Andrew Breitbart RIP

Andrew Breitbart (1969-2012) of Big Goverment has passed away.

Ed Morrissey has a eulogy and a bit of a medical update:

Update: When a man as young as Andrew passes, everyone wonders how it could have happened.  According to Andrew’s father-in-law Orson Bean, he collapsed while taking a stroll near his home, and couldn’t be revived:

Breitbart was walking near his home in Brentwood, Calif just after midnight Thursday when he collapsed according to his father-in-law Orson Bean. Someone saw Breitbart fall and called 911. Emergency crews tried to revive him and rushed him to the emergency room at UCLA Medical Center, Bean said.

He is survived by his wife Susannah Bean Breitbart, 41, and four children.

MATT DRUDGE:

DEAR READER: In the first decade of the DRUDGEREPORT Andrew Breitbart was a constant source of energy, passion and commitment. We shared a love of headlines, a love of the news, an excitement about what's happening. I don't think there was a single day during that time when we did not flash each other or laugh with each other, or challenge each other. I still see him in my mind's eye in Venice Beach, the sunny day I met him. He was in his mid 20's. It was all there. He had a wonderful, loving family and we all feel great sadness for them today... MDRUDGE

 

Comments

[Charlie (Colorado)]

Holy crap.

[smackwater jack]

Let the conspiracy games begin.

Truly a tragedy.

[MarkO]

This is a great loss. I'm so sad for his family.

[Kurt]

I can't help but have all sorts of conspiracy ideas about this one. ACORN and SEIU (to name just two organizations) are pretty far-flung, and if some of their members wanted to target him, I wouldn't think it would have been too difficult for them to find some way of secretly poisoning him or something.

[Jim Ryan]

Thank you, Mr. Breitbart, for your courage and dedication to the truth.

[Not Sara]

CPAC goers--didn't Andrew say something about some Obama tapes he had and that they would come out soon? I do hope they do an autopsy.

[NK]

4 young children. Just tragic.

[Jim Ryan]

It takes an extraordinary person to withstand the volume and intensity of vitriol which was poured onto Andrew Breitbart by opponents of the truth.

[Porchlight]

Oh my goodness. I can't believe it. RIP. This is a terrible loss.

[Jim Ryan]

Mr. Breitbart had great courage. He looked right in the demons' faces and stood his ground. He knew he was right.

[Captain Hate]

I posted this previously from AoS:

The always classy Matt Yglesias twats: Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias),
"Conventions around dead people are ridiculous. The world outlook is
slightly improved with @AndrewBrietbart dead."

Jim Geraghty just responded to Matt Yglesias' comments on Twitter:

@mattyglesias If you write shit like that, you had better avoid me. You see me walking down the street, walk the other way.

[narciso]

Yglesias does prove himself to be in the top ranks of the nazgul, I refer more to the shrieking dragon, then to the riders.

[Porchlight]

Yes, Jim Ryan, he had great courage. Lord, our happy warriors are so few.

[MarkO]

Yglesias is the perfect example of what Obama has brought to this country.

[fdcol63]

As Obama advocated, he "got in their face" and "punched back twice as hard" and usually "brought a gun to a knife fight".

Some didn't like this about Breitbart, but I sure did.

[NK]

Dear Mr. Yglesias-- Jesus loves everyone, especially the fallen sinner like you; Of course he expects you to confess those sins and pray for redemption. When you fail to do that, the rathful God of Abraham lays in wait for your sorry soul to come and be judged. You shall be judged, and your immortal soul will suffer for eternity. I bet your few seconds of snark will make up for an eternity of endless pain.

[Ignatz]

CH said on a different thread someone would step up to fill Breitbart's shoes.
I'm less sure than he is.

[Captain Hate]

Wow Matty is doubling down on teh stoopid:

"If you think @Andrew Breitbart's opponents shouldn't be glad he's dead; you're not taking his work seriously."

[clarice feldman]

He was a brave fighter.

[Porchlight]

I don't understand - our good guys die young and the jerks seem to live forever.

[narciso]

Recall that is the etiquette, he learned at Dalton and Harvard, make way for our 'betters'

[Porchlight]

Cap'n @11:55 - I guess that's something of a backhanded compliment from juicebox loser. Still, "glad he's dead"? That is just sad.

[narciso]

You know even if one believed that, the better part of valor would be to put down
the shovel.

[MarkO]

At their maturity level it would be to put down the ducky.

