An iconic postwar British playwright who hated America so much, Harold Pinter, died yesterday. He really despised George Bush’s war in Iraq, as well as the other American wars and killings: “The crimes of the U.S. throughout the world have been systematic, constant, clinical, remorseless, and fully documented but nobody talks about them.” Indeed, freedom is on the march. Let’s end with a happier quote: “When the storm is over and night falls and the moon is out in all its glory and all you’re left with is the rhythm of the sea, of the waves, you know what God intended for the human race, you know what paradise is.” [NYT]

This is the famous “Daisy” ad from Lyndon Johnson’s successful 1964 campaign, which depicts a young Hillary Clinton getting nuked from space by a dead J.F.K., which mutilated her from a Goldwater lozer into a Enfranchiser. The guy who made this Controversial ad, Tony Schwartz, died today at 84, instantly, after finally realizing how fucking insane his ad was. [YouTube, Newsday]

If you check out the New York Times’ comments section on its Tim Russert “death” article, you will notice most of the commenters telling a certain “Lesley” to shut her fat face for being Insensitive. But there is no longer any comment by this pagan Lesley, because the New York Times censors free speech and has deleted the comment! We have secretly obtained Lesley’s manifesto, and she has some pointed criticisms of “Lil’ Russ.” We’ll give you a hint: she says “Noobama.” MORE »

NBC/MSNBC political broadcaster Tim Russert died today at work in Washington, killed by a sudden heart attack. Russert and his family had just returned from a vacation in Italy where they were celebrating the college graduation of son Luke. The VP of News for NBC and head of all Washington operations for the network, Russert joined the company in 1984 after working for Democratic campaigns. He took over Meet the Press in 1991 and won myriad awards for his journalism and books. Good-bye Tim! Election night won’t be the same without you. And now, let’s enjoy a Wonkette/YouTube/Photo tribute to “Lil’ Russ.” MORE »

• OH JESUS CHRIST: “Breaking News 3:23 PM ET: Tim Russert Is Dead of a Heart Attack, His Family Says.” [New York Times]

Here at Wonkette we devote about 10 percent of our working day to work and 90 percent to following the exploits of ballroom dancing failure and MSNBC hosting failure Tucker Carlson. Given his long and faithfully chronicled love affair with McDonald’s, we can only imagine Tucker’s distress upon hearing the news this week that the inventor of the Egg McMuffin died. Herb Peterson passed away peacefully at home at the age of 89, surrounded by family, friends, and a mountain of perfectly circular fried eggs. [MSNBC]

Watergate criminal and lifelong sleazebag E. Howard Hunt is finally dead, the AP reports. He was 88. MORE »

Of course we’re talking about a Kennedy … who did you expect, a Carter? MORE »

The former Texas governor and one-time Democratic star died last night. After the young George W. Bush ran her out of office in 1994, Ann Richards said, “I did not want my tombstone to read, ‘She kept a really clean house.’”

Early reports say it won’t say anything of the sort.

A few fun facts, after the jump.

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