Video: House Republicans remember Breitbart; Update: How Breitbart spent his last few hours

posted at 6:01 pm on March 1, 2012 by Allahpundit

Via Breitbart TV, which is posting eulogies of him as they become available. He’s one of the few people in media whom I regret not having met, partly because experiencing Hurricane Breitbart firsthand must have been a trip and partly because the blog friends we have in common obviously adored him. His public persona was of a guy who enjoyed a good bar brawl so much that he might throw a chair to start one; the private portraits are of someone who’d buy everyone rounds afterward and entertain them for hours. My impression of Hitchens, another famous media warrior-raconteur, was similar even though their respective styles were different. Both had a larger-than-life Falstaffian charm and so their deaths carry an unusual sting. It’s not just the shock of being gone too soon, it’s the palpable sense of life force being lost. It’s like a power outage.

More than that, I regret missing a chance to meet a new-media pioneer in person. Amid all the Weinergate and ACORN stuff of the last few years, I think Breitbart’s importance as a Drudge/HuffPo/Big ‘Net visionary has been obscured. Nick Gillespie does too:

His legacy has nothing to do with whether the Republican party picked up Anthony Weiner’s congressional seat or whether ACORN has been able to renew its funding. It has to do with the ways in which he created new places and spaces to talk about whatever any of us want to talk about. He told Reason in 2004 that after feeling ignored by existing outlets, “We decided to go out and create our media.”

It doesn’t matter who we is, kemo sabe. It’s the conservatives at Drudge, the liberals at HuffPo, the leftists at DailyKos, the libertarians at Reason. It’s all of us and Breitbart helped create and grow a series of do-it-yourself demonstration projects through which we can all speak more loudly and more fully.

Breitbart is dead, but the conversation pits he built will live on for a long, long time. A lot of people theorize about democratizing the public square and bringing new voices and sources into conversations about politics and culture. Breitbart actually did it.

He did. Without him and Drudge, who knows where blogs and the rest of the online media multiverse would be right now? Thanks for making it possible, AB. Rest in peace.

Update: The Hollywood Reporter talks to someone who found himself sitting next to Breitbart at a bar in Brentwood hours before his death.

“He was friendly and engaging,” Sando recalls. “I said, ‘You can’t be very happy with the slate of Republican candidates’ and he said, ‘Why would you say that?’ I said, ‘Well, they’re talking about contraception,’ and he said, ‘The conversation is being framed by the liberal media.’ I said, ‘Well, the media isn’t writing Rick Santorum’s speeches for him.’ We had a back-and-forth for awhile until we said we weren’t going to agree on some things.”

The friendly debate continued in the bar as Breitbart sipped red wine, says Sando. “We just hit it off, he was delightful. There were other people who sat down and joined the conversation.”…

“There were no signs that anything was wrong,” says Sando. “It’s very sad.”

Sando says they parted at around 11:30 p.m.; Breitbart was pronounced dead 49 minutes later.

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Two idiots. One will represent SC, for a time.

Schadenfreude on April 30, 2013 at 2:44 PM

Do you think that President Clinton should be condemned for the rest of his life based on a mistake he made in his life?” …Woof.

That’s not a mistake. Taking the wrong exit off the freeway is a mistake. Miscalculating your utility bill is a mistake. Adultery is not a mistake … it’s a deliberate action which reveals character.

aunursa on April 30, 2013 at 2:44 PM

I hope he goes away. Far away. Like maybe, I dunno, Argentina.

beatcanvas on April 30, 2013 at 2:45 PM

Someone get rid of sanford I dont want colbert to win.

ChunkyLover on April 30, 2013 at 2:47 PM

Is he senile? I’m serious, was he always that distant even when he was governing? A head full of dust?

Marcus on April 30, 2013 at 2:47 PM

I don’t envy those voters their choices, but if they seriously believe Colbert Busch is in any way, shape, or form a fiscal con then they’ll deserve it when she unmasks herself.

changer1701 on April 30, 2013 at 2:48 PM

Nancy Pelosi, whose name I will raise again… with all due respect to her and others, they have not pushed for financial discipline in Washington, D.C. …

Oh, Nancy Pelosi pushed for fiscal discipline… when she was trying to influence the 2006 elections so that she could become Speaker. She promised fiscal discipline. She promised, both in writing and live on C-SPAN, “No more deficit spending”.

