Count me in as someone who would gladly chip in to employ him as a full time blogger. He was phenomenal and I am not sure his like will ever quite come again.

As for why he disappeared, he clearly found the pressure and the time a lot to handle. I strongly suspected he had some mental illness, simply because of his long absences and the most creative people I know tend toward mental illness. I think he also really wanted his anonymity.

Billmon was an inspiration for me. While my blog predates his, he really inspired me to hunker down and up the quality of writing and research for my own blog entries. I felt I occasionally beat him in the flowery writing department, but I never came close to matching him otherwise, in spite of lots of kudos I’ve gotten for some of my more popular essays.

Damn, I still miss Billmon.

Seriously, his voice is THAT MISSED.

a. Incredibly vibrant voice? Check.
b. Deep analysis? Check.
c. Well versed in many subjects? Check – economics, history, literature, poetry. Guy has crazy skills.
c. Attitude? Check.
d. Cuts through the B.S.? Check.

Even to this day, his is a voice that is simply irreplaceable. He is worth 10 of Tom Friedman. As much as two Kevin Drum’s (don’t get me wrong, I really like Kevin, read him all the time – it’s just Billmon is THAT GOOD.) Josh Marshall, as a blogger, came close, but he is doing this less and less, as he turns more to mananagement of the TPM experience, video blogging, etc.

Seriously, why the Nation or someone else didn’t hire him straight away, is beyond me. (Maybe they wouldn’t pay enough.)

Did anyone, without mentioning names, no why he just disappeared? The one issue with him, I think, is he could get so carried away by his writing, and the sense of genuine outrage that he has, that it might have affected his personal equilibrium. You got that sense, sometimes. (Most incredible writers have this happen.)

(Digby and Ezra Klein are my personal faves. Kevin and Atrios are also on my Daily Ten list.)

and nice sexism! digby sure do write n read and pontificate, bett’r'n all them other wimmins! it’s like she’s got a man sized brain, or sumpthin. gorsh, i’m so glad you menfolk let us speechify wit you. lemme git back in the kitchen and make you some dinner.