The Toll
One more, if you will. We remember Andrew's tirelessness, his energy, his delight at chest-bumping the barricades with a come-at-me, bro grin, right? Right. But it took its toll; it had to.
He was at my house last summer for a party, and it was a great raucous event - everyone was his friend by the end, if they wanted to be. Andrew stayed late. Everyone else was gone. We were having a last drink in the kitchen, waiting for his cab. He was leaning up against the counter, expressing frustrations about how he was regarded by the establishment right, the difficulty of getting the message through the thick stone walls of the mainstream media, the damned toll of it all sometimes, the discouraging moments when rewards seemed scant.
He could tire, and did; perhaps he had his moments of self-doubt that may have stabbed as deep as any conviction he was on the right path. I remember that conversation, because it was the opposite of everything else he always was - and it made who he was all the more remarkable.
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Aug '10
Re: The Toll
When will we hear the Bernie Goldberg story ?
It has been a horribly long day. I feel like I'm six years old and somebody just shot Davy Crockett.
It is hard having heroes and losing them .
Jul '10
Re: The Toll
The things we discover that we don't know of each other in this life, are probably the most valuable revelations we can learn. Today I thought that I would be lamenting the loss of a colossal force in a movement, but instead I find my heart breaking for a wife and four young children.
Safe home, Mr. Breitbart.
May '10
Re: The Toll
The lasting memory I have is the last word Andrew spoke on the "Hating Breitbart" trailer: "War."
His call at CPAC was for us to join the army against the Institutional Left. As Robert Gould Shaw says at the end of "Glory": "If this man falls, who will pick up the flag?"
We all need to...
Jun '10
Re: The Toll
I just wish he didn't feel like he had to save the world from evil socialist tyranny all by himself, by tomorrow. To save America on Andrew's expedited schedule was hard going, I'm sure. It was for him.
Apr '11
Re: The Toll
I am sure that retweeting all of that bile he received had an effect at least subconsciously.
Oct '10
Re: The Toll
Thank you for sharing that, James. It makes a personality who often seemed superhuman more human, and inspires those of us left to carry on the struggle to persist, even when weary and embattled, and appreciate the personal cost of what we're attempting to do.
May '11
Re: The Toll
Using the terminology of Malcolm Gladwell in the Tipping Point: In the epidemic that we call the new media, Andrew Breitbart was a Connector, Maven and Salesman all rolled into to one. What a huge loss.
May '10
Re: The Toll
John Davey: The things we discover that we don't know of each other in this life, are probably the most valuable revelations we can learn. Today I thought that I would be lamenting the loss of a colossal force in a movement, but instead I find my heart breaking for a wife and four young children.
Safe home, Mr. Breitbart. ยท 4 hours ago
I feel the same way, John. I find myself tearing up at unexpected times as I think about Breitbart's friends and family who are missing him. I'm sorry you've lost your friend, James.
Jun '10
Re: The Toll
Thanks for that, James.
Aug '10
Re: The Toll
Yes, thanks.
Dec '10
Re: The Toll
A wonderful, poignant memory to hold onto, James. Thank you for sharing with us.
I'm struck by how many contributors to this most excellent community are deeply affected by the loss of this man. What a wonderful tribute to be immediately missed in this way.
I pray that, someday, all these sentiments and the comments they inspire bring a measure of comfort to those who knew him best and miss him most.
Re: The Toll
And thank you all for reading.
Apr '11
Re: The Toll
There are many things I could say; a simple "thank you" for sending this our way must suffice.
Feb '12
Re: The Toll
Wonderfully stated.