Jesse Helms, a North Carolina Republican known as “Senator No,” died today at the age of 86. Helms left the Senate in 2003 after serving five terms. The Heritage Foundation credits Helms with establishing “the conservative movement and became a powerful voice for free markets and free people.” During his political career, Helms “became a symbol of a particular brand of uncompromising, racially tinged social conservatism.” In his 1990 campaign for the Senate, Helms defeated the former African-American mayor of Charlotte, Harvey Gantt, with the help of this ad that preyed on people’s fears about affirmative action:
“It dealt with people’s worst fears,” Gantt later said of the ad. “In one sense, we thought the ad was political genius. In the other sense, we couldn’t believe that someone in 1990 would run an ad like that.”
UPDATE: Fox News phoned former Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) for his reaction to Helms’ passing. “He had a philosophy, had principles he believed in, and he stood and fought for them,” Lott said, adding that he admired that Helms accomplished his work without being “mean-spirited and disrespectful.” Lott added:
Senator Helms did it by sometimes supporting things that surprised people. But if you looked at it, if you looked at his faith and principles he believed in, it made sense.
Watch it:
UPDATE II: Steve Benen highlights David Broder’s analysis of Helms’ legacy.
SO? Am I supposed to be sad about this?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:15 amHell most white people still feel that way. I guess there is a little bit of Jesse Helms in all of us. You can even say that we all make up Jesse Helms. Sorry, I took that line from a M.A.S.H. episode.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:17 ami could have sworn he was already dead. so, he died twice? FABULOUS!!!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:18 amDing dong the witch is dead.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:19 amMy condolences to his family.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:20 amA good Fourth of July announcement. He was a toxic old-style racist, who only got ahead by racially dividing americans. The country will be better off without him.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:20 amTo quote dead-eye Dick Cheney: “So?”
July 4th, 2008 at 11:24 amWhen Bette Davis was asked to respond to the death of Joan Crawford, she said:
“My mother always said to speak good of the dead. Joan Crawford is dead. Good.”
July 4th, 2008 at 11:25 amHe once “veil” threatened Clinton, saying “If he comes down here, he’s going to need protection”.
Racist, LIAR, antiamerikkkan.
God rest his body.
His soul is with his MASTER Satan, just like TRAITOR Ronnie Reagan, and the Bushes as they expire…
July 4th, 2008 at 11:25 amthe trolls here at
tp would eat that
ad,
with a spoon.
*
racism.
the republican party’s
best friend.
*
have a happy 4th!
*
good luck.
•
July 4th, 2008 at 11:28 amdoes this mean us southerners should be flying our confederate flags at half mast?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:33 amnever fear racists, he will now ascend to the status of “demi-lich” and be entombed with his compatriot Strom “the mummy” Thurmond. All you colored folk better hope and pray you make your saving throws..
July 4th, 2008 at 11:36 amYou folks are unreal.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:37 amI think it might be appropriate to abolish the Helms-Burton Act in honor of his passing. Condolences to the family
July 4th, 2008 at 11:37 amAdios pinche ojete.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:38 amPropriety commands I speak not ill of the recently deceased. I would like to note, however, Jerry Falwell’s Liberty University contains the Jesse Helms School of Government. That’s like having a Joe Stalin School of Political Tolerance.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:39 amGood. One less Republican bigot in the world. Good news indeed.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:40 amWell, one less racist in the world.
“A powerful voice for (…) free people”? Free, as long as they stayed on their side of the bus?
July 4th, 2008 at 11:43 amAs the saying goes “only the good die young” mainly at the hands of people like Helms. I hope there’s a ninth level of hell for politicians and maybe his Texan compatriot Phil Gram will follow soon! Death to tyranny!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:44 am…and became a powerful voice for free markets and free people.
If you’re the right color of course.
http://progressiveworldreview.com
July 4th, 2008 at 11:44 am“There are two things I know about life… Only the good die young but the real jerks will live forever.”
Lewis Black, “Black on Broadway” (2004)
Maybe not forever, but much too long.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:45 amVA Voter Says:
You folks are unreal.
Yeah, it goes with the territory of the TREASON that the Bushes have committed.
ILLEGAL WARS, EXPOSING CIA SPIES, POLITICIZING THE DOJ AND EVERY GOVERNMENT BRANCH.
We NEVER thought that “amerikkans”, even Bush and Cheney, would commit all these UNREAL acts of TREASON.
But they DID.
Jesse Helms was an unamerican RACIST, who once THREATENED Clinton about visiting NC.
Personally, I can’t WAIT until it is W’s turn.
The WORLD will CELEBRATE an EVIL “man” gone home to MASTER Satan and TRAITOR Ronnie Reagan, now DEAD and BURNING….
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:47 amVA Voter Says:
——————————————————————————–
You folks are unreal.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:37 am
I’m sorry you’re offended by my well-wishes to Sen Helms’ family. That says a lot about you.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:47 amWe should pitch in some money and send a Colored Guard to his funeral.
-GSD
July 4th, 2008 at 11:50 am“You are full of hate, arrrrrgggaaaa aaahahaahhahhhaha”
July 4th, 2008 at 11:51 am~VA Voter, July 4, 2008
VA Voter Says:
You folks are unreal.
I’ll pay the standard proper respect to his survivors for the loss of life itself, but making the lives of black Americans tougher is unreal.
