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hatrack

(65,130 posts)
61. I'm so sorry, Ilsa!
Fri May 15, 2026, 09:31 PM
Friday

TT was a stalwart DUer, a voluminous poster and his work covered ground that most of us here did not address. He had an incisive focus on state- and (often) metro-level and municipal issues with potential for far wider impact on all of us.

And your recounting of his life serves to remind me how incredibly lucky I am for the life I've led. I'm from a small town, one with its share of cowboys and bullies and inbred fundamentalists, but (I'd imagine) nothing as sour and crooked as what you and Paul knew.

With thanks from all of us to Paul and to you for all you've done,

Hatrack

Recommendations

5 members have recommended this reply (displayed in chronological order):

You are loving and stronger than you realize. Don't forget that. nt in2herbs Friday #1
Thank you. I thought your brother was wonderful. ananda Friday #2
I am so terribly sad to read your post. Texas Towelie sinkingfeeling Friday #3
hugs to you and thanks for being a great sibling and human being msongs Friday #4
So sorry for your loss... anciano Friday #5
Your brother was a DU fixture, and he'll be missed. greatauntoftriplets Friday #6
Lost a breath there with your news. I am so sorry to learn of your loss. I will really miss him. Bless you. marble falls Friday #7
Oh no, Ilsa! I'm so sorry! LearnedHand Friday #8
I am so sorry for your loss, my dear Ilsa. Nevilledog Friday #9
I am so sorry for your loss. Texas Towlie was a fixture for here for a long time. I am glad he had a caring Maraya1969 Friday #10
Thank you for letting us know. Permanut Friday #11
I'm sorry to hear this MustLoveBeagles Friday #12
Most sincere condolences... 2naSalit Friday #13
oh no Skittles Friday #14
I'm sorry for your loss, Texas Towelie was a prolific poster with a great sense of humor Shellback Squid Friday #15
my family has shrunk also. Hugs to you, ilsa. erronis Friday #16
I am so, so sorry. mgardener Friday #17
With you. madamesilverspurs Friday #18
Will miss him. Peace. cachukis Friday #19
Life can be so complicated sometimes senseandsensibility Friday #20
I've no words. NewHendoLib Friday #21
TT was always so warm and sweet when I talked to him. I am SO sorry for your loss. Maru Kitteh Friday #22
Good grief malaise Friday #23
Nooooooooo!!! littlemissmartypants Friday #24
I don't want my shock at your news to overwhelm my thoughts and best wishes for you. hlthe2b Friday #25
I'm not going anywhere! Ilsa Friday #47
That is SOOO good to hear....! hlthe2b Friday #65
Yes, I very much agree, he will be missed blue_jay Friday #67
He will be missed here and Thank you for the life you shared with us about your family. marked50 Friday #26
Oh No! I will miss him, many condolences irisblue Friday #27
Oh no! Sorry to hear that, RIP. Initech Friday #28
I'm so sorry. Coventina Friday #29
You have my heartfelt condolences on your loss. Solly Mack Friday #30
I'm so sorry for your loss. I enjoyed Paul's posts. area51 Friday #31
My heart hurts for you even as I thank you for this very sad news. I always clicked on his posts Deuxcents Friday #32
We are here if you need to share. BeneteauBum Friday #33
So sorry to hear this. Jim__ Friday #34
So sorry for your (and our) loss. no_hypocrisy Friday #35
Sorry Ilsa for your loss. BootinUp Friday #36
Oh, this hits hard. blm Friday #37
Damn. ❤️ underpants Friday #38
My sympathies, Ilsa, to you & your family. CrispyQ Friday #39
I'm glad I clicked on your thread. OAITW r.2.0 Friday #40
Ilsa, I lost my brother a few years ago - TBF Friday #41
Sorry to hear. Will miss his posts. Godspeed.... surfered Friday #42
Deepest condolences SheltieLover Friday #43
I'm very sad to hear this Renew Deal Friday #44
