Maybe the last chance to hear him alive?

[DFW]

An old friend of my family is on his deathbed. Many may not know him, as he
has been around "forever (he is now 80)," and hasn't done the talk show circuit
for a while now, to my knowledge.

His name is Art Buchwald, and he is/was one of the best political columnists
America ever had. He always used dry humor to make his points, and they were
always spot on. His Thanksgiving column of "Le Jour De Merci-donnant" was such
a hit that some papers sill run it every Thanksgiving to this day, even though
it appeared over fifty years ago.

Bobby Kennedy, Jr. talked to Art at his hospice, where Art has refused further
dialysis (he has kidney failure among a host of other ailments--he has not been
well for years now). Their talk was mostly nostalgic going over of old times, as
Art was very close to Bobby's family, but he does mention that in all his time
in Washington, Bush Lite is the worst president he has ever lived through. It is
not easy to listen to, as Bobby has had bad asthma, and Art has difficulty speaking,
but it a voice that, once silenced, will be sorely missed. It first aired at the
end of Bobby's show, the Ring of Fire on Air America, last night, but will be repeated
today (Sunday) I think at 3 PM Eastern time, although anyone interested should check
the Air America website to be sure.

I will miss the man who created "Kilomètres Deboutish" very much.

[Call me Deacon Blues]

1. When he leaves us, it will be a great loss

I too, have followed him for years. He is/was a no BS kind of guy, but dealt with it with humor. God speed, Art Buchwald.

[JitterbugPerfume]

2. Art Buchwald is an American treasure

and so is Bobby Kennedy Jr

[Joe Fields]

3. You are lucky to have had Mr. Buchwald as a friend of your.....

family. His IS a national treasure, and I have always loved watching and listening to him, whenever I saw him on television. You are correct. He will be sorely missed by me and many Americans.

I am sorry to hear such news.

[Dinger]

4. I Heard He Was Ill

or I read about here on DU. Art sounds like quite a guy. He is a friend of your family? That's neat. I would be honored to call Art Buchwald a friend of mine. Hey, how about a miracle for Art? They happen every day, in one form or another. Thank you Mr. Buchwald for all you have done for our country and for making the world a better place.:grouphug:

[malaise]

6. He was on CNN Thursday or Friday

discussing living wills and death. He refused dialysis and opted for a peaceful death. I was delighted that he was still joking as he talked about a dream he had that he was in the departure lounge at an airport and heard an announcement that the flight was cancelled. Fade away in peace you good man.

[blondeatlast]

17. That's so Art. That wonderful humor in the midst of devastating illness. n

[babylonsister]

5. I have always held Mr. Buchwald in high esteem.

He will be sorely missed, and I give him kudos for exiting 'his way'. It's no fun to be so sick, so I hope he finds peace.

[susu369]

7. What a lovable and sweet spirit he is

*nt*

[eShirl]

8. Without dialysis, it will be a matter of days or maybe a couple weeks,

depending if/how much remaining kidney function he has left.

Thanks for letting us know, I'll try to listen in on the broadcast.

[0007]

9. Thumbs up for a great guy!

:thumbsup:
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:
:thumbsup::thumbsup:
:thumbsup:

[Media_Lies_Daily]

10. A great man...he will be missed.

[DFW]

11. Joe

My father was a print journalist in Washington from 1950,
when he arrived at age 28 to represent small-town America
(upstate New York, in his case) in a one-man bureau in the
National Press Building. In the fifty years he was active,
which is to say right up until he died, he got to know EVERYBODY
in that town, and thus so did his children. My dad got to be
president of the Gridiron Club, a privilege usually reserved
for the big time names and big time papers (Helen Thomas
preceded him in this position by two years), and was known
for being so fair that he had two good friends in the Senate
he both called "Bob" on the phone: one named Kennedy, and one
named Dole. My dad was a life-long Democrat, but checked his guns
at the door, so to speak, to bring objectivity to his job.

Alas, objectivity is no longer in vogue, these days. You either
are bought out by the big money from the right (à la CNN), or
you speak out against it. There is no middle ground any more.

For over 50 years, we also had Art Buchwald, who was always there
to remind us of the absurd, by mocking them in his own "aw shucks"
way. He will now also soon be gone. It's amazing to hear him joking
about his imminent demise on the radio, and yet, it fits in with
his brand of humor. No one else could have pulled that off, or ever
will again.

Helen Thomas is all we have left of their generation. She sent me a
note recently, saying how she remembered my dad's lyrics for the
Gridiron Club. I ordered her a set of The Freedom Toast CDs in return,
as that is the closest thing out on CD today (I figured she has seen
enough roses to last her for a week or two).

We need to remember these people as the last of a breed that is dying
out. Print journalists of their caliber and standards are no longer
around. Helen is the last. Not all the developments of the last few
years can be interpreted as "progress."

[Marnieworld]

22. Something tells me DFW

That you still carry the torch for this generation that is leaving us. I believe their spirit will live on in those who still understand journalism and still search for the truth to report. Thanks for letting us know about this interview. The vision of the founding fathers hasn't died yet. Perhaps someday things will balance out and return to sanity with some media reform? I haven't heard Air America since they left Sirius but maybe it's time for a bit of streaming today.

Welcome to DU! I have a feeling that you have an interesting perspective to offer us here. :hi:

[AuntiBush]

31. Air America is on XM.

The only reason I chose XM over Sirius. Check it out if you get a chance.

[Marnieworld]

36. I have Sirius

I can't live without my Howard Stern and football. I do miss AAR but I can't afford both. Franken got on my nerves after the "election" in 2004 so I mainly miss driving home to Randi. I should stream more.

[AuntiBush]

40. I was Originally

going to get Sirius, but when I realized Sirius was right-leaning and wasn't airing AA, I went to XM. Though I hear Sirius is pretty good, as well.

