Remembering P.J. O’Rourke

 

 

 

The world became a little less interesting today when writer P.J. O’Rourke died. He was 74.

O’Rourke made us mad and made us laugh all at the same time and often in the same breath. Now, that’s what I call…. “talent.”

He was best known as the former editor for National Lampoon, a senior contributor to Rolling Stone magazine, a guest on countless debate formats, a popular campus speaker, and the author of more than a dozen books mostly on American politics and current events. He was even a 60 Minutes commentator for a time. But whatever controversial topic O’Rourke attacked with the utmost care and candor he always elevated the discussion and enhanced the discourse.

O’Rourke was a conservative when that ideological label really meant something. I didn’t share many of his opinions, particularly on economics and social issues. Nonetheless, his words and voice and ideas and opinions were always, always, always, always worth reading and listening to. I think O’Rourke best personifies the times of yesteryear when people with differences remained cordial and respectful. Those of us on the Left who were fans of his work didn’t necessarily look to O’Rourke in order to see ourselves in the mirror, a divisive tribal flaw that’s come to infect so many echo chambers. Rather, we looked to O’Rourke as a periscope, a telescope, and even a kaleidoscope. His opinions were always bright and came in many colors.

Thanks for sharing your unique gifts with us, P.J. O’Rourke. Your words, your ideas, your deeds, and perhaps most important, your hearty pleasantness will live on and be fondly remembered.