[fdcol63]

Quite frankly, when sleeze-balls like Yglesias, Moulitsas, the Journolistas, and the Leftie freak posters at Huff-Po and DU hate your guts, then I think you've done alright.

Be proud that you've earned their hatred and venom.

You may be an "extremist", too. But one is right and good, while the other is wrong and evil.

[marlene]

Very sad day. We watched the CPAC speech on C-SPAN and were amazed at his courage.Hopefully his children will grow up knowing their Dad was a strong voice for truth. God Bless the family.

[Rocco]

So sad...Rest In Peace Andrew Breitbart

[Chubby]

((I can't help but have all sorts of conspiracy ideas about this one.))

My religious background teaches that people can be murdered mentally, via hatred and malice. I know that Christian Scientists get a lot a flak for their beliefs which sound kind of wacky, but it was the first thing I thought of when I heard about this untimely death.

[Porchlight]

Hey Yglesias, here's how it's done:

@donnabrazile Andrew Breitbart was a conservative political combatant who was unafraid of his critics. We battled on and off air, but he was a genius.

[Threadkiller]

Not Sara:

http://www.examiner.com/republican-in-los-angeles/andrew-breitbart-announces-he-has-college-video-of-young-obama-s-radical-perspec

Next conspiracy: it was something he ate at Bill Ayers house.

[Captain Hate]

Wow, kudos to Donna Brazile. She's far from my favorite person but I have to admire class when it displays itself.

[Frau Trauer]

Andrew Breitbart gave us his best, in person and in his internet sites. God bless him and his family.

I hope his Obama film is in a very secure place.

[Porchlight]

And another example for Yglesias:

“I was asked many times this morning for my thoughts on what Andrew meant to the political world, but all I can think of at the moment is what Andrew meant to me as a friend, starting from when we worked together,” Arianna Huffington wrote in an email to Yahoo News. “His passion, his exuberance, his fearlessness. And above all, what I’m thinking of at the moment is his amazing wife Susie and their four beautiful young children. My love and thoughts are with them right now.”

[Chubby]

this will separate the evil opponents from the misguided but worthy opponents

[Barbara]

I can't help but have all sorts of conspiracy ideas about this one.

My first thoughts were that they killed him. He had said recently that he was going to publish information re: Obama's earlier years, perhaps his college days.

Natural causes, well, we'll see.

God rest his brave soul and grant comfort to his family.

[Danube of Thought]

I'm very doubtful about a replacement. This guy was unique.

[Kurt]

I never thought I'd say or even think it, but I'd agree with Porchlight and Captain Hate: Kudos to Brazile for her comment.

[Jim Ryan]

that people can be murdered mentally, via hatred and malice

I agree, Chubby. A thousand demons screaming obscenities at you all day takes its toll on the physical body, unless you're one of the best of the best, a small select few who have not only perfect courage but also complete confidence and therefore perfect peace and ease.

[Extraneus]

Wow, kudos to Donna Brazile.

Yglesias said what he was thinking. Why should we believe that Brazile did?

We shouldn't inhibit these people from telling us what they really think.

[RealAmerican]

Who will be next? Sean, Rush? I predict Mark Levin who actually DOES have a heart problem.

BREITBART was MURDERED.

Watch this video:

http://www.mediaite.com/tv/watch-andrew-breitbarts-fiery-cpac-speech-i-have-college-days-obama-videos/

This was the man who spoke out BRAVELY against the radical obama.
So they SILENCED him....FOREVER

Even if you are liberal, democrat it doesn't matter --

DO YOU THINK THIS WAS A COINCIDENCE?

Brietbart "died unexpectedly of natural causes" at 43?!?!? Are you KIDDING ME?!?!

If you don't stand up for this NOW they will be coming for us ALL later

Please, spread the word.

[Porchlight]

I don't think there is a replacement either. Not yet, anyway. Maybe down the road if we're lucky.

Perhaps Drudge will be re-energized in the fight, in memory of his friend. I feel he's not been on his game lately.

[Captain Hate]

CH said on a different thread someone would step up to fill Breitbart's shoes.
I'm less sure than he is.

Iggy my good friend, I'm surprised that you, as a person of faith, aren't more optimistic about this. Something will fill the void. Breitbart was very much a product of the new media; if not for it he would've done something else and who knows what it would have been and if we would've even noticed it. But just like we couldn't imagine Marlene lurking for all that time and not joining the conversation, somebody will occupy a similar role as Breitbart did and it will happens so surreptitiously we won't even recognize it.