:hi:

[fooj]

25. When the Fourth Estate truly operated as such...

:cry: :cry: :cry:

[Warpy]

12. PBS News Hour had an extended interview with him about a

week ago. He's outlived the time he was given and says if he knew how much fun he'd have dying, he'd have done it a long time ago.

I don't know if any of the interview is at the PBS site, but it's worth looking for.

Buchwald never hesitated to speak truth to power, and he spoke truth to all of them. One thing he said was that he liked them until they got into office, then he hated them all because they all did the same damned stupid things once they got there.

The only place that would publish the kind of stuff he wrote about Nixon now is Harper's. We were lucky to have him in a different world.

[medeak]

13. great interview n/t

[madokie]

14. Thanks for the post and welcome to the du cosmos

[Neil Lisst]

15. Art Buchwald & Jack Anderson were two of my early influences

And I read them regularly. Those were the days, my friend.

Wish him well.

[blondeatlast]

16. God bless him; a little voice of hilarious sanity from DC. Thanks, Art. nt

[Paradise]

18. Sorry to hear about Art but thanks for letting us know.

Art is like an old friend to all who read his columns,
witty, funny, insightful, and outspoken.
They don't make them like him, anymore, and he will be missed.

[DFW]

19. Art is one of the best arguments

FOR cloning.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

20. Art is one of the greats, a true American original. I hope his passing is

a peaceful one.

[fortyfeetunder]

21. Here is a recent article from Art

http://www.suddenlysenior.com/artbuchwald.html

I remember as a kid reading his columns. He was hilarious! He might be leaving us, but he's left behind his written work, a lasting testament to taking things not too seriously.

[troubleinwinter]

23. Best wishes to Art, and thanks to him for his great work and humor.

[Minnesota Libra]

24. He will indeed be sorely missed!! .....

:cry: :pals: :cry:

[understandinglife]

26. Thank you. K&R.

If You're pro-Bu$h, You're Anti-America

[ellenfl]

27. i have always enjoyed reading art

buchwald. my thoughts are with him and his family and friends. we have already lost too many real voices of truth.

ellen fl

[sellitman]

28. Here is the last quote from him that I will always remember...

Art has speculated about the hereafter, knowing he hasn't long to live:


"I have no idea where I'm going, but here's the real question: What am I doing here in the first place?"

Typical Buchwald humor. We will all miss him.

[bigwillq]

29. Hi DFW!

Welcome to DU! :hi:

[Burried News]

30. You made the right decision Art. God's speed gentle man.

[AuntiBush]

32. Art Buchwald... Listened to him all of the time growing-up

He will be sorely missed, sorely - a dying breed. I hope at least one paper or tv journalist reads this and re-thinks what they are not doing, and what they could be doing as did Art Buchwald during his fifty year well-respected career.

And a special thank you to Bobby Kennedy, Jr. Another who has taught this Duer to speak freely with conviction and courage.

Hope Mr. Buckwald goes in peace. Somehow, I think he will. Now, I'm going to cry.

[lildreamer316]

33. Oh I'm crying.

I know he will be happier; but we need voices such as his so desperately now. Wish him well for us; and tell him to hurry up and come back (after some rest of course).
Is there a collected works of his?

[autorank]

34. I started enjoying Art Buchwald as a kid. I always had the impression

he was so much smarter than most everyone around him in politics, he had to resort to humor.

He was deadly when he wanted to be and hilarious in general.

Thanks for this post. Many happy memories return.

[oasis]

35. I've read and enjoyed Art's humor over the years. His recent interview was

a pip. My best to him, his famiily, and to you, his friend.:hi:

[DFW]

39. Thanks for that, Oasis

Art has a LOT of friends besides me, and he knew my dad
a lot better than I ever did--like for 45 years longer!

But, yes, it was/is an honor:)

[DFW]

37. Bigwillq and Marnie

Thanks for the welcome, first off, Actually, I have been here
a week or two now. I first heard about this place when I was told
about a post about an anti-GOP political-musical project I am
fond of (www.thefreedomtoast.com). I took a look, and joined right away.

Marnie, When I was little, I just thought that a lot of people my Dad
knew had the same first name, i.e. "Senator." He used to take me with
him up to the Senate Press Gallery, and listen to Everett Dirksen hold
court. Only later on did I realize that this was the vortex of history.
How is an 8 year old kid to know?

At the dinner table, I ate up the Washington "shop talk" along with
dinner. Although now stationed mostly overseas, I do keep in touch
with what is going on back home. I know my dad departed this world
thinking his profession was experiencing a temporary bout of insanity
starting with their obsession with Monica as opposed to the news. I'm
glad he never got to see his worst fears realized.

I also attend a thing in South Carolina each year which gives me the chance
to hang with all sorts of political types, although everything that happens
there is off the record, I do get to see the human side of some people we only
know from five minute segments on CNN. This does not mean we play golf
together, or anything (especially since I don't play golf!), but yes, I
sometimes know what certain people are like in person. It's not always
what you expect either. I get along well with Richard Viguerie, and politically
he in the Prince of Darkness. Like in the "Recruit" movie: "nothing is as it seems."

I am also on a different time zone (CET, i.e. Paris/Berlin) so I don't always get to
see posts in a timely manner--such as you two, for example!

Anyway, thanks for the kind words. And now back to our regularly scheduled program........

[bigwillq]

38. Hey DFW...

Glad you're a member of DU now. :hi:


This is a nice thread about Art, btw.

[daleo]

41. Down the Seine and Up the Potomac

I still pull that book of his off the shelf sometimes. His short satirical piece on the Viet Nam escalation still impresses me.

[wicket]

42. Kick

:kick:

[underpants]

43. +

:kick: