Jack Kemp has died

[ProfJohn]

Jack Kemp died from cancer it seems.

A little old for most posters on here, but he always seemed like a very classy guy.
The type of politician that doesn't seem to exist anymore.

Jack Kemp, the ex-quarterback, congressman, one-time vice-presidential nominee and self-described "bleeding-heart conservative" died Saturday.

His spokeswoman Bona Park and longtime friend and former campaign adviser Edwin J. Feulner confirmed that Kemp died after a lengthy illness.

Kemp had announced in January 2009 that he had been diagnosed with cancer. He said he was undergoing tests but gave no other detail.

Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell called Kemp "one of the nation's most distinguished public servants, Jack was a powerful voice in American politics for more than four decades."

Kemp, a former quarterback for the Buffalo Bills, represented western New York for nine terms in Congress, leaving the House for an unsuccessful presidential bid in 1988.

Eight years later, after serving a term as President George H.W. Bush's housing secretary, he made it onto the national ticket as Bob Dole's running-mate.

With that loss, the Republican bowed out of political office, but not out of politics. In speaking engagements and a syndicated column, he continued to advocate for the tax reform and supply-side policies ? the idea that the more taxes are cut the more the economy will grow ? that he pioneered.

Kemp's rapid and wordy style made the enthusiastic speaker with the neatly side-parted white hair a favorite on the lecture circuit, and a millionaire. (His style didn't win over everyone. In his memoirs, former Vice President Dan Quayle wrote that at Cabinet meetings, Bush would be irked by Kemp's habit of going off on tangents and not making "any discernible point.")

Kemp also signed on with numerous educational and corporate boards and charitable organizations, including NFL Charities, which kept him connected to his football roots.

Kemp was a 17th round 1957 NFL draft pick by the Detroit Lions but was cut before the season began. After being released by three more NFL teams and the Canadian Football League over the next three years, he joined the American Football League's Los Angeles Chargers as a free agent in 1960. A waivers foul-up two years later would land him with the Buffalo Bills, who got him at the bargain basement price of $100.

 

[woodie1]

Saw that headline a few minutes ago. Made me pause.

 

[ProfJohn]

He's sort of a hero to the supply siders so I expect to see a lot hate towards him on this forum.

 

[newnameman]

RIP

 

[Lemon law]

I can say RIP Jack Kemp , but I can't honestly say he had a positive effect on America as anything but an excellent football player. Jack Kemp had every right to enter the political arena, but his untimely death does not enable or detract from that political legacy.

My judgment of Jack Kemp remains unaltered even if my sympathies must rest with his family. Cancer is no something I could wish on anyone, as somewhat of a bipartisan savage killer without any mercy.

 

[shiner]

I met him on several occasions when he was Dole's VP candidate, I worked on the campaign here in Oklahoma, and had lunch with him and about 8 other people one day. Say what you want about his politics, but he was a very nice and down to Earth guy that truly cared about people. The world could use a lot more people like him.

He also had some incredible football stories and could entertain you for hours with them.

 

[PrinceofWands]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
He's sort of a hero to the supply siders so I expect to see a lot hate towards him on this forum.

Not towards him personally, just his ridiculous ideas. *shrug* nobodies perfect.

RIP.

 

[Thump553]

Originally posted by: ProfJohn
He's sort of a hero to the supply siders so I expect to see a lot hate towards him on this forum.

On the contrary, I disagreed with his ideas but greatly respected the man. In fact I thought more highly of him than the modern GOP neogod, Ronald Reagan.

The sad fact is that no one at all in the current GOP-where religious authoritarian doctrine is paramount and fiscal conservative is just window dressing has anything approaching the intellectual honesty or character of Kemp.

 

[Schadenfroh]

He was before my time, but seems to have been a good fellow. RIP

 

[miketheidiot]

as opposed to most of the current republicans, kemp was at least respectable.

seems to have been a decent dude, too bad his policies sucked

 

[ericlp]

Originally posted by: miketheidiot
as opposed to most of the current republicans, kemp was at least respectable.

seems to have been a decent dude, too bad his policies sucked

Thats where religion gets you. I don't mind repubs it's the religion that they try to force down everyone's throats that I mind about. I guess I'm just not sure why they fail to understand separation from church and state. Almost all of them have bad theology. Not saying as a whole just the ones they elect.

 

[Dualist]

RIP Jack Kemp

He was a great man.

 

[Skitzer]

Condolences to his family .......... RIP Jack