Then, as Speaker, she set new records for deficit spending, a record she still holds.

ITguy on April 30, 2013 at 2:53 PM

He’s got bimbo on the brain.

Pork-Chop on April 30, 2013 at 2:54 PM

I don’t envy those voters their choices, but if they seriously believe Colbert Busch is in any way, shape, or form a fiscal con then they’ll deserve it when she unmasks herself.

changer1701 on April 30, 2013 at 2:48 PM

The only question is whether she’ll unmask before or immediately after her swearing-in.

Steve Eggleston on April 30, 2013 at 2:55 PM

Well, S.C. seems to have things in hand. I guess the Howler Monkey decided not to run which is too bad because he would have been better than either of these dopes.

Bishop on April 30, 2013 at 2:56 PM

That’s not a mistake. Taking the wrong exit off the freeway is a mistake. Miscalculating your utility bill is a mistake. Adultery is not a mistake … it’s a deliberate action which reveals character.

aunursa on April 30, 2013 at 2:44 PM

This.

Shump on April 30, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Bishop on April 30, 2013 at 2:56 PM

Howler Monkey?

annoyinglittletwerp on April 30, 2013 at 3:00 PM

It would be best for Sanford to lose, the seat will be regained immediately by Republicans next cycle.

Sanford brings the entire GOP down and needs to exit out of SC politics for good, and primary voters need a good kick in the teeth to understand not to nominate retards.

BradTank on April 30, 2013 at 3:01 PM

I don’t envy those voters their choices, but if they seriously believe Colbert Busch is in any way, shape, or form a fiscal con then they’ll deserve it when she unmasks herself.

changer1701 on April 30, 2013 at 2:48 PM

Yeah, that’s what p-sses me off. Every Dem who votes for her knows damn well she’s lying about Obamacare and her alleged fiscal conservatism. The moment she’s sworn in, she’ll be a lapdog for Pelosi. Any vote she casts with Republicans will only be in situations where the Dems already have enough to get the legislation passed(as was the case with the House Dems and Obamacare).

The only good thing here is that she’ll have to answer to the voters again next November, so if she is proven to be a left-wing phony, they’ll be able to rectify the situation immediately. My personal preference would be for Sanford to win the seat and then be primaried out of there next year. There’s too much at stake in the months to come(amnesty anyone?) to give away a Republican district like this.

Doughboy on April 30, 2013 at 3:02 PM

Do you think that President Clinton should be condemned for the rest of his life based on a mistake he made in his life?” …Woof.

That’s not a mistake. Taking the wrong exit off the freeway is a mistake. Miscalculating your utility bill is a mistake. Adultery is not a mistake … it’s a deliberate action which reveals character.

aunursa on April 30, 2013 at 2:44 PM

Not to forget Perjury and Obstruction of Justice.

slickwillie2001 on April 30, 2013 at 3:02 PM

Pelosi said that large annual deficits are a NATIONAL SECURITY ISSUE…

Over the past decade, the Republican controlled Congress took our nation in the wrong direction. Too many Americans are paying a heavy price for those wrong choices: record costs for energy, health care and education; jobs shipped overseas; and budgets that heap record debt on our children. For millions, the middle-class dream has been replaced by a middle-class squeeze…

Democrats are proposing a New Direction for America…

With integrity, civility and fiscal discipline, our New Direction for America will use commonsense principles to address the aspirations and fulfill the hopes and dreams of all Americans. That is our promise to the American people….

Our federal budget should be a statement of our national values. One of those values is responsibility. Democrats are committed to ending years of irresponsible budget policies that have produced historic deficits. Instead of piling trillions of dollars of debt onto our children and grandchildren, we will restore “Pay As You Go” budget discipline.

