His voice was so powerful. I hadn't read anything like it -- conviction and authenticity that just rattled you to the bone.
Even though I'd followed what was going on I still kept hoping he was going to pull through and we'd get to hear his take on what had happened, and better yet, what he was so good at, what was to come...
I really loved Gilly. I never met him either, but I talked with him a lot over the years on the threads and I just loved the man, sincerely. I'm heartbroken.
It was Gilliard's where I first read you, Driftglass, and immediately fell in love with your writing and your wit.
Boy, it's a good thing there are so many people out there with a masterful grasp of military history combined with a distinctive, accessible writing style--otherwise this'd be a tragic loss.
Steve was teacher, humorist, social critic, media critic, election season cheerleader and sometimes quite maddening. I once deleted his blog address from my bookmarks because of some post of his about race relations. But how could a blog junkie like me go for long without a late night shot of The News Blog? Thereafter I summoned up the courage on a few occasions to challenge his take on some race related controversies and right there in the threads he responded to my comments with both passion and patience. I've never had exchanges with anyone else quite like those.
I'm no connoisseur of food but I enjoyed some of his cooking related posts and I am better off for having been talked into buying an iron skillet after thrashing out the pros and cons of the purchase in a News Blog thread. Alas, I never shared any of Steve's enthusiasm for the sport of soccer which he was given to post about rather frequently and at epic length, or so it seemed to me. Certainly edgy video games, threatened as the discs were by calls for censorship, never had a greater champion in the political blogosphere than Steve.
Steve's legacy is as one of the pioneering writers who helped establish the standard of excellence which we now expect from political blogs and which, I expect, will serve the public interest well in the coming decades. For me personally, I've been in the habit of reading what Steve has to say on an almost daily basis for the last several years and I surely do miss him.
drift, it's a sorrowful day, and I hope you're doing allright. Gilly was the mountain, and the giant. The view from his shoulders is soaring in all directions. peace, -skunqesh
In tears. I first read you, driftglass, in comments at SG's blog.
I'm so sad.
Speechless.
Never met Steve or talked to him, but exchanged some e-mails about a few things.
I was impressed that he took the blogging job so seriously, was so responsive, such a fantastic writer, so much fun, so readable and sensible as well as entertaining. Built such a wonderful comments crowd that could discuss in an interesting and entertaining way until the cows came home.
I figured from the descriptions that this hospital bout was a mother******, but hoped, hoped....
May light eternal perpetually shine on him, as we say in the Book of Common prayers. He may not have been a praying guy, but he'll long be in my prayers, and I know that that would've been okay by him.
I DO wish that God would see fit to take some of the trash out rather than the creme de la creme -- but that doesn't seem to be the rule in this nutty world.
Steve's blog was one of the few I ever bothered to comment at because he always stimulated my mind and inspired me to raise my voice with something to say. He was a great writer, and a first-class columnist, and a fearless blogger. He also made the worst predictions in the world which I'll miss teasing him about.
I have been worried the past couple weeks because of the lack of health updates from Jen. The last one she gave sounded pretty bad and I knew that he might not make it. It's such a shame he had to die so young.
loveandlight....we'll make it, don't get too down.....please take this in the spirit that it's offered: the best way I can think of to remember to Steve is to Fight Back. Piss all the right people off, defy those who deserve it, and do what you can when you can. I think that's all he'd ask of any of us.
Thanks Brother Driftie, I remember Mr. Cliff performing that song. This Bob Marley song is the one I want played when I'm gone - talk to you later.
RASTAMAN CHANT
I hear the words of the rasta man say Babylon you throne gone down, gone down Babylon you throne gone down
Said, I hear the words of the higher man say Babylon you throne gone down, gone down Babylon you throne gone down
And I hear the angel with the seven seals Babylon your throne's gone down, gone down Babylon you throne gone down
I say fly away home to zion, fly away home I say fly away to zion, fly away home One bright morning when my work is over Man will fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over Man will fly away home One brlght morning when my work is over Man will fly away home
I say fly away home to zion, fly away home I say fly away to zion, fly away home One bright morning when my work is over Man will fly away home
Also, a big thanks to you CMike for the found remembrance - he would have liked it - after first spitting out some sort of biting and sardonic commentary on the vagaries of death.
I don't have Morrison's books of poetry; I only have the "American Prayer" album, in which the surviving Doors recorded new music to accompany Jim's spoken words. I THINK he said "severed garden", instead of "sacred garden" and "giant family", instead of "giant famine". Maybe those are differences between the book and the recording?
Drift.
ReplyDeleteI just don't know what to say.
I've been sick for the past few days and...
I hadn't checked in since yeaterday morning.
And now I come to find...
I'm in tears.
I'll contact you later.
This is a stunning loss.
ReplyDeletejoe frantic
thank you, driftglass.
