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Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

Infrastructure week. at last.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

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

This really is a full service blog.

Come on, man.

American History and Black History Cannot Be Separated

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

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

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

A lot of Dems talk about what the media tells them to talk about. Not helpful.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

This blog will pay for itself.

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

You are here: Home / Open Threads / RIP, Richard Holbrooke

Reader Interactions

95Comments

  2. 2.

    General Stuck

    I’ve been surrounded by a lot of death lately, and I am not liking it. Good friend of the family died the other day, and my Aunt die this morning.

    Went through this in the late eighties. Unbelievable, the number of deaths to deal with in my family in a very short period of time, from all sorts of reasons, some just plain bizarre. For awhile, I walked around figuring to get killed any minute by a flying cow. The good news is, since everyone about is already dead, I won’t have to go through it again.

  3. 3.

    Elie

    A great man with a great intellect, not necessarily an easy man. He will be missed.

    That is an aorta eating job

  4. 4.

    martha

    Double hugs to you. My much beloved father in law is in hospice, almost on his way to the quiet trout stream of his dreams. Sigh.

  5. 5.

    WarMunchkin

    Dude was a fighter… via Atrios:

    As he was sedated for surgery, his final words were to his Pakistani surgeon, according to family members: “You’ve got to stop this war in Afghanistan.”

    Damn.

    My condolences for your losses. One of the realities I found shocking after graduating high school was how people just died. It was new, your high school is just made of the people you “know” your entire life, and your family too. They don’t seem like they should be able to die.

  6. 6.

    Tokyokie

    Sorry to hear that, John. You have the sympathy of everybody who hangs out here. Although probably not Tunch.

  9. 9.

    TaMara (BHF)

    I’m right there with you John. Too much death lately. And if I never hear the term pancreatic cancer again, it will be all right by me.

    Condolences to everyone who is struggling with the loss of someone they love right now.

  10. 10.

    TaMara (BHF)

    I’m right there with you John. Too much death lately. And if I never hear the term pancreatic cancer again, it will be all right by me.

    Condolences to everyone who is struggling with the loss of someone they love right now.

  19. 19.

    Violet

    Condolences for your losses, John.

    RIP, Richard Holbrooke. What an amazing man. Did a lot of good. He’ll be missed.

  20. 20.

    Beauzeaux

    Dear John,
    I’m 68 now and sad to say the dying has just begun.

    What I understand now — that I didn’t earlier — is that death isn’t the tragedy. We all die after all. It’s life that is the tragedy, if not lived fully.

    Don’t put off anything.

  21. 21.

    WyldPirate

    My condolences for you and your family’s losses, John.

    May they rest in peace.

    And for everyone else, do your best to try and cherish every day, because each one is a gift no matter how bad any particular one may seem to be.

  23. 23.

    Nellcote

    RIP Ambassador Holbrooke

    I’m really gonna miss him. We have so few people who can speak about diplomacy in an engaging manner.

  25. 25.

    Athenae

    I’m so sorry, John.

    This time of year it seems like the world is always ending. My grandma, to whom I was very close, died last year the day after Christmas. January and February were harder than I care to remember.

    I think sometimes it’s why Christmas usually resonates so strongly with me: I need a story about light in the midst of all of this darkness, a story about hope and strangers finding shelter, and great things coming from unlikely beginnings, during these very short cold days.

    A.

  26. 26.

    soonergrunt

    I’m sorry for your losses, John.
    Holbrooke was one of the great American statesmen of our time, and will be missed by more people than just Americans.

  27. 27.

    newhavenguy

    Condolences, John. That sucks.

    Crooked right wing judges or not, Holbrooke’s passing is the bad news today. One of the good guys, and now one less.

  28. 28.

    Kristine

    I’m sorry about your aunt, John. I’m a few days away from the anniversary of my dad’s death. It’s never easy to deal with, but the holidays make it harder.

  31. 31.

    Platonicspoof

    @TaMara (BHF):

    Condolences to everyone who is struggling with the loss of someone they love right now.

    You said exactly what I was trying to put into words in order to suggest this resource.

    Sorry it’s hitting close to home right now John.

  32. 32.

    General Stuck

    Big loss for the country. We need all the peacemakers we have right now. RIP Richard, your life was well spent and you made a difference.

  34. 34.

    You Don't Say

    Sorry for your loss, John. The holiday season is a tough time remembering all the loved ones I’ve lost.

  37. 37.

    Menzies

    We need more men like Holbrooke, not less. Unfortunately someone had a different plan in mind.

    As to your losses, John, my deepest condolences. May they all rest in peace.

