• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires Republicans to act in good faith.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

Come on, man.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Let us savor the impending downfall of lawless scoundrels who richly deserve the trouble barreling their way.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

Boeing: repeatedly making the case for high speed rail.

He wakes up lying, and he lies all day.

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Be a traveling stable for those who can’t find room at the inn.

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

When we show up, we win.

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Mobile Menu

  • Four Directions Montana
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • COVID-19 Coronavirus
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2024 Elections
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Open Threads / RIP, Andrew Olmsted

RIP, Andrew Olmsted

by John Cole|  January 4, 20081:44 pm| 67 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

FacebookTweetEmail

Andrew Olmsted, one of the calmer and clearer heads to ever blog as well as a genuinely great guy and professional soldier, was killed while serving in Iraq. Hilzoy has a posthumous letter from him.

I think I am just going to cry.

*** Update ***

A round-up of reactions can be found here. It says a great deal about the man how diverse his online friends were…

And the RMN, wherre he blogged, posts their goodbye.

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « Open Thread
Next Post: Miles, Pounds, Yards, Inches… Kilometres? »

Reader Interactions

67Comments

  1. 1.

    CaseyL

    January 4, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    I went against his wishes, a bit, in my post there, saying I was angry at how his life was thrown away (though not angry at him, which I hope was obvious).

    We need more people like “G’Kar,” we can hardly afford to lose the ones we do have.

  2. 2.

    jeffreyw

    January 4, 2008 at 2:01 pm

    Just read his last missive over at obsidian wings.

    Damn…just, damn.

  3. 3.

    Incertus (Brian)

    January 4, 2008 at 2:01 pm

    Like I said over there, I’m numb about this, and I didn’t even know him. God, I hate this damn war.

  4. 4.

    TheFountainHead

    January 4, 2008 at 2:05 pm

    I don’t read Obsidian Wings regularly, and didn’t even know him as a blogger, but based on his final post, my God, what a loss.

  5. 5.

    Xanthippas

    January 4, 2008 at 2:08 pm

    Dammit.

  6. 6.

    Billy K

    January 4, 2008 at 2:16 pm

    Im so sick of this shit.

  7. 7.

    lutton

    January 4, 2008 at 2:17 pm

    see the comments of his final blog post on the Rocky Mnt News site:

    http://blogs.rockymountainnews.com/denver/iraqiarmy/archives/2007/12/seeking_support.html#comments

  8. 8.

    incontrolados

    January 4, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    unbelievable

    stupid fucking war

  9. 9.

    Sean

    January 4, 2008 at 2:18 pm

    Fuck.

    I don’t know what else to say. This sucks.

  10. 10.

    filkertom

    January 4, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    Jayzus. Oh, this sucks so hard.

  11. 11.

    Barry

    January 4, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    f*ck. I alt-tabbed to BJ to see what trivial issues were being eagerly debated, and this.

  12. 12.

    Blue Neponset

    January 4, 2008 at 2:26 pm

    God, that is horrible. I can’t imagine what his family is going through. That is horrible.

  13. 13.

    myiq2xu

    January 4, 2008 at 2:34 pm

    To paraphrase something from an earlier war:

    “Who will be the last to die for a failed policy?”

    Unfortunately, the answer isn’t Andrew Olmstead. He’s just the latest addition to a list that is already way too long.

    Fuck the Neocon dream of Empire. And fuck the neocons, every last one of them.

  14. 14.

    Tsulagi

    January 4, 2008 at 2:38 pm

    I haven’t read Obsidian Wings too many times. I think I may have seen one G’Kar post before. Seems I missed out.

    It was a privilege reading his last post. Every word. Godspeed Andy.

  15. 15.

    cleek

    January 4, 2008 at 2:47 pm

    this war is a stupid fucking waste of everything.

  16. 16.

    Tony J

    January 4, 2008 at 2:51 pm

    What a fucking waste.