Budget discipline has been abandoned by the Bush Administration and its Republican congressional majorities. Congress under Republican control has turned a projected $5.6 trillion 10-year surplus at the end of the Clinton years into a nearly $3 trillion deficit– including the four worst deficits in the history of America. The nation’s debt ceiling has been raised four times in just five years to more than $8.9 trillion. Nearly half of our nation’s record debt is owned by foreign countries including China and Japan. Without a return to fiscal discipline, the foreign countries that make our computers, our clothing and our toys will soon be making our foreign policy. Deficit spending is not just a fiscal problem – it’s a national security issue as well.

Our New Direction is committed to “Pay As You Go” budgeting – no more deficit spending.

Pelosi promised no more deficit spending. Pelosi promised that both in writing (above) and live on C-SPAN:

After years of historic deficits, this 110th Congress will commit itself to a higher standard: pay-as-you-go, no new deficit spending. Our new America will provide unlimited opportunity for future generations, not burden them with mountains of debt.

- New Speaker Nancy Pelosi, 01/04/2007

Last budget passed by a Republican House, Republican Senate, and Republican President: FY 2007.

Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid (along with then-Senators Obama, Biden, and Clinton) took majority control of the budgeting process starting with FY 2008.

FY 2007 Deficit: $160.7 Billion
FY 2008 Deficit: $458.6 Billion
FY 2009 Deficit: $1,412.7 Billion

The FY 2009 budget, passed by the Nancy Pelosi House, the Harry Reid Senate, and signed by pResident Obama (that’s right, it wan’t Bush) “featured” an annual deficit that was 8.8 times the size of the annual deficit produced by the Republican majority just two years earlier for FY 2007.

ITguy on April 30, 2013 at 3:03 PM

commercials are running now tying her to the unions.

Its South Carolina not Southern California. She’s toast.

renalin on April 30, 2013 at 3:03 PM

I’m layin’ odds against her she went there bullshit, if Sanford had been engaged in a homosexual tryst.

Then, it would’ve been hands-off or, for that matter, lovingly and compassionately embraced, by Colbert Busch, member of the Party that deifies homosexuality.

Fluke you, Colbert Busch – you Commie hypocrite.

[Fluke you, too, Sanford - but for a different reason]

OhEssYouCowboys on April 30, 2013 at 3:04 PM

Howler Monkey?

annoyinglittletwerp on April 30, 2013 at 3:00 PM

Yes, the little Howler Monkey from the MN ZOO that I almost convinced to run against Franken back in the day. I also tried to talk him into running down in S.C. but apparently he isn’t all that interested.

Let’s face it, a Howler Monkey wearing a little suit could do a better job in Congress than 95% of the aszhats who hold power now.

Bishop on April 30, 2013 at 3:05 PM

Sanford managed to turn a question about whether or not he would vote again to impeach President Clinton (gee, I wonder why they threw that one in the mix) into a unsubtle framing of his own situation: “I would reverse the question to you, and I would say this: Do you think that President Clinton should be condemned for the rest of his life based on a mistake he made in his life?”

How about:
“Bill Clinton lied under oath. That is against the law, so yes I would vote to impeach him. On the personal side, I can sympathize with President Clinton as I too have had my own personal failings.”

weaselyone on April 30, 2013 at 3:06 PM

House-Senate-Presidency, FiscalYear: Deficit
R-R-R, 2007: $160.7 Billion ($0.16 Trillion)
D-D-R, 2008: $458.6 Billion ($0.46 Trillion)
D-D-D, 2009: $1,412.7 Billion ($1.41 Trillion)
D-D-D, 2010: $1,293.5 Billion ($1.29 Trillion)
D-D-D, 2011: $1,299.6 Billion ($1.30 Trillion)
R-D-D, 2012 (estimate): $1,326.9 Billion ($1.33 Trillion)

ITguy on April 30, 2013 at 3:06 PM

But did he ask her out on a date after the debate?

ButterflyDragon on April 30, 2013 at 3:07 PM

Bishop on April 30, 2013 at 3:05 PM

A Howler monkey survives on its own. Doesn’t take hand-outs. Doesn’t ask for hand-outs. Lives in the real world. Cares for its own. Doesn’t care to lord over other jungle dwellers. Is incapable of lying.

