The American Spectator : The Spectacle Blog : Mark Kilmer

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This breaks my heart: Red State's Mark Kilmer becomes the latest on a growing list, just in the past 15 months, of conservatives called home too soon. Erick Erickson has a heartfelt and eloquent post about Mark here. I never met Mark, but I invariably liked his stuff. He and I agreed on most things, including most things involving intra-conservative disagreements. More than that, he was knowledgeable, thoughtful and witty -- and all of that came through on his blog posts, which is the only way (other than I think two quick email exchanges) that I knew him. This is a big loss. May Mark rest in God's love.

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Alan Brooks| 2.5.09 @ 2:37PM

very sad. it doesn't look anymore as if the patrimony's rearguard, let alone Old Guard, can be replaced. even as late as the mid '90s it looked like an Old School could be maintained in some form, as in the '80s.
but in the hurly burly (and herky jerky) of the last ten years the nomos has all but evaporated.
this era is the most bizarre transitional period i have ever witnessed, it makes the late '60s- early '70s, in terms of bewilderment, seem like a kiddies' scissor class cutting up paper dolls.
as a postfuturist the question for me is:
a transition to WHAT?

JimBob| 2.5.09 @ 10:55PM

I knew Mark from the old Prodigy online service in the early days of the Clinton adm. They online BBs had a Whitewater room where Mark was very active. Stayed in touch from time to time over the years. Rest in peace Mark

R_Murbach| 2.6.09 @ 9:13AM

I too knew Mark from the early days of Prodigy Classic's News BBs. I understand he had been going thru treatment for cancer but as of late I hadn't heard anything from others who knew him, so this comes to me as a shock. I am going to miss Mark - may he rest in peace!

Rayne Poussard| 2.6.09 @ 9:54AM

I am saddened upon learning of Mark Kilmer's passing. He was a wonderful and gentle man that I gladly called friend. Though we were diametrically opposed on most issues, I was always struck by the fact he always remained a friend and gentle person because he was never disagreeable. We knew of his valiant fight with throat cancer and we prayed he'd get well. We will miss him greatly. Though I lost track of Mark in the past couple years with a cancer of my own, I can only imagine how the events of the recent Nov 4th election and the fanfare of the new inauguration of the Obama Administration fueled his passion and intellect. Mark Kilmer was truly a compassionate soul and a brave warrior standing before that deadly disease that overcame him and the 360 degree turn for the better the American body politic took. I will think of Mark at Mass this Sunday and pray his place is with our Lord. To his family I offer my sincerest heartfelt sympathy and condolences and pray they find peace and happiness again.

Glen Litsinger| 2.6.09 @ 11:17AM

I am deeply saddened to hear of Mark's passing. I too "met" him on the old Prodigy BB's, and was always struck by his gentility and warmth, even in the face of sometimes vicious criticism. That quality has become increasingly rare in the past few years. He will be sorely missed.

Toni Litsinger| 2.6.09 @ 11:53AM

I too remember Mark from the old Prodigy boards. He was always a very kind gentleman even through the most heated discussions. RIP Mark. This world is a better place for you having been in it.

Nita Hall| 2.6.09 @ 11:55AM

Mark will be so missed! He and I got into several email debates over (are you ready for this?) whether Dubya was smiling or smirking. Mark said smirking. I didn't agree. That was probably the only thing on which we disagreed. He was a good guy.

Bill Fallin| 2.7.09 @ 1:56PM

I too remember Mark from the old Prodigy days. Like all of you I always considered him a realistic conservative voice, always a gentleman of character. May his soul rest in heaven.

And Rayne, I must say I do not believe this is the right place for you to throw in a political dig. I thought you would be able to resist the urge at least this once but I was wrong.

Kirsten Delilah| 10.27.09 @ 9:36PM

I didn't see a barb in what Rayne wrote. Possibly you're overreading or just misreading his kind words about Mark?

EA Griffith| 2.9.09 @ 1:15PM

Mark Kilmer's passing is a sad event for those of us who knew him; and a loss to the many who followed him and his writings lo' these many years.

Mark was driven from Prodigy due to my predecessor and he was the one former Bulletin Board Leader I couldn't entice back as Prodigy's last Communities Manager... despite lotsa pleading. I knew Prodigy's loss was the WWW's gain and certainly Mark deserved the large following he garnered, but I always felt the "hole" his leaving made.

May Mark RIP and may his family find solace and comfort in knowing how much Mark was respected, appreciated and adored for his unique ability to express his POV, regardless of which side of the aisle we sit on.

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