[Captain Hate]

Yglesias said what he was thinking. Why should we believe that Brazile did?

We have to take her at her word. If she's lying it will come out and she'll be diminished by it.

[Jim Ryan]

There is no evidence that Breitbart was murdered. I prefer to listen to the coroner's report, rather than to emotional speculations.

[jimmyk]

To wish (or be glad that) an opponent in the battle of ideas is dead indicates a complete lack of sincerity in one's own ideas as to prefer not to have to defend them. Not to mention a lack of dignity and basic decency. No surprise.

But I'd rather we not get all wacky like the left about conspiracy. I suspect we'll find out it was an aneurism or a heart attack. I can't think of too many other things that would take a 43-year-old with no warning.

[Ben Franklin]

It does sound funny. He died at midnight while walking in his Brentwood neighborhood.

Was Clinton and Hillary in town for the AAwards?

[bgates]

I prefer to listen to the coroner's report

Me too. I also prefer to not think too much about the fact that the coroner is an employee of Los Angeles County.

[Danube of Thought]

I take a bit of comfort knowing that this is what Yglesias looks like:

[Sue]

DoT,

That is wrong on so many levels. And...I love you. ::grin::

[Chubby]

DoT and Sue, LOL!

[Ignatz]

--Iggy my good friend, I'm surprised that you, as a person of faith, aren't more optimistic about this.--

I have faith in God not men, CH.:)

There will be some type of person to step up no doubt, but it seems unlikely it will be anyone with his unique style and ability to loudly and unapologeticly get in the left's face as he did.
But I do hope I'm wrong and you are right.

[AliceH]

DoT - Thanks for the huge, cleansing, laugh!

[Ignatz]

--But I'd rather we not get all wacky like the left about conspiracy.--

Mega dittos.
This is getting into tinfoil hat territory.

[Danube of Thought]

Josh Marshall takes the high road:

I noticed on my Facebook feed this morning this comment from my friend Hilary Rosen: “‎#AndrewBreitbart RIP you big crazy rabble-rousing bundle of contradictions, loathsome actions and a giant heart. You have made your mark.” I don’t think I can say anything more fitting.

He left his mark.

Beneath all the layers of our public life, we’re sons, daughters; parents to sons and daughters: naked people at our most vulnerable, true moments. This is way, way too young to die, something I know palpably since Breitbart was only a week or so older than I am.

Others knew him better, can memorialize him better. But for myself I wish the very best to his wife and children in this moment of unbearable grief and send my condolences to all his friends, of whom there were many.

[Barbara]

There is no evidence that Breitbart was murdered. I prefer to listen to the coroner's report, rather than to emotional speculations.

Of course, we have no evidence of anything except a very tragic death; however in these trying times, one cannot help but wonder at the timing and probability of the sudden death of Mr. Breitbart at the age of 43.

[Neo]

So who has the Obama college videos ?

Why do I keep thinking that these videos got him dead of "natural causes" ?

[Porchlight]

I am also the same age as Breitbart and it does indeed seem young.

It is tempting to wonder about the timing, especially after it was made known that he had those tapes in his possession, but on the other hand, he looked like he was carrying extra weight and might not be at his healthiest. I know of a few people who have died of heart attacks around that age and they were all barrel-chested men like Breitbart.

Part of my brain is still flashing on the hope that he's waiting in the wings somewhere to jump out at us and say "boo!"

[Porchlight]

I'm sure he made detailed plans for the care of all of his exclusive information including those videos, Neo. They are probably in good hands with copies carefully distributed. I will be surprised if they aren't released as planned.

[NK]

Josh Marshall behaves like a human being. Not high praise I know, but it's more than I expect from the Left these days.
BTW-- anybody who comments using the word 'murder' with no evidence or information of any kind, is hurting the family Breitbart just as badly as the Yglesias cretins, IMO.

[Threadkiller]

I remember this guy.

http://www.geoffmetcalf.com/WNDARCHIVE/19486.html

[centralcal]

Been away at a dental appointment. About Breitbart's health - early this AM Fox was bringing on all sorts of folks to discuss AB. Hannity was one, and he said that Breitbart indicated he had some heart health issues to him last year.

[Porchlight]

From Iowahawk:

David Burge @iowahawkblog

In honor of Andrew #Breitbart’s passing, please RT ever tweet celebrating his death. He would have wanted it that way.
1 Mar 12

I heartily agree. He took great joy in getting people all wee-weed up.