Dearest, Ilsa Niagara Friday #45
Oh, no. I'm so sorry for your loss. bucolic_frolic Friday #46
May you find peace in your heart... ZDU Friday #48
This is horrible news. My deepest condolences. Liberal In Texas Friday #49
My deepest condolences. sop Friday #50
Holding you in love and light, Ilsa. Your brother was such an integral niyad Friday #51
Gut punch. hamsterjill Friday #52
May he rest in peace. I am sorry to read of his passing Tanuki Friday #53
My sympathy to you, and your family JoseBalow Friday #54
😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 😢 a kennedy Friday #55
I am so very sorry, llsa. debm55 Friday #56
I'm so sorry for your loss Bettie Friday #57
... Delphinus Friday #58
Ilsa, your kindness is shining through. badhair77 Friday #59
I'm so sorry, Ilsa. tanyev Friday #60
I'm so sorry, Ilsa! hatrack Friday #61
May his memory be a blessing for you. TheRickles Friday #62
Oh my. I always read his posts. I am so sorry for your loss. This is a loss for us LoisB Friday #63
My heart goes out to you. Hope22 Friday #64
omg.. TexasT is my friend and I'm crying Cha Friday #66
Your brother was lucky to have you in his life. waterwatcher123 Friday #68
Oh, no. Ilsa, I'm so sorry for your loss. I liked Paul, who contributed so much here. You did all you highplainsdem Friday #69
Wishing you strength and serenity as you mourn. 3catwoman3 Friday #70
Ilsa, my deepest condolences to you and your family. HeartsCanHope Friday #71
. Omaha Steve Friday #72
So sad to see this and very sorry for your loss mountain grammy Friday #73
I will hold you in my heart, He is at peace now. Grey5 Friday #74
So very sorry for the passing of your brother TexasTowelie. Fla Dem Friday #75
I'm so sorry! CaptainTruth Friday #76
I'm so sorry for your loss, and also for ours. TT was a valued member of DU. Ocelot II Friday #77
I too loved his posts. Figarosmom Friday #78
So sorry for your loss. He was great. I looked forward to his posts. applegrove Friday #79
I am so sorry for your loss, and our loss on this site. 58Sunliner Friday #80
May he find the peace in his next life that was denied to him in this one. Buns_of_Fire Friday #81
He was my favorite poster. bmbmd Friday #82
Peace be with you. mobeau69 Friday #83
Oh NO!!! calimary Friday #84
Sad to learn that we have lost him. He was an important presence here jmbar2 Friday #85
. Wiz Imp Friday #86
Texas Towelie was one of those posters who made DU what it was. betsuni Friday #87
I cannot think of a better way to say it. OldBaldy1701E 18 hrs ago #172
My heart hurts for you. herding cats Friday #88
Ohh, Cat... reading your post Cha Yesterday #131
How are you holding up, Cha?❤️ herding cats 9 hrs ago #224
Ohh Cat, I'm thinking it's been Cha 7 hrs ago #228
I'm so sorry for your sadness and loss. NoSheep Friday #89
Sonnet 71: No longer mourn for me when I am dead - William Shakespeare Xipe Totec Friday #90
So sorry for your loss awesomerwb1 Friday #91
condolences to the whole family gopiscrap Friday #92
I'm so sorry. yardwork Friday #93
So sorry for your loss, Ilsa. As you can see from the responses, wnylib Friday #94
This is heartbreaking news. I'm so sorry, lapucelle Friday #95
Oh no! We love Texas Towelie LeftInTX Friday #96
My friends at Naval Air Station Beeville used to Ilsa Friday #124
I believe Paul said he had a degree in statistics. LeftInTX Yesterday #146
Paul and I had discussed South Texas LetMyPeopleVote 14 hrs ago #205
So sorry to hear an about you loss. He will be missed here in DU FloridaBlues Friday #97
Gonna miss his presence here Blue Owl Friday #98
Always enjoyed his posts. BoomaofBandM Friday #99
May his memory always be for a blessing PCIntern Friday #100
I am so sorry, Ilsa. dflprincess Friday #101
