P.J. O'Rourke dead at 74

[politicallefty]

Link.

Author, journalist and political satirist P.J. O'Rourke has died. O'Rourke wrote more than twenty books about a range of topics, from politics to cars, and he was a longtime panelist on the NPR show Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!.

According to his publisher, Grove Atlantic, O'Rourke passed away this morning due to complications from lung cancer. He was 74.

I remember watching him on multiple occasions, mostly on Bill Maher. I have to say I enjoyed his mind and wit, despite being on the other side of the political spectrum. That probably was a time when politics didn't scare me as it does now (before Trump). He was a conservative, but I really liked and appreciated him. I am really truly saddened to see someone like him gone. RIP.

[Alben Barkley]

RIP FF

Hope Bill gives a good tribute to him on this week’s show.

[Brother Jonathan]

I was sorry to hear this. He lived only about 30 minutes away from where I grew up in New Hampshire and was something of a fixture at a bookstore near me.

[GregTheGreat657]

RIP FF

[vitoNova]

I always confused this dude with Tom Wolfe. 

[dead0man]

It's been nearly 24 hours and not one thread sh**t?

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Not my cup of camomile politically, of course, but he was funny and underneath the whole consciously absurd and flippant act some of the barbs were genuinely sharp, the product of an agile mind capable of thinking quite seriously about serious problems. The interesting thing is that it is hard to imagine the American Right as it is now producing a figure like that: he or she just wouldn't belong, much as O'Rourke didn't towards the end. Can you even imagine the reaction of O'Rourke in, say, 1994 if he were told that he would one day end up casting a vote for Hillary Clinton?

[Vosem]

We are the Republican Party Reptiles. We look like Republicans, and think like conservatives, but we drive a lot faster and keep vibrators and baby oil and a video camera behind the stack of sweaters on the bedroom closet shelf. I think our agenda is clear. We are opposed to: government spending, Kennedy kids, seat-belt laws, being a pussy about nuclear power, busing our children anywhere other than Yale, trailer courts near our vacation homes, Gary Hart, all tiny Third World countries that don’t have banking secrecy laws, aerobics, the U.N., taxation without tax loopholes, and jewelry on men. We are in favor of: guns, drugs, fast cars, free love (if our wives don’t find out), a sound dollar, cleaner environment (poor people should cut it out with the graffiti), a strong military with spiffy uniforms, Nastassia Kinski, Star Wars (and anything else that scares the Russkis), and a firm stand on the Middle East (raze buildings, burn crops, plow the earth with salt, and sell the population into bondage).

There are thousands of people in America who feel this way, especially after three or four drinks. If all of us would unite and work together, we could give this country... well, a real bad hangover.

Rest In Peace. We're still there, P.J.

[politicallefty]

I felt it was worth sharing this brief part from Overtime from Bill Maher last night (jump to 3:55 if it doesn't start at the relevant part):

Once again, RIP.

[FazeRoxy]

I know this is a stupid question but is he related to Beto O’Rourke?

[Dr. MB]

I know this is a stupid question but is he related to Beto O’Rourke?

Yeah, he's Beto's dad.

[dead0man]

I know this is a stupid question but is he related to Beto O’Rourke?

no

[Joseph Cao]

RIP, one of the most unique conservative writers there ever was and probably ever will be.

[HisGrace]

Definite RIP, one of the few pundits I would say has very close political views to me. Eat the Rich is hilarious and one of the great political satires.

[Badger]

I'm amazed he was this old.

[THG]

God Bless Him.

[Deep Dixieland Senator, Muad'dib (OSR MSR)]

"Charming Leftists"