RIP Jack Kemp

[The Good Doctor]

Former Buffalo Bills quarterback, Congressman and Vice Presidential candidate Jack Kemp has died.

 

[pallister]

Damn, not many people can say they won championships in the AFL and had a distinguished national political career. Kemp was a good man, probably too good to ultimately succeed in the presidential arena. RIP.

 

[OnTheRiver]

Always liked him. RIP, congressman.

 

[Jesus_Muscatel]

Man, that sucks.

His kids went to HS with my younger brothers when he was a congressman from Buffalo.

He was a tough sonuvabitch in those AFL days.

Any word on cause of death?

RIP Mr. Kemp.

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

Was diagnosed with cancer in early January.

Only thing I've seen so far: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jjHS8S3jIndU2oI6WHB_KqB-pvwAD97UFM800

 

[zeke12]

Lived a pretty amazing life.

RIP.

 

[buckweaver]

Respected the hell out of him. That sucks.

RIP Mr. Kemp.

 

[Beachey]

He was the speaker at my high school graduation; my high school was in his district. Some peace activist group protested because he supported some nuclear missile program and thought it was inappropriate for him to speak to a group of Catholic school boys. We all thought it was cool because our graduation made it on all three local news channels.

RIP #15

 

[2muchcoffeeman]

A spokesdroid says Kemp died after a long illness but didn't specifically say Kemp died of cancer.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090503/ap_on_re_us/us_obit_kemp_4

 

[old_tony]

He should have been the guy at the top of the ticket in 1996.

This is very sad news. A class act has left us.

 

[Michael_ Gee]

A real loss. Sometimes, the loss of a respected opponent hurts worse than any other kind.

 

[The Big Ragu]

Interesting guy.

RIP.

 

[Ralph Waldo Henderson]

A guy that was a lot of of Democrats' favorite Republican, not necessarily because of his politics, but because of the way he politicked. A good man who led a great life.

 

[Fenian_Bastard]

Friendly, open-hearted guy who really felt the gap the Southern strategy opened between black folks and the GOP.
Screwy economist, but forward-thinking in a lot of other ways.
I wonder if Elbert (Golden Wheels) Dubenion will be at the funeral.
RIP

 

[jackfinarelli]

RIP, Congressman Kemp.

 

[crimsonace]

A good QB, a very good man and a brilliant politician.

He absolutely should've been at the top of the ticket in 1996.

RIP. He'll definitely be missed.

 

[Blitz]

One of the poster guys for finding success in both the sports and political arenas.
RIP, Congressman.

 

[pseudo]

Fen, if I had to guess, I'd say every one of the AFL Bills who can physically make it to the funeral will be there. Every single one.

Had an idea this might be coming. Damn, how I wish that tip had been wrong.

John French Kemp was the greatest man I've ever known, and it was an honor and a privilege to work for his 1988 Presidential campaign. And by work, I mean the lowest-level volunteer stuff -- manning phone banks, stuffing envelopes, even holding up an "M" placard when we spelled out his name in the back of the auditorium where his primary opponent, Vice-President Bush, was speaking. Didn't care. It was worth it, because this young, idealistic Campus Republican believed, even before I ever met him. After he dropped out of the race, I still wrote him in on my ballot that November, and did the same in '92 even though he didn't run. And I still believe this country would have been far different if he had been elected.

My thoughts are with Joanne and the kids tonight, and with the entire Bills family. First Linda Bogdan, now this ... What a horrible, horrible week.

God bless you, No. 15. Rest well.

 

[pallister]

Great post.

 

[Bubbler]

Though I voted for Clinton in '96, I respected both members of the GOP ticket that year.

RIP.