RIP, Gore Vidal: 1925-2012

I can't say that he was just always my huckleberry. But I thought ol' Gore said some funny things at times, and I would say that, rather unfortunately, he had a good handle on what was wrong with America in modern times. Bon voyage, Mr. Vidal. -- MJ

Farewell To Christopher Hitchens, 1949-2011: He Was Nobody's Bitch

By Manifesto Joe

I seriously disagreed with him more than occasionally, but I have to take my hat off at least briefly to this man. He was a toady to no one.

To his credit, he cut his own intellectual path through life, without regard for what anybody else was thinking. I thought he went seriously wrong after the 9/11 attacks -- I think he got the wrong idea from that. But I can sort of understand what was happening there. He despised all fundamentalist religion, not excepting Islamic extremists from the mix. I'd say he just got a little bit detoured by them, and a bit blinded by their "opponents."

He was always his own man, first and foremost, and I have to respect that. So, Chris, maybe God isn't great. But if God is there, I hope he (or she) cuts you a decent deal. I wish you great debates in what afterlife may be. Absent that -- peace.

Manifesto Joe Is An Underground Writer Living In Texas.