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Question of the day

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* I’m leaving in a few minutes to have lunch with Wordslinger’s brother. I’m not sure when I’ll be back, but I’m taking my laptop just in case someone else gets raided. Please be nice to each other while I’m gone.

* The Question: Is there anything you’d like to convey to Wordslinger’s family about what he meant to you, or this website or this state?

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:04 pm

Comments

“but I’m taking my laptop just in case someone else gets raided. ”

You mean, you want it in your possession and not in your house?

Just kidding…

Comment by Ok Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:09 pm
Memories of Wordslinger’s contributions make me want to be better. smarter, and more concise.

Comment by Simple Simon Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:10 pm
We’re trying to live up to his high standards of not only being good commenters, but better citizens.

Thank you for sharing him.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:11 pm
All I know of Wordslinger was his contribution to this blog, which thought-provoking and knowledgeable. I’m this was a small part of his activities, but I am so happy he took the time to sling words here.

Comment by My New Handle Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:12 pm
Wordslinger possessed that most uncommon of characteristics, common sense. He shared it generously. He is missed.

Comment by West Sider Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:17 pm
His absence is felt every day on this website. I miss him very much - I often think “what would Wordslinger be saying about this …”

Comment by Rachel Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:20 pm
Wordslinger—my best friend I never met.
Public discourse at it’s finest.

Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:22 pm
Let them know I miss his comments every single time I check the blog.

Comment by Give Me A Break Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:23 pm
When I only had time to read one person’s comments in a thread, they were his.

Comment by union proud Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:29 pm
Vi savner brorens klare observasjoner om statlige myndigheter. Du skal være stolt av ham.

Translation: We miss your brother’s astute observations about state government. You should be proud of him.

Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:29 pm
He is missed but will not be forgotten by people who read this website.

Comment by Steve Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:30 pm
Last thing, sorry…

His impact on policy, governing, and politics is immeasurable.

He was a giant.

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:31 pm
Miss his comments.

Comment by Back to the Future Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:34 pm
Wordslinger deeply cared about the most vulnerable and those in need of government help, and he was outraged by what was purposely done to them by those of privilege and great wealth. He said they were “tuned up” in the squeeze the beast ploy.

He was inspirational in his ability to see past what people said and to look at their actions. Please thank them for his compassion and laser-sharp analytical focus. He is deeply missed.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:34 pm
I often drive by the spot where he was killed. It’s so painful to think about his loss.

Comment by Soccermom Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:37 pm
Wordslinger?

He was the best at the thing I like most.

G.O.A.T.

– MrJM

Comment by @misterjayem Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:38 pm
It was like having a friend you could count on to know their facts, be honest, speak from the heart and give you a deeply thoughtful perspective on things. And also like having a friend who would call you out on your bs and give you a swift kick in the rear.

Comment by Earnest Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:45 pm
This is still a great place, but it’s not the same without him and never will be again.

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:50 pm
I still have coffee stains from his insight, never a dull moment

Comment by Rabid Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:58 pm
His comments were a great way to digest the posts’ contents. Sort of a Cliff’s notes to what was actually happening and he did it with wit and outstanding articulation.

Comment by Kentucky Bluegrass x Featherbed Bent x Northern California Sinsemilla Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 1:59 pm
It says something that all the people who comment on this blog had respect for what he had to say.

Comment by Ginhouse Tommy Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:00 pm
I read the comments before I notice who posted them. When I laughed out loud, it was usually then I noticed wordslinger as the author.

Comment by Rutro Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:02 pm
Please know we also miss him.

Comment by Anyone Remember Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:07 pm
Word was an intelligent voice in world that lacks reasonable discourse. He could keep his cool and address people here on the blog that I simply couldn’t without being banned.

He is the first person that I never met and didn’t know his name that left me with a sense of loss.

Comment by JS Mill Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:17 pm
I didn’t know him, but I enjoyed reading his thoughts - which were always intelligent and informed. He was one of the names here that I always look for, because he added a lot. Oswego Willy would be another, for example.

Comment by Christopher Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:21 pm
Did not know him personally, but noted his comments. He was the reasoned voice on this site.

Comment by Bogey Golfer Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:26 pm
Unmatched.

Comment by downstateR Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:31 pm
“He is the first person that I never met and didn’t know his name that left me with a sense of loss.”