Sincere Condolences llsa gademocrat7 Friday #102
Ilsa, I'm so, so sorry canetoad Friday #103
Your brother, our Texas Towelie Smilo Friday #104
So sorry to hear this sad news orangecrush Friday #105
I'm sorry. redwitch Friday #106
Isla, this is too much, I am so sorry for your loss and of course I have read hundreds and hundreds of Leghorn21 Friday #107
Peace PJMcK Friday #108
"" AllaN01Bear Friday #109
Oh no! My heart! sprinkleeninow Friday #110
A rip in the fabric of DU unblock Friday #111
I'm so sorry godsentme Friday #112
One of our sisters moved there with her husband Ilsa Friday #128
Wind blown too godsentme Yesterday #134
OMG. Ilsa Yesterday #136
Oh wow! godsentme 14 hrs ago #204
I am poorer for reading your post Lithos Friday #113
RIP Texas Towelie blue-wave Friday #114
Texas Towlie was a great person LetMyPeopleVote Friday #115
I'm devastated. Aristus Friday #116
I'm so sad to hear this FullySupportDems Friday #117
Oh no. So sorry to hear that. He will be missed around here. Marie Marie Friday #118
I know that this is about the last thing on your mind right now, but niyad Friday #119
I am so sorry for your loss, IIsa it is so hard losing a brother. sheshe2 Friday #120
So sorry for your losses. How strong you are to survive all the losses question everything Friday #121
My deepest condolences! He will be missed! denvine Friday #122
i'm so sorry to hear this. thank you for letting us know. i'm gonna miss seeing him around this place. orleans Friday #123
R.I.P. Texas Towlie JustinBulletin Friday #127
Sorry for your loss (losses) FHRRK1 Friday #125
Goodbye, Paul blogslug Friday #126
I am so sorry for your loss. xmas74 Friday #129
.... and the Wheel turns. WheelWalker Friday #130
I'm so sorry. Thank you for your post. IcyPeas Yesterday #132
I am so sorry for your loss. I always looked for his posts because yellowdogintexas Yesterday #133
I will miss him RussBLib Yesterday #135
Oh my gosh I'm so sorry! Orrex Yesterday #137
Thank you, Ilsa UpInArms Yesterday #138
So sorry for your loss, Ilsa. democrank Yesterday #139
Damn. He was one of good guys. I will miss him. SunSeeker Yesterday #140
So very sorry for your losses Kaleva Yesterday #141
I'm so sorry for your loss. stage left Yesterday #142
So sorry for your loss montanacowboy Yesterday #143
Oh, my...... Bayard Yesterday #144
Thanks for everything you did. Big hug out to you. Eko Yesterday #145
double shock Kali Yesterday #147
Thank you! I was going to look for those! nt Ilsa 17 hrs ago #183
I'm so sorry for your loss . . . our loss. What a shock. yonder Yesterday #148
Thank you, Ilsa, for letting us know of Paul's passing. virgdem Yesterday #149
Shocking and sad. dalton99a Yesterday #150
TT was a great person angrychair Yesterday #151
This is awful news. So sorry to hear this, and my deepest sympathy to his sister. lostincalifornia Yesterday #152
Ilsa, Texas Towelie was one of the cylinders that keeps DU's motor running. But I've always loved the heart & expression NBachers 23 hrs ago #153
One of the mighty has fallen. Tactical Peek 23 hrs ago #154
Oh no! I'm so shocked and saddened to read this. TT was Nixie 23 hrs ago #155
So sorry your beloved brother has passed. sdfernando 23 hrs ago #156
Oh no! EuterpeThelo 23 hrs ago #157
Thank you for writing NJCher 23 hrs ago #158
Oh, no. murielm99 22 hrs ago #159
Thank you for posting, lisa Laurelin 22 hrs ago #160
Oh no .... KT2000 21 hrs ago #161
Texas Towellie was one of the good ones Violet_Crumble 21 hrs ago #162
Thank you for your care for your siblings. delisen 21 hrs ago #163
Oh no, i am really sorry to read this uppityperson 20 hrs ago #164
Texas Towelie will be missed. Emile 20 hrs ago #165
He'll be missed otchmoson 20 hrs ago #166
🙏 I'm so sorry for your loss. TommieMommy 20 hrs ago #167
