Rex Murphy, 1947-2024, R.I.P.

[The Bread Guy]

Just spotted this - his clever wordsmithing'll be missed. Condolences to family, friends and colleagues ....

Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post

The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.

www.ctvnews.ca

Rex Murphy, keen-eyed observer of Canadian life and politics, dies at 77

The long-time CBC radio host and National Post columnist died of cancer Thursday, the Post announced.

www.thestar.com

What Canadians are saying about the death of Rex Murphy

The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy has died. Murphy worked as a columnist for the newspaper, which said in an obituary on its website that he died at 77 after a battle with cancer. Here’s what Canadians are saying about the news. “Rex Murphy was one of the most intelligent and...

toronto.citynews.ca

Rex Murphy, the sharp-witted intellectual who loved Canada, dies at 77

As he battled cancer, Murphy continued to file, writing about Hamas and Christmas and interviewing Pierre Poilievre with his usual panache

nationalpost.com

 

[SeaKingTacco]

That man was the last of a journalistic breed in Canada that had a classical education and full command of the English Language.

He will be missed.

 

[JLB50]

Often times I agreed with him, and perhaps equally, I frequently disagreed . Still, I loved the guy. And he loved Canada. He was quite a rare individual who seldom failed to make us question our own assertions while making us chuckle at the same time. R.I.P., Rex.

 

[brihard]

Damn, that’s a loss to Canadian discourse. Lots I didn’t agree with him on, but he was a hell of a thinker and writer and was always thought provoking.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I liked that he was clearly an intellectual, a Rhodes Scholar, and a Newfie who was down to earth and could connect equally well with Kings and Cod Fisherman.

A great example of the ideal Canadian, in many ways.

 

[QV]

A huge loss to Canadian journalism. I never read an article by Rex I didn't agree with.

 

[Halifax Tar]

I will miss his sharp wit and use of the language. I used to turn into all the cross country check ups.

Its a sad day for Canada.

 

[kratz]

I will miss his sharp whit and rhetoric. Debating with him would be an experience.

Condolences to his family.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Rex was in a certain class of commentator, in which I include Christopher Hitchens - people who politics and ideals I don't always share, but are always worth reading or listening.

 

[dapaterson]

The Beaverton offers Rex Murphy's obituary, in the style of Rex Murphy.

Rex Murphy's Obituary written in the style of a Rex Murphy editorial

Rex Murphy, the blustering defamer of societal ills (real and imagined), fraudulent politicians and the eternal menace of the youth, met with the Grim Reaper yesterday after 77 turns around the sun.

thebeaverton.com

 

[rmc_wannabe]

Rex had a way of addressing Canadians and Canadian issues that made you feel his personal passion on the matter; without it coming across as vitrolic or pointed.

He brought his learned opinion to the nation. He stood his ground in the face of an increasingly politicized media environment and pulled no punches regardless of political stripe or affiliation.

I owe my own political ambiguity to his commentary, especially the belief that one can and should view every issue through a personal and critical lense; rather than maintaining a partisan stance for the hell of it.

I didn't agree with his stance on a lot of things, but his commentary gave me pause for thought on the issues numerous times.

We are a better nation for his presence, and he will be missed.

 

[Colin Parkinson]

Sadly I don't see our current education system producing another one of him. RIP and thank you for all the great moments.

 

[Kirkhill]

Echoing all of the above. Requiescat in Pacem.

 

[YZT580]

Just spotted this - his clever wordsmithing'll be missed. Condolences to family, friends and colleagues ....

Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post

The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.

www.ctvnews.ca

Rex Murphy, keen-eyed observer of Canadian life and politics, dies at 77

The long-time CBC radio host and National Post columnist died of cancer Thursday, the Post announced.

www.thestar.com

What Canadians are saying about the death of Rex Murphy

The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy has died. Murphy worked as a columnist for the newspaper, which said in an obituary on its website that he died at 77 after a battle with cancer. Here’s what Canadians are saying about the news. “Rex Murphy was one of the most intelligent and...

toronto.citynews.ca

Rex Murphy, the sharp-witted intellectual who loved Canada, dies at 77

As he battled cancer, Murphy continued to file, writing about Hamas and Christmas and interviewing Pierre Poilievre with his usual panache

nationalpost.com

and to the general populace who feasted upon his bits of wisdom and appreciated his saying what we were too tongue-tied to utter ourselves but what we believed. RIP

 

[Blackadder1916]

Most will remember Rex as a commentator, however for some Newfoundlanders of a certain age it will be his forays into politics that originally caught their attention. Firstly, in student politics at MUN during which his public criticism of Premier Joey Smallwood (of both his administration and his person) very much riled the premier but did lead to Joey eventually reversing a decision and living up to a campaign promise of "free university education". Rex's later attempts at the polls (for provincial office) were not as successful but always entertaining. Though he was a little older than me and my contemporaries, he was a role model during a few interesting years of high school student government that saw a couple of reasonably successful student strikes/walkouts.

RIP.

 

[SeaKingTacco]

Interestingly, I heard Rex muse once about being a young Liberal and hanging out with PET.

Allegedly, weed was smoked. Allegedly.

It just goes to show that political leanings are not set in stone.

 

[Blackadder1916]

Interestingly, I heard Rex muse once about being a young Liberal and hanging out with PET.

Allegedly, weed was smoked. Allegedly.

It just goes to show that political leanings are not set in stone.

Don't assume that a "Liberal" or a "Progressive Conservative" label in 1960s Newfoundland politics automatically meant that an individual embraced national party doctrine ideology (or platform). In some cases, being on the other side of the aisle simply meant personal opposition to Joey Smallwood. One example of that would be John Crosbie, who after being in Smallwood's cabinet and losing to him in a leadership race, crossed the floor to join the PCs; he then served as a minister in Frank Moores' provincial government before moving into federal politics. Rex Murphy, similarly, worked briefly for Premier Moores before switching parties and trying his hand running (unsuccessfully) as a Liberal. Neither, I expect, changed their fundamental beliefs to fit in with the new crowd. It's just the way politics was down home half a century ago.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Fitting that his last column was to pull the curtain back on the great and powerful Oz. Every comment cutting and on point. His eloquent sarcasm will be missed.

Long may your big jib draw, Rex.

 

[Brad Sallows]

Allegedly, weed was smoked. Allegedly.

Maybe someone just alleged it was weed? It could have been catnip, dried banana peel, Carl Zappa's used gym sock.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Interestingly, I heard Rex muse once about being a young Liberal and hanging out with PET.

Allegedly, weed was smoked. Allegedly.

It just goes to show that political leanings are not set in stone.

Everyone buys a pig in a polk at least once in their life.