You are one stupid troll. Get lost.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:53 amZoeey’s commentary, as usual, is spot on.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:54 amYou are the exception in this hate filled blog. Your well wishes didn’t offend me. it was the lack of sympathy and respect from your peers. If not for the man, then for his family.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:56 amlooks like i do have something to celebrate today!
good riddance!
July 4th, 2008 at 11:57 amVA Voter
July 4th, 2008 at 11:59 amHey what about me?
OT but sort of standard fare for you: Why do you think the Fair Tax idea continues to go absolutely nowhere?
who cares!! Where is the vid of W’s speech today at the Jefferson home!! Protests were VERY loud adn continued undeterred through the entire thing!!
July 4th, 2008 at 12:00 pmVA Voter Says:
July 4th, 2008 at 11:56 am
And yet, we’ve seen no condolences whatsoever from you. Just criticism.
Wow.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:00 pmMy condolences to his family as well…that being said, I am from NC and this hateful, bigoted person did more to cast NC as a backward, ignorant state!
Let us now move on!
July 4th, 2008 at 12:01 pmThis coming from a vile reich-wing pig that supports torture, war, murder, and death. You are a useless pile of feces.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:01 pmBTW, VA idiot, you haven’t posted any kind words about the racist bigot Helms. All you have done is whine about this blog. You have such a lack of sympathy and respect for the racist bigot Helms.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:03 pmMcWars Says:
July 4th, 2008 at 11:54 am
**blush**
July 4th, 2008 at 12:03 pmYou are the exception in this hate filled blog
This is a hate-filled blog. But not for the reasons you suspect. Here’s a hint: We hate intolerance.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:03 pmSo you fight intolerance by being intolerant?
July 4th, 2008 at 12:06 pmDoes this mean I can now buy Cuban cigars, and use them any way I want?
July 4th, 2008 at 12:06 pmWe mourn the loss of Mr. Helms’ life. We don’t mourn the loss of his personality and his fearmongering.
Were that “hate-filled” blog that comments on policy, VAVOTER. Notice the difference.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:07 pmVA Voter Says:
You are the exception in this hate filled blog. Your well wishes didn’t offend me. it was the lack of sympathy and respect from your peers. If not for the man, then for his family.
I have no respect nor sympathy for the man. He was a vile bigot. I could pretend to have sympathy for his family, but I’m not much into phony propriety.
If you don’t like the content of this blog, why don’t you p!ss off?
July 4th, 2008 at 12:08 pmVA Voter Says:
So you fight intolerance by being intolerant?
As opposed to Republicans who fight evil by being evil.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:08 pmWell I guess we can be happy that he passed away before having to know the full extent of Ronald McDonald’s involvement the the advancement of the gay agenda. I think he would have been deeply troubled
July 4th, 2008 at 12:08 pmVAVoter,
You seem to think Jessie Helms deserved to walk the earth with the humans. Do you have any rationale for that view?
July 4th, 2008 at 12:13 pmVA idiot suggests we should accept intolerance. You are making a fool of yourself. When are you going to post kind words about the racist bigot Helms? We’re waiting VA idiot.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:13 pmGee, a mean-spirited fear-mongering republic party crank with double standards and a sense of royal entitlement passes on.
Ding-dong, the witch is dead indeed.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:15 pmI’m really looking forward to VA Voter’s touching tribute to Sen Helms….
**crickets**
July 4th, 2008 at 12:16 pmMaybe the NEA could fund an extravagant memorial art show…
July 4th, 2008 at 12:18 pmVA idiot has been here for 45 minutes and no tribute or kind words to Helms. How telling.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:18 pmSo you fight intolerance by being intolerant?
July 4th, 2008 at 12:06 pm
Yes, by not tolerating the bigots under any circumstance.
Again, I only care a bit for the loss of his life because of the pain on his family. Even then, he did live a full life.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:18 pmI never said I agreed with Mr. Helms. But he had a right to his life and his opinion. Even If I don’t agree with it. You are suggesting that if someone disagrees with your philosophy then they don’t disserve to live. That very intolerant.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:20 pmI will not celebrate any man’s death, but I will certainly not weep for this one. I can only hope his like shall never pass this way again.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:21 pmBlessings to his family.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:24 pmReich-wingers live by that philosophy, that’s why they want to bomb Iraq, North Korea, Venezuela, etc.
Please provide evidence that anyone here said he doesn’t deserve to live. We’ll wait, idiot…… .
July 4th, 2008 at 12:25 pmyou forgot Iran
July 4th, 2008 at 12:27 pmInstead of writing “Helms defeated the former African-American mayor of Charlotte, Harvey Gantt”, a better formulation would be “Helms defeated the African-American former mayor of Charlotte, Harvey Gantt”…unless, that is, Harvey had a race-change.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:27 pmVA Voter Says:
I never said I agreed with Mr. Helms. But he had a right to his life and his opinion.
Sure, bigots have a right to their opinions. However, they should keep those opinions to themselves. The public arena has no room for the opinions of bigots. Jesse Helms used his opinions to hurt millions of Americans. He had no right to do that.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:31 pmDr. Hussein Matt Says: Please provide evidence that anyone here said he doesn’t deserve to live. We’ll wait, idiot…… .
