For My Next Trick, I’ll Need A Volunteer: Jesse Helms

July 5th, 2008 by Justin Thibault · 15 Comments

Jesse Helms drew his last breath Friday, July 4, 2008. Participate in the poll or leave a comment here.

I’ll have more this week in the Concord Standard.

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		The Death of Jesse Helms…
		
		
		
			
					
					…was the end of the life of a great conservative
			
			
					
					…was the end of a sad legacy
			
			
					
					…was the end of a life that history won’t fully appreciate for some time.
			
			
					
					…was of no consequence
			
		
			
			
			
			View Results

Note: for those reading via e-mail or RSS - you’ll have to go to the site to participate.

Category: Polls Tags:

15 responses so far ↓

1 Old Magoo // Jul 5, 2008 at 12:48 pm

I heard Dr Ada Fisher tell a great story about Jesse Helms once. Years ago she was working in Duplin County helping poor rural African American get some basic heath care and the only person who would listen and help was Jesse Helms.

http://www.salisburypost.com/Area/070408-ada-fisher-on-helms-death

Jesse was one of the last “larger than life” politicians who worked for his constituents and our countries best interests.
2 Justin Thibault // Jul 5, 2008 at 2:17 pm

OM - Welcome.

Yes, he set the standard in constituent services; and I think that made the difference for him getting elected inspite of the polling data.
3 Brad Spry // Jul 6, 2008 at 12:40 am

In the early 90’s, I had fun putting Jesse online with his very first web site, NCGOP.org. It was neat knowing anyone searching for him online would land on the site I designed for him. One thing leads to another in this world, so I’ll always be thankful for the opportunity. I recall at least one instance when the company I worked for turned away business from an artist who wanted to sell Jesse Helms toilet paper, because we didn’t want to lose Jesse’s business
4 Brad Spry // Jul 6, 2008 at 12:52 am

Upon further thought, and a little internet magic, I see the possibility existed that I hosted NCGOP and the toilet paper company at the same time. It was interesting times on the early web, that’s for sure! I still believe the toilet paper business lost in the end due to our executive’s agida caused by the thought of losing Jesse’s business if he ever found out we did business with the toilet paper company
5 Thierry Wernaers // Jul 6, 2008 at 2:21 pm

I was always told that if you can’t say something nice about someone, you shouldn’t say anything at all. So I’ll be very very verrrrry quiet, but I sure have to bite my tongue very hard on this one.
6 Justin Thibault // Jul 6, 2008 at 2:38 pm

Thierry - Too bad our friends at BlueNC didn’t follow your example. These stuck out as being representative of what comes out of “The People’s Think Tank”:

“It’s good for the world that this guy is now worm food.”

“May his family rise above the shame he gave to their family name.”

“Laying in state under the Star and Bars in front of the Confederate monument - 11 am till 3 pm

Service and burial - 4pm till 5.30 pm

Cross Burning - Dusk”

Of course, the Left will rush to tell remind us that they “care” and it’s the Right with the cold hearts.
7 Thierry Wernaers // Jul 6, 2008 at 3:39 pm

Justin, let’s see what the reactions of the right will be when Ted Kennedy dies.
I’m glad to see you mention cold hearts while talking about Jesse Helms.
8 Justin Thibault // Jul 6, 2008 at 3:43 pm

Theirry - So, you’re giving up the mantle of moral superiority of the Left?
9 Thierry Wernaers // Jul 7, 2008 at 12:22 am

huh?
I don’t know who this Theirry is you keep talking to…
That ain’t My name

But like I said, glad to see you mention cold hearts… I can’t think of anyone from this state with a colder heart than Helms. He might have even beat those MIT folks.
10 Justin Thibault // Jul 7, 2008 at 8:12 am

Thierry - Sorry - even though I did get it right the first time - I, of all people, should be sensitive about how people’s names are spelled.
11 Bob Carruth // Jul 7, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Thierry, thanks for the link.

Isn’t it amazing how that everytime science pushes harder against a constant, such as absolute zero, or the speed of light, that instead of finding chance and chaos, they find more order?

Also - for too long, conservatives have been labeled as cold hearted, homophobic, or racist. The great paradox is how Helms, Thurmond, and others like them were so connected with people, and ran some of the most responsive constituent services.

