The best political journalist ever is dead

[budda]

Yes, this is the second thread I have done about this, but some of you might not venture into Entertainment.

Hunter S Thompson killed himself last night.

[Aladdin]

Great shame. Didn't know an awful lot about the man, but I read 'Fear and Loathing...' and it is fucking brilliant.

He seemed a very sharp, clever journo/writer.

:crying:

[Blagsta]

A great loss :(

RIP Hunter

[dolly dagger]

How tragic. Going to do a search about it on the net now.

[budda]

From the stuff I have read of his recently this isnt a massive surprise.

I think he saw Bush's re-election as a low point for America and the World.

He was only 67.

Heres the story;

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/arts/4282865.stm

[budda]

I highly recomend ALL of you read 'Fear and Loathing on the Campaign Trail 72'

It is the best piece of political writing ever.

[Yerascrote]

heard this news this morning myself, great shame R.I.P.

[budda]

I feel really sorry for his son Juan, it must be terrible to find your dad after something like that.

[Uncle Joe]

He wrote an article for The Independent just prior to the American election in which predicted that Bush would lose, no question. I wondered how he'd feel about being proved wrong. Or maybe he was just faking conviction to keep the vote up.

[Aladdin]

I was reading elsewhere that he had said Bush's re-election had marked a new low point in American history. Perhaps he'd just had enough of it all (can't blame him in a way. I'd have topped myself by now if I were a US citizen).

[The Matadore]

Best political journo ever?

Nope, thats Mark Steyn.

[Aladdin]

LOL! The Mystic Meg of Fleet Street.

Ever read Private Eye Matadore? If you do you will be aware of the countless accurate predictions and analysis Mr Steyn has done over the years... :D

[The Matadore]

Private Eye can be funny, but a lot of the drivel inside isnt.

[groovechampion]

Perhaps he'd just had enough of it all (can't blame him in a way. I'd have topped myself by now if I were a US citizen).

:eek2:

[Blagsta]

Best political journo ever?

Nope, thats Mark Steyn.

Who?

[BlackArab]

Would have said John Pilger is better journalist.

But farewell to a great writer anyway. RIP.

[Jim V]

The story about him thinking of killing Nixon whilst getting whiskey from the secret service's car boot (filled with tear gas and shotguns) is one the funniest and most truthfully surreal pieces of writings I ever read.

I guess in the end he wasn't ever going quietly into the night

[Uncle Joe]

Best political journo ever?

Nope, thats Mark Steyn.Steyn wrote one canny article (http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2004/07/06/do0602.xml&sSheet=/portal/2004/07/06/ixportal.html) about 'loser' Blair when those sailors were captured by Iran. Other than that, very little.

[budda]

Apparently he had just had both of his hips replaced and had recently broken his ankle while "executing a hair pin turn by the mini bar".

He told Ralph Stedman that he would never want to be locked up some where and his body had become that prison.