[Jim Ryan]

I have an athletic and extremely healthy acquaintance. He had an aneurism. The doctor said that a blood vessel in his neck had a wall that was - for no particular reason - a bit thin in one place and it finally gave out after a few decades of use.

[Frau Trauer]

From Greg Gutfeld:
"He's the only person I know who operated without a safety net. He always knew things would turn out the way they were supposed to - so he didn't worry about money or, i guess, his health, too much.

He was the spiritual leader of the modern conservative, libertarian cause. He was immersed in pop culture and wished to drag the right into the modern world - knowing this is how America speaks to the world. He was the heart of the matter. The fighter. Losing him is like a fiery planet going dark.

[centralcal]

I saw that earlier today, too, Porch - and several of his friends are taking up Iowahawk's challenge to do just that.

Exposing the left in all of its own excrement.

[NK]

I agree with Iowahawk. This is a tragedy for the Breitbart family, especially his wife and children. As for Mr. Breitbart, his was a life worth lived -- courageous, brilliant and he made a difference. That is more than most of us can ever attain.

[Ignatz]

--BTW-- anybody who comments using the word 'murder' with no evidence or information of any kind, is hurting the family Breitbart just as badly as the Yglesias cretins, IMO.--

Concur.

[NK]

And further BTW Dana-- anyone who uses the tragic death of a young husband and father as a straight line or punchline is pathetic, and a misanthrope.

[Extraneus]

Anyone listening to Rush?

He gave a great monologue on Andrew Breitbart. Very heartfelt, and he seemed to know him well.

For the past half hour, he's been cracking me up over the Georgetown Law woman who testified to Congress that she and the other women there ($45K tuition + $20K room and board) are having so much sex that they're going broke and need the rest of us to pay for it. He asked a logical question: Since they want us to pay for them to have sex, what does that make them?

The funniest part is all the congressional speeches from the Dems accusing Rush of calling every woman who has ever used birth control in her lifetime sluts and prostitutes.

[Jack is Back!]

My condolences to the Breitbart family. May Andrew's soul rest in peacec. The guy knew how to make lefties head's explode and I think he had tons of fun doing it. When you speak truth to power and volumes of it, you make a mark, a very visible mark.

Asshats like Yglegsias are warts on the ass of an ass. They carry the stigma of jealousy and meanness around with them as an unquenchable odor.

Every vile tweet the left made against Andrew he retweeted himself. IOW, he wanted all of us to understand how violent and cheap their rhetoric. What he did is expose their utter ignorance of right and wrong and put that stupidity on a pedastal for all to admire with Righteous Indignation.

[Danube of Thought]

I certainly hope that all the Yglesias-style comments on the left--and they are legion--will be duly collected and given a special place in the Museum of Progressive Thought.

[Jane]

I'm not worried about the videos. I suspect there are copies in 50 different places.

Where can we watch Sheriff Arpeo's press conference.

[Sara]

It is so unreal.

My son awakened me at 6 am to tell me and he was speculating on who, not what, killed Andrew Breitbart. However, I have since heard on the news that AB had mentioned not long ago that he was having some heart problems.

Andrew has assembled an excellent team at the "Bigs" and at Breitbart TV, highly competent people who will carry on the work he has started and hopefully as fearlessly as he did.

My thoughts and prayers are with his wife, Susie, and his 4 children. Go with God, Andrew.

[MarkO]

"He died at midnight while walking in his Brentwood neighborhood."

OJ!

[Threadkiller]

WND will live stream it Jane. I will look for the link.

Ext, I sent Rush an email. The "pill" is essential to women in the military. I posted a while ago a link to a study that showed how much greater a percentage of women use it in the military.

Regulating the menstrual cycle is very important for front line service women.

[Jack is Back!]

Uh oh!

All the ladies and gentlemen who volunteered to True the Vote in Wisconsin, the Dems and the Lefties are coming after you and the organizaiton. Nasty time once more in dairyland.

[bgates]

anybody who comments using the word 'murder' with no evidence or information of any kind

Here's information of some kind: A fairly young man who was passionately hated by literally millions of people has died suddenly of no obvious cause. That's not proof of foul play; it's not even evidence. But I don't see how you can equate saying that if anyone is responsible for this tragedy they should be brought to justice, with those who are celebrating the tragedy.