Have we ever stopped to ponder that what they reflected was pure federalism? There is an excellent book I have been reading called “Redeeming American Democracy”. In the book , the author points out how our constitution and federal system of government has been in a state of decay for over 150 years, as we have seen the federal government take on more and more power that was never granted to it in the first place, but was reserved for the states.

Maybe Jesse was Sen. No not because he was moralizing, or was cold-hearted, or didn’t like blacks, but because he felt strongly those issues that were coming before Congress were better dealt with at the local and state levels, in community and town hall meetings.

That’s why I like local government so much - it gets things done that need to be done at the local level, where 90% of our problems should be handled…
12 Steve Smith // Jul 8, 2008 at 3:25 pm

Bob

“AMEN”
13 David Harrison // Jul 13, 2008 at 8:33 am

Mainly for Thierry W, et al:

Except maybe in a séance, the dead aren’t too good at defending themselves.

Helms’ ultimate meaning to North Carolina doesn’t need me to define it, but I do really regret the ungenerous position which some ‘bitter’ people (who, themselves, arrogantly cling to their own deep hatreds) take as regards Helms, even sinking so low as to make petty comments about his humanness (which, indeed, you and I both share with him).

Singing “Ding, Dong, The Witch is Dead” is about as much as small, frightened little people can do, sometimes.

Reasonable (a.k.a., non-extreme) folks hopefully would agree Helms was no more a “monster” than, say, Kennedy. (For me, I’d much rather the US Senate always contain BOTH one Helms AND one Kennedy in it, at all times, to balance each other, than for there ever to be 51 of either of their types in effective control of the Senate, at any time. Wouldn’t true ‘balance’ be the epitome of “democracy”? Balance in opinions even helps republic forms of government work well.)

Correct, Ted Kennedy has not died (which is the fate we all face), but – other than screeds like Ann Coulter or Rush L. (for who I accept no blame) — I don’t at all recall conservatives ‘leaping in delight and glee’ lately on news of his brain tumor.

Rather, much sympathy, caring and standing ovations in the Senate — even from those nasty ‘non-Democrats’ — were the order of the day, both when he left for surgery and more recently when he came back unexpectedly for the FISA vote.

Please name me one credible conservative who expressed happiness at Kennedy’s health issues. Exclude the kooks, OK? I’ll be sure to block that person from my on FaceBook account. [ ; - )

Kindness toward the memory of the deceased isn’t reserved as the sole right of ‘good Christians’, but a sense of a here-after sure does help us regard the dead with humility and gives us a healthy dose of trembling at the prospects of our own imminent passing.

There but for the Grace of God go I.

TW, do love ya, but Helms will be remembered (quite fondly by some in Cabarrus County) for slowing the long march of leftism. That ain’t a bad legacy, but…trashing the dead is.

People who do, well… Bless their hearts, if ya’ll eva’ do meet up with any such low lifes as that, just forgive ‘em, ’cause they just ain’t from ’round these parts. Maybe they’ll know betta next time… [ ; - )

Pass it along, and Thnx! dph
14 Steve Smith // Jul 13, 2008 at 3:52 pm

David

Your words apply not only to Tierry, but to every living soul. In defense of Tierry, by and large his comments have never spoken ill of the dead or dying however he is liberal and if that offends, so be it. I find his remarks here as interesting and well though out for a liberal and enjoy his remarks and I will yours. BTW I see you are running for School Board. Good Luck. I will be supporting you and I hope the School Board has the good sense to appoint you to fill out the rest of Liz’s term. Thanks for the add to Facebook…..
15 David Harrison // Jul 13, 2008 at 5:44 pm

All, and only to clarify (because I’m such a novice blogger)…

I hope I haven’t implied TW himself has or would vilify JH, except to take valid, strong opposing view points that are at issue with Helms’ various stances over the years. (I find TW, personally, fairly engaging and decent, if very skewed in his beliefs, certainly for this region.)

Also, Helms doesn’t need my glorification, except to say that anyone who serves so long (in this case, 30 years in the US Senate), yes, is something of a hero for that kind of dedicate and sense of purpose. If only from being an Eagle Scout, I truly admire service, but detest the price one has to pay for it in politics.

Still, there will be repulsive “dancing on the grave” comments from Helms haters, who toss words that are meant purely for meaness and spite. Nuf said.

(Oh, and gratsi on the School Board support!)