Requiem for Andrew Breitbart: Shine on, You Crazy Diamond

Thank you, Mr. Andrew Brietbart.

I’m sure you had no idea what an impact you had on so many people, how could you? While I can imagine that you were able to see the impact you made on others at times, it is impossible for anyone to know how much. So here today, 10 years after your passing, people will commemorate your passing and once again recall with fondness and laughter — so much laughter — the things you did, and the respect you commanded from so many people.

You earned the respect you deserved every hour of your time as a public figure. Your friend and often partner in crime, Larry O’ Connor, a couple of years ago mentioned that you were not in the public eye for very long, maybe less than five years. In that brief time you helped so many people to speak up, even though they might feel scared or nervous.

It was a complete sham on the way to take the media story down, destroy it and then turn it around. And all this with the same zeal as a leftist hack who calls anyone they don’t agree with, a racist or homophobe. As a result, many people have gained confidence. This is something that any person would love to leave as a lasting legacy. But I believe it’s safe to state that, aside from your being an a Husky male modelYou were not meant to be normal.

Your roadmap on fighting the media and also, by extension, those on social media has had a decade-long impact — and continues to show the way.

Let’s take a look at some of the people who were in your inner circle and what they are doing now, continuing the work you started and inspired them to carry forward.

Mr. Stage Right himself, Larry O’ Connor, is now hosting his own show in Washington D.C. on WMAL  — O’Connor & Company  — each morning and also is a contributing editor at Townhall.com. From starting off on Blog Talk Radio (which, let’s face it, sounded like some cans strung together on Gilligan’s Island) and working in the basement of your home on the Breitbart sites, to now kicking arse in the mornings in the national capital, is some damn impressive stuff.  Larry also continues the tradition you set, which was to treat everyone equally regardless of whether they were a blogger or an anchor on cable news. It’s something that people notice and don’t forget.

Dana Loesch wrote a great article about you today called The Six Lessons I Have Learned from Andrew: Remembering BreitbartNow,, also has a national syndicated Host of a radio talk show.

From her remembrance of you posted above…

Andrew carried gas cans with him through hell, holding them for his friend or ally. My ringtone for him was the Rolling Stones’s “Gimme Shelter,” ironic because he hated the Stones but not ironic in that it’s how everyone viewed him — everyone went to Andrew when they needed shelter from the fury of the press, the left, sometimes even inter-party fighting. His unwavering defense was a blessing for many, including myself. This maxim has remained with me throughout my life and continues to hold true for others ten-years after his death.

This loyalty was evident to me when you joined all hands after the VIP event in Grand Rapids. Michigan. Participate in an EventBecause she made a joke while on-air. It was a great memory. I remember this moment in the hotel lobby, with several people who weren’t sure about Twitter at the time. Dana was part of your group and we were determined to not let her stand on her own.

Ben Shapiro left and started his own company The Daily WireHe is also a radio host and has made quite a name for hisself on campus campuses, destroying the political correctness. This is an example of his doing it a few times. Many years ago.

The website that bears your name is growing and the creators of this incredible tribute have created a wonderful way to remember you. Andrew Breitbart 10th anniversary tribute.

These people were either in your circle, or encouraged by you. Take some time today to recognize and remember your legacy. Yet each and every day we are influenced by you in ways that we all probably don’t come close to recognizing. This is part of your legacy, but I also realize it with every passing year. I hear new stories that I have never heard. It lifts you up to a higher level.

Legend.

It’s enough to make Twitter egg accounts snort.

As well as all these people above who knew you well, I can’t imagine what it must have been like for your family to have had you taken away on this day. You are my heartfelt condolences to your family. I knew you loved them from the times we shared a couple of drinks together.

Your short time here made the world better.  Kurt Schlicter was your twitter protege and wrote the following 10 years ago.

Andrew won’t exist again as a conservative warrior. However, there will likely be more of them. #Breitbart

— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) March 1, 2012

I don’t attend the get-togethers much anymore but I’m blessed to be able to opine here at RedState and on my own radio showEvery week. I don’t know if I would have had the courage to do it if I had not met you, but I do know now that a whole army of others aside from the people I mentioned above, are involved because of you. These stories are hilarious and amazing, and it’s a testament to you.

If I was to use a song title as an article title, then I’d usually include the lyrics. I recall a conversation that Schlicter had with me a few years back about our similar musical tastes.

Also, this will be my last entry.

Thanks, Andrew Breitbart. And shine on your crazy diamond.

Sorry! I was forced to enter one line.