John McLaughlin Has Died

[+ azdr0710]

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/legendary-talk-show-host-john-mclaughlin-dies-n632131

 

here's an edited, somewhat funny, youtube from 2008....and read the comments below it, most posted today

 

[+ WilliamM]

here's an edited, somewhat funny, youtube from 2008....and read the comments below it, most posted today

 

Very, very funny. I stopped watching the show many years ago. But, I am sad at John's passing...one of a kind.

[mattr]

Loved the show... I will miss him.

[Moondance]

I stopped watching the show many years ago...

Me too. Can't say why; I just lapsed out of the habit of it, but it was a habit for many years. I hadn't thought about it before, but there's a decided similarity between the interactions on the show and those in the Politics Forum here.

[+ WilliamM]

Me too. Can't say why; I just lapsed out of the habit of it, but it was a habit for many years. I hadn't thought about it before, but there's a decided similarity between the interactions on the show and those in the Politics Forum here.

 

Cable took the format and had more time for each topic. I did not remember that John had been a Jesuit priest. I might have liked him more away from that show. The 30 minutes went by so quickly, I never had much time to get to "know" him.

[AdamSmith]

Likewise long ago I would try to catch it every week. Mostly to enjoy the contributions of Jack Germond, self-styled Fat Man in a Middle Seat.

 

[JayCeeKy]

John was a member of the New England Jesuits (Jebbies), I believe, until he was hired as a speech writer for Reagan. I thoroughly enjoyed his show (esp Eleanor Clift) and religiously taped it each weekend until about a year ago when it became too embarrassing to watch given that John would sometimes bring up a topic that had just been discussed, sometimes appeared confused and unfocused, and, quite frankly, had difficulty articulating a coherent question. Even though I thoroughly disagreed with his Reaganesque political views (and his bold declaration in 2012 that Mitt-Wit would win), I thought he was a gentleman and a scholar - and have a "metaphysical certitude" that he is in a good place. Bye-bye, John.

[Moondance]

Likewise long ago I would try to catch it every week. Mostly to enjoy the contributions of Jack Germond, self-styled Fat Man in a Middle Seat.

I shared your appreciation of Jack Germond, AdamSmith ... and admired his savvy/grumpy/shrewd/suffer-no-fools style.

John was a member of the New England Jesuits (Jebbies), I believe, until he was hired as a speech writer for Reagan. I thoroughly enjoyed his show (esp Eleanor Clift).

Enjoyed Eleanor Clift too ... always wondered if one day she'd leap from her chair and beat Pat Buchanan to death. (Interesting tidbit: her first husband was the brother of Montgomery Clift.)

 

As to McLaughlin's speechwriting, I'm pretty sure it was for Nixon.

[JayCeeKy]

As to McLaughlin's speechwriting, I'm pretty sure it was for Nixon.

 

You are correct, it was Tricky Dick. I might note that Nixon had another priest, Fr. John Cronin, as a speechwriter when he was Vice President (see "RN" for full story). Cronin was instrumental in directing Nixon towards communist influence in the unions. Many years later Cronin apologetically called this period "the sins of my youth."

 

Interesting tidbit: her first husband was the brother of Montgomery Clift.

 

As you probably know, Montgomery Clift was sexually active with both men and women. He reportedly had affairs with choreographer Jerome Robbins and actor Roddy McDowell. He was arrested in 1949 on 42nd Street in NYC for solicitation of prostitution (male) though the studio quietly got the charges dropped.

[+ ArVaGuy]

I liked how Germond would casually give McLaughlin the middle finger when he was pissed. He would scratch his cheek with the middle finger and scowl at McLaughlin. Damn funny.

 

Likewise long ago I would try to catch it every week. Mostly to enjoy the contributions of Jack Germond, self-styled Fat Man in a Middle Seat.

 

[marylander1940]