I’ll take a Howler monkey over every political pig in perpetuity, period.

OhEssYouCowboys on April 30, 2013 at 3:09 PM

Well, that was just ugly. I mean, seriously… “I didn’t hear the question?” How could it not have occurred to him that she might bring up the fact that he went missing from his previous post?.. or that he’s had to answer accusations that he misused public money?

Murf76 on April 30, 2013 at 3:10 PM

South Park did an episode on this.

JR on April 30, 2013 at 3:12 PM

That’s not a mistake. Taking the wrong exit off the freeway is a mistake. Miscalculating your utility bill is a mistake. Adultery is not a mistake … it’s a deliberate action which reveals character.

aunursa on April 30, 2013 at 2:44 PM

This.

Shump on April 30, 2013 at 3:00 PM

I agree.

But the time to defeat Sanford was the primary.

Now it’s a choice between his poor character and the Democrat’s poor character (supporting abortion, etc.)

There’s no way to pick a “winner” in this contest, but I would pick Sanford because he is more likely to vote FOR, rather than AGAINST, a fiscally conservative agenda.

ITguy on April 30, 2013 at 3:12 PM

I agree.

But the time to defeat Sanford was the primary.

Now it’s a choice between his poor character and the Democrat’s poor character (supporting abortion, etc.)

There’s no way to pick a “winner” in this contest, but I would pick Sanford because he is more likely to vote FOR, rather than AGAINST, a fiscally conservative agenda.

ITguy on April 30, 2013 at 3:12 PM

Deja vu, all over again.

OhEssYouCowboys on April 30, 2013 at 3:17 PM

Let’s face it, a Howler Monkey wearing a little suit could do a better job in Congress than 95% of the aszhats who hold power now.

Bishop on April 30, 2013 at 3:05 PM

Who wants to clean up all that flung poo.

My vote is for an inanimate carbon rod.

Gatsu on April 30, 2013 at 3:18 PM

Moderator. “Oh no she d’int. Snap”

2Tru2Tru on April 30, 2013 at 3:18 PM

Poo-flinging? Gibbering excitedly? Drowning out the opposition? Your howler monkey is a natural Democrat.

PersonFromPorlock on April 30, 2013 at 3:25 PM

Let’s face it, a Howler Monkey wearing a little suit could do a better job in Congress than 95% of the aszhats who hold power now.

Bishop on April 30, 2013 at 3:05 PM

Only 95%? That is a rather insulting to Howler Monkey.

Panther on April 30, 2013 at 3:26 PM

Only way Sanford loses this is if the GOP establishment piles on him – and they probably will do just that.

Anyone who thinks Sanford is unelectable needs to have their heads examined. Two words …

DAVID VITTER

Guy is a solid conservative and, here in Louisiana (part of the Bible Belt) we could give a sh!t about his exploits with prostitutes. As long as he pulls the lever for the conservative vote every time he’s asked to – he’s good to go.

Congressmen and Senators aren’t supposed to be role models – they don’t have to be leaders or even anyone you like. They just need to vote the correct way.

HondaV65 on April 30, 2013 at 3:26 PM

That’s not a mistake. Taking the wrong exit off the freeway is a mistake. Miscalculating your utility bill is a mistake. Adultery is not a mistake … it’s a deliberate action which reveals character.

aunursa on April 30, 2013 at 2:44 PM

Sanford is running for Congress – not Pope.

There’s plenty of derelicts in Congress – and many much worse than him. He’s a solid conservative vote and he’ll give the establishment hell. What’s not to like?

Unless you aren’t a conservative?

HondaV65 on April 30, 2013 at 3:29 PM

Congressmen and Senators aren’t supposed to be role models – they don’t have to be leaders or even anyone you like. They just need to vote the correct way.

HondaV65 on April 30, 2013 at 3:26 PM

Well that’s an interesting take.

Last person still alive after society crumbles please turn off the lights.

Bishop on April 30, 2013 at 3:32 PM

For real? Mark Sanford was made to look like a fool by his political opponent merely by bringing up his weekend in Rio?

Nobody saw this coming.

