Dear leo,

I do have good memories of Pickering as a young cartoonist
and as a young satirist. As I stated earlier - his lampooning
of both sides of politics I clearly remember growing up
and the 1980s nude calendars that mum used to buy of
the politicians for a bit of a laugh. I didn't know
about his personal life or his recent activities.

Anyway, I do now feel for him and his family and wish them well.

Thank You for taking the time to respond to my posts.
And for your concern.

Yes, Foxy. Same age as I am, we were brought up to speak our minds then. I don't always approve of the way he says things but, in general, I approve of the sentiments. I don't thing there will ever be another like him. Just as well, some might say, but I will certainly miss his wit and devil-may-care attitude.

Dear ttbn,

Those were different times, I dare say.
I now watch my mum with her dementia
and I remember all the positive moments
growing up. It breaks my heart to see
her today. Still all I can do is be a part
of her life and stay positive through it all.
Respect her dignity and self-esteem and love
her unconditionally.

I imagine Mr Pickering's family are doing the same
for him.

Dear Foxy,

Oh if he was just an ordinary misanthrope commoner it wouldn't be so bad, but the way he rants about welfare cheats (primarily Muslim) is just so bloody hypocritical it makes one ready to puke.

While he rabbits on about them having multiple wives and outbreeding us he himself has fathered 11 children from 5 different women. One he admits marrying purely so she could get residency here. Not only that he has been on benefits for nearly 2 decades, even being investigated by ACA because he refused to pay child support saying he was so broke he was having to go on Centrelink payments. ACA actually set up a sting with a PI posing as a prospective buyer for Pickering's helicopter just to show how this con man and deadbeat dad was rorting the system. Now he supposedly 'gets by' with the pension and child support payments supplemented with the odd cartoon. What a crook. All this with a son worth nearly $100 million.

Remove the name Pickering and replace it with an Islamic name and there would be an absolute outcry. Yet his fans just love lapping up whatever this freeloader spouts.

Dear Steele,

I can see that you're really upset.
And I appreciate your taking the time to
further inform me.
You must know how much I respect your opinion.
Also, I don't usually read the Pickering Post.

However, life has dealt this man a serious blow.
No matter what he's done in the past or how he's
rorted the system - he won't be around much longer
to keep doing it.

I feel sorry for anyone with a terminal illness.
Everything else pales in significance.
I feel sorry for the man's wife and family.

Dear Foxy,

I hope I made myself clear earlier, feeling pity for both he and his family is perfectly justifiable, although knowing he refused to give up smoking after his intitial diagnosis does temper it a little for me.

However I am not trying to moderate your sympathy one bit. I am trying to sustain the case that this bloke is still trotting out hatefilled media and his affliction doesn't give him a free pass for a moment. I will continue to judge it for what it is, poison from a vile man.

This thread was about his message not his illness. I promise to be more circumspect if or when there is a thread acknowledging his passing.