July 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pmFox News phoned former Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) for his reaction to Helms’ passing. “He had a philosophy, had principles he believed in, and he stood and fought for them,” Lott said, adding that he admired that Helms accomplished his work without being “mean-spirited and disrespectful.”
Via Americablog:
Helms being a racist:
July 4th, 2008 at 12:33 pmAnd the man ABC News now describes as a “conservative icon” (8/22/01) in 1993 sang “Dixie” in an elevator to Carol Moseley-Braun, the first African-American woman elected to the Senate, bragging, “I’m going to make her cry. I’m going to sing Dixie until she cries.” (Chicago Sun-Times, 8/5/93)
He dies the same day we learn of the death of BOZO. Coincidence? I don’t think so.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:34 pmI never said I agreed with Mr. Helms. But he had a right to his life and his opinion. Even If I don’t agree with it. You are suggesting that if someone disagrees with your philosophy then they don’t disserve to live. That very intolerant.
You are very, very stupid. He had his full life and died peacefully.
“Our philosophy” is now standard practice. He had a right to his opinion, and we have a right to counter his hateful opinion — regardless of whether he’s dead or alive.
Helms goes down as a loser in history. It’s not our job to tolerate his intolerance, as well as yours.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:34 pmhuh… i just heard this on the XM… norman goldman is in for ed schultz… i’m doing some research to shoot down some repugly talking points and am reading about civil rights and jim crow - of course jesse helms’ name appears prominently…
norman just finished his bit of a rant with “i didn’t say anything good about him when he was alive, i’m sure not gonna start now!”
ha!
ps. he’s playing ed’s interview, yesterday, with obama now
July 4th, 2008 at 12:35 pm> You are the exception in this hate filled blog.
thats funny. go put a purple heart bandaid over your hurt feeling you redneck scumbag. your pretty much the party that made hate a selling point mr swiftboat.
tell me my dear sir, what percentage of the KKK vote do you think mccain is going to get?
>You are suggesting that if someone
> disagrees with your philosophy then
> they don’t disserve to live.
wow. im reasonably sure thats the philosphy of people like dick cheney, bolton, limpbaugh, and pretty much all redstate.orgers. we’re not the one howling to bomb everyone who doesnt like us.
your hipocracy knows no bounds. just because most of us shed no tears for this hatemonger doesnt mean we would seek to end his, or anyone elses life. killing living, breathing, feeling creates is YOUR parties creed.
my condolences to his family are going to have to take a number and get in line behind the condolences I have toward say, all the innocent people who died because hatemongers like him know the only way they can gain power is by telling the inbred rednecks such as yourself that the world is full of people you need to kill to make yourself safe..
July 4th, 2008 at 12:37 pmUPDATE: Fox News phoned former Sen. Trent Lott (R-MS) for his reaction to Helms’ passing. “He had a philosophy, had principles he believed in, and he stood and fought for them,” Lott said, adding that he admired that Helms accomplished his work without being “mean-spirited and disrespectful.”
Wow. Trent Lott luvs him some wrinkly old racists.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:38 pmHelms once deeply offended a black colleague, Democratic Senator Carol Moseley-Braun of Illinois, by singing part of “Dixie” on a Capitol elevator.
Anyone else note the wry irony of this cruel old bigot dying on the day America celebrates Freedom and Democracy?
Just saying . . .
July 4th, 2008 at 12:39 pmZooey @ 64- Being one himself probably helps with that.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:40 pmI hate the backward feeling I get when having having a discussion with a reich-winger.
The first amendment doesn’t give you the right to derail a private blog, VaVoter.
The first amendment does give me the right to say, however that Mark Warner is going to kick Jimbo Gilmore’s behind in November!
July 4th, 2008 at 12:45 pmIt’s too bad he didn’t live long enough to see a HENRY elected President of the United States. HENRY was his code word for the N-word. That would have killed him for sure. Too bad.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:47 pmVA Voter Says:
I never said I agreed with Mr. Helms. But he had a right to his life
I’m not against allowing the dangerously mentally ill to live. But, I don’t think they should be in the Senate.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:48 pmAnd Yet… Says:
——————————————————————————–
Zooey @ 64- Being one himself probably helps with that.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Excellent point. :)
July 4th, 2008 at 12:49 pmCommentary you can expect from the current crop of idiots:
“America has lost a great public servant and true patriot today,” a White House spokesman said, after learning of Helms’ death on the Fourth of July.
“Today we lost a senator whose stature in Congress had few equals,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a statement. “Senator Jesse Helms was a leading voice and courageous champion for the many causes he believed in.”
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,376389,00.html
July 4th, 2008 at 12:50 pmYou are the exception in this hate filled blog. Your well wishes didn’t offend me. it was the lack of sympathy and respect from your peers. If not for the man, then for his family.
And why would I feel sorry for his family? They benefitted directly from his racism, for decades. Did any of them ever publicly distance themselves from him, or his political outlook, and tactics?
If so, I’ve never seen it, so perhaps someone could post it.
July 4th, 2008 at 12:50 pmIs Bono going to sing at the wake?
July 4th, 2008 at 12:55 pmI find this quote of the late Mr. Helms to be sort of surreal…
“I was with some Vietnamese recently, and some of them were smoking two cigarettes at the same time. That’s the kind of customers we need!”