    Never read anything he wrote before, but I’m saving that last post to disc and prowling the archives at ObWings for the rest of the night.

    Really, really pissed off right now.

  17. 17.

    Jon H

    January 4, 2008 at 2:52 pm

    What was Red State’s Thomas just saying about the Ob Wings bloggers, in his farewell rant?

    Dammit.

  18. 18.

    Z

    January 4, 2008 at 2:54 pm

    I cried. At work and all. What a loss.

  19. 19.

    Andrew

    January 4, 2008 at 2:57 pm

    What was Red State’s Thomas just saying about the Ob Wings bloggers

    compare and contrast

  20. 20.

    Jay C

    January 4, 2008 at 2:59 pm

    Here are some links to Andrew Olmstead’s writing: well worth a remembrance visit:

    All Alone in the Night : some of his “G’Kar” posts.

    Andrew’s Iraq blogging for the Rocky Mountain News HERE

    And his old blog (suspended when he went to Iraq) – which also now has his “farewell” post.

    Damn, this is sickening…..

  21. 21.

    sparky

    January 4, 2008 at 3:01 pm

    damn.

    and what John and myiq2xu said.

    why can’t we ever remember that war is awful?

  22. 22.

    dslak

    January 4, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    why can’t we ever remember that war is awful?

    Because we have short memories, are susceptible to the propaganda of war profiteers, and believe absurd things like “we’ll be greeted with candy and flowers.” This has been another addition of SATSQ.

  23. 23.

    Ninerdave

    January 4, 2008 at 3:05 pm

    Wow, I’m speechless, a huge loss.

  24. 24.

    Neal

    January 4, 2008 at 3:07 pm

    Reading at work. Tough to do.
    I had never read his posts over there prior to this one. I’ll be sure to make time to do so this weekend.
    It personalizes the war, humanizes the statistics.
    People need to be exposed to that.

  25. 25.

    canuckistani

    January 4, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    What a fucked up world.

  26. 26.

    srv

    January 4, 2008 at 3:15 pm

    the neocons, every last one of them.

    No, I don’t expect better from them. F the Dems who piled on and still won’t get us out.

    Remember, vote for Hillary or Barack if you want more of this.

  27. 27.

    Jon H

    January 4, 2008 at 3:17 pm

    “Remember, vote for Hillary or Barack if you want more of this.”

    And vote for John “bad judgement” Edwards?

    No thanks, I’ll take Obama.

  28. 28.

    Pooh

    January 4, 2008 at 3:18 pm

    I feel somewhat profane even writing about this, but this is really a gut punch reminding us that no matter how wonderful we may feel about the “future” and Barack Obama, this is still going on, almost 5 years later.

    And for what? In his farewell letter, Andrew notes that he does not think his life was wasted. In a way, he was certainly right, because from his perspective, I’m sure he died for something both ‘smaller’ yet infinitely more important than these neo-con dreams. But as laudable as such a sacrifice is on a personal level, it does not disrespect Andrew or his memory one bit to say that despite his personal honor, this was, in his case just like every other person, completely unnecessary.

    This shame must be born in some measure by all of us. No, I didn’t ‘do it’, but did I really do anything to stop it? Did you? Maybe if we all weren’t so damn comfortable we would have.

  29. 29.

    Wilfred

    January 4, 2008 at 3:22 pm

    Tens of thousands of men, women and children have been killed, the vast majority of them Iraqis who didn’t want anything to do with this war. Olmstead had a choice, they didn’t.

    Olmstead writes:

    Because it is pretty clear that the average American would not have supported the Iraq War had they known the costs going in. I am far too cynical to believe that any future debate over war will be any less vitriolic or emotional, but perhaps a few more people will realize just what those costs can be the next time.

    The next time is Iran, and people had better learn how to turn what they feel right now into opposition to that.

  30. 30.

    tBone

    January 4, 2008 at 3:23 pm

    No, I don’t expect better from them. F the Dems who piled on and still won’t get us out.