[Threadkiller]

Here:

http://www.wnd.com/2012/02/media-finally-paying-attention-to-eligibility/

[glasater]

Andrew Breitbart's passing is so terrible sad. He was a huge advocate for Sarah Palin. She must be broken hearted along with so many of us.

[Threadkiller]

This might be better, Jane:

http://www.wnd.com/arpaio-report/

[Captain Hate]

Nasty time once more in dairyland.

Those vermin are gripping hard. November can't come soon enough.

[Ben Franklin]

"anyone who uses the tragic death of a young husband and father as a straight line or punchline is pathetic, and a misanthrope"

If it was a straight-line, it was for the Conspiracy Theorists.

I didn't intend what you're suggesting.

[jimmyk]

It's driving me a bit crazy that all these MSM stories give a lot of space to his "credibility [getting] burned" over the Sherrod thing. Like this one from Yahoo news:

Breitbart drew heat when the speech was published in full, showing that selectively edited video had taken the remarks out of context--and Sherrod had been fired for it.

Note the passive voice ("selectively edited"), vaguely suggesting that he had edited it himself, and that it was something other than 40 minutes of uninterrupted video.

[NK]

Bgates-- your text is fine. Others however -- only a few-- have said he was 'murdered' or 'killed' for those reasons. That's what I was condemning as hurtful to the Breitbart family and everyone who loved Andrew Breitbart.

[Jane]

Do we have anyone here that lives in the tornado area that we need to check on?

[Gus]

The LEFT has NEVER debated the TRUTH of Breitbarts messages.
They attacked Breitbart.

The left is sick folks. If you haven't already come to that conclusion,open your eyes.

This is not a game, this is about our country.

Andrew Breitbart knew that.

[NK]

Dana-- what can I say, we have different standards. Using this husband and father's sudden and untimely death as a straight line to be snarky to people you don't agree with is pathetic and contemptible IMO. As you probably saw, I think using the word 'murder' or 'killed' with no evidence is also pathetic and contemptible. If you think that's all fine, what can I say.

[hit and run]

Ugh.

[centralcal]

Per his father-in-law, Orson Bean, Breitbart will have a coroner's autopsy to determine the cause of death, which is currently speculated to be a heart attack.

[bgates]

Since they want us to pay for them to have sex, what does that make them?

That's a good point.

Call me old-fashioned, but if I were to pay a girl to have sex, I'd want it to be with me.

[henry]

JiB, they may not like the True the Vote effort -- but compare this year's protest crowd to last year. Then shake in your boots -- from laughter.

[MarkO]

Terrible, but an unlikely conspiracy or even foul play. What one can expect is the hatred of those who support Obama for anyone who successfully challenged his policies. I followed AB on Twitter for several months and was shocked--really shocked not just rhetorically shocked--at the vileness of the left.

I remain in awe of anyone who enters public life, as AB or the presidental candidates in these times. Perpetual vituperation, made eternal.

[NK]

CC- it's good that the family is doing the autopsy. AB was a public figure, and an autopsy will let the public know what caused this tragedy. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision for the family, so we all owe a debt to the family for agreeing to do this.

[MarkO]

"Call me old-fashioned, but if I were to pay a girl to have sex, I'd want it to be with me." Or at least in the same room.

[Captain Hate]

Another turd weighs in: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/03/01/andrew-breitbart-1969-2012.html

[Sue]

Did we piss MayBee off? I see her posting elsewhere but she is ignoring us. ::sad face::

[Thomas Collins]

From CH's 2:24 PM post:

"Yet perhaps Breitbart’s most consequential innovation was his invention of a new kind of culture war."

Would anyone who knows Frum kindly educate him to the fact that what Frum refers to as "a new kind of culture war" is actually investigative journalist in its finest sense, that is, investigating whether the establishment is living up to its talking points.

[Sue]

Drudge has a link that says he had a history of heart trouble. And maybe, as Gutfeld noted, he didn't take his health seriously. I hope Gutfeld was wrong about his finances. I hope his wife and children are taken care of.

[Ben Franklin]

"Dana-- what can I say, we have different standards"

I have requested a Wake, because I hate funerals. I may even request a stand-up comedian to roast me, as I find the whole process morbid.

[jimmyk]

And there was this from Frum: "Breitbart sometimes got stories right (Anthony Weiner). More often he got them wrong (Sherrod)."

What the #[email protected]% is he talking about? Even if you accept that he was wrong on Sherrod, what else has he been wrong on? Other than offending Frum's dainty sensibilities, that is.