Sending you love Ilsa and a hope for comfort and peace of mind mahina 19 hrs ago #168
So sorry for your loss wolfie001 19 hrs ago #169
No... Just... No... W_HAMILTON 19 hrs ago #170
We were lucky to have him here. Festivito 19 hrs ago #171
My condolences. He will be missed Vogon_Glory 18 hrs ago #173
Please accept my condolences. n/t malthaussen 18 hrs ago #174
no questions, only onethatcares 18 hrs ago #175
🫂 mwmisses4289 18 hrs ago #176
Ugh, very upset to hear IbogaProject 18 hrs ago #177
I'm so sorry for your (our) loss. SergeStorms 18 hrs ago #178
Peace and condolences for your loss. Dulcinea 18 hrs ago #179
RIP - I'll miss him ☮ walkingman 18 hrs ago #180
I'm so sorry. Give yourself a break. You can't do everything. Walleye 18 hrs ago #181
I'm so very sorry for your loss dlk 18 hrs ago #182
So sorry for your loss Submariner 17 hrs ago #184
Such sad news PatSeg 17 hrs ago #185
I knew your brother personally, though briefly... Trueblue Texan 17 hrs ago #186
The earth shook a bit when I read your post radical noodle 16 hrs ago #187
Thank you for letting us know of Texas Towlie's passing, 70sEraVet 16 hrs ago #188
I am very sad at the news of TT's death... Spazito 16 hrs ago #189
I read all his foreign policy posts, he was so dedicated to informing people here. Passages 16 hrs ago #190
So sorry! Chi67 16 hrs ago #191
♥️K&R♥️ spanone 16 hrs ago #192
Make7 16 hrs ago #193
Wow! tavernier 16 hrs ago #194
We are your DU family also. You've suffered so much loss over the last few years, please take MLAA 16 hrs ago #195
So very sorry samplegirl 16 hrs ago #196
I was away from DU last night so just saw the news this morning EarlG 15 hrs ago #197
I am sorry to hear that jfz9580m 15 hrs ago #198
Now cracks a noble heart... OldSWODog 15 hrs ago #199
. Danascot 15 hrs ago #200
Oh Ilsa, I am so very sorry mcar 15 hrs ago #201
I got to know, and then loved TT, though his posts. ancianita 14 hrs ago #202
Sending hugs Ilsa. I'm so sorry for your loss. My livetohike 14 hrs ago #203
So very sorry to hear this. Just want to ty for being there for him!! bluestarone 14 hrs ago #206
I am so very sorry cate94 13 hrs ago #207
So sorry for your loss. Tommy Carcetti 13 hrs ago #208
I'm so sorry to hear the news of Towelie's death. I never realized he had so many health issues. You remind me generalbetrayus 13 hrs ago #209
Very sorry to hear this dickthegrouch 13 hrs ago #210
Sending my condolences mvd 13 hrs ago #211
I'm very sorry to learn this. cab67 12 hrs ago #212
My deepest condolences to Paul's family. brer cat 12 hrs ago #213
I am so sorry for your loss MorbidButterflyTat 12 hrs ago #214
As a fellow Texan Texasgal 12 hrs ago #215
May you find peace and healing Wicked Blue 11 hrs ago #216
So sorry BaronChocula 11 hrs ago #217
Just seeing this and I am so sorry for your loss BumRushDaShow 10 hrs ago #218
I'm so sorry. Alliepoo 10 hrs ago #219
Im so sorry. I enjoyed his posts BlueWaveNeverEnd 9 hrs ago #220
My sympathies to you and your family. Behind the Aegis 9 hrs ago #221
Condolences ProfessorGAC 9 hrs ago #222
So sorry for your loss Lulu KC 9 hrs ago #223
Texas Towlie Paul you will be missed Clouds Passing 8 hrs ago #225
My condolences on your loss Sanity Claws 8 hrs ago #226
So sorry for your loss, Ilsa....and sorry for our loss, as well. BComplex 8 hrs ago #227
lisa, like many, many others here have said, Texas Towelie was among the DU members whose posts I always made a point LaMouffette 7 hrs ago #229
Oh, Ilsa. He was such a wonderful presence here. Scrivener7 7 hrs ago #230
Towelie vishnura 6 hrs ago #231
Again condolences. Your "plate" has been over stacked! ...I hope. .. electric_blue68 4 hrs ago #232
I understand your pain. Jacson6 4 hrs ago #233
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