The pioneering blogger and indefatigable, uncompromising and unapologetic critic of all things Rightwing, Terry Coppage, better known to the world as “BartCop”, has passed away.
He will be sorely missed — at least by many of us. “BartCop” has been raising hell, taking names and using the Internet to call out the bad guys longer than the word “blog” even existed, much less became known to the world. He also helped established the concept of political “snark” — of the most viciously biting kind — before that word existed either.
Fellow pseudonymous blogger “Digby” of Hullabaloo emails today to say: “Many of us early bloggers ‘met’ at Bartcop, including Atrios, Avedon and me. He’s one of the creators of the liberal blogosphere.”
In his “Last Word”, published today at his site, Coppage asks readers to help “Mrs. Bart” live on…
RIP, Terry. Thank you for everything. 🙁
He will be missed. I loved his humor and commentary. Thanks for getting me through the BFEE years. You will not be forgotten.
He got so many of us through the dark days. Whenever I felt the red-state blues sweeping over me, Bart would help me get back to the truth and a smart mouth. It’s gonna be a tough election year down here in Georgia without his humor to ease the pain. R.I.P., Bart. We’ll miss you more than you ever knew.
I was devastated by the news. I had hoped he would just do a little hospital stint, and then be back to swinging the BC hammer.
These midterm elections are really going to suck, knowing that one of my best internet friends, and mentors, will not be here to give honest to allah commentary…. plus his two cents worth… it’s truly sad.
RIP, buddy.
Thanks for posting about Bart. He influenced a lot of people.
I plan to read from issue one on up. I’m sure there’s a couple I missed.
Bartcop was hilarious.
Does anyone have a picture of him? Always wondered what he looked like.
—AnthraxSlueth—
I’m just so sad. We knew he would up in the hospital with flue, and of course, feared the worst due to his health situation. I’m so sad he lost this fight. He and the site are family. Nothing is the same when you lose family.
Thanks for posting this Brad – you’re the best.
Very bad news indeed! 🙁
Who knows how he created or came up with all the great stuff he did, but he did.
Very sad to hear this news.
Bartcop was one of the most sincere and honest blogs around. He definitely helped keep my sanity for many years. He was very influential for so many people and I enjoyed reading each issue he released. As he always said, if the dems want to win why don’t they just list the damn facts! he was so right. You will be missed, rest in peace.
http://www.floralhaven.com/obit...#!/TributeWall
This link has a photo of him for the person who asked.
I found a photo of him here: http://www.floralhaven.com/obit...rence-Coppage/
I’m so sad. Loved that guy. And of course, he introduced me to all of you, and that’s worth a lot. I badgered Atrios into starting a blog in Bartcop’s IRC channel.
Excuse me, gotta wipe my eyes, expecting company in real life. I’m a shambles.
Started reading bartcop around 2000 and pretty regularly since then. Even hooked my wife on him though she never cared for the bartcop hotties link at the end of each post. I skipped it too (out of fear).
But that was part of his appeal – very individual & provocative. Until today (unfortunately) he had seemed a fictional character without a real name. Very sad passing.
I wrote about it too. See here
Christ. I mean Koresh. My wife and I loved BC. That he wasn’t an internet sensation has eternally eluded us. My wife sent him a small donation early int his century, (one of a few over the years, never enough), and he called my wife and spoke to her for several minutes. A gentleman. And a man of sterling natural intelligence. I am downhearted. Please, please send Mrs. Bart some money to help her out. The world is the poorer without him.
As so many others have written, BartCop was a voice of sanity during the Chimpy reign of error. Monday through Thursday were my favorite days of the week, knowing there would be a new page.
Condolences to Terry’s wife, friends and family.
Patrick in Michigan:
Love the Johnny Cash link.
Thanks.
I subscribed to the site as he requested. This sure does give me a sad. I love the Clintons, and so did he, and that made us buddies. Bye Bart. xoxoxox from New Mexico
He will be sorely missed.nice sentence.
I’m quite devastated by this. He often printed things I wrote him, including my article on Pete Seeger – on his second last posting. He often wrote me emails saying “thanks for that”, etc. I stole his memes relentlessly and passed them on. What a terrific guy; what sadness. Though he was probably an atheist, I lit a candle for him in church this morning.
Back in the day he was one of the indispensable few who provided online pushback during the reign of Dubya and his wrecking crew. Thanks for the Shirley Manson pictures, pal. R.I.P. and a shot of Chinaco Anejo.