Hunter S, Malcolm X, Dead Presidents

Today was an interesting day on the radio on my drive in today. Author Hunter S. Thompson shot himself, Malcolm X was assassinated forty years ago today, and George W. Bush and Ronald Wilson Reagan are among our nations most beloved presidents.

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Hunter S. Thompson, author, journalist, and all around nut committed suicide yesterday. Sad as it may be it almost seems fitting that he should go in such a way. Known for living life at full tilt, Thompson's led a life of depravity and disregard. Perhaps his most famous work, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas recounts his drug induced coverage of an anti-drug conference.

Later Thompson covered the Nixon campaign in Fear and Loathing: On the Campaign Trail '72 which, eerily enough, I just finished reading.

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Today also marks the fortieth anniversary of Malcolm X's assassination. Born Malcolm Little, Malcolm X led a civil rights movement in parallel to the more famous Martin Luther King, Jr.

X's movement might have been considered socially less acceptable than that of King's, with a message to blacks to cast of white oppression "by any means necessary", but his efforts made strides for the black (and non-black) Muslim American community.

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More evidence that America is finding it's way to the shitter came in several President's Day polls. George Washington fell to sixth as one of this nation's greatest presidents. Most alarming was that George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan made several of these lists.

Personally Ronald Reagan was this countries 45th best president (and yes I know we've only had 43. I'm already giving at least the next two guys (or gals) a positive nod.)

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"Bush explains that he told one prominent evangelical that he would not 'kick gays, because I'm a sinner. How can I differentiate sin?'" (Associated Press)

You know what, I'll give him one thing: he's consistent. Disagree with him all you want, I definitely think that Bush really does believe in his convictions. I don't know what's scarier, his evil agenda, or that he wholeheartedly believes in it. Wait, I just answered my own question...

The above quote is from a taped conversation with a "friend" during Bush's first election campaign.