Former New York Times reporter/editor David Rosenbaum passed away last night after being robbed while taking an early evening walk through his

Like many, Wonkette mourned the passing of former Senator Eugene McCarthy on Saturday. As many obits noted, he stayed fiery and feisty long after the point at which most politicians are content to let age soften people’s opinions about them. The Post calls today’s article about McCarthy an “appreciation,” but the closing lines make it seem more like a “dutiful acknowledgment”:

However you want to define Gene McCarthy’s career, he was different. He usually had something to say. And it often was worth hearing.

Good thing Gene was a Catholic, because such praise would certainly otherwise damn him. MORE »

Okay, sure, you can admire Rosa Parks for sparking an idealistic, peaceful movement for racial equality if you want to. Mostly, we like her because she was pissed. Anger is an important part of successful activism and it’s rare that it’s so legitimately righteous. Activists these days tend to make statements by voluntarily putting themselves in positions that lack dignity — giant puppet costumes; Michael Moore films; Crawford, Texas — here’s the woman who made history by keeping hers. MORE »