July 4th, 2008 at 12:56 pmAnd to those angry hypocrites who think its so bad that some don’t glorify the man, I remember the “respect” shown to Vince Foster’s family right after the man committed suicide.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:00 pmBoo frickin’ hoo
July 4th, 2008 at 1:04 pmAs I said when Falwell passed away:
His family has my condolences for his death.
That said, he’s now having to explain his racism before Jesus…
July 4th, 2008 at 1:05 pmSatan: Hey Jess…Have you met Jerry?
July 4th, 2008 at 1:16 pmJess: Yes I know Rev. Falwell.
Satan: Then I assume that you know Jeffry Dahmer too.
Jess: No we never met, but I am aware of him.
Dahmer: Helms, the circle jerk starts at 3pm sharp.
Satan: Bring your own poppers and leave the colostomy bag in your hellhole.
A Eulogy
(with apologies to Rogers and Hammerstein)
Pore Jesse’s daid,
Pore Jesse Helms is daid,
All gather ’round his cawfin now and cry
He had a heart of gold
And he wasn’t very old
Oh why did such a feller have to die?
Pore Jesse’s daid
Pore Jesse Helms is daid,
He’s lookin’ oh so peaceful and serene
And serene!
He’s all laid out to rest
With his hands acrost his chest
His fingernails have never been so clean!
Then the preacher’d get up and he’d say:
Folks, we are gathered here to moan and groan over our brother Jesse Helms,
who hung hisself up by a rope in his smokehouse
Then there’d be weepin’ and wailin’… from some of those women. Then he’d say:
Jesse was the most misunderstood man in this here territory.
People used to think he was a mean ugly feller and they called
him a dirty skunk and an ornery pig stealer
But the folks that really knowed him.
Knowed that beneath them two dirty shirts he always wore
There beat a heart as big as all outdoors
As big as all outdoors.
Jesse Helms loved his feller man
He loved hes feller man
He loved the birds of the air and the beasts of the field.
He loved the mice and the vermin in the barns, and he treated
the rats like equals, which was right. And he loved little children.
He loved everybody and everything in the whole world!
Only he never let on, so nobody ever knowed it.
Pore Jesse’s Daid
Pore Jesse Helms is daid
His friends’ll weep and wail for miles around
Miles Around!
The daisies in the dell
will give out a different smell
Because Pore Jesse’s underneath the ground.
Pore Jesse’s daid
A Candle lights his haid
He’s layin’ in a cawfin made of wood
Wood…
And folks are feelin’ sad
Cause they useter treat him bad
But now they know their friend is gone for good
Good..
Pore Jesse’s daid a candle lights his haid!
He’s lookin’ oh so purty and so nice
July 4th, 2008 at 1:17 pmHe looks like he’s asleep,
It’s a shame that he won’t keep
But it’s summer and we’re running out of ice.
Ding dong the ‘ol bastard’s dead…
July 4th, 2008 at 1:19 pmThe more of the “Old Guard” that leaves this planet the better.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:20 pmRot in hell for eternity jesse boy, you piece of filth.
This might be a good place to discuss progressives’ tendency to be “nice” at these times — and let those they objected to in life (like Helms), be interred with a modicum of (unearned) respect. Helms would have viewed this very response as a demonstration of progressives’ weakness. He showed little respect to those he disagreed with in life, and a truly fitting response to his death would be a call to throw the old scalawag on the compost heap, so at least he might finally do something useful.
And good post, Bris.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:23 pmVA Voter Says:
I never said I agreed with Mr. Helms. But he had a right to his life and his opinion. Even If I don’t agree with it. You are suggesting that if someone disagrees with your philosophy then they don’t disserve to live. That very intolerant.
like most bigots
va voter’s never taken
the time to learn to spell.
*
rog, xxx, et al.
share the same problem.
maybe they are the same troll.
*
seems logical.
*
have a safe and sane 4th!
•
July 4th, 2008 at 1:24 pmActually, Helms lived to disserve.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:24 pmSince everyone has paid their ‘respects’ to good ol’ boy Jess., I’m going to go off topic and ask this question:
Does this ‘rescue’ in Columbia remind anyone else of the Jessica Lynch fable?
I’m willing to bet we negotiated and paid off the kidnappers to release the prisoners, and then concocted this incredible rescue story-line to cover up the fact that we negotiated with ‘terrorists’.
Think about it.
¶ AIO
July 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pmMy birthday is tomorrow, but I’ll take this as a gift anyway.
Good-bye and good riddance.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:28 pmHow ironic that Va Voter is so concerned about the right to life of someone who spent his life trying to deny black Virginians the right to vote.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:28 pmalphainfinityomega Says:
——————————————————————————–
Does this ‘rescue’ in Columbia remind anyone else of the Jessica Lynch fable?
I’m willing to bet we negotiated and paid off the kidnappers to release the prisoners, and then concocted this incredible rescue story-line to cover up the fact that we negotiated with ‘terrorists’.
Think about it.
¶ AIO
July 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Nail on head, alphainfinityomega. McCain needed a little boost, and I have a feeling his campaign will run with his “heroics” after the holiday weekend.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:32 pm#85 AIO
July 4th, 2008 at 1:40 pmI sent this to TP to start a thread. I saw this early this morning — yes, it sure does have the familiar ring of “Jessica Lynch” doesn’t it?
Everyone is breathless at the ability to pull off such a hoax, and it turns out that the ransom was paid the the “haox” was really a “hoax on us!”
Didn’t Bush say he would never deal with terrorists?
