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You are here: Home / Absent Friends / RIP / Well, This Sucks Really Hard

Well, This Sucks Really Hard

by John Cole|  March 7, 20149:48 pm| 39 Comments

This post is in: RIP

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RIP, Bartcop.

You know how I know he was a good guy? Because like Steve Gilliard and Billmon and the Poorman and the BradRocket, he pissed me the fuck off when I was a Republican. I can’t think of a better epitaph.

Enjoy the long quiet.

*** Update ***

Here is TBOGG’s eulogy, and Bartcop’s last post, in which he asks for help for his wife and the mortgage. If you are so inclined, please give. I’m in.

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Reader Interactions

39Comments

  1. 1.

    MikeJ

    March 7, 2014 at 9:52 pm

    Wearing my Juliefest 2002 t-shirt in his honor.

  2. 2.

    raven

    March 7, 2014 at 9:55 pm

    I’ll move that.

  3. 3.

    Drunken hausfrau

    March 7, 2014 at 9:56 pm

    Wow. How sad. Steve Gilliar is how I started reading you, back when you were crazy. Bart and Tbogg were some of my early addiction… So sad.

  4. 4.

    Biscuits

    March 7, 2014 at 9:57 pm

    @Drunken hausfrau:
    Me too! I landed here after Steve Gillard passed. Will miss Bartcop as well.

  5. 5.

    Not Adding Much to the Community

    March 7, 2014 at 9:59 pm

    Bartcop was a liberal blogger before there was such a thing. I had the good fortune to get to hang out with him a few times when he came to Vegas. We smoked some of God’s flowers and split a $100 shot of tequila at the Hard Rock casino. He was a real mensch. A toast to you, Mr. Coppage.

  6. 6.

    mellowjohn

    March 7, 2014 at 9:59 pm

    don’t forget doghouse Riley.

  7. 7.

    Betty Gray

    March 7, 2014 at 10:00 pm

    I loved his site, and read it several times a week.

  8. 8.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    March 7, 2014 at 10:00 pm

    Holy crap! I hadn’t been by BartCop in quite a while, but I do remember him as a go-to place for some kind of sanity in the depth of the Bush years. RIP.

  9. 9.

    Not Adding Much to the Community

    March 7, 2014 at 10:01 pm

    Can I get my comment unmoderated, please? I used a forbidden word, probably the one that describes the main type of business in Las Vegas.

  10. 10.

    Not Adding Much to the Community

    March 7, 2014 at 10:01 pm

    Can I get my comment unmoderated, please? I used a forbidden word, probably the one that describes the main type of business in Las Vegas.

  11. 11.

    Mart

    March 7, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    Noticed a web address on Tom Tomorrow’s cartoon back when the Bush Cheney war drums were beating. From there found my way to Bartcop. Have been hooked since, even when he is just as wrong and stubborn as Cole. I will miss him.

  12. 12.

    Poopyman

    March 7, 2014 at 10:03 pm

    Like I said when I responded to Hilts down below:

    Well, fuck.

  13. 13.

    gbear

    March 7, 2014 at 10:04 pm

    I’m not sure how well this link will work for non-FB users, but this seemed like something BJ’ers might want to see:

    Emergency Assistance Needed in Rowan County NC!
    We were contacted by a woman whose sister died in an accident last night. The lady had over 30 gorgeous adult dogs and 6 four month old puppies. We think they look like retriever/border collie mixes. These dogs are not current on vaccines and obviously not spayed and neutered. At least 1 may be pregnant. We’ve been given 1-2 weeks to find placement for these dogs or they will have to go to the shelter. Our shelter is a very small rural one and does NOT have room for these dogs :(

    edit: email contact is rachelfromrowan (at) gmail.com.

  14. 14.

    sharl

    March 7, 2014 at 10:08 pm

    Here is TBogg’s tribute over at Raw Story.

  15. 15.

