At the risk of making this post sound macabre, the famous were dropping like flies during 2016. Tripling lists from previous years.
Starting with the obvious news of Carrie Fisher’s death at age 64, the shock of her famous mother, Debbie Reynolds, dying one day later brings to mind the old saying “died of a broken heart.” Actually most doctors agree a death that soon of an elderly person, Reynolds was 84, more likely comes from the enormous stress on the death of a loved one and the strain it puts upon someone of that age. But, who really knows? Debbie Reynolds was a star of movies, dancing and singing for over 50 years. She never had a dancing lesson and first danced in one of her earliest films. She was forced to work past working age due to her husband squandering her fortune gambling. Miss Reynolds owned and performed in a Las Vegas casino/hotel she purchased that eventually failed. But her star in Las Vegas packed them in for years at the major venues. Of note, Doris Day’s husband squandered her money as well. Ladies…always keep an eye on your own hard earned money.
So here goes with the those passing 2016…Nancy Reagan, Muhammad Ali, pop stars Prince, George Michael, David Bowie and Glenn (The Heat is On) Frye. Not to be missed is Fidel Castro. Supreme Court Justice Anton Scalia passed, ex Senator astronaut John Glenn, Bill Clinton’s 5th pick for Attorney General Janel Reno as controversial as they come. Well let’s not go too far considering we still have ex AG Eric Holder hanging around. The sports world, in addition to Ali, we lost golf’s most famous name in Arnold Palmer, Gordie “Mr. Hockey” Howe, basketball players Nate Thurmond and, Dwayne “Pearl” Washington. Musicians Frank Sinatra Jr., Leonard Cohen, Merle Haggard. Artists and entertainers include Gene Wilder, Abe Vigoda (selected as a walk on for the Godfather), Florence Henderson, Man from Uncle Robert Vaughn, Comedian Garry Shandling, Doris Roberts, and the gifted British actor Alan Rickman never to be forgotten as Hans Gruber in Die Hard. His best work most believe was the magnificent award winning HBO true story Something the Lord Made. Never seen it? Don’t miss it. Alan Thicke died recently, along with Anton Yelchin, Otis Clay, Harper Lee, the most famed Oscar winner hyper manic depressive Patty Duke, 60 Minutes veteran Morley Safer. the most famous women’s basketball coach Pat Summitt, Rev. Tim LaHaye, the man who began the TV political panel controversy shows, John McLaughlin, outspoken conservative activist Phyllis Schlafly, PBS news anchor Gwen Ifill and the never to be forgotten woman famous for being famous Zsa Zsa Gabor who loved being married so much she had nine husbands. The Kardashian’s would have loved her. There are more for sure, but enough is enough.
Two other events finished off the death knell for 2016. The Chicago Cubs ended (killed) their 108 years of Baseball World Series oblivion. And Hillary Clinton must be noted for her personal suicidal ways. But, then again, who wouldn’t die having to continue and defend eight years of Barack Obama. A man who made enemies of our friends and friends of our enemies. No way will he politely slip away in dignity as George W. Bush. Too ego driven. A legacy of failed policy’s who’s greatest achievement was his ability to speak convincingly to low information voters. Leadership was never his strong suit. With the exception of the media, he could not even convene with his own Party. Eight years of a ship without a rudder. The USA has the lowest work force in decades. Military in shambles, middle east in turmoil, true unemployment at 10-12% (those who quit looking are never included in unemployment percentages) health care a mess, race relations worse in years, police shying away from crime producers, a borderless country, cities giving sanctuary to illegal immigrant criminals, labor force moved elsewhere, economic growth a puny 1-2%, job creation of menial labor, food stamps tripling, thousands of new regulations crippling business…thankfully his socialist agenda failed. But, stay tuned for boasting of his legacy that he’ll make it sound wonderful leaving our nation more divided in decades. Our domestic and world wide decline obvious.
Of note: jacksjargon was vacationing in December. Now the fun begins. Here comes the Trump administration. The antithesis of Barack Obama. The media will say nothing positive of Trump. However, so many out there will be his supporters. They just don’t know it yet.
Stay tuned jacksjargon.com