Randy Cassingham's Blog

Before I get started each week, I do a last scan of the news to make sure I haven't missed anything big. And one of the first stories I found was a report that one of my mentors had died yesterday morning: Johnny Carson.

When he awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Bush the First cited Johnny with these words: "With decency and style he's made America laugh and think." Not just laugh: laugh and think, which has always been my goal with True.

One of the best examples I've seen of the "and think" part of Johnny's well-honed wit. It's from 1991; the Berlin Wall had been down for two years and the Soviet Union was crumbling. His piece to reflect that environment is called What Democracy Means to Me, which I've posted to Jumbo Joke. (My favorite line: "Democracy is buying a big house you can't afford with money you don't have to impress people you wish were dead.")

I featured Johnny in a special Honorary Unsubscribe this week too.

Goodnight, Johnny. I can't say "We'll miss you" because we have missed you since you retired. But now, we'll add the sadness of knowing you'll never be back, and there will never be anyone like you again.