    JenJen

    March 7, 2014 at 10:28 pm

    What!! What???

    OMG. Bartcop. In the early Bush years, before Cole flipped sides, he and Atrios were my sanctuary.

    I’m heartbroken. No. Really? No!!

  16. 16.

    GHayduke (formerly lojasmo)

    March 7, 2014 at 10:40 pm

    He and I had some pretty epic arguments in the first term of Obama’s administration. He tended to be a bit of a firebagger/Hillary holdout, and I, clearly, am a rabid Obot, but he was a good egg all in all.

    He will be missed, crochety old dude he was. I’ll be subscribing tomorrow.

    ETA: Would have loved for him to see Clinton rise to the POTUS.

  17. 17.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 7, 2014 at 11:08 pm

    I generally only went to Bartcop when someone linked there, but it is sad to see another early blogger go. As Tbogg noted, outside of Salon’s Table Talk (my little home before Eschaton, then here), there weren’t very many outlets for sane people in 2000-2003ish. Condolences to his family and friends.

  18. 18.

    danielx

    March 7, 2014 at 11:17 pm

    Bartcop was one of the first blogs I followed, along with Steve Gilliard. I knew from some of his references that he’d been sick for some considerable time, but didn’t know exactly what ailed him.

    Poorer for his passing.

  19. 19.

    JenJen

    March 7, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus: Exactly. Bartcop was an OG and should be celebrated as such.

    I’m really sad. Glad to know Cole is eating better. We’re gonna need him.

  20. 20.

    Blehmann

    March 7, 2014 at 11:30 pm

    He posted a picture of my soldier son in uniform being carried by his cousin wearing an anti bush shirt. He was my introduction to the blogosphere. I am shocked that he is gone.

  21. 21.

    hamletta

    March 8, 2014 at 12:33 am

    Bartcop was a daily visit during the Clinton Inquisition. I knew he had cancer, and didn’t expect to live this long. Still, this is sad. Poor Mrs Bartcop!

  22. 22.

    gian

    March 8, 2014 at 12:34 am

    I recall how vibrant his community was in the days of the supreme court’s only for republican candidates decision in Bush v Gore.
    I think I found him when arguing with folks over the “liberal media” line being bullshit.
    and this was one of my favorite rants:

    (from December 2000)
    The Myth of the “liberal” media

    Let’s do a “what if” so I can make a point. I think it’s a good one.
    I think it’s so good, I’d like to hear from anyone who disagrees.

    What if a show like Dateline did a “hatchet job” on George W. Bush?
    It wouldn’t have to really be a hatchet job, but any honest appraisal of that idiot’s
    qualifications would prove he’s a non-thinking rich man’s boy – and that’s all.
    But what would happen if Dateline did an unflattering portrait of Bush?

    I’ll tell you what would happen:

    The vulgar Pigboy would spend at least three hours saying it wasn’t true
    and he’d offer hours of rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Bill O’Reilly would spend at least an hour on his show saying
    it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Sean Hannity would walk all over Alan Colmes for an hour that night,
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Eva Von Zahn would spend at least an hour that night saying it wasn’t true
    and she’d offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    The Beltway Boys would spend at least an hour that night saying it
    wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Brit Hume and Tony Snow would spend at least an hour on Sunday
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Juan Williams and Mara Liason would spend their entire allotted time
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    John McLaughlin would spend at least an hour on his syndicated show
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Chris the Screamer would spend at least an hour on his show
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    G. Gordon Liddy would spend at least three hours on his radio show
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Laura the Whore would spend at least an hour on her radio show
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Michael Medved would spend at least an hour on his radio show
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Sam and Cokie would spend at least an hour on This Whore
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    George (Judas Maximus) Steffi and George (dumb as a chimp) Will
    would spend their entire allotted time swearing that it wasn’t true.

