Jesse Helms, dead at 86

[Homburg]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080704/ap_on_re_us/obit_helms

RALEIGH, N.C. - Former Sen. Jesse Helms, an unyielding champion of the conservative movement who spent three combative and sometimes caustic decades in Congress, where he relished his battles against liberals, Communists and occasionally a fellow Republican, died on the Fourth of July. He was 86.

Mentioned because of his combative attitude towards sexuality of various stripes. I won't miss him.

 

[WriterDom]

Jerry Falwell's Liberty University opened the Jesse Helms School of Government in 2005.

One of my first subs was a Liberty grad. A virgin who had only been kissed once. I shaved her pussy and fucked her in the ass on the first date. I'm probably going to the lowest level of hell for that. But even though she broke my heart, she made me into a better person.

Haven't heard from her in eight years. I hope she's happy.

 

[snowbyte]

Anybody remember the MC Hawking song 'Why Won't Jesse Helms Die?". From the "E=MC Hawking" disc, IIRC.

 

[Netzach]

I hope he's stuck in limbo peeking through bars at angels viewing Mapplethorpe flowers on every wall of a gallery.

 

[Desdemona]

I never agreed with his politics, but a part of me will miss him

He was a fixture in the landscape here for most of my adult life. At times, I was appalled and embarrassed to be from NC because of him. At times, he just made me laugh. I generally had to give him credit for remaining reasonably consistent on some of his crazy issues/opinions. I'm one of those people who holds some affection for the people I consider truly wacky and Jesse just seemed to fall into that category for me.

When I was a young adult, I voted for him a couple of times because his was the only name on the ticket I recognized and I couldn't be bothered to do the research or pay attention to the news. When I matured a bit and really started paying attention, he lost my vote immediately. I still enjoyed watching his antics, in spite of my disagreement with his opinions and actions.

 

[WriterDom]

What I hate is these assholes who stay in office until they are 100 years old. I think at 80 it's time to hang it up.

 

[pdxbiguy]

Jesse Helms is why we should have term limits that kick their ass out after a number of years. Some progress might be made then in solving problems. Maybe Robert Byrd of WVA or Teddy Kennedy of MA might be the next to go, we can hope. Although Republicans like Strom Thurmond dry rotted in Congress too.

 

[Breaker_Morant]

What I hate is these assholes who stay in office until they are 100 years old. I think at 80 it's time to hang it up.

Robert Byrd?

 

[DVS]

I do agree with term limits for senators and all congressmen. There have been senators in my part of the country that make a living out of telling the folks back home one thing, then going to Washington and doing what they damn well please.

Then, they come home, ride in an Independence Day parade and smile like the cat that ate the canary. Of course, the longer you keep the job, the better you are at spewing that kind of shit (as well as coughing up feathers from time to time).

 

[Desdemona]

I agree

Term limits would help things tremendously. I had a relative once who ascribed to the philosophy of: " fuck the incumbents and never vote for them again". There's something to that. After one or 2 terms, they're hopelessly a part of the system.

 

[Sir_Winston54]

I'll miss Bozo the Clown a lot more than I'll miss Helms. Bozo was funny on purpose. Helms, when he was funny, didn't even know it because he had his head so far up his own ass.

 

[Breaker_Morant]

Term limits would help things tremendously. I had a relative once who ascribed to the philosophy of: " fuck the incumbents and never vote for them again". There's something to that. After one or 2 terms, they're hopelessly a part of the system.

That's term limit in action - if a better candidate comes along then the incumbent is term limited.

 

[Desdemona]

In theory that works

That's term limit in action - if a better candidate comes along then the incumbent is term limited.

Unfortunately, we don't always get a better candidate.

 

[Breaker_Morant]

Unfortunately, we don't always get a better candidate.

Well take one of my state Senators - Mitch McConnell - Senate Majority/Minority Leader. He can get stuff done for my state (pork barrell politics) - why would I vote him out of office?

 

[Desdemona]

I know where you're coming from

Well take one of my state Senators - Mitch McConnell - Senate Majority/Minority Leader. He can get stuff done for my state (pork barrell politics) - why would I vote him out of office?

If he consistently produces results you like, he deserves your vote. But, I suspect most of them become corrupted beyond tolerance in short order.

The relative I spoke of didn't care if they produced results or not. He just voted for someone else on general principle after 2 terms.

 

[Breaker_Morant]

Mentioned because of his combative attitude towards sexuality of various stripes. I won't miss him.

If he consistently produces results you like, he deserves your vote.

Guess his represented a majority of his constituency in a manner they approved.

 

[Homburg]

Guess his represented a majority of his constituency in a manner they approved.

From what I recall, "Senator No" was pretty good at being "Senator Yes" when it came to pork for NC. And he never made above the 55% for votes from what I recall (could be wrong on that, but his victories were not huge landslides IIRC)

 

[Breaker_Morant]

From what I recall, "Senator No" was pretty good at being "Senator Yes" when it came to pork for NC. And he never made above the 55% for votes from what I recall (could be wrong on that, but his victories were not huge landslides IIRC)

50.1% is all that is required. I'm not saying I'd vote for him but like my example of Mitch McConnell - why give up the prestige and the power? Look at Robert Byrd of WV - talk about pork barrel politics - old as fuck and still in office (at last memory check).

 

[JMohegan]

Oh, fuck. Such a shame he didn't live to see 1.20.09.

 

[LilyBart]

I lived in NC for 10 years.
And I never met one person who would openly admit to voting for him.
Although, I think many were closet Helms voters. Just because he'd been in office for so long. I think the prevailing thought might have been along the lines of "the devil that you know is better than the one you don't know...."

Especially if the devil that you don't know might be OK with certain racial or sexuality related themes.....


~LB

 

[Homburg]

Oh, fuck. Such a shame he didn't live to see 1.20.09.

 

[Breaker_Morant]

Oh, fuck. Such a shame he didn't live to see 1.20.09.

The jury is still out on that deal.

Editted to add: He probably stroked out just at the possibility of Obama in power