    Remember, vote for Hillary or Barack if you want more of this.

    Hey fuckhead, did you happen to miss the part where Andrew specifically asked people not to use his death as a tool for advancing political agendas?

    I’m breaking out the pie filter for your tiresome ass, something that no other troll here has warranted since Darrell left.

  31. 31.

    4tehlulz

    January 4, 2008 at 3:34 pm

    Hey tBone is that pie filter a script, because I think I need it for Wilfred.

  32. 32.

    The Other Steve

    January 4, 2008 at 3:38 pm

    We should all remember President Bush’s words regarding the loss of Americans, and remember the best way we can remember them is to go shopping.

    Even if you just buy a magazine, you are doing your part to remember the freedoms we all still enjoy.

  33. 33.

    ThymeZone

    January 4, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    { silence }

    R.I.P. indeed.

  34. 34.

    Fwiffo

    January 4, 2008 at 3:44 pm

    Goddamit. Fuck fuck fucking dammit. Fuck.

  35. 35.

    Blue Neponset

    January 4, 2008 at 3:49 pm

    Nothing we say on balloon-juice is going to change what happens in Iraq. Can we all please remember that and respect Andy’s wishes to refrain from using his death to score political points?

  36. 36.

    AnderJ

    January 4, 2008 at 3:51 pm

    Here here!

  37. 37.

    tBone

    January 4, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Hey tBone is that pie filter a script, because I think I need it for Wilfred.

    Antitroll Greasemonkey Script

    Enjoy.

  38. 38.

    Doug H.

    January 4, 2008 at 3:53 pm

    Thirded. A good man died, let’s leave it at that.

  39. 39.

    cleek

    January 4, 2008 at 3:54 pm

    Hey tBone is that pie filter a script, because I think I need it for Wilfred.

    mine is.

  40. 40.

    over_educated

    January 4, 2008 at 3:57 pm

    I hate this fucking war.

  41. 41.

    Wilfred

    January 4, 2008 at 4:00 pm

    Well, I’ll save you the trouble and censor myself, at least it’s an act of political agency.

    I don’t do maudlin sentiment, especially after everything that’s already happened, ‘after the first death, etc.’

  42. 42.

    Phoenix Woman

    January 4, 2008 at 4:04 pm

    Thanks for letting us know about this, John. Maj. Olmstead was one of the good ones. His writing, minus the Babylon Five references, made me think of the First Minnesota’s Isaac Taylor’s diary entries during the Civil War; he, too, was not fated to come home from the field.

  43. 43.

    Chris

    January 4, 2008 at 4:23 pm

    OK, figured out what I wanted to say.

    Andy, I pray you go find some terrorist’s 72 virgins; ruin his paradise before the fucker gets up there! Don’t leave until they’re stunningly slutty.

    I’m sure you deserve each and every swallow.

  44. 44.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    January 4, 2008 at 4:41 pm

    It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us — that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain …
    –Abraham Lincoln, 18 November 1863

    *Salutes*

  45. 45.

    srv

    January 4, 2008 at 4:57 pm

    I’m breaking out the pie filter for your tiresome ass, something that no other troll here has warranted since Darrell left.

    Why don’t you have it tune out the rest of the war for you also?

    This next part not for John, who may have known him (in that case, condolences).

    Not that you or any of the fainting lilies here would know it, but the one thing Olmsted did write often about was how one party did a lot of talking

    Every day they choose to pussyfoot around the issue is another day when American troops are killed or maimed in performance of their duties in Iraq. John Kerry infamously asked how you ask a man to be the last person to die for a mistake. If the Democrats really believe remaining in Iraq is a mistake, how can they reconcile that with asking more American soldiers to die because ending the war is politically inconvenient for them?

    No, let’s just say the man was politicizing the war.

