Alan Grayson: Howie Klein Was My Friend

This starts a series of tributes and reminiscences of this site's founder, Howie Klein, who left the earth on December 24. Rest in peace, Howie.

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HOWIE KLEIN WAS MY FRIEND

by Alan Grayson

“If you want a friend in politics, get a dog,” President Harry Truman said. That’s one way to do it, but it’s not the only way. If you wanted a good friend in progressive politics, Howie Klein would be your friend.

That is, until yesterday, when Howie Klein, world traveler, departed on his last international trip — to the Undiscovered Country — and left us all behind, feeling very sad. I couldn’t sleep last night. Never again will I see my phone light up again with this name, and then click, and then “how’s it going?”

During the last few years, I’ve often found myself alone making a 90-minute drive. Let’s see, what should I do? Listen to the news? Feh. Listen to some sports thing? Feh! Listen to hate radio? FEH!!

Call Howie, and see what’s up? Yes, definitely! Bien sur, mon ami!

Howie and I had a lot in common. Demographically, for sure. But at the top of the list was our firm conviction that the world could be a better place, if we just make it that way. So we always had plenty to talk about. I loved to hear his stories and his ideas — mostly about politics, but also about travel, food and music. Howie was a real Renaissance Man, although admittedly, neither one of us would have done well during the Spanish Inquisition.

When Howie and I were talking to each other, the world was like a Fellini movie: full of bizarre characters, some beautiful and some grotesque, every moment unpredictable and, possibly, revelatory. A tale of sound and fury, signifying everything. Life was larger than life.

But now...

I went down to the sacred store Where I'd heard the music years before But the man there said the music wouldn't play.

For me, and for so many people with a head and a heart, Howie Klein made the music play.

I miss you, Howie.