  39. 39.

    asiangrrlMN

    My condolences to the Holbrooke family. He will be sorely missed.

    Sorry for your losses, Cole, and Mary G., and to anyone else who’s lost a loved one lately. My deepest sympathies.

    ETA: I know this is small potatoes, but would it have been that hard for ABC to put a picture of Holbrooke in with the article? As it is now, it looks like Jake Tapper is Holbrooke.

  42. 42.

    RareSanity

    My condolences on your losses John, we are dealing with some of the same in my household.

    Kind of somber thread. But, here’s my attempt to respectfully, lighten it up…

    When I first saw the title show up in my RSS reader, the first thing that I thought was Hal Holbrook. Then I thought, “I guess John was a big fan of him….”

    A little “blonde” moment, that kinda made me giggle…

  43. 43.

    Poopyman

    My condolences, John. It’s never easy to deal with losing a loved one. You might that it would get easier as you experience it more. It doesn’t.

  44. 44.

    General Stuck

    I’ve been surrounded by a lot of death lately, and I am not liking it.

    It is a very strange feeling, as I remember it well. Shines the light on our mortality and it’s place in our existence.

  46. 46.

    Anya

    John, my condolences for your loss.

    Holrbooke’s death is a great loss to the country. He was a great diplomat. I just remember his interview with Rachel, such an engaging man. What a sad thing for his family. Aside from the suddenness of his death, it’s specially hard to lose a loved one during the holidays. RIP Ambassador Holbrooke.

  47. 47.

    efroh

    My sympathies to you, JC, and to anyone else who’s lost someone.

    RIP Mr. Holbrooke. You will be missed.

  49. 49.

    Mike in NC

    My mom died two years ago next week, just a few days before Christmas, of a heart attack. Since then we’ve lost her last sister, a few of my wife’s relatives (some quite young), and a very close friend of mine who was killed in a motorcycle accident outside of Baltimore last year.

    RIP to all …

  56. 56.

    SenyorDave

    My condolences. I went to wife’s aunt’s funeral last Wednesday. She was a beautiful lady, died at 94, peacefully in her sleep in her bed. Tuesday afternoon she was singing Chanukah songs with her 4 year old great-grandaughter, accompanied by her daughter, grandson and her Rabbi (a close family friend). She got tired, fell asleep and never woke up. If you have to go, that is the way to go.

  58. 58.

    Cain

    @Beauzeaux:

    Don’t put off anything.

    Wise words. Thanks for giving them.

    My respects, John.

    This year, I lost my grandfather (he was a 100, so a full life), my grand-uncle, my cat, and my uncle was diagnosed with possible early pancreatic cancer.

    On top of the november elections, and the country heading to a precipice, I can only say good riddance to this year. I will not miss it.

    cain

  60. 60.

    sfinny

    Best wishes for all who have lost loved ones.

    My thoughts lately have been on my nephew (age 16) who just lost a friend last month. They were skateboarding and one boy fell, with the injury being ultimately fatal. I tried to think back to that age, and my first experience with a peer’s death was a car accident in high school. But while that was shocking, it was at a remove. My nephew was at the scene. I know he is having a hard time with this, and have no idea how to help him.

    The experience of the death of loved ones is universal, and yet each one is so personal.

  61. 61.

    Dennis SGMM

    Condolences, John, and to all the others who have suffered a loss.

    For those of you with extended family: enjoy them while they’re here. I never met my grandparents, or any of my cousins. I knew one aunt and one great aunt, I never met any of my uncles. My brother estranged himself from us when I was middle aged and my sister ran off with a biker thirty years ago. So even if some of them are a pain in the neck, try to appreciate whatever you can about your extended families because, believe me, you’ll miss them when they’re gone.

  65. 65.

    beulahmo

    John, I’ve admired the way you seem to really appreciate your family. I’m so sorry for your loss.

    Condolences to all the others here who’re grieving their losses, too.

  67. 67.

    Mnemosyne

    Between my dad’s failing kidneys and my father-in-law’s brain tumor, we’re very afraid that 2011 is going to be an extremely crappy year. Though at least we have some warning, I guess.

  68. 68.

    Yutsano

    @Mnemosyne: Kidneys are fortunately a fairly easy transplant surgery and the typing is a bit looser, so there is some hope there. And it does kinda suck, but folks have lived on dialysis for years. So there may be some hope yet for your dad. As far as your father-in-law no loose ends is the best advice I can give there.

    @daveNYC: Band geeks all over the country just squeed. Myself included.

  69. 69.

    fitzwili

    I am so sorry about Holbrooke who was a talented and brilliant man. I also want to say that you have my sympathies concerning your own losses.