Never pay them money? Hahahahahah.
The only way Bush knows how to deal is with money.
I didn’t agree with Mr. Helms’ approach to life or politics, but I give my condolences to his family and friends.
July 4th, 2008 at 1:40 pm“McCain needed a little boost, and I have a feeling his campaign will run with his “heroics” after the holiday weekend.”
Comment by Zooey
Everyone kept asking, ‘Why is he going to Columbia?’. This might help explain it.
That aside, this ‘rescue’ is just too smooth and seems concocted; after all, who is really going to know what went on in that jungle?
¶ AIO
July 4th, 2008 at 1:46 pm“Didn’t Bush say he would never deal with terrorists?”
Comment by Marie
Ha Ha, Marie, that’s a laugh; they are throwing our tax dollars all over Iraq to everyone; how else do you think the Surge is ‘working’ and 12 billion goes a-missing?
¶ AIO
July 4th, 2008 at 1:57 pmWhy are people expresing condolences to his family?
I’m guessing they hated this worthless piece of sh*t, too.
Now they’re jumping for joy and planning on how to spend all that money he stole from the taxpayers over his bigoted career.
Heck, Satan gets to fill a room. Everyone wins!
July 4th, 2008 at 1:57 pmAnother gem:
“Your tax dollars are being used to pay for grade school classes that teach our children that cannibalism, wife-swapping and the murder of infants and the elderly are acceptable behavior”
July 4th, 2008 at 2:00 pmHelm’s family will miss him, I am sure…
July 4th, 2008 at 2:04 pmAnd who could argue this…
“If God had wanted us to use the metric system, Jesus would have had 10 apostles.”
Senator Jesse Helms
July 4th, 2008 at 2:09 pmInteresting that CNN in its initial announcements of Helms’ passing neglected to mention his segregationist credentials (despite his having fathered and concealed the existence of a child with a an African-American woman) while mentioning his anti-homosexual stance. I presume we will see an outpouring of Hems-fawning in the next few days like that over the Tim Russert.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:33 pmGregor Samsa Says:
Helm’s family will miss him, I am sure…
I dunno ’bout that. Unless one misses being humilitated and embarrassed by the bigoted antics and words of another family member, I suppose.
Than again, I suspect the family dog misses laughing at the ol’ bug eyed redneck stepping in one of his piles o’ dung he left for him.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:36 pmHelms will be reincarnated as a gay black wiccan
July 4th, 2008 at 2:42 pmThe only good thing Helms ever did was his support for the Small Webcasters Settlement Act (SWSA).
Other than that, he was a bigoted, racist, misogynistic, homophobic, hate monger, and I would not poison plants with his ashes or body.
July 4th, 2008 at 2:48 pmRight now there’s a North Carolina dry cleaner that will be cleaning a lot less white sheets…
July 4th, 2008 at 2:55 pm“She’s not your garden-variety lesbian. She’s a militant-activist-mean lesbian, working her whole career to advance the homosexual agenda. Now you think I’m going to sit still and let her be confirmed by the Senate? … If you want to call me a bigot, go ahead.”
Okay, we will…
July 4th, 2008 at 2:57 pmalphainfinityomega Says:
Everyone kept asking, ‘Why is he going to Columbia?’. This might help explain it.
That aside, this ‘rescue’ is just too smooth and seems concocted; after all, who is really going to know what went on in that jungle?
my first thoughts also: “concocted”…
yesterday on FAST i commented:
… this set off an alarm, of sorts:
um… you don’t think… could it be?
… only a coincidence?
…
COULD uribe & benefactors have had ms.betancourt removed for a time? eh?
July 4th, 2008 at 2:59 pmThe world, today, in a small way, is a better place: one less
July 4th, 2008 at 2:59 pmhomphobic, racist SOB.
“There is not one single case of AIDS in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomy.”
~Jesse Helms on his opposition to HIV research funding
“I’m going to make her cry. I’m going to sing Dixie until she cries.”
~Jesse Helms about Carol Moseley-Braun, the first African-American woman elected to the Senate.
This was the man conservatives held as their icon, and whose “loss” the troll wants us to mourn.
You will have to excuse me if I don’t shed a tear, as I believe that one less hate-spewing bigot is always a net gain for the world.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:06 pmThe death of Helms is a great step forward for this country. Make no mistake, Jesse Helms was an evil, ignorant racist bastard. He was one of the worse people ever to rise to power in this country.
Burn in Hell Helms.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pmWatch closely the people who celebrate Helms. This will show us the ugly face of racism. Sean Hannity will probably dedicated an entire show to him. Sean Hannity is actually much worse than Helms.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:24 pmBozo the Clown also died today. For those of you that believe in trifectas, we’re one clown short.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:31 pm>She’s a militant-activist-mean lesbian
my favorite variety.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:43 pmNow there’s twenty-one grams the world is better off without.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:44 pmGeez and there I thot he died years ago.
But nice to know those nasty old bastards do die. I’d rather here they found cheney dead.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:46 pmWhy do we have to respect the dead when said dead did bad things? Do we respect Hitler, Mussolini, Pol Pot?
I am not saying we shouldn’t feel for those left behind, his friends and family. But there should be no respect given when it was not earned.
I wrote this about Tim Russert. It applies here equally.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:48 pmMs_Joanne there is no comparison to Helms and Russert. Helms was a blatant racist. Russert was an outstanding human being. There is not reason to feel sorry for Helms or his family.
