Kelly the Dog Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim in Anchorage Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 A friend told me this announcement might be coming soon. Can't tell you how much I wish that warning had been wrong, and damn, it's tough to type when I can't read the screen. To put it simply, John French Kemp was the greatest man I've ever known, and it was an honor and a privilege to work for his 1988 Presidential campaign. And by work, I mean the lowest-level volunteer stuff -- manning phone banks, stuffing envelopes, even holding up an "M" placard when we spelled out his name in the back of the auditorium where his primary opponent, Vice-President Bush, was speaking. Didn't care. It was worth it, because this young, idealistic Campus Republican believed, even before I ever met him. After he dropped out of the race, I still wrote him in on my ballot that November, and did the same in '92 even though he didn't run. And I still believe this country would have been far different if he had been elected. My thoughts are with Joanne and the kids tonight, and with the entire Bills family. What a horrible, horrible week. God bless you, No. 15. Rest well. Beautiful tribute. Thanks for sharing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steely Dan Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I'm glad his suffering is over. Like his politics or not, he was always a class act. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,518721,00.html This is funny as hell from that article; Fitzwater wrote in his memoirs about a time when Kemp lunged at Secretary of State James Baker III in the Oval Office. The housing secretary was "nagging, nagging, nagging" Bush to recognize the breakaway Soviet satellite of Lithuania and Baker, the color rising in his face, screamed an epithet at Kemp, Fitzwater recalled. Kemp bounded across the furniture and grabbed at Baker's throat. They were pulled apart to avoid a fistfight. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buftex Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Sad indeed... coincidently, I fell asleep last night, listening to a recording of the Bills 1965 championship victory over the Chargers... one of my greatest regrets as a Bills fan is that I never got to see those AFL championship teams in action... don't care about his politics... he is a legend in my mind... to #15 !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chandler#81 Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 We were informed that his passing was near, but I have a most heavy heart with this news. Jackie was my first 'hero' as a kid and that mantra stood to this day. How many sports hero's can that be said of? A part of me has died today. My heartfelt condolences go to his family and the entire Bills nation. God Bless you, Jack Kemp! Rest in Peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShelfromNJ Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 RIP Jack. You always will be one of my heroes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bills4154 Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 RIP Jack! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stuckincincy Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Griswold Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I'm glad his suffering is over. Like his politics or not, he was always a class act. This is funny as hell from that article; Fitzwater wrote in his memoirs about a time when Kemp lunged at Secretary of State James Baker III in the Oval Office. The housing secretary was "nagging, nagging, nagging" Bush to recognize the breakaway Soviet satellite of Lithuania and Baker, the color rising in his face, screamed an epithet at Kemp, Fitzwater recalled. Kemp bounded across the furniture and grabbed at Baker's throat. They were pulled apart to avoid a fistfight. I like Kemp even more... Baker is prima donna, and regularly deserves a good helmet slap. RIP to the first "JK" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckeyemike Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 This is very sad. RIP and condolences to the Kemp family. In 1993 I attended a speech Kemp gave at Cleveland State University. I even got to shake his hand afterwards. One of my favorite memories of the last twenty years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsNYC Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I went through a file my Dad had on Bills things, including a ton of photos and stuff. In there he had a bunch of handwritten notes from Jack Kemp for donating to his first campaign for Congress, was pretty cool. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KRC Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Sad indeed... coincidently, I fell asleep last night, listening to a recording of the Bills 1965 championship victory over the Chargers... one of my greatest regrets as a Bills fan is that I never got to see those AFL championship teams in action... don't care about his politics... he is a legend in my mind... to #15 !! I have the same regrets, that I am not old enough to have seen the Bills win the championships. I will have to pull out the 1964 and 1965 radio broadcasts and listen to them again. RIP #15. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffaloBillsMagic1 Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 I fell in love with the Bills during the 1963-1964 season when the Bills came to NY and killed the Jets. Seeing Jack and Company destroy San Diego in 2 consecutive championships sealed the deal for me when I was 9 years old. Really class guy. Will be missed as part of my reason for being a Bills fan just left us. RIP MVP Jack. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BillsGuyInMalta Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 RIP Jack. I was unfortunately too young to ever watched a Kemp-led Bills team, but I (like any good, Bills fan in his 20s should) dived right into the Bills history and read about all of the great squads he led on the field. Great human being, great football player...you will be missed, Mr. Kemp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KD in CA Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 RIP Mr. Kemp. A hero to Buffalo and one of the dying breed of common sense politicians. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Golden Wheels Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 †Farewell and R.I.P.† Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zakgold Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Kemp was instrumental in cutting the top tax marginal rate of 70% down to 28% (Kemp-Roth Bill) and with that PROVED that money in the hands of the American tax payers increases tax revenue coming into the U.S. Treasury!! U. S. Tax receipts nearly DOUBLED from 1982 to 1988. Why? Those that work and produce realized that they can keep more of what they earn...and NOT give it to the government. This generated huge growth in our economy with new capital investments and encourged people to work hard for their money. Unfortately, today's president B.O. believes that government knows best how to spend YOUR money. He is moving this country into full blown socialism. B. O. stinks, plain and simple RIP Jack Kemp...you understood from your humble beginnings that your can't have employees unless you have employers first! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
/dev/null Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buffalo Wing Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Well done, good and faithful servant. Thank you Mr Kemp for all you gave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stinky finger Posted May 3, 2009 Share Posted May 3, 2009 Sad indeed. RIP Jack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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