  71. 71.

    ruemara

    My condolences Mr. Cole.
    And I too wonder what this means for our efforts in afghanistans and pakistan.

    @daveNYC:

    that is pure kickass.

  74. 74.

    x

    Rest well, good warriors for peace. Light guide you to liberation.

    Well done, Ambassador.

    Condolences to all who have lost loved ones.

  75. 75.

    Ash Can

    Condolences to you, John, and to everyone suffering losses. It does seem to have been a difficult couple of months for passings, of the famous and non-famous alike. May they all rest in peace.

  76. 76.

    MJ

    My deepest condolences to John, Mary G., Cain, SenyorDave & anyone else here who is dealing with the loss of a loved one right now.

    R.I.P. Ambassador Holbrooke.

  77. 77.

    drunken hausfrau

    Like General Stuck, I, too, went thru a period in the late 80s/early 90s where I was bombarded by death… and now, a new wave seems to be starting.

    You know what to do, John — eat some comfort food, put in a good movie, and take two doggies and a cat.

    Condolences to you. And damn sorry we lost Holbrooke — end this war in Afghanistan, indeed.

  79. 79.

    chaseyourtail

    So sorry about your aunt and friend, John. I’ve lost a lot of family members including my mom 5 years ago and all I can say is death sucks.

    My sincere condolences to you and your family.

    RIP Richard Holbrooke. They don’t make ’em like that anymore.

  80. 80.

    mai naem

    Condolences to everybody who’s lost a loved one. I can’t frankly say goodbye to this decade soon enough and esp. the past couple of years. Not looking forward to next year. I have an aunt who’s got esophageal cancer, an uncle and two close family friends who don’t look good at all.

    RIP Ambassador Holbrooke. A giant indeed. I used to think Obama was just plain lucky when he was going through the 08 election. Since then though I have begun to wonder if he’s unlucky. He just seems to have stuff happen beyond his control. He’s had the BP oil spill, T Kennedy dying, Byrd dying, Al Franken not being seated. Haiti’s earthquake. Wikileaks. Now Holbrooke. I dunno, maybe it’s just me.

  81. 81.

    stuckinred

    As the conflict in Vietnam escalated, President Lyndon Johnson formed a team of Vietnam experts to work in the White House under the former head of the Phoenix Program, R.W. Komer, in an operation that was separate from the National Security Council. As a rising young diplomat with significant experience in the country, Holbrooke was asked to join the group when he was only twenty-four years old.

    And a fine and effective bunch of “experts” they were.

  82. 82.

    aimai

    John,
    I just wanted to say how sorry I am about your Aunt and your friend. Its terribly hard to deal with all that grief at once. I’ve got no words of comfort, just sympathy.

    aimai

  85. 85.

    Maody

    John Cole, so sorry for your losses. Like Stuck, we went through multiple major losses from 1993 on and it is tremendously hard, but live now – take those doggies and Tunch in arm, eat as much breakfast as you can and slog through for your family (and they are there for you). It hurts horribly, but eventually gets easier. The older you get, the more death seems normal even when tragic. Now comes a new season of death for some of my friends. I try and support them best I can.

    Holbrooke will be missed, right up front and behind the scenes of foreign policy.

  91. 91.

    Rey

    Geez, thought I was the only one going through this. 2010 for me has been nothing but a death watch. Lost a much beloved Uncle in March to pancreatic cancer, a great Aunt in May to Alzheimer’s and buried my Grandpa last week. I’m a walking zombie right now but, life goes on…

  93. 93.

    Tsulagi

    Sorry for your losses, Cole. Sucks.

    @Dennis SGMM: True that. Feel very fortunate I have a tight extended family. This Thanksgiving was combined with a large family reunion mom made happen in my house. Stubborn, opinionated suckers from around the country and two from outside showed up. Thanks, mom. All good people. Well, except for the jerk potential new husband my sister brought with her. Brother agreed our sister can home in on asshole with an accuracy that would make a JDAM bow in reverence.

  94. 94.

    russell

    about a half hour after i first read this this morning, i got a call from my wife. a friend and colleague of hers was killed by a drunk driver on sunday night.

    brilliant, lovely young woman, 30 years old. she and her husband were supposed to take in her nieces next week for a year or so while her brother-in-law and his wife are stationed in iraq.

    my wife couldn’t stop crying on the phone.

    a personal request – it’s a festive and/or depressing time of year, there will be many opportunities to celebrate and/or drown out the season with a libation or two or five.

    have fun, enjoy yourself. then call a cab. please.

    sorry for your loss jon.

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