“(The) one-time Democratic segregationist who helped fuel the rise of the modern conservative Republican Party in the South died Thursday.” (USA Today)

This occurs just nine days after he became a grandfather for the first time, (South Carolina State)

by the way.

Thurmond’s longevity, and his longevity in the Senate, are his most-cited virtues, but IMHO this is damning with faint praise. Remaining in the corridors of power seems to have been an end in itself for this Senator who, as one eulogist noted, has had more buildings named after him than bills sponsored by him. The voters of South Carolina, to their shame, knowing where the pork was coming from, continued to consider him fit to do what they knew was the primary role of their elected representatives even when at 94 he could no longer hear the testimony over which he presided in committee, and had to use index cards to counter his memory lapses in making even routine remarks on the Senate floor. And he for his part would do anything to remain in the Senate, a man with no principle except that of being re-elected. He was not even a principled bigot. Don’t believe he mellowed with the times; it was pure opportunism when he started to hire African American staffers and give large contributions to minority colleges à propos of the growing need for black votes. [Could it have been the Supreme Court’s decision upholding affirmative action, or the one overturning sodomy laws, that did him in?? —FmH]

I wonder whether the memorialization he receives with his passing will be as partisan as that which followed Paul Wellstone’s death; it ought to be, since only a Republican could truly appreciate him. It is the end of an era, and well-deserved in the passing. Oh, and even if I were inclined to do so, I’ll refrain from any laudatory comments about Thurmond. Webloggers are watching, and don’t forget they brought down Trent Lott for kissing up to Thurmond’s bigotry last year.