Me? I'll miss him. I'll miss knowing he's here, on the planet. I'll miss his humor, his pissed-off, ironic view of everything, his refusal to be sucked into the vortex. I'm not even going to attempt a remembrance piece. He would look at me cockeyed and ask why are you doing that?

::::::::

Hey Mike,

NBC broke into it's nonstop coverage of Tim Russert's death to report George Carlin's passing. The contrast between the two men couldn't be more stark. One who used his skills to perpetuate every myth and lie he could to concentrate power for the elites and the other who used his brilliance to poke holes in those myths and make people think for themselves. The myth purveyors hold Russert up as a saint and Carlin as merely a man obsessed with seven words you can't say on TV. Well F**K them. It's too bad George won't be trading jokes with the Great Cloud Being while Russert turns on spit in Hell. Reality sucks; I hope Mister Conductor catches the last tank engine to Sodor.

- prairie2

*****

Digestion and then expulsion (one way or t'other) of the last eight years of life in this country is such an insurmountable task. And then to have to put it into words? My oh my... He would have had to expand his "list of seven words" to such an enormous length, the task ahead was too much for him.

So...I understand. You are forgiven, George, and much loved and appreciated for sticking around as long as was tolerable, to lend insight and levity to the mess we have here that is called "the USA."

Love, admiration, and respect always,

- Eleanor
behind the soybean curtain
which is very wet right now

*****

Peace to George and good luck to the rest of us.

- John
man, ks

*****

One of my all-time favorite social commenters passed away. George Carlin.

George was one of the main group of people that shaped my warped life. He and Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor made me aware of the stranger and not so strange parts of life that I hadn't heard others comment on yet. And they all taught me about storytelling.

I don't think George was as much a comedian as he was an instigator of sorts. George said things in a way that, besides sometimes making you laugh, made you actually think about what he might've meant. It wasn't always clear where he was coming from, but it was pretty clear that he was pissed off. He commented on life in a Take-No-Prisoners style that was a little scary for some people, but for folks like me, when George shot his mouth off, it either made me feel I didn't have to... or that I wasn't alone when I did.

George commented on people thinking that when other people die, that they look down (or up) on their friends and relatives and help them with their lives... Typically, George thought these people were idiots when they thought that if there was a hereafter somewhere up in the clouds with their invisible friend, that these buds would have the time, or even give a s**t to be involved in their trivial lives.

If I had ever got the chance to meet George and thank him for all he gave me, I probably would've been somewhat stunned (like a Monty Python parrot) and then I might've finally gushed, "Thanx for everything you gave me." I picture George staring at me like I was an idiot... and then as I walked away, I'm sure he would've smacked me in the back of my head with the palm of his hand. I'm pretty sure he was a Three Stooges fan.

I guess George made me realize that real comedy means something...

- albabe

*****

The difference between Tim Russert and George Carlin? George Carlin contributed.

- Bob

*****

So . . .

Me? I'll miss him. I'll miss knowing he's here, on the planet. I'll miss his humor, his pissed-off, ironic view of everything, his refusal to be sucked into the vortex. I'm not even going to attempt a remembrance piece. He would look at me cockeyed and ask why are you doing that? And, there are some feelings, thoughts, images, that just don't transfer to a mini-blog at a radio web site.

So . . . I'll miss him.

Good-bye, George. And, thank you.

Authors Website: www.mikemalloy.com

Authors Bio:
Mike Malloy is a former writer and producer for CNN (1984-87) and CNN-International (2000). His professional experience includes newspaper columnist and editor, writer, rock concert producer and actor. He is the only radio talk show host in America to have received the A.I.R (Achievement in Radio) Award in both Chicago and New York City, the number three and number one radio markets in the country. His radio experience includes the 50,000 watt blow-torches in both the South and the Midwest, respectively WSB-AM in Atlanta and WLS-AM in Chicago, and as one of the original hosts on Air America - a two-year-long association that ended in a massive train wreck. Mike's nationally-syndicated program can now be heard weeknights on affiliates of the Nova M Network and on XM Satellite and Sirius Satellite Radio as well as on live Internet streaming.



It is not difficult to pigeon-hole Malloy politically. Generally speaking, he is a traditional Liberal Democrat doing his part to return the Democratic Party to its Liberal roots.