MadisonConservative on April 30, 2013 at 3:35 PM

Sanford is about to get his alpha-sierra-sierra kicked. Last I saw he was down 10 points. dems are sending solicitors out and knocking on registered Republican doors, trolling for their votes.

De Oppresso Liber on April 30, 2013 at 3:37 PM

Sorry, I hope Sanford goes down in flames. The GOP can afford to lose the seat for 18 months or so. No way the Dems keep it in a regular election. Sanford needs to go away.

Dukeboy01 on April 30, 2013 at 3:40 PM

Can’t blame her for simply dealing the card the idiot R’s in SC dealt her, it’s a huge indictment on his leadership and governing ability.

clearbluesky on April 30, 2013 at 3:40 PM

Sanford is about to get his alpha-sierra-sierra kicked. Last I saw he was down 10 points. dems are sending solicitors out and knocking on registered Republican doors, trolling for their votes.

De Oppresso Liber on April 30, 2013 at 3:37 PM

Good, I’m glad they are waisting their time. Not a single Republican would do anything to help Obama/Pelosi/Reid.

Tater Salad on April 30, 2013 at 3:42 PM

That’s not a mistake. Taking the wrong exit off the freeway is a mistake. Miscalculating your utility bill is a mistake. Adultery is not a mistake … it’s a deliberate action which reveals character.
aunursa on April 30, 2013 at 2:44 PM

This.
Shump on April 30, 2013 at 3:00 PM

This times 1000.

“Honest, y’all, I meant to go to bed with my WIFE, and I woke up with this South American hottie soul-mate! It was a mistake… it could happen to ANYONE!”

Marcola on April 30, 2013 at 3:46 PM

Good, I’m glad they are waisting their time. Not a single Republican would do anything to help Obama/Pelosi/Reid.

Tater Salad on April 30, 2013 at 3:42 PM

They may not vote for Colbert-Busch, but they will stay home. Ref: 2008 & 2012 elections. The NRCC pulled out of here two weeks ago and took their checkbooks with them.

Juss sayin’

De Oppresso Liber on April 30, 2013 at 3:52 PM

Good, I’m glad they are waisting their time. Not a single Republican would do anything to help Obama/Pelosi/Reid.

Tater Salad on April 30, 2013 at 3:42 PM

Yeah,

Tell that to Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock. This seat is toast and likely gone for good. Any group misguided enough to put this clown up for senator is not likely to get much smarter in the next 18 months. The republican’s ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory is truly stunning.

acyl72 on April 30, 2013 at 4:03 PM

Nobody saw this coming.

MadisonConservative on April 30, 2013 at 3:35 PM

Yeppers…the Injun woman is senator from Massachussetts and a dog eater is president. All things are possible.

Schadenfreude on April 30, 2013 at 4:18 PM

I was reading her statement up above; I didn’t hear a question either. Just a statement. What was her question?

BubbaCluck on April 30, 2013 at 4:19 PM

The only bad thing to come out of a Colbert-Busch win is the Dems’ talking point. One vote in the House for a year is totally irrelevant. She’d assuredly lose in 2014. Sanford probably wouldn’t.

LukeinNE on April 30, 2013 at 4:50 PM

There’s no way to pick a “winner” in this contest, but I would pick Sanford because he is more likely to vote FOR, rather than AGAINST, a fiscally conservative agenda.

ITguy on April 30, 2013 at 3:12 PM

Not there, not voting… but I disagree.

Voting Sanford in gives him incumbency, making it less likely he’ll lose a primary in 2014.

Voting in Colbert gives the Dems one extra seat in the House until 2014 (which won’t be significant) and will avoid having Sanford being a joke tied to the GOP for the foreseeable future.

No Colbert-Busch won’t be a fiscal conservative; but she’ll also be easier to replace with a stable GOP candidate in 2014 than trying to beat an incumbent Sanford in the primaries.

If you really don’t want either one of them in office post 2014 Colbert-Busch seems the better choice doesn’t it?

He’s a solid conservative vote and he’ll give the establishment hell. What’s not to like?

Unless you aren’t a conservative?