Absolutely. After years of reading his comments, I felt like I knew him. Which is of course ridiculous on my part, but he was that good of a communicator. I learned so much from him, and am eternally grateful he took the time to share his wisdom.

Comment by perrier Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:34 pm
ps- It was heartening to learn from the Go Fund Me page that his daughter is studying journalism. I’m sure she’ll be great at it and I’ll be rooting for her.

Comment by perrier Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:37 pm
I second what everyone else has said. I would just add that he was a hip dude who knew the score.

Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:43 pm
I wish I had the words to say something different that others have expressed, but I’m ill-equipped to do so.

Suffice it to say, I miss Wordslinger and his contributions to the discourse.

CSI

Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:48 pm
That no matter how much we miss him, I imagine it’s a million times worse for his family.

He cannot be replaced.

(Best wishes for his family in their continued endeavors. Expecting big things from Emma!)

Comment by Lynn S. Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:49 pm
No one on this blog showed me how to cut through the BS and see what is really going on in a story better than Wordslinger. I learned tons from him. I, like I’m sure everyone else here, miss him.

Comment by Nick Name Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 2:55 pm
Never met him, but felt like I knew him from all his insights that he shared with the people on this blog. He is missed every day. Impossible to replace. God Bless

Comment by Big Joe Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 3:04 pm
When I see interesting quotes I plug them into a file on my phone and occasionally review them. I just did a search knowing I had to have saved a Wordslinger. Here it is, “His natural sneakiness and contempt for the process makes him incapable of doing the job the right way and in the public interest.” He was referring to the previous IL governor at the time, but it currently rings true of another unconventional US public official.

Comment by Robert W. Bugswell III Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 3:06 pm
Haven’t had a really good fight since he left. Miss him. Hope his daughter is doing really well.

Comment by A guy Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 3:08 pm
oh how I miss him. he was funny but filled with substance. when he gave you a nod on the blog, it was gold, something I always shared with others, very touching and important to me. we miss him so much.

Comment by Amalia Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 3:21 pm
Wordslinger didn’t suffer jerks. He ripped certain people new ones, which made for entertaining reading.

Comment by Grandson of Man Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 3:40 pm
Rest In Peace my dear friend life just isn’t the same without you.

Comment by Golden rule Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 3:45 pm
You can tell his brother I always aspired to Wordslinger’s level of writing … and this is coming from someone with a number of published books and currently a publisher / editor for 12 years of a car club newsletter. Word set a really high standard for this blog.

Comment by RNUG Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 3:46 pm
I respected his insight even when I disagreed. He taught me a few things that I am still working to achieve.

Comment by FormerParatrooper Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 4:06 pm
Wordslinger was the commenter I looked forward to hearing from the most. His comments sliced though issues like a knife through butter, and no one in their right mind wanted to incur his wrath. But I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet him. He was able to do what I always struggle to do with words that fully explained why I felt the way I did on issues, when I had trouble doing anything more than grasp in the darkness for words that brought justice to my thoughts. But while his commentary would ruthlessly brush away the careless thoughts of lesser mortals, he had the heart of a saint, and no doubt he would give his all to help a stranger in need. I miss him sorely.

Comment by PublicServant Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 4:24 pm
He could be overly harsh at times towards those who repeatedly expressed dumb opinions not supported by fact, so basically a man after my own heart. I admired his ability to somehow always respond to those people in a way that didn’t get his posts held for moderation - something that many of us struggle to do.

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 4:25 pm
Please tell him that Wordslinger’s Public Affairs Reporting classmates, of which I was one, missed him at the Chicago PAR reunion last month — and, more importantly, collectively send his family condolences on such a sad loss for us all.

Comment by Porter McNeil Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 4:31 pm
He influenced the way I write, the way I think, and the way I feel about many issues.

I think about him more often than family members I’ve lost, and I never even had the chance to meet him.

There’s no way he ever understood the impact he had on so many strangers.

Comment by Excitable Boy Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 5:25 pm
He saw clearly.
He knew the politics and the common man/woman.
He said more with less.
He inspired.

Comment by Res Melius Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 5:56 pm
Leave the word salad, take the canolli

Comment by SAP Wednesday, Oct 30, 19 @ 8:46 pm