Helms is equivalent to Hitler. If he had the power we would have had the same result here in this country.
I will never feel sorry for Helms or his family. He deserved to die and rot in Hell.
July 4th, 2008 at 3:53 pmLott says –
without being “mean-spirited and disrespectful”
Lott,
You are a LARGE LIAR! Helms was the WORST Xian I ever saw!!
Helms was one of the meanest, most racist “modern” Senators to ever disgrace The Senate.
He was a complete embarassment to the non-ignorant of NC!!!
July 4th, 2008 at 4:30 pmWe just lost a brilliant thinker, George Carlin
They lost a stinky, ignorant rat bastard, Jesse Helms
Game Even!
July 4th, 2008 at 4:50 pmJesse Helms finally died? Good riddance to old garbage.
July 4th, 2008 at 4:56 pmMy condolences to Helms’ family. My condolences to Falwell’s family. My condolences to Thurmond’s family. My condolences to McVeigh’s family. My condolences to George Lincoln Rockwell’s family. My condolences to Theodore Bilbo’s family. My condolences to Nathan Bedford Forrests’s family….
July 4th, 2008 at 5:38 pmmy condolences to SATAN. for obvious reasons.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:12 pmBrain From Planet Arous Says:
We just lost a brilliant thinker, George Carlin
They lost a stinky, ignorant rat bastard, Jesse Helms
Game Even!
I can just picture Carlin chasing Helms around the heavenly “garage in Kansas City,” with a lug wrench…
July 4th, 2008 at 6:32 pmEquality through attrition.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:41 pmRepublicans don’t have principles. They have bad attitudes.
July 4th, 2008 at 6:56 pmRather interesting how the racists who support making decisions based on race call the tolerant who oppose making decisions based on race “Racist” and “Intolerant”.
Project much?
July 4th, 2008 at 7:00 pmGeorge Carlin wasn’t a brilliant thinker. He was a comedian.
So, what kind of person confuses comedians with thinkers? The kind of person who reads “Think Progress” apparently.
July 4th, 2008 at 7:01 pmDonMeaker Says:
“George Carlin wasn’t a brilliant thinker. He was a comedian.
So, what kind of person confuses comedians with thinkers? The kind of person who reads “Think Progress” apparently.”
Judging by your comment you’re not much of a thinker period.
July 4th, 2008 at 7:35 pmDonMeaker Says:
George Carlin wasn’t a brilliant thinker. He was a comedian.
The Three Stooges were the first comedians to point out what the Nazis were up to, as did Chaplin, and The Marx Brothers, well before American politicians.
The Russians banned Comedy Clubs in the 1950s and 1960s.
DEVO and Fran Zappa used satire in astounding ways to open sleeping people’s eyes.
It takes a brilliant mind to be a brilliant comedian.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:10 pmGood! he died with his confederate boots on the racist pig.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:22 pmDonMeaker Says:
George Carlin wasn’t a brilliant thinker. He was a comedian.
So, what kind of person confuses comedians with thinkers? The kind of person who reads “Think Progress” apparently.
Oh yes Carlin was. Carlin is in the vein as Will Rogers. You must be a repug, you confuse lies with reality. Po thing.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:25 pmMaybe fatass Ted Kennedy will be next. One can only hope.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:40 pmpepper89 Says:
Maybe fatass Ted Kennedy will be next. One can only hope.
Maybe your stupidass is next. One can only hope.
July 4th, 2008 at 8:48 pmYou first jackass!
July 4th, 2008 at 8:57 pmI would also have to include other brilliant comedians besides Will Rogers, that Game Of Life mentioned. Firesign Theatre especially “We’re All Bozos on This Bus”, when “President” is asked work related questions by “worker”. We are there even more now than when they were parodying Nixon.
Bill Hicks….Biting, powerful social commentary equal to Carlin.
Monty Python - They were the funniest when they were political or goofing on religion.
Richard Pryor - A wonderful assesment from the black man’s dilemma in a White Judeo-Christian War Culture.
Honorable Mention……Chris Rock, Professor Irwin Corey, Johnny Carson, Phyliss Diller, Ernie Kovacs, Bonzo Dog Band
July 4th, 2008 at 9:12 pmpepper89 Says:
You first jackass!
And here’s a good example of one of the “big thinkers” of the right.
July 4th, 2008 at 9:53 pmjabberjaw Says:
It is sad to see so much hatred from the Left that claims to be progressive. Hate is not progressive.
It is rejoicing and satire that a horrible person has died, not hatred.
July 4th, 2008 at 11:56 pmjabberjaw Says:
It is sad to see so much hatred from the Left that claims to be progressive. Hate is not progressive.
Hate is an emotion, we all experience it. No one can be tolerant of intolerance. In this instance I don’t feel hatred for Helms, I feel pity.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:13 amThey should ask their parents if it would be all right for their son or daughter to marry a Negro.”
So here’s my idea. I wanna find all the best Helms quotes and have some talented artist employ them in some creative installation which travels to approriate venues. The catch is that for the whole premise to work it has to be NEA funded
July 5th, 2008 at 12:25 amFrom Betty Bowers:
And I’m supposed to be respectful of this old dead fool? I’m supposed to mourn him? I’m supposed to respect his opinion?