  46. 46.

    demimondian

    January 4, 2008 at 5:02 pm

    What srv said. I didn’t know Olmsted, and pretending that I have particular feelings about it because he was a blogger is…well, wrong. I’m sorry he died, but to say more is to intrude on the private grief of those who did know the man. They have a right to that grief, and I do not.

    I don’t happen to think that Kucinich or Edwards would bring the troops home, and I believe with every fiber that Paul would not, so I deeply resent your claim of moral superiority, though.

  47. 47.

    Michael D.

    January 4, 2008 at 5:10 pm

    This is horrible. Every day, I think about an acquaintance of mine in Iraq and hope that he won’t meet the same fate.

  48. 48.

    libarbarian

    January 4, 2008 at 5:17 pm

    And for what? In his farewell letter, Andrew notes that he does not think his life was wasted. In a way, he was certainly right, because from his perspective, I’m sure he died for something both ‘smaller’ yet infinitely more important than these neo-con dreams.

    I’m not really sure how to say this but here goes….

    There is an old adage. It can be said in many ways but the point is what matters: No soldier fights and dies for his country. No soldier fights and dies for abstract notions like “Freedom”. A soldier fights and dies for one reason – the man next to him.

    According to a comment on the Rocky Mountain News:

    Major Andrew Olmsted and Captain Thomas Casey were both killed when we were ambushed. They both displayed tremendous courage under fire. I am proud to have served with them. They will be greatly missed. We were all blessed to have known them. They will always be my brothers in arms.

    Captain John Thompson
    Nightmare 3

    So, I it looks like you are absolutely right. He died fighting to protect his men, the life of each of which is both “smaller” and infinitely more important than any Neocon imperial dream.

    But as laudable as such a sacrifice is on a personal level, it does not disrespect Andrew or his memory one bit to say that despite his personal honor, this was, in his case just like every other person, completely unnecessary.

    How many men in this world have ever died “necessarily”. If dying “necessarily” is to be our standard then most people have fallen, and will fall, far short of it. Life is uncertain and sometimes frail. We are all going to die, many of us “unnecessarily”, somehow – in a car accident, a victim of crime, a heart attack cause by the food we kept telling ourselves we would stop eating but never did, etc.

    It is rare where a person gets the chance to face death for a reason – even if that reason is simply to keep someone else from becoming the victim of an “unnecessary” war.

    When a man gets that chance and takes it, of his own free will, than I can mourn his death and feel for his loved ones, but I cannot judge his death “unnecessary” or in any way “pity” him. He did the right thing in the circumstances he was in.

  49. 49.

    Vlad

    January 4, 2008 at 5:35 pm

    This sucks.

  50. 50.

    Darkrose

    January 4, 2008 at 5:40 pm

    How exactly does the pie filter work?

  51. 51.

    tBone

    January 4, 2008 at 5:52 pm

    How exactly does the pie filter work?

    You give it the name of a commenter you want to filter, and it replaces the text in all of their posts with the phrase “I like pie!”

    Actually, srv is so one-note already that it doesn’t make much difference.

  52. 52.

    Wilfred

    January 4, 2008 at 5:55 pm

    And who made you the thought police, Tbone? Thanks for the link, btw.

  53. 53.

    newtonusr

    January 4, 2008 at 6:07 pm

    Chilling, and oh so sad. Best to the family and friends.

  54. 54.

    Tax Analyst

    January 4, 2008 at 6:10 pm

    Sad news.

  55. 55.

    Lee

    January 4, 2008 at 6:30 pm

    I’m not going to wade into Redstate to find out what they wrote.

    Anyone want to paraphrase for me?

  56. 56.

    capelza

    January 4, 2008 at 6:44 pm

    Oh this just breaks my heart…I’m speechless.

  57. 57.

    IanY77

    January 4, 2008 at 6:58 pm

    It says a great deal about the man how diverse his online friends were…

    No kidding. I just about shat myself when I saw Goldy’s name there.

  58. 58.

    garyb50

    January 4, 2008 at 9:42 pm

    A terrible loss.