    Bob Scheiffer would spend at least an hour on Face the Whore
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Tim the Catholic would spend at least an hour on Meet the Whore
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    John Hockenberry would spend at least an hour on his show
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Ollie North would spend at least an hour on his radio show
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Robert Novak would spend at least an hour on his cable TV show
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Paul Weyrich would spend at least an hour on his cable TV show
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Still with me? We’re close to the end…

    BSNBC’s Brian Williams would spend at least an hour on his show
    saying it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Wolf the Whore would spend at least an hour on his show saying
    it wasn’t true and offer rebuttal as to why Dateline was lying.

    Bill Schneider and Candy Crowley would do an hour special on CCN
    (Clinton Cock Network) saying it wasn’t true, and offering rebuttal.

    John Stossel would have a special on ABC: Is lying OK for liberals?

    Then Howie Kurtz would spend 30 minutes on Reliable Sources asking
    if the media wasn’t being too hard on a developmently-disabled child.

    Barbara Olson would write a book condemning Dateline.
    Ann Coulter would write a book condemning Dateline.
    Laura Ingraham would write a book condemning Dateline.
    Peggy Noonan would write a book condemning Dateline.
    Andrew Sullivan would write a book condemning Dateline.
    William Safire would write a book condemning Dateline.

    OK, we’re going to call the above “Exhibit A.”

    Now, everyone on that list has done at least a dozen hit pieces on Clinton.

    My question is, Where is “Exhibit B?”

    When those 38 people attack Clinton and his cock, who does the rebuttal?

    Even you ditto-sheep have to admit that nobody on that list
    has EVER defended a fabricated lie against the president.

    There is no “Exhibit B,” because there are so few liberal voices on television.
    The closest you can get is Eleanor on McLaughlin or Geraldo, but there is barely
    a liberal whisper on television, even though there are DOZENS of right-wing,
    Smirk-apologist shows whose livelyhood is lying about liberals.

    I don’t think you ditto-heads can offer an answer.

  23. 23.

    Wallis Lane

    March 8, 2014 at 1:11 am

    Such sad news. His site was a daily visit for me. Always great to hear him rage against the “pink-tutu” Democrats and the “Bush Crime Family,” and mock the fellow denizens of his home state Oklahoma. A shot of Chinaco to that true fighter ol’ Bart. Keep swinging that big hammer wherever you are.

  24. 24.

    Andre the Defiant

    March 8, 2014 at 1:19 am

    I used to be a typical insufferable conservative prick. I was one of those guys who, after 9/11, pointed a finger at liberal friends and said “Hah! Aren’t you glad Bush won now?” Then, during the lead up to the Iraq War, one of those friends told me I needed to check out bartcop.com. I couldn’t believe how much this badly laid out web site pissed me off. But I kept reading and fuming… and clicking his links.

    Three months later I was marching with the same friend in an anti-war march in downtown San Diego. I’ve never voted for a Republican again. “Bart” truly changed my world view.

    I hate to admit that I haven’t been to his site in years, but tonight I think I’ll put on some Garbage, have a large Chinaco, and go donate.

  25. 25.

    GregB

    March 8, 2014 at 1:22 am

    RIP Bartcop.

    His site was one my very first political blogs. Used to read it at the old insurance company I worked at every day.

    Sorry to hear.

  26. 26.

    JenJen

    March 8, 2014 at 1:28 am

    @Not Adding Much to the Community: That’s such a great story. Thanks for sharing that, for real.

  27. 27.

    Thor Heyerdahl

    March 8, 2014 at 2:36 am

    He was a lighthouse of hope in the midst of all the fog of war and Bush’s empire escapades.

    Here’s some dosh for the mortgage and a shot of Tequila in his honour.

    RIP

  28. 28.

    satby

    March 8, 2014 at 6:34 am

    I stopped there occasionally, now wishing I had popped by more often. Sending a donation now.