Screw that. That fact of the matter is that the world improved slightly today.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:28 ampepper89 Says:
Maybe fatass Ted Kennedy will be next. One can only hope.
Ted Kennedy has spent his entire life fighting for hope. Jessie Helms spent his entire life fighting hope. For you and Jessie Helms, there is no hope. The rest of us will continue to hope despite you.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:35 amHey, dbadass. I may be able to help you out with that one.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:37 amwith the talented artist/s or the funding?
July 5th, 2008 at 12:41 ambarfly Says:
pepper89 Says:
You first jackass!
And here’s a good example of one of the “big thinkers” of the right.
HAHAHAHA
So true.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:41 amBravo Brain From Planet Arous Bravo.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:43 amwith the artists for sure… the funding… not so easy.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:44 amBut, Helms was such a prick, it seems a lot of artists may
work for free. Hell, possibly pitch in a little extra, just to make a point.
Who is it that really thinks racial quotas are a good thing?
Anybody? Anybody?
Only a racist would support racial quotas in today’s world.
In fact, I believe racial preferences are a big cause of racism.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:49 amI have a certain vision which would be largely audutory. I was thinking that the project might start by travelling civil rights focused facilities. I think it would be appropriate to involve some input from the family as I envision a hard hitting but dignified experience.
The thing is I always just come up with ideas. I am way to lazy to ever follow through
July 5th, 2008 at 12:51 amI think all quotes are a good thing especially in allowing learners to connect with the mindset of the times in which the quote was uttered
July 5th, 2008 at 12:54 amHi MasseyTom:
July 5th, 2008 at 12:59 amHow do you feel about athletic and legacy set asides?
In fact, I believe racial preferences are a big cause of racism.
The poor, benighted white man! No one knows the burdens he must bear in this world!
Isn’t Massey Tom the name of the slaveowner in “Jimmy Crack Corn?”
July 5th, 2008 at 2:29 amMasseyTom Says:
Who is it that really thinks racial quotas are a good thing?
Anybody? Anybody?
Only a racist would support racial quotas in today’s world.
In fact, I believe racial preferences are a big cause of racism.
There isn’t such a thing as racial preference unless you are a white male. Now, there are “minority” preferences, which the white female enjoys more so than any brown people.
Racist, such as you, will want special treatment because you think you are entitled to it.
July 5th, 2008 at 3:27 amAre athletic set asides appropriate? Any takers? The same logic says thickneck big money entertain the masses college football player just got preference over a better learner. Oh the humanity…
July 5th, 2008 at 3:39 amI have already posted earlier on this topic. i live about 30 miles from where Jesse lived and died and this morning the paper has a special pull out section commemorating his time in office. I can’t even stand to read it! He was a vile and despicable old man and no body has the courage to say so. The world is a better place with his passing.
July 5th, 2008 at 8:20 amWhere’s his grave at? If I’m ever in the area, and need to relieve myself, his headstone would make an excellent target.
July 5th, 2008 at 10:00 amNot right, but middle. LOL!! Like it takes and Einstein to make a liberal. ROFLMAO!!!!!! I am a free thinker unlike the left who are forced to think inside of a tiny little box they call a brain as in “brainwashed.” Good luck to y’all in spite of yourselves.
July 5th, 2008 at 10:55 amPardon me if I don’t shed a tear.
July 5th, 2008 at 11:04 amHe was a strong believer in Martin Luther King’s principle of a color blind society and not a racist in any manner whatsoever. It takes a more-enlightened-than-thou, self-worshiping progressivist to stoop to such a dishonorable claim.
About the only truly egalitarian thought a progressives ever acts upon is when they support the extermination of inconvenient lives no matter what their race, a practice the very decent Jesse Helms sought to stop.
July 5th, 2008 at 12:36 pmMasseyTom Says:
In fact, I believe racial preferences are a big cause of racism.
I believe you are a big cause of racism.
July 5th, 2008 at 1:00 pmpepper89 Says:
I am a free thinker…
Your thoughts are free, and they still aren’t worth it.
July 5th, 2008 at 1:01 pmdbadass Says:
Hi MasseyTom:
How do you feel about athletic and legacy set asides?
Do you mean legacy set asides like the one which allowed a dumbass like George W. Bush to attend Yale University?
July 5th, 2008 at 1:04 pmof course I do as well as those athletic set asides that allow for less qualified learners to fill valuable spots at institutes of higher learning. See the thing is if people don’t dig affirmative action, quota systems and the like, they ought to be consistent right Massey Tom?
July 5th, 2008 at 1:33 pmAnytime I hear someone feel the need to proclaim themselves a “freethinker” I sort of cringe. Next thing you know they’ll start that whole ridiculous “libertarian” crap on ya.
July 5th, 2008 at 1:52 pmOn the whole, wasn’t Helms just an ignorant southern bigot. As such he was the consumate republican/conservative. Democrats/liberals on the whole are just plain better people than Helms or all the rest of the conservative/republicans.
July 5th, 2008 at 4:24 pmSpoken like a true leftist. You only want free speech for those on the left. How transparent you leftists are. And you think you are the bright ones. ROFLMAO!!!
July 5th, 2008 at 8:43 pmStupid like a box of rocks is more like it. Sheeple! The right has more intelligence and that ain’t saying much.
pepper89 Says:
I am a free thinker…
I know, you got your thoughts for free from Rush Limbaugh.
