enlighten the rising tide of DUers who have apparently never heard of him:


http://www.democraticunderground.com/searchresults.html?q=Bageant&sitesearch=democraticunderground.com&sa=Search&domains=democraticunderground.com&client=pub-7805397860504090&forid=1&ie=ISO-8859-1&oe=ISO-8859-1&cof=GALT%3A%23008000%3BGL%3A1%3BDIV%3A%23336699%3BVLC%3A663399%3BAH%3Acenter%3BBGC%3AFFFFFF%3BLBGC%3A336699%3BALC%3A0000FF%3BLC%3A0000FF%3BT%3A000000%3BGFNT%3A0000FF%3BGIMP%3A0000FF%3BFORID%3A11&hl=en

[Javaman]

79. Oh man.

Rest in Peace, Joe. Your books are wonderful.

Oh man, this just sucks.

[xchrom]

83. may Peace be with his family and friends at this time.

this is a loss. very sorry to hear this.

[TygrBright]

84. Dang, I'm gonna miss Joe. He' s right up there with Molly Ivins on my "must read" list.

Now they're both gone, I suppose I'll have to put the time I would have spent enjoying their output into something thrilling and productive like laundry. Fooey.

Miss ya, Joe. Miss ya all kinds of hard.

sadly,
Bright

[hifiguy]

85. Major bummer

RIP Joe. :patriot:

I'd subscribed to his blog for the last year or so and enjoyed his work immensely. Joe always told it just like he saw it, and he perceived the world as it is with a sometimes horrifying accuracy. I once e-mailed him a screed and he replied within days, complimenting my writing, which left me uncommonly pleased with myself for days.

Bageant was a true American original and he will be sorely missed.

[reclinerhead]

86. Oh no...

I had been dreading this topic showing up... I only recently started reading Mr. Bageant's work and then found out about his illness a few months ago.

Rest in peace, sir.

[Vinnie From Indy]

87. RIP Joe!

We will miss you!

Cheers!

[mysuzuki2]

88. people on this board sure like to argue about nothing

[roxiejules]

95. This world has lost one of the last great

socialist commentators. We'll miss you and your steady gaze, Joe.

[man4allcats]

96. I'm really sorry to learn of this.

I discovered Joe's writings a few years ago and have been a fan ever since. The guy was a straight shooter - something you don't see much of these days.

RIP, Joe.

You will be missed.

[Taverner]

97. I remember reading some of his work in the darkest hours of the Bush Admin

Knowing that there were folks in "flyover America" who shared the same values gave me hope

[blindpig]

101. He was a soldier of the working class. n/t