ReplyDeletewords fail..
thank you g, sg, for everything, and for opening your house for driftglass, lower m, hubris sonic, us all.
inugai_kenzo
Its like being punched in the gut.
ReplyDelete-SnarkyShark
What a tragedy.
ReplyDeleteWords fail; tears do not.
Thank you, Drift.
Take good care of yourself.
Terrible news.
ReplyDeleteHis was my favorite blog. He was an amazing writer, who could produce a devastating rant or cool, insightful analysis.
I have missed his writing every day for months now. I will miss him.
RIP.
Amen, d....
ReplyDeleteHis voice was so powerful. I hadn't read anything like it -- conviction and authenticity that just rattled you to the bone.
ReplyDeleteEven though I'd followed what was going on I still kept hoping he was going to pull through and we'd get to hear his take on what had happened, and better yet, what he was so good at, what was to come...
I really loved Gilly. I never met him either, but I talked with him a lot over the years on the threads and I just loved the man, sincerely. I'm heartbroken.
ReplyDeleteIt was Gilliard's where I first read you, Driftglass, and immediately fell in love with your writing and your wit.
God this leaves a huge void -
Fuck.
ReplyDeleteNobody was that blunt. Or that on the money.
Fuck.
Boy, it's a good thing there are so many people out there with a masterful grasp of military history combined with a distinctive, accessible writing style--otherwise this'd be a tragic loss.
ReplyDeleteSeriously, fuck you, Grim Reaper. Your aim sucks.
Steve was teacher, humorist, social critic, media critic, election season cheerleader and sometimes quite maddening. I once deleted his blog address from my bookmarks because of some post of his about race relations. But how could a blog junkie like me go for long without a late night shot of The News Blog? Thereafter I summoned up the courage on a few occasions to challenge his take on some race related controversies and right there in the threads he responded to my comments with both passion and patience. I've never had exchanges with anyone else quite like those.
ReplyDeleteI'm no connoisseur of food but I enjoyed some of his cooking related posts and I am better off for having been talked into buying an iron skillet after thrashing out the pros and cons of the purchase in a News Blog thread. Alas, I never shared any of Steve's enthusiasm for the sport of soccer which he was given to post about rather frequently and at epic length, or so it seemed to me. Certainly edgy video games, threatened as the discs were by calls for censorship, never had a greater champion in the political blogosphere than Steve.
Steve's legacy is as one of the pioneering writers who helped establish the standard of excellence which we now expect from political blogs and which, I expect, will serve the public interest well in the coming decades. For me personally, I've been in the habit of reading what Steve has to say on an almost daily basis for the last several years and I surely do miss him.
drift, it's a sorrowful day, and I hope you're doing allright. Gilly was the mountain, and the giant. The view from his shoulders is soaring in all directions.
ReplyDeletepeace,
-skunqesh
Fuck the FUCKING grim reaper!
ReplyDeleteRIP, Steve.
In tears. I first read you, driftglass, in comments at SG's blog.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sad.
Speechless.
Never met Steve or talked to him, but exchanged some e-mails about a few things.
I was impressed that he took the blogging job so seriously, was so responsive, such a fantastic writer, so much fun, so readable and sensible as well as entertaining. Built such a wonderful comments crowd that could discuss in an interesting and entertaining way until the cows came home.
I figured from the descriptions that this hospital bout was a mother******, but hoped, hoped....
May light eternal perpetually shine on him, as we say in the Book of Common prayers. He may not have been a praying guy, but he'll long be in my prayers, and I know that that would've been okay by him.
I DO wish that God would see fit to take some of the trash out rather than the creme de la creme -- but that doesn't seem to be the rule in this nutty world.
This is indeed a sad day.
ReplyDeleteSteve's blog was one of the few I ever bothered to comment at because he always stimulated my mind and inspired me to raise my voice with something to say. He was a great writer, and a first-class columnist, and a fearless blogger. He also made the worst predictions in the world which I'll miss teasing him about.
I have been worried the past couple weeks because of the lack of health updates from Jen. The last one she gave sounded pretty bad and I knew that he might not make it. It's such a shame he had to die so young.
RIP Steve.
Hang in there Driftglass.
Fuck the fucking Yankees!
Godspeed, Steve Gilliard. You'll be terribly missed, but you won't have to deal with civilization's very likely catastrophic collapse where you are.
ReplyDeleteShit.
ReplyDeleteThough I'm from NY, I'll say it this once, for him.
Fuck the fucking Yankees.
And the Grim Reaper.
I don't know what else to say.
I just heard the news at Buzzflash. I always pick bad days to stay off the Internet.
ReplyDeleteMan, is he gonna be missed. I honestly thought that he was gonna get better after his open heart surgery.
Thx DG.
ReplyDeleteloveandlight....we'll make it, don't get too down.....please take this in the spirit that it's offered: the best way I can think of to remember to Steve is to Fight Back. Piss all the right people off, defy those who deserve it, and do what you can when you can. I think that's all he'd ask of any of us.
I had a premonition this AM, so sad to see it come true
ReplyDeleteI'm a bit new to the blogs, but, Tanbark had me check out Gilley, and then Drifty.
ReplyDeleteTan was right on both counts.
As I got the feel for why either existed, Steve checked into the hospital for his last ride.
I'm honored, as honored as I've ever been, to have read his thoughts, and mused upon them in the short time I did.
FTFYankees, Gilley, and kick ass on Falwell and the rest of them up there. Thanks for all you gave us while you were here.
Namaste, Steve Gilliard.
"Death makes angels of us all and gives us wings where we had shoulders smooth as ravens' claws"---James Douglas Morrison.
ReplyDeleteWhen my time comes, I want that on my gravestone.
Rest in peace, Steve, "and flights of angels sing thee to thy rest".
And FUCK THE FUCKIN' YANKEES!
Thanks Brother Driftie, I remember Mr. Cliff performing that song. This Bob Marley song is the one I want played when I'm gone - talk to you later.
ReplyDeleteRASTAMAN CHANT
I hear the words of the rasta man say
Babylon you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon you throne gone down
Said, I hear the words of the higher man say
Babylon you throne gone down, gone down
Babylon you throne gone down
And I hear the angel with the seven seals
Babylon your throne's gone down, gone down
Babylon you throne gone down
I say fly away home to zion, fly away home
I say fly away to zion, fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
One brlght morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
I say fly away home to zion, fly away home
I say fly away to zion, fly away home
One bright morning when my work is over
Man will fly away home
Also, a big thanks to you CMike for the found remembrance - he would have liked it - after first spitting out some sort of biting and sardonic commentary on the vagaries of death.
No words, only grief. My sorrow to his family and to Jen for their troubles.
ReplyDeleteA huge loss. Rest in peace, Steve. The rest of us have to keep fighting back.
ReplyDeleteA huge void. What a great writer. It sucks so much because we need him so badly. Awwww! Bloody hell!
ReplyDeletePeace, brother. Thanks for the memories. Thinking of you and yours -- and lonely, lonely us.
I'm not a praying man, but I did pray for Steve.
ReplyDeleteWe've lost a great voice, and I'm especially sad that Steve will not live to see a new progressive era.
It's up to us to pick up the torch and carry on without him. Dammit.
We've never needed Steve more. He truly was a pioneer. What a loss for us all.
ReplyDeleteI hope Jen is OK, does anyone know?
I wish I could be as eloquent as some previous commenters, but I just can't.
So, I'll just cry for a bit. And make some more offerings to Kuanyin for Jen and for Steve's family.
FTFY for the last time.
IBW,
ReplyDeletegood thought..
(may i EXPOUND)
"Wow, Im SICK of DOUBT,
Living in the LIGHT
of certain
SOUTH
cruel bindings...
The SERVANTS have the power..
DOG-men and their MEAN women
pulling poor blankets over
our
SAILORS...
I'm SICK
of DOUR faces
STARING at me
from the T.V Tower...
I want ROSES in my garden bower
dig?
Royal BABIES,
Rubys must now replace
aborted STRANGERS in the mud...
The mutants,
BLOOD-meal
for the PLANT that's plowed..
they are waiting to take us
into
the
SACRED GARDEN...
Do you know how pale and WANTON
thrillful
comes DEATH on a strange HOUR?
Unannounced...
unplanned for...
Like a SCARING over-friendly GUEST you've brought to BED...
Death makes ANGELS of us all and gives us WINGS where we had shoulders smooth as RAVEN's claws.
No more MONEY
no more fance dress...
this OTHER Kingdom
seems by FAR the BEST
until its other JAW
reveals incest
and loose OBEDIENCE
to a VEGETABLE law...
I will NOT go...
I prefer
a FEAST of FRIENDS
to the giant FAMINE...
Gilliard,
you
WILL
be
missed
I don't have Morrison's books of poetry; I only have the "American Prayer" album, in which the surviving Doors recorded new music to accompany Jim's spoken words. I THINK he said "severed garden", instead of "sacred garden" and "giant family", instead of "giant famine". Maybe those are differences between the book and the recording?
ReplyDeleteIBW-
ReplyDeletejust goin from memory
from the Doors live record
and ill give ya
SEVERED garden
(as i think thats tha name
of the piece)
but FAMINE to me
makes more sense
in context
(to me)
either way...
Gilliard will be missed
(or mebbe it was from the sountrack)
ReplyDeleteeither way,
dredged it
outta me gulliver
God damn it.
ReplyDeleteScum like Goldberg, Robertson, Gingrich and all the rest go on interminably.
Molly, Hunter, Gilly, Bill Hicks and too many others are taken too soon.
RIP Steve, Fuck the Fuckin' Yankees.
God damn it.
CAGary