February 16th, 2022 at 7:10 PM ^
Ibd, but I read a quote of his yesterday that was pretty funny: giving money and power to the government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys
EDIT: not going to start a new thread, but in mens hoops, rutgers is up by 11 over illinois with about 1 minute left in the first half. game in NJ. hey, maybe rutgers hoops is a thing?
EDIT #2: rutgers is now up 45-28 with 1355 left in the game. wow.
February 16th, 2022 at 7:21 PM ^
I read a quote of his that was something like: Democrats promise that the government will solve all your problems. Republicans say that government doesn't work - then they get elected and prove the point.
February 16th, 2022 at 8:22 PM ^
Pinkiell is a great coach.
February 16th, 2022 at 9:53 PM ^
Pickell, I think
February 16th, 2022 at 10:50 PM ^
Pikiell is a very good coach.
February 16th, 2022 at 10:00 PM ^
Pickell, I think
February 16th, 2022 at 10:17 PM ^
Tommy Pickles?
February 17th, 2022 at 12:38 PM ^
Ok, just for you, Didi and Stu Pickles.
February 16th, 2022 at 11:07 PM ^
Why ibd? I don't see any reason this thread would be taken down.
February 17th, 2022 at 7:45 AM ^
i am happily surprised at how this thread, which does touch on the verbotten third rail of politics, has been very calm. good to see.
February 17th, 2022 at 9:56 AM ^
We do give car keys to teenage boys.
February 17th, 2022 at 10:14 AM ^
true, but we try to keep the whiskey away from them, especially while driving
February 17th, 2022 at 10:03 AM ^
O'Rourke was a relic. He was definitely in the right wing politically, but no one was safe from his observations - especially when you were outwardly sanctimonious. Currently, our political spectrum is way too far apart for someone like PJ O'Rourke to be successful.
February 16th, 2022 at 7:19 PM ^
Oh man this sucks
February 16th, 2022 at 7:20 PM ^
I was not in support of much of what he wanted out of government,. However, death is a finality that hurts the core of those who loved that person. May his family and friends find comfort during their time of grieving.
February 16th, 2022 at 7:25 PM ^
Damn, that was well said.
Seconded.
February 17th, 2022 at 1:24 PM ^
Oh, PJ and I had a lot of areas where we differed. But he was a damn good writer and he espoused a truly conservative viewpoint where we could argue about policy but agree on fundamental truths. I think if we had met, we'd learn something from each other (that was my experience back in the day). Plus, we would've made each other laugh. Think Reagan and Tip O'Neil having a beer. God, I miss those days.
February 16th, 2022 at 7:34 PM ^
He was a brilliant writer who always managed to say something thought-provoking even if one didn't fully agree with his stance on whatever specific topic he was writing about.
And he certainly wasn't afraid to take aim at both sides of the political spectrum, which very much differentiated himself from the majority of modern day political pundits.
He will certainly be missed.
February 16th, 2022 at 7:40 PM ^
Many on here won't know this but he was the editor of National Lampoon. I had mentioned this--meaning his passing-- yesterday on the Ivan Reitman RIP thread cuz, well, you know.
He was great. Heard him speak back when I was in college. One of a few that helped shaped my belief system. If only more of my professors where like him. He will be missed.
February 16th, 2022 at 7:57 PM ^
Part of what was so impressive about him was the range of magazines he wrote for - including National Lampoon and Car and Driver.
February 17th, 2022 at 7:43 AM ^
One of the funniest things I've ever read was National Lampoon's parody of a high school yearbook from the early '60s. O'Rourke was not only instrumental in its creation, but posed as a couple of its characters, including a female gym teacher.
Years later I met him at a luncheon where he was the guest speaker. I told him that parody was absolutely hilarious, then added, "But damn, you make one ugly woman." He laughed hard and said thanks.
February 17th, 2022 at 3:04 PM ^
Most of what I read from him was Car and Driver. I was not really aware of his politics. I loved him in C&D
February 16th, 2022 at 8:32 PM ^
Funny, Animal House and National Lampoon were the main things I really knew him for. That being said, anyone who can poke fun at both sides of the political spectrum is someone I want to know better. We could probably all channel a little more of our inner PJ.
February 16th, 2022 at 9:37 PM ^
Sultans - you may want to check out "Parliament of Whores" if you've never read it.
February 17th, 2022 at 12:58 PM ^
Much obliged, thanks! Coulda sworn he had a part in writing Animal House too, but apparently not!
February 17th, 2022 at 12:56 AM ^
While P.J. was Editor of the National Lampoon, he had nothing to do with the movies, or did you mean Reitman? Loved his writing, particularly Eat the Rich. My favorite quote from him was:
”Earnestness is what happens when stupid goes to college.”
February 17th, 2022 at 10:11 AM ^
I would say that in todays climate, anyone that can poke holes in both political sides is considered a very small minority. The people that can't, need to re-evaluate. I applaud anyone that outwardly challenges and questions both sides. It shows critical thinking still exists.
February 16th, 2022 at 8:32 PM ^
We worked together in the car magazine biz. Such a good guy. I’ll miss him terribly
February 16th, 2022 at 8:49 PM ^
Great writer; RIP PJ
February 16th, 2022 at 8:51 PM ^
”How to Drive Fast on Drugs While Getting Your Wing-Wang Squeezed and Not Spill Your Drink” is an all time classic.
RIP PJ
February 17th, 2022 at 12:28 AM ^
Even though I didn't agree with his politics, I loved his take on things, and he made me laugh a lot.
From one of the stories from the book Holidays in Hell he describes Panamanians as being so uninvolved with politics, that families would send their maids to a street protest instead of going themselves.
A former girlfriend of mine was Panamanian and she confirmed that wasn't far from the truth.
That was classic O'Rourke. He was a great observer of political behavior and put a funny spin on it.
February 17th, 2022 at 6:50 AM ^
This sucks. Loved Parliament of Whores and Give War a Chance. Both were published during my college years. Loved his writing style.
February 17th, 2022 at 8:33 AM ^
In the early 90s, I was sitting in the Denver airport listening to PA announcements. They would announce a name and tell you to go to the white phone. "Peter Gozinya, Freda Slaves, Claude Balls, etc., were just a few. I then realized someone was calling names into the system that came from the NatLamp high school yearbook. P. J. O'Rourke's influence went to many places. What a writing genius.
February 17th, 2022 at 9:29 AM ^
and of course the letters to the editor in National Lampoon from people like Hugh G. Rection of Fallen Trousers, North Dakota
February 17th, 2022 at 8:50 AM ^
Who could ever forget "Dog Fishing in Central Park?"
One of the all-time great National Lampoon articles.
February 17th, 2022 at 10:17 AM ^
PJ was interesting as a libertarian who had been on the far, far left in college.
February 17th, 2022 at 1:22 PM ^
Too bad.. I even quoted the great PJ O'rourke here on this site back in 2013. Great quote:
https://www.mgoblog.com/comment/2072662?sort_by=thread&items_per_page=50&page=2
Sad to hear. RIP.
February 17th, 2022 at 9:01 PM ^
Sad to hear. I recommend his book Eat the Rich