I don't know if this belongs here or hangout but figured since its political better put it here. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/35334911/ns/politics?GT1=43001 Texas Rep. Charlie Wilson dead at 76 Lawmaker inspired film; pushed for U.S. funding of Afghan rebels in 1980s Charlie Wilson, the former U.S. congressman from Texas whose funding of Afghanistan's resistance to the Soviet Union was chronicled in the movie "Charlie Wilson's War," has died. He was 76. Wilson died Wednesday at Memorial Medical Center-Lufkin after he started having difficulty breathing while attending a meeting in the eastern Texas town where he lived, said hospital spokeswoman Yana Ogletree. Wilson was pronounced dead on arrival, and the preliminary cause of death was cardiopulmonary arrest, she said. Wilson represented the 2nd district in east Texas in the U.S. House from 1973 to 1996 and was known as "Good Time Charlie" when he was in Washington. Actor Tom Hanks portrayed Wilson in the 2007 movie about Wilson's efforts to arm Afghani mujahedeen during their war against the Soviet Union. Wilson, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, helped secure money for weapons.
Charlie was my Congressman when I was growing up and everyone seemed to like him. After grad school I ended up in DC looking for a job on The Hill. Naturally, I started with Wilson's office. A sweet, well-built honey-blonde came out and told me that Charlie appreciated the interest and would love to help me out, but there was no room on his staff at the time. As she said this, she glanced around the room in a way that made me look around too. There were only females working there and all were quite attractive. I got the message and moved on down the hall.
Great story! The passing of a legend in Texas Democratic politics. I had my kids watch Charlie Wilson's War, despite the rating, because it gave such a great insight into how Washington works, the good and the bad, how the system gets played, the IOU's collected and eventually called in, a host of things most people haven't a clue goes on in politics, at that level as well as the state level (which I know a hell of a lot more about from personal experience), all while being hilarious, dramatic, and a flick with just outstanding acting. How one man could make such a difference and make a good difference, even with the "flaws" Wilson was so famous for. I put flaws in quotes, because what he did that he was criticized for really didn't bother me. What counted was what he did for his district and the country. Heck, and not only our country. I really envy the experience you had there. I'm sure it helped shape your life and is something you will never forget, and something your kids will be telling their kids about. Politics is like a drug. I've been on hiatus pretty much in D&D since the election, compared to the last couple of years, but how can a Texan not remember and talk about Charlie Wilson? One of the great things about Texas is that we seem to produce people like that. Flawed, but capable of making that leap to greatness. Charlie managed to do that and I'm grateful. We should all be grateful.