HondaV65 on April 30, 2013 at 3:29 PM

He has a history of screwing over people who trusted him for personal gain… what’s not to like in giving him power over trillions of dollars?

How could that go wrong?

Oh wait… I think I came up with a way a narcissist who believes his own happiness justifies any action might not be a good choice as a legislator at the Federal level.

Weird, you’d think a conservative might not be so trusting of someone who has already decided his personal happiness trumps any other consideration. But that’s probably just me being silly.

gekkobear on April 30, 2013 at 5:03 PM

complete set-up by moderator and Busch much like Candy and our gay precedent…

COLBERT BUSCH: Answer the question.

can anybody find the question in her comment?

DanMan on April 30, 2013 at 5:26 PM

Busch will be in congress for 20 months. If Sanford wins, he might be there a long time and that would be worse.

Pythagoras on April 30, 2013 at 5:26 PM

BubbaCluck on April 30, 2013 at 4:19 PM …my bad, guess I should have refreshed before commenting

DanMan on April 30, 2013 at 5:27 PM

acyl72 on April 30, 2013 at 4:03 PM

may want to get up to speed, he’s replacing the guy that was appointed senator and is running for that house seat. From where I sit in Texas Sanford would do me more good that another rabid dem. That’s a district vote only and obviously not yours.

DanMan on April 30, 2013 at 5:31 PM

He’s the equivalent on our side to Weiner. Well, maybe not as crude but still. Way to go SC, turning a sure R win into a nail biter. I know there’s gotta be better than this in that state.

Kissmygrits on April 30, 2013 at 6:06 PM

DanMan on April 30, 2013

I’m glad you didn’t see a question either. I thought I was blind.

BubbaCluck on April 30, 2013 at 6:12 PM

I thought she came off as vindictive and snarky throughout much of the debate. Mr. Sanford is very smart to make this an “US vs. THEM” election because we in South Carolina don’t like outsiders coming in to our state and telling us what to do, and we especially don’t like big media types coming in and setting up stupid questions (hello, Juuuuuuuan Williams!!).

My prediction: Sanford by 3 or more.

SouthernGent on April 30, 2013 at 6:44 PM

There are about 750,000 people who live in that district and these are the two you came up with to choose between? Really, SC-01?

alchemist19 on April 30, 2013 at 8:18 PM

my hunch is the dems crossed over in the primary to get Sanford in to create just what we’re seeing on this thread

DanMan on May 1, 2013 at 9:45 AM

Stick a fork in Sanford, there is NO way in hell he is going to win this election, none! The DNCC is pouring money into this race and the NRCC has pulled out weeks ago.

Jenny Sanford has killed this race for Mark. Just days after his primary win, she filed charges against him for trespassing at her home and out of the clear blue their “sealed” divorce records suddenly appeared out of no where.

And as if none of the above is his worst nightmare, there was reports yesterday that Sanford received the endorsement of “Larry Flynt” along with a nice donation the his war chest.

He is done, finished, kaput, over, cue the Fat Lady.

De Oppresso Liber on May 1, 2013 at 10:07 AM

and out of the clear blue their “sealed” divorce records suddenly appeared out of no where.

pure Axelrod…and Flynt would only endorse a repub to damage him. Sanford may have made his bed but he has a lot of bugs crawling on it. Should be interesting to see how it turns out.

DanMan on May 1, 2013 at 10:43 AM

pure Axelrod…and Flynt

While that is a distinct possibility. . . . many attribute in to Jenny Sanford and the “woman scorned” theory. He trespassed on her property on Super Bowl Sunday, and the complaint wasn’t filed until a couple of days after he won the “run-off” primary, when the papers appeared. . . . conveniently.

Doesn’t much matter either way, he passed out the loaded guns to anyone who wanted them, especially the ex-wife and the dims. Then enough “dopes” in the district pulled the lever for him.

De Oppresso Liber on May 1, 2013 at 12:25 PM

can agree with everything but the votes, you don’t think the dems crossed over?

At this point he’s in so my comment stands…from where I sit in Texas I’d rather he win than her just because dems have shown themselves to be extremely dangerous when in power.

DanMan on May 1, 2013 at 5:59 PM