  59. 59.

    tBone

    January 4, 2008 at 9:43 pm

    And who made you the thought police, Tbone? Thanks for the link, btw.

    So sorry, Wilfred. Clearly my posting of a link to an (entirely voluntary) antitroll script means I’m vying to wipe out thoughtcrime here on Balloon Juice. Who knew the slide into fascism was so easy? I guess Doughy Pantload was right.

    Anyway, you’re welcome, I guess.

  60. 60.

    Don Quijote

    January 4, 2008 at 9:49 pm

    Such is the price of war…

    It’s what people voted for.

  61. 61.

    Chuck Butcher

    January 5, 2008 at 12:48 am

    I’ll respect his wishes and only note that it would be wise to remember what capital we spend when we go to war.

  62. 62.

    LiberalTarian

    January 5, 2008 at 12:52 am

    My condolences, JC. And my heartfelt sympathy to his family and community.

  63. 63.

    dbrown

    January 5, 2008 at 8:07 am

    Sad,
    the true creed of voting for the enemy (or is that enema?) – cheney/bush: the Iraq war does come home in a terrible way; consider the many, many Iraq’s who have lost close friends, family, loved ones, children … the list goes on; who were the sick SOB’s that supported this lie? Look to your to yourself and see the enemy. At least you have learned your lession but the sad state of america, home of cowards who accept these animals is what is truely sad.

  64. 64.

    grumpy realist

    January 5, 2008 at 9:25 am

    Resquiat in pace, frater mihi.

  65. 65.

    Libby Spencer

    January 5, 2008 at 9:59 am

    I barely knew him but I cried. His last post just broke my heart. A great loss for Blogtopia and civil society.

  66. 66.

    Krista

    January 5, 2008 at 10:18 am

    I haven’t read Obsidian Wings too many times. I think I may have seen one G’Kar post before. Seems I missed out.

    It was a privilege reading his last post. Every word. Godspeed Andy.

    Seconded. The humour, intelligence and heart that were evidenced in that last post — well, it shows us what we’ve lost. My thoughts and sympathy go out to his loved ones, especially his wife (reading the section to her brought on some serious waterworks.)

Comments are closed.

Trackbacks

  1. Andrew Olmsted Killed in Iraq says:
    July 17, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    […] Matt Burden, Soccer Dad, the Protein Wisdom gang, Bob Owens, John Cole, Mike Hendrix, and other bloggers express their sentiments. More will follow as word spreads. […]

Primary Sidebar

Recent Comments

  • Mousebumples on Henry Would Like His Lunch Right Now, Please (Open Thread) (Apr 15, 2024 @ 2:10pm)
  • TBone on Henry Would Like His Lunch Right Now, Please (Open Thread) (Apr 15, 2024 @ 2:10pm)
  • WaterGirl on Take the Fucking Win (Apr 15, 2024 @ 2:09pm)
  • Marcopolo on Henry Would Like His Lunch Right Now, Please (Open Thread) (Apr 15, 2024 @ 2:08pm)
  • Redshift on Henry Would Like His Lunch Right Now, Please (Open Thread) (Apr 15, 2024 @ 2:08pm)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Balloon Juice Meetups!

All Meetups
Talk of Meetups – Meetup Planning
Proposed BJ meetups list from frosty

Fundraising 2023-24

Wis*Dems Supreme Court + SD-8
Virginia House Races
Four Directions – Montana
Worker Power AZ
Four Directions – Arizona
Four Directions – Nevada

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
Positive Climate News
War in Ukraine
Cole’s “Stories from the Road”
Classified Documents Primer

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Balloon Juice for Ukraine

Donate

Twitter / Spoutible

Balloon Juice (Spoutible)
WaterGirl (Spoutible)
TaMara (Spoutible)
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
ActualCitizensUnited

Political Action 2024

Postcard Writing Information

Balloon Juice for Four Directions AZ

Donate

Balloon Juice for Four Directions NV

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2024 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!