July 5th, 2008 at 8:47 pmpepper89 Says:
Not right, but middle. LOL!! Like it takes and Einstein to make a liberal. ROFLMAO!!!!!! I am a free thinker unlike the left who are forced to think inside of a tiny little box they call a brain as in “brainwashed.” Good luck to y’all in spite of yourselves.
July 5th, 2008 at 10:55 am Add Karma Recommend (0) |
Einstein was a Liberal, and hounded by the same mind set as the Bush administration of the time, the J. Edgar Hoover FBI.
You would make more headway with Progressives if you stuck to Facts and Logic.
July 5th, 2008 at 10:06 pmHi pepper89:
July 5th, 2008 at 10:08 pmAny thoughts on legacy and athletic set asides?
nice to see that it’s chic now for trolls to claim that they are moderates…
July 6th, 2008 at 3:35 am#155 bveritas,
You are a gawd damned liar or moron or both!!! Here is a quote from a political ad that Jesse “A$$HOLE” Helms helped write trying to keep Frank Graham from being elected to public office:
“White people, wake up before it is too late. Do you want Negroes working beside you, your wife and your daughters, in your mills and factories? Frank Graham favors mingling of the races.”
bveritas — you should keep your stupid a$$ mouth shut moron!! You don’t know sh!t!!!
Here’s another quote from wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesse_Helms:
“Another ad featured photographs Helms doctored to illustrate the allegation that Graham’s wife had danced with a black man. (FAIR 2001-09-01, The News and Observer 2001-08-26)”
So you see bveritas…Helms was a LIAR (doctoring photos) just like you!!!!!!
July 6th, 2008 at 8:46 amThese are the times those bigots liked:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosewood_massacre
July 7th, 2008 at 7:56 amThese are some of the most mean-spirited, hateful comments I have every read. Of course, it all made sense when I realized this is a web-site for liberals, libertarians and anarchists.
July 7th, 2008 at 11:56 amelectric fence Says:
These are some of the most mean-spirited, hateful comments I have every read.
You should read some comments by Jessie Helms.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:02 pmelectric fence Says:
Of course, it all made sense when I realized this is a web-site for liberals, libertarians and anarchists.
Where did you get the idea that this is a web site for libertarians and anarchists? You’re making a fool of yourself. Most of the people on this site are socialists, the exact opposite of libertarians and anarchists. Libertarians are just Republicans who are against illegal spying, and anarchists without the guts for total anarchy.
July 7th, 2008 at 12:07 pm“The evil that men do Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar lives after them, the good is oft interred with their bones.”
Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar
So let it it be with Helms
July 7th, 2008 at 1:23 pmWhat little good if any will be buried with Helms, the evil which he engendered and encouraged are a legacy for which he will long be remembered. He and the Strom Thurmonds, the Governors such Faubus, Ax Handle Maddox, Ross Barnett and their vile racism will long be remembered . What is most shameless is the lack of shame of their supporters then and still now. Please let’s hope that they bury Jesse face down in case he isn’t dead and starts digging he can dig himself to Hell.
electric fence Says:
——————————————————————————–
These are some of the most mean-spirited, hateful comments I have every read. Of course, it all made sense when I realized this is a web-site for liberals, libertarians and anarchists.
Typical attempt to shoot the messenger(s) instead of understanding the message and the well deserved anger with which it is delivered.
There’s NO room for manners or politeness when dealing fascist, racist scum like Jesse Helms in life AND in death. His hatred must be met with equal hatred of his actions and political positions.
If he were alive I’d say everything I say here right to his ugly, mean, JesusMongering, idiotic, fascist face!!!
He did nothing, nothing, nothing for America!!!!
July 7th, 2008 at 5:09 pmThe vitriole displayed here by some of you bespeak everything that is wrong with liberals. I can recall a month or so ago, when Ted Kennedy was diagnosed, how so many said that the “repugs” are going to use the occasion to belittle the man. Instead, I found that good number of conservatives actually expressed their best wishes for a recovery.
Go, review the threads and review this one. Do it.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:20 pmindyjones Says:
The vitriole displayed here by some of you bespeak everything that is wrong with liberals. I can recall a month or so ago, when Ted Kennedy was diagnosed, how so many said that the “repugs” are going to use the occasion to belittle the man. Instead, I found that good number of conservatives actually expressed their best wishes for a recovery.
It’s simple simpleton!
Kennedy is inclusive and defends the rights of all people!!!
SCUMBAG HELMS HATED AND HATED AND HATED!!! HE DID NOT BUILD SH!T HE DID NOTHING FOR THIS COUNTRY!!
HE SPENT HIS ENTIRE LIFE EXCLUDING!!!!!!!! PEOPLE!!!!!!
HE HATED BLACKS AND GAYS AND CATHOLICS, YESSSS, CATHOLICS!! GET THAT…THE SCUMBAG PHUCKER JUST COULD NOT STOP FINDING HATE IN HIS WORLD!!!!!
July 7th, 2008 at 9:58 pmHis first woman was a black woman… Just like his grandpappy… Something to be proud of.
July 28th, 2008 at 4:53 pmJessie Helms was a shameful person. Many suffered because of his actions or lack thereof.
His inclusion in http://www.RepublicanCorruption.com is well-deserved.
August 3rd, 2008 at 4:14 pm