  29. 29.

    c u n d gulag

    March 8, 2014 at 7:54 am

    NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    He was GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

    Where will I get my cartoon and comic fix, now?
    Plus, he was a terrific writer.

    I wish I had some money to send to his wife, for the house.
    But, sadly, I don’t…

    RIP.
    Ya done good!

  30. 30.

    Michael Bersin

    March 8, 2014 at 7:58 am

    If I recall correctly, my first ever blog post was on Bartcop’s site – an account of a small number of us picketing Dick Cheney’s photo-op at the U.S. Treasury Service Center in Kansas City in July 2001 (where they were printing the checks for dubya’s disastrous “tax rebate”). I sent my description of the event to Bartcop via e-mail. He replied, “This would be even better with photos, don’t you think?” I had to get the film developed and then scan the prints. A few days later the post was up.

    In those good old days we used chisels and stone tablets. Times have changed.

    If blogtopia had existed then to the extent it does now dubya’s cronies would have never been able to steal the 2000 presidential election.

    Bartcop was among the very first. He definitely was an original.

  31. 31.

    soprano2

    March 8, 2014 at 8:44 am

    That’s sad, Bartcop was a great writer. His was the first blog I ever read daily. I bought an election 2000 T-shirt from him, I’ve still got it. It says “Don’t blame me, I voted for the guy who got the most votes”. He’ll be missed.

  32. 32.

    pablo

    March 8, 2014 at 9:33 am

    Oh man, really sad. After Buzzflash, Bartcop was my first introduction to aggressive liberalism on the net. It never changed and always hit the sweetspot. Thanks Bart for publishing many of my ‘toons back in the day. I had numerous contacts with him over the years, and his honesty was miles ahead of his computer skills (snark).
    The one thing you can take with you, in the end, is your integrity. He had that in spades.
    RIP

    Update: I shall now don my GWB “WORST PRESIDENT EVER” tee for the rest of the day.

  33. 33.

    Schlemizel

    March 8, 2014 at 9:47 am

    @GHayduke (formerly lojasmo):
    The only break I ever took in 18 years was during that period where he could not give up Hillary & the Obots could not make peace with him. I much prefer us using our ammo on the lying nazi whores, the media whores and the Rethugicans than on each other. We had a pleasant email exchange about that (I wrote him many times & he published several things I sent him, I was Mark – the lesser ape) and I went to only glancing at his site once or twice a week until that passed. Other than that bartcop.com was a daily stop for nearly 20 years and my favorite place on the web until JC turned from the dark side.

    He started because he worked at a place he was force to listen to Mush Lamebrain every day & raging on the newly born internet was his way of dealing with the lies and thugery of that bloated drug abusing pedophile. As the blogosphere grew his star faded a bit but he still was a force for truth, justice and the American way. Damn I hate cancer

  34. 34.

    TheWatcher

    March 8, 2014 at 10:44 am

    It is hard to believe. He published many of my articles, and introduced me to some of the favorite people I have in my life.

    I shot of Chinaco Anejo to you, my friend. It’s the end of an era.

  35. 35.

    Gravie

    March 8, 2014 at 11:10 am

    I have one of his “Worst President Ever” signs, which I carried proudly and loudly at the counter-inaugural demonstration in DC in 2005. I really needed Bartcop during the dark years of Bush ascendant and I am very sorry to hear that he’s gone.

  36. 36.

    pseudonymous in nc

    March 8, 2014 at 2:57 pm

    Bartcop was there at the beginning. RIP.

  37. 37.

    Patrick in Michigan

    March 8, 2014 at 3:58 pm

    I wrote about it too. See here.

  38. 38.

    Thursday

    March 11, 2014 at 7:18 pm

    Ouch!

    He was the first blogger I ever heard – I made a donation to him (a hundred bucks, but it was Canadian, so… $12.95?) and he sent me a couple CDs.

    Yeah, I’m old. What’s your point? More Cranky Old Men with Liberal Views! Wooo!

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