Poor Tammy Faye. It was painful to see her last visit to the Larry King Show. I have always wondered why I have felt such incredible sympathy for her, even though it was obvious that she and Jim Baker represented the greedy kind of tele-evangelicals I really can't stand. I have never felt warmth or sympathy for Jim, but the way Tammy Faye looked, the extreme garish make-up and little girl attitude, that somehow evoked sympathetic feelings in me--the same kind I've had for Michael Jackson. The two of them are freaks in my mind, but they are also victims because of their celebrity. I think both Tammy Faye and Michael Jackson have pure hearts, but their star status and all the money they had to "protect" them from realties about themselves created a kind of self-ignorance that was painful to see. People can become cartoons, sad ones even, and they can get lost. Maybe Tammy's last years were the best. She certainly had to have a lot of strength to survive her dramatic losses. She was not a saint, but she was a survivor, and an awful lot of people loved her.

I'd have to quote Christopher Hitchens on the death of Jerry Fallwell: The only sad thing about it is that there is no hell for him to burn in. Same for this evil bitch.

Virgil, you sir have absolutely zero class. Tammy Faye Baker Messner was a human being (just like Falwell) whose many mistakes were magnified by her celebrity. Rejoicing in ANYONES death is an act that shows just how pathetic a person you really are.

(link...)

(link...)

Channel surf late at night and you will see Jim Bakker still has a show on one of the non-cable religious networks and he still begs for cash. The last few years I've kind of liked Tammy. I hope her suffering is over.

Tammy always struck me as genuine if alittle (alot?) dittzy. Jim on the other hand was always a complete fake as far as I was concerned. I will grive for Tammy, however when Jim goes to "join the eroll call up yonder" I will sigh a sigh of relief.

Take Care, Be Good and don't play in the street!

SteveMule

yep - I kissed her one night at the Apple Barn after too many bourbons. Luckily for me she didn't call the police!

PS: I noted Jim had a shy bladder in the men